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  What Game of Thrones‘ Intro Looks Like in StarCraft 2

  David Zhou noticed the resemblance between the open titles of HBO’s Game of Thrones and the maps of an RTS. And what do you know? A StarCraft 2 movie (created by Zhou) set to the GoT intro music looks pretty great. StarCraft: A Game of Thrones [Wellplayed.org]

  By Joel Johnson Published May 9, 2011
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Like most Final Fantasy games, Talk Amongst Yourselves is turn-based. Like most FFs, TAY is full of lots of text dialogue. Dare I say this, but like most Final Fantasy games, Talk Amongst Yourselves seldom has an awesome plot. So cast Blizzaga and comment here about video games. Thanks to reader Goldfuzzy for today’s image.…

  By Stephen Totilo Published May 9, 2011
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  Is the bin Laden Kill Game Cathartic, Educational, or Just Ghoulish?

  Osama bin Laden hunches quietly in the darkness of an Abbottabad basement, rifle clutched in his hands. He swivels smoothly left. Stops. Then swivels smoothly right. His face is frozen in a thousand mile stare, eyes unblinking. “We found him.” The game developer sounds relieved. The virtual bin Laden, created over a rush of all-nighters…

  By Brian Crecente Published May 9, 2011
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  First Touch Football is Full-Featured Footy

  Typically, upon hearing that a sports game is unlicensed, I expect completely generic teams populated by bland rosters. First Touch Soccer is hardly gimped in such a way. Yes, the team names themselves are altered. But draw up a match with “Manchester Red,” and sure enough, there is “Rooney” at forward. You can expect this…

  By Owen Good Published May 9, 2011
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  Those Are Some Nice Sleeves

  KEY MOMENT | TOKYO, JAPAN: A festival for visual novel Rewrite kicks off in Akihabara. (Photo: Akiba Blog) PlayStation Network Return “Uncertain”, May Not be 100% Back Until May 31 The PlayStation Network has been down for a while now. We’ve been warned that it may be down for a little while longer. Now Sony…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  Hawaiian Shirts Covered with Anime Girls

  Understated Aloha shirts are for classy island residents. Gaudy ones for the tourists. But Hawaiian shirts covered in anime girls? Those are for Japanese otaku. Japan’s Cospa, seller of otaku costumes and threads, is ready to dress you in K-On!, My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute, Angel Beats! and Twin Angel 2 Ahola shirts.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  Will They Ever Run Out of Pokémon?

  There are 650 Pocket Monsters. That’s a lot. So Game Freak, the studio behind Pokémon, should be running out of ideas for new Pocket Monsters any day now, right? Wrong. Pokémon: Black and White art director Ken Sugimori told the Official Nintendo Magazine that there are still new Pokémon ideas. “It’s not only myself designing…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  Sleep with This Voice Actress (Again)

  When voice actress Rie Tanaka isn’t capturing the hearts of otaku, she’s snuggling up next to them vicariously through her hug pillow. One Rie Tanaka hug pillow has been available for purchase. Until now. Hug pillows are called “dakimakura” with “daki” referring to “hug” and “makura” meaning “pillow”. Dakimakura covers typically show anime-type characters. Like…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  Cosplay is All About Beautiful Teamwork

  In this week’s showcase of the best in cosplay, teamwork is the key word of the day, with two of the better shots involving not one or two fans in costume, but entire video game casts. Those casts are from BioShock and Final Fantasy XIII, the former showing a motley crew of splicers, the latter…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  PlayStation Network Return “Uncertain”, May Not be 100% Back Until May 31

  The PlayStation Network has been down for a while now. We’ve been warned that it may be down for a little while longer. Now Sony says it could be weeks still before the PSN is fully operational. Sony’s Shigenori Yoshida has told Bloomberg that his company’s deadline for the full return of all PlayStation Network…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Episode IV: A New Earthbound

  This piece, throwing Nintendo’s classic Mother RPG series (known as EarthBound in the West) and the original Star Wars together, is just too damn cute for words (via 4CR). Earthbound Star Wars by lauramw

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Alice: Madness Returns Is Adults Only in Japan

  According to an online image doing the rounds, Alice: Madness Returns will be out on July 21 and rated “Cero Z”, Japan’s “Adults Only” equivalent. It’s not uncommon for violent games to get Cero Z. Xbox 360’s Gears of War and Wii’s MadWorld both snagged Cero Z ratings. [はちま起稿]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  He Co-Wrote Portal 2. Who Is His Favorite Character?

  Valve lead writer Erik Wolpaw lent his clever pen to sci-fi shooter Portal 2. If you’ve played the game (this post has spoilers!), you might have your favorite character. Wolpaw does. According to Wolpaw, his favorite character (co-writer Jay Pinkerton’s, too) is Rick the Adventure Sphere, the jabbering AI sphere with a Texas twang. “The…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  Pillage These New Dragon’s Dogma Screens

  Capcom released some new screenshots and class artwork for upcoming open-world RPG Dragon’s Dogma over the weekend. Here they are! If you’re wondering, the three classes are Fighter, Strider and Mage. If you can’t tell which is which, this might not be the game for you.

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Just How Valuable Are Video Game “Brands”?

  Advertising and branding specialists Millward Brown have released their annual chart detailing the 100 most valuable “brands” in world commerce. The list takes into account not just a company’s income, but it’s reputation as well. The 2011 list includes all three video game platform holders, with Microsoft in fifth spot (though no doubt its PC…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Once Upon a Time Capcom Only Made Sequels

  Former Capcom developer Keiji Inafune said recently at Ritsumeikan University that there was a time his old studio had a rule that 70 or 80 percent of games were sequels and the rest new games. New games weren’t usually approved—something Inafune hinted to Kotaku in 2006 when he said Capcom rejected both Dead Rising and…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  Osama bin Laden’s Demise, as Told Through a Game of Super Mario Bros.

  The assassination of Osama bin Laden has already provided modders and commentators with political video game fodder, but this French TV show kicks it up a notch with a fanciful presentation of Super Mario Bush In which the former Al Qaeda leader is Bowser, and Mario is played by George W. Bush. At least, he…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  They’re Totally Addicted to Cosplay

  If those addicted to work are called “workaholics” and those addicted to chocolate are called “chocoholics”, then what are those who are addicted to cosplay called? Over the weekend, “Cosholic” stormed through Tokyo’s Odaiba. Cosholic is a picture-takin’, costume-wearin’ get together. Some of the costumes were elaborate, others were practically invisible. Cosplayers and cosplayer “circles”…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  Bedroom Coders Making New Super Mario Bros. Wii “Sequel”

  If you’re done playing New Super Mario Bros. Wii—released18 months ago so you may well be—you could always try the fan-made Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii. Currently in development by a team of devoted modders, artists and Mario fans, Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii. is an unofficial sequel of sorts to Nintendo’s 2009 retail release,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Violence Erupts at a Chinese Apple Store After iPad 2 Release

  Although no one seems sure what exactly happened, reports are coming out that fights broke out between staff and customers at this Beijing Apple Store today. We’re talking bloodied faces and broken glass here. All over the new iPad? The fights come one day after the iPad 2 was released in China, resulting in lines…

  By Kwame Opam Published May 9, 2011