- Reviews
The Avenger Looks Nuts, But Puts Console Gaming at Your Fingertips
I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for crazy-looking peripherals. The crazier, the better. The Avenger checks off all the peripheral lunacy boxes. Just look at it! It’s bananas. There are straps, nubs, and pokey appendages that look like spider legs. Straight out of science fiction, this is some rubberized steampunk fantasy. This isn’t just bondage…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 24, 2011 - Culture
The Brutal, Beautiful Video Game Art of Bjorn Hurri
Bjorn Hurri is an artist who has been working on video games for years now, having lent his skills in some way or another to projects like Dead Space 2, Viking: Battle for Asgard and the last three entries in the Total War series. He’s at his best working with people, as most of his…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 24, 2011 - Uncategorized
Europe Getting Vita In 2012?
Sony has said all along that the PlayStation Vita would only begin its global launch in 2011. It never said there’d be a worldwide launch in 2011. So somebody misses out. Guess who! VG247 reports that a 2012 European launch for Sony’s new handheld is a “certainty”. We’re contacting Sony for comment, but if true,…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 24, 2011 - Uncategorized
This Assassin’s Creed Statue is Not a Cheap Date
How much do you love Assassin’s Creed’s Ezio Auditore da Firenze? Enough to spend $600 on a statue of the smooth-talking killer? That’s what Sideshow is asking for a 16.7 inch coldcast resin statue, which is limited to 200 pieces worldwide. While there’s great detail on it, and resin statues look great up close, for…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 24, 2011 - Uncategorized
First Two Uncharted Games Are Coming Back. Together.
First rumoured earlier in the month, Sony has now confirmed that a bundle deal featuring the first two Uncharted games will go on sale next month. Speaking with CVG, Sony say that alongside the two blockbuster games the pack will also include a dynamic Uncharted theme and an Uncharted avatar for your PS3. It’ll be…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 24, 2011 - Uncategorized
The Art of Tearing Off Vampire Clothes
In PSP game Akiba’s Trip, you must strip vampires in broad daylight to expose them to the sun and kill them. PSP graphics are showing their age, which is why the illustrations in the game’s complete guide provide a better glimpse at all the game has to offer—namely different kinds of underpants. Akiba’s Trip was…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 24, 2011 - Uncategorized
Great Game Posters Keep it Simple
Kronus, also going by iwilding, is just starting out on a career in graphic design. He may be onto something. Sharpening up his skills, Kronus has put together these minimalist posters for classic video games. I know, the whole minimalist poster thing is old hat by now, but I dig these, so up they go.…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 24, 2011 - Uncategorized
Did this Beautiful Drawing Foretell the Wii U?
A Square Enix Final Fantasy music website went live this past January to promote the More SQ album, remixes and reworkings of iconic Final Fantasy themes. But what’s got Japanese netizens talking is the website’s splash art. Drawn by Akihiko Yoshida, Square Enix artist and character designer, the image features what looks to be the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 24, 2011 -
UncategorizedOh God This Game Is Making Me Sick
Proun, a super-fast and stylish racer (?) Kotaku first showed you last year is now out on PC. It’s available as a free download or, if you feel like supporting the developer, Joost van Dongen, you can pick up a “pay what you want” copy that includes a bonus track. I’ve been playing it all…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 24, 2011 - Uncategorized
The Bomb Threat Sent from a PlayStation 3
On July 22nd, at around 3am in the morning, a mysterious message appeared on Japanese bulletin board 2channel. It read: “Tomorrow, I will blow up Hiroshima Station.” Japanese cyber police set to work, trying to stop the would-be bomber. Good thing he made their job easier—way easier. The police traced the message to the would-be…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 24, 2011 - Uncategorized
This Shooter Was Lost, But Now Is Found
It’s a messy, sad tale, so we’ll give you the brief version: In 2001 there was an awesome game called Operation Flashpoint. After release, its developers and publisher split up, leaving the series in creative limbo. Codemasters, the company publishing the game, retained the rights to it, and has gone on to release several new…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 24, 2011 - Uncategorized
BioWare Sending Out Hack Emails (Maybe You Got One!)
Last week Kotaku reported that BioWare was hacked. The company has been active on company forums and is sending out emails today to BioWare account holders. More info here. [Thanks to all who sent this in!]
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 24, 2011 - Uncategorized
8-bit Chiptune Cover Art Cost This Man $32,500
Chiptune connoisseur and tech guru Andy Baio released an album last year called Kind of Bloop, an 8-bit tribute to Miles Davis’ jazz masterpiece Kind of Blue. Yet despite receiving permission to cover the songs, Baio still found himself in court. What gives? While Baio got the blessing of Davis’ publisher to cover the songs,…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 24, 2011 - Uncategorized
Crytek Boss Says Crysis 2 “Backfired a Little Bit”
The first Crysis was tailored directly towards the glorious PC master race. So the fact the sequel pared back the hardware demands in favour of something that would run on a console did not go down well. The game’s reception reflects this, and has perhaps led to a reassessment of the decision, Crytek boss Cevat…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 24, 2011 -
CultureTotal RecallThe Horror of Nintendo’s White Knuckle Scorin
In 1991, before the company realised it was a good idea to pay closer attention to the shit it was licensing its name and characters for, Nintendo gave its blessing for the release of a CD called White Knuckle Scorin While the name and the cover art give faint hope that this might be a…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 24, 2011 - Uncategorized
Infamous 2 Waits a Whole Two Weeks Before Hitting PSN
Two weeks after its release, Infamous 2 is already available as a full download over PlayStation Network, in what seems like a big ol’ middle-fanger to retail. Seriously, a whole two weeks? That’s nice for impulse buyers, although, as a 15 GB download, I bet you could drive to the store, buy it, bring it…
By Owen Good Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
Annihilation Map Adds Five More Achievements to Black Ops
“Shangri-La” is the new zombies map in Call of Duty: Black Ops, and it is far from paradise, as that anthropomorphic s’more (above) will attest. Available in Annihilation, releasing next Tuesday for Xbox 360, it offers five more achievements worth a cool 150 Gamerscore. They are: • Time Travel Will Tell (75G)—In Shangri-La, acquire the…
By Owen Good Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
World’s Most-Wanted Hacker Says He’s Never Felt Safer
He’s part of a group that claims to be behind the recent attacks on the CIA, U.S. Senate, Fox, and Sony. But when we chatted with a leader of Lulz Security, he said he’s not worried about a thing. [Gawker]
gawker Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
Lawsuit Says Sony Laid Off Security Workers Before PSN Cyberattack
A new lawsuit alleges that Sony fired workers in its network security operations two weeks before a cyberattack brought down the PlayStation Network. Additionally, the suit charges that Sony paid millions to secure sensitive information online—its own corporate secrets. Customer data didn’t receive the same level of treatment, says the suit, brought by PSN customers,…
By Owen Good Published June 23, 2011