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The Potty-Mouth Origins of a Video Game Mainstay
As an avuncular living-room presence for three generations, it’s easy to forget John Madden was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders back when they were the Raiders, and he had to lead characters like Ted Hendricks, Phil Villapiano, Jack Tatum and Ken Stabler. So Madden’s proficiency with the F-word should not be astonishing. But…
By Owen Good Published May 12, 2011 - Uncategorized
The Sleeping Giant Awakes
Well, today’s been something! Has yours? If you want to chit-chat with your fellow game-loving, Kotaku-reading compatriots, this open thread is the ideal nighttime place to do so. My day started with a taping of GameTrailers TV across town, a chance to see the personable Geoff Keighley in television show hosting action. Before that, however,…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 12, 2011 -
UncategorizedMorrowind Theme Helps Harpist Fund Her Next Album
This is Gillian Grassie, a Philadelphia-area harpist. That’s not the sort of instrument that gets a record deal; harpists typically fund their recordings by playing weddings, dining rooms and the like. To raise money for her next album, Grassie took requests, and found that video game patrons are very willing to support the arts. Here’s…
By Owen Good Published May 12, 2011 - Uncategorized
Fully Posable Star Wars Action Figures, in Pixelated Form
Thirtysomething gamers will recognize plenty in this isometric pixelated depiction of the original run of Kenner Star Wars action figures from the first film to Return of the Jedi. I remember Luke Skywalker: Bespin Fatigues, the first action figure with two weapons. Spent the entire summer of 1980 coveting that one. Isometric Star Wars Toys…
By Owen Good Published May 12, 2011 - Uncategorized
What Does Ubisoft Think of the Wii 2?
According to the French publisher’s CEO, not only is Nintendo’s Wii successor—currently known as Project Cafe—a “fantastic platform,” it’s also bound to be home to many a port from the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Ubisoft’s Yves Guillemot said during an investor call today that the company’s a huge fan of the Wii 2, according…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 12, 2011 - Uncategorized
Xbox Live Indie Studios Can Now Pick Their Publishing Dates
The Xbox Live Indie Games channel just put through a key change that should help publishers with marketing efforts for their games. Now, once a title has passed peer review, the developer may pick the date it publishes to the service. What this means for consumers is that collaborative events such as the Indie Games…
By Owen Good Published May 12, 2011 -
UncategorizedThis Turkish Rendition of Super Mario Bros. Music is Definitely Dance-Worthy
From the Republic of Turkey comes this wonderful impromptu rendition of the Super Mario Bros. theme song, a familiar tune in an unfamiliar place. Unfamiliar that is unless you live in Turkey, where Çağrı Ulusoy on the darbuka and Emre Kaya on clarinet add a distinctively Turkish flair to the song that propelled a million…
By Mike Fahey Published May 12, 2011 - Uncategorized
Mario, This is Why You’re Fat
We know why Mario has a mustache. We know why his uniform is blue and red. These were the most distinctive features Nintendo could render on the character sprite due to the limitations of the Z80 processor, the venerable workhorse of the arcade. And it’s the same reason Mario’s proportions are a little on the…
By Owen Good Published May 12, 2011 - Uncategorized
My Other, Other Office
WORKING 7 To 7 | My third office is whatever seat I can find on the daily commuter train. The gin and tonic is extra. (Photo by Crecente) Home Sheep Home May Have Been Nominated for a BAFTA, But It’s Just Too Thin to Win Home Sheep Home, you’re no Angry Birds-at least not when…
By Brian Crecente Published May 12, 2011 -
UncategorizedEven More Insane Portal 2 Cube Tricks? Now You’re Just Showing Off!
Few people know how to handle a Portal 2 cube better than James, here—aka “Schrobot.” Continuing his extremely impressive cube tossing and portaling techniques from his first video, we delve deeper into Aperture Science, finding new ways to blown away by Schrobot’s cube-jockeying prowess. Obviously, spoilers and puzzle solutions abound in this latest Portal 2…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 12, 2011 - Uncategorized
How Sony Is Explaining the PlayStation Network Outage to Its Developers
Sony execs have already apologized to PlayStation customers by way of the company’s official blog and with extremely deep bows, but what’s the message to game developers affected by the PlayStation Network outage? Industry Gamers has the internal memo in which they “deeply regret that this incident has occurred,” but don’t offer many new details.
By Michael McWhertor Published May 12, 2011 - Uncategorized
Tugboat Ran Aground as Captain Played Video Games, Says Coast Guard
More than 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into Alaska’s Prince William Sound – the very same spot as the infamous Exxon Valdez disaster – because the captain of a tugboat was playing video games while the ship ran aground, says the Coast Guard. The Pathfinder, a “safety-escort” tug, was returning to port after an…
By Owen Good Published May 12, 2011 -
UncategorizedMeet Diablo III‘s New Enchantress, Scoundrel and Templar
Who are these three mysterious additions to Diablo III? They’re not new character classes in Blizzard’s upcoming action-role-playing game; they’re “Followers,” the co-op companions you’ll play alongside in the next Diablo game. The Enchantress, Scoundrel and Templar appear to be the Diablo III equivalent of the Mercenary, the hirelings introduced in Diablo II. From the…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 12, 2011 - Uncategorized
By the Time the Army of Darkness Reached the iPhone It Was Too Late
Nineteen years ago Bruce Campbell and his time-displaced chin took on the forces of evil in a movie that generated a good fifteen years’ worth of amusing quotes. Today Backflip Studios releases Army of Darkness Defense for the iPhone. Bruce Campbell is Ash Williams, one asshole of a retail employee teleported via ancient evil book…
By Mike Fahey Published May 12, 2011 -
UncategorizedThe 50 Worst Voices in Video Game History Meet One Hilarious Face
Behind every badly-read line of video game dialog there is an equally horrific voice actor. Face actor Dean Lauderdale channels fifty of the worst, possibly redeeming them in the process. From The Legend of Heroes to Resident Evil: Director’s Cut, Lauderdale lends his hyper-elastic face to some of the worst video game performances since they…
By Mike Fahey Published May 12, 2011 - Uncategorized
Rumored Starhawk Screens Leak, Curiously Light On Stars
The follow-up to 2007 PlayStation 3 futuristic dogfighter/third-person shooter Warhawk hasn’t been a well kept secret. But it appears we may have gotten our first look at the spacey sequel, Starhawk, earlier than officially anticipated. A handful of small screens purportedly from Starhawk were published earlier today by GameSpot, according to a report from Gaming…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 12, 2011 - Uncategorized
Oddworld Creator: “EA Sabotaged Stranger’s Wrath“
Oddworld creator Lorne Lanning accused EA of “Sabotaging” his studio’s game, Stranger’s Wrath, in a conversation with Eurogamer. Lanning says that the publisher, by not marketing the game properly, condemned it to failure. “It was sabotaged. When you see a big game coming out, just ask what the marketing budget is. If you decide as…
By Mike Epstein Published May 12, 2011 -
UncategorizedA Five Minute Guided Tour of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
If you’ve not seen this walkthrough video of 38 Studios and Big Huge Games’ Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, you might have the impression that this is a generic action RPG. Once you see the video you’ll definitely have that impression. I want to believe that the combination of author R.A. Salvatore’s words, Spawn creator Todd…
By Mike Fahey Published May 12, 2011 - Uncategorized
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Screens Are Pure Gold
Alright, alright, so there are some greens and reds intermingled with the rich, golden hues of Eidos Montreal’s new Deus Ex prequel, but this game’s so luscious and brassy it’s going to sound redundant when Square Enix announces it’s officially gone gold. Ahem. Our latest look at Deus Ex: Human Revolution is so clean we…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 12, 2011 - Uncategorized
Bungie May Also Have A Mobile Game On The Way
Bungie “Aerospace” filed a trademark for a new phone-based game called “Crimson” last week. The trademark is described as a “Computer game software for use on mobile and cellular phones.” and “Computer game software downloadable from a global computer network.” [UPSTO.GOV]
By Mike Epstein Published May 12, 2011