• Culture

  Sunday Comics

  Welcome to your Sunday read of the week’s best in web comics. Make sure to click on the expand button in the bottom right to enlarge each comic. Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich published Feb. 7 – Read more of Awkward Zombie Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira published Feb. 10 – Read more of Nerf…

  By Mike Fahey Published February 13, 2011
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  The Cutest Millennium Falcon, Transformers Play-doh And Other Wild New Toys

  I saw a bunch of toys at Hasbro’s Toy Fair 2011 showcase today. These are some of the highlights. Not all of these are great toys, but most are delightfully odd. There are a lot of toys being made for the upcoming Thor movie, including a replica of Thor’s hammer Mjolnir. It shots the blue…

  By Stephen Totilo Published February 12, 2011
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  Next Transformers Video Game Features Heavily-Armed Cars

  We got a blink-and-you’d-miss-it teaser trailer for this summer’s next Transformers video game today at a Hasbro toy showcase in New York City. That little bit promises a Transformers game from a good development team, a team that’s sprinkling in a dash of car combat. The new game is from High Moon Studios, creators of…

  By Stephen Totilo Published February 12, 2011
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  The Transformers Toys For This Summer’s New Movie, Plus Some Transformers Go-Bots

  Not much was revealed about the new Transformers video game today in New York City, but a Hasbro 2011 showcase was full of new Transformers toys. Most, as you’ll see, were based on the movies and are part of the push for this summer’s third live-action Transformers movie, Dark of the Moon. (The game will…

  By Stephen Totilo Published February 12, 2011
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  They’ve Taken The Game Of Battleship To The Next Level

  Back when I was a kid, I thought that toymakers were revolutionizing the game of Battleship when they made a version that had electronic sounds. But that innovation had nothing on Hasbro’s fall-scheduled Battleship Live. Not a video game, not a board game. It’s something else. There’s a Monopoly Live coming out later this year,…

  By Stephen Totilo Published February 12, 2011
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  Two Capcom Favorites Make A Surprise Appearance In Marvel Vs. Capcom 3

  Watching the clip here will ruin a Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 surprise. That’s your last warning. But, hey, if you don’t object to seeing how She-Hulk’s storyline in the game ends, take a look. Marvel vs Capcom 3 – Character Ending ( She-Hulk ) [YouTube, Thanks Zinger!]

  By Stephen Totilo Published February 12, 2011
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  Video Games On The Front Lines

  Long hours, hard work, crap weather. Then there’s the boredom, the long hours of boredom, followed by the bursts of heart-pounding adrenaline. This is war. And it’s video games that keep many of those serving in the world they’ve left behind. This is video games as a way to stay connected, a way to stay…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 12, 2011
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  I Am Definitely At The Transformers Showcase In New York

  There is no doubt I’m at the Hasbro showcase for all of its new Transformers, Marvel, GI Joe and other toys here in New York City. The truck gives it away. We’ll have more on the new Transformers video game and other stuff as the day progresses.

  By Stephen Totilo Published February 12, 2011
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  The Early Art Of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

  You’ve already seen the latest Elder Scrolls from Bethesda Softworks in screen shot form—complete with handsome humans—now see what Skyrim looked like in its conceptual stages. Bethesda released new Elder Scrolls V art at its official blog, art that might just be your new wallpaper.

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 12, 2011
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  This One Goes Out To All The Monday Night Combat Dreamers Out There

  Uber Entertainment’s “Steamy Valentine” update for Monday Night Combat is filled with features and fixes, but this steamy love song is what’s really at the heart of the matter. Heart-themed Crimson Gear is lovely and all, with its flower-petal deaths and broken-heart sniper headshots, but the real love in Uber’s “Steamy Valentine” update for the…

  By Mike Fahey Published February 12, 2011
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  Duke Nukem Isn’t A Big Fan of Halo’s Spartan Armor

  Duke Nukem Forever, like the Duke Nukems before it, is a game packed with references. References to movies, references to news and, yes, reference to other video games. In this scene, which I snapped while playing through the opening of the game earlier this week, Duke calls out anyone who wears “green armor”, saying such…

  By Brian Crecente Published February 12, 2011
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  A Love Poem to Video Games

  This week, one of the men behind Electronic Arts’ and its founding question “Can a video game make you cry?” was awarded the lifetime achievement awards by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. He accepted his speech with an epic poem, spoken in perfect meter and to great response. The Golden Age of Gaming…

  By Brian Crecente Published February 12, 2011
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  Why Can’t Video Games Crash The Grammys?

  Say what you will about their relevance for popular music these days, but the fact remains the Grammys are still the world’s biggest music awards. So why can’t video games get their own nomination? Currently, the only way an original composition for a video game can win a Grammy is if its nominated alongside other…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 12, 2011
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  Reviews

  Bionic Commando Didn’t Really Need To Be Re-Rearmed

  In 2008, GRIN released Bionic Commando Rearmed, a remake of the original 1988 NES version of Capcom’s platformer. It was homage, and it was good. Why, exactly, did we need a sequel? I mean, Bionic Commando Rearmed was a remake of the first game. There was a point to that. A second “Rearmed” game, though,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 12, 2011
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  See How Portal’s Heroine Has Changed

  Chell, the player’s character in Portal, was never really the star of the game. You barely even saw what she looked like. Seems that approach is out the window for Portal 2. French PC mag Canard features Chell on the cover of its latest issue, and the dorky, jumpsuit-clad lass with the funny robot chicken…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 12, 2011
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  Some Winning Games You Better Keep an Eye On

  The Indie Game Challenge just wrapped up, handing out more than $200,000 in cash to a collection of some very deserving games and their creators. These are the next Portal, Everyday Shooter and Cloud. Here are your winners. Indie Game Challenge Winners $100,000 Grand Prize Winner – Professional Limbo $100,000 Grand Prize Winner – Non-Professional…

  By Brian Crecente Published February 12, 2011
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  Weekly Review Round-up

  It was a week of under the radar misfires, charming downloadable games, portable audio hardware and one mild-mannered Kotaku editor turned super villain. Miss any of this week’s reviews? Well, they’re all right here. Read our reviews of Square Enix’s multiplayer mash-up Mindjack, Double Fine’s quirky matryoshka adventure Stacking and Razer’s portable Ferox speakers, plus…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 11, 2011
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  Finally, The Tron Bambi Crossover Is Here

  Disney movies collide with the new Disney X CLOT vinyl collaboration, a Bambi in full Tron gear. This precious curiosity releases on Valentine’s Day at the Man Is In The Forest shop in Shanghai. Have a friend in Shanghai grab one for you! As seen at High Snobiety

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 11, 2011
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  We Are So So Tired

  Hoo boy! Thanks for sticking with us for the work week, die hard Kotaku readers. We’re zipping up our anatomically accurate sleeping bags and heading into the weekend well rested. Seriously, many thanks to you riding the wave with us, the Kotaku editors, on this rocky redesign. I don’t have much more to say on…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 11, 2011
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  The Whimsical, The Marvelous, The Amazing Indie Games of DICE

  Later today the Academy of Interactive Arts and Science, The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University and GameStop wrap up the second Indie Game Challenge. I spoke with the finalists earlier today to learn a bit about some of their games. That’s a lot of talent packed into these videos. Solace Confetti Carnival Fortix 2 Subsonic…

  By Brian Crecente Published February 11, 2011