The Rift Collector’s Edition Is More Than Just A Fancy Riding Turtle

You can spend $50 on Trion Worlds’ massively-multiplayer online role-playing game Rift and just get the game, or you can spend a little more and score the game plus this nifty riding turtle. But wait, there’s more! Not only do you get the lovely in0game turtle mount at level 20 when you purchase the Rift…

This Is Not The Halo LEGO Set I Wanted For Christmas

If only LEGO had grabbed the Halo license instead of Mega Bloks I could be wearing this snazzy outfit right now. See more at Benny Brickster’s Flickr page Gameface is a photographic celebration of the people who make, play and love video games.

Violent Video Games Promote Civic Behaviors

Just because you’re shooting other people online doesn’t mean you’re going to shoot them offline. In fact, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Texas A&M International University, playing violent video games could promote civic engagement in children. Science loves the violent video game debate. Over the past decade we’ve been subjected to…

A Dozen Games That Make iPhone Gaming Worthwhile

So you got a fancy new iPhone over the holidays, or maybe you’ve had one for a bit but are looking for some games to kill time at the airport, or snowed-in apartment. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. I’m a pretty regular gamer on the iPhone and I spent the past month or so…

Dealing With Sex And Violence In Video Games

In today’s installment of Speak-Up on Kotaku, commenter Dracosummoner explores the controversial role of sex and violence in our video games. Practically every single time I hear about some controversy related to the depiction of sex in a video game, and not just on Kotaku, I see a ton of comments that go along the…

Forbes Predicts the Rise of Apple and Google Gaming and Decline of Sony and Microsoft

In light of Forbes amazingly perceptive 2000 piece about the computers of 2010, Forbes’ Paul Tassi decided to take a stab at predicting what gaming will be like in a decade. Some of his ideas seem spot on, others a bit dated, but it’s still an interesting read. The most likely prediction Tassi makes is…

Super Meat Boy Creator Pleads For Russian Art Aid

Russia will be the first country to score a retail release for the PC version of super Meat Boy, and creator Edmund McMillen sends out this moving call for Russian-inspired cover art. Good thing he’s okay with the Cold War. Hopefully the Russians can look beyond Edmund’s lack of knowledge about their lovely country and…

First 4 Figures Next Sonic Statue Is Pure Metal

Whoever takes the product shots at premium action figure company First 4 Figures is making it incredibly difficult to not plunk down $175 for the company’s next big Sonic the Hedgehog statue, Metal Sonic. Metal Sonic will never look this good on your fireplace mantle or your $30 WalMart bookcase. First of all, the image…

Watch Uncharted 3 Burn Down This Gorgeous Old House

Uncharted developer Naughty Dog has teased us with small doses of its latest, perhaps greatest PlayStation 3 game, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, but today there’s even more gorgeous, chateau-burning in-game action to savor. In all-new video, Nathan Drake and his mentor Victor Sullivan attempt to escape the confines of a flaming, dilapidated French manor, showing…

Risk Halo Wars Delivers A Tabletop Flood

I picked up a board game over the holidays: Risk Halo Wars. The Halo-themed version of the Parker Brothers classic turned out to be quite a bit of fun. As you can see in this video, the game features three playable factions: The Flood, the covenant and the UNSC. Each faction has regular units, units…

Metal Sonic Gallery

Earthrise Rises From The Ashes In February

Isn’t about time for another post-apocalyptic massively multiplayer online science fiction role-playing game? Masthead Studios are gearing up to deliver just that, pinning a February release date on Earthrise. Is it the next Anarchy Online, or the next Tabula Rasa? Masthead’s MMORPG shares aspects of both of those storied science fiction role-playing games. It’s got…

Robot Chicken Makes The Force Unleashed II Seem Playable

Everyone I’ve talked to has warned me away from Star Wars: the Force Unleashed II, but damn if the wizards at Robot Chicken don’t make it incredibly compelling. If only the game were more like this. I’d play a video game that involved Darth Vader avoiding the Emperor’s questions as Starkiller systematically took out major…

New Owner of an Xbox Phone? Play These Games

If you’re the owner of a brand-spankin’-new Windows Phone 7 device, then “Ilomilo” is a game you should play. But there’s a catch. The new operating system just launched in November and hasn’t exactly been doing gangbusters in terms of sales. Still, the phones have much to offer gamers. After all, Windows Phone 7 devices…

Talk Amongst Yourselves

Are you ready for New Year’s Eve? Tell us now! Or, you know, talk about other things. espeed623 created this TAY celebration. We”re still looking for four more to post. Get to it! Just shop up this image and submit it to the #taypics hashtag. Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ

The Consumer Electronics Show Cometh

One week from today team Kotaku descends on Vegas to prepare for the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show. While there are no expectations of huge news shaking loose from the annual gadget and gear show, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a boring week. Sony often drops interesting nuggets about their gaming division during…

The Autographs Of My Boyhood

To: Crecente From: Bash RE: The Last Monday of 2010! I guess this Night Note is for Owen… The odd thing is that I don’t have anyone’s autograph in the game industry. What you missed last night More Games Hack, Slash & Jiggle Their Way Into Early 2011 Super Meat Boy Hacked Into Super Smash…

This Star Wars Family Portrait Is A Sweater Party

By artist and blogger Steven Quinn. As seen on his site

2010’s Japanese Booth Companions Still Passing Out Fliers In Your Memories

For all the years in reviews, Japanese site Moeyo.com decided to do one that might go overlooked, but one that will definitely get a hard second look. That’s right, booth companions. Moeyo.com went through and catalogued all the booth companions from the major game, manga and anime related events from the past year. Here are…

You Can Play And Watch These Nintendo 3DS Games Next Month

That is, if you live in Japan. Nintendo is rolling out its Nintendo World 2011 next year in Chiba, Japan. The Kyoto-based company has a list of titles that will be playable for those over six. You’re over six, right? Those games are: Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D “The Naked Sample” (Auto Mode) Winning…