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The FTC Isn’t Very Happy With Some iPhone Games
There was a rumor last week that Apple was unhappy with Capcom over the way in-app purchases could be made in Smurf’s Village. Turns out Apple may have had a very good reason to be upset. The Federal Trade Commission has announced that it will be investigating the way in which “in-app purchases” can be…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 24, 2011 - Uncategorized
Your First Look At Double Fine’s Sesame Street Game
The next game from Double Fine, the developers of games like Psychonauts and Brutal Legend, is a Sesame Street title. Here’s our first look at the game in action. It’s…look, it’s a kids game, one they can play with their parents. So know that before clicking play. And once you have clicked play? Know that,…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 24, 2011 -
CultureTotal RecallThe Great Zelda Switcheroo
If you ever need a reference point for how ferocious – and some would argue unnecessarily so – Zelda fans can be about their beloved franchise, one need only look at a public showcase Nintendo held in the year 2000. For a few years between the mid-1990s and early 2000s, Nintendo decided against revealing major…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 24, 2011 - Uncategorized
Underground MMA Game Adds Female Fighters to the Card
Supremacy MMA, the underground fighter coming in late spring, will deliver something the two other mixed martial arts console titles don’t have: women on the fight card. Michele ‘Diablita’ Gutierrez, a former boxer who has transitioned to MMA, and Felice ‘Lil Dog’ Herrig, who was featured on Fight Girls on the Oxygen network, will be…
By Owen Good Published February 23, 2011 -
UncategorizedWhat Would You Pick — a Threesome, or Marvel vs. Capcom 3?
The midnight release of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 was also the midnight after Valentine’s Day evening, a time when most normal and well adjusted people were gettin’ it on with loved ones, or at least those they’d hired for the night. Others are standing in line waiting for a video game. Our dreadlocked friend “Woolie”…
By Owen Good Published February 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
The World’s Smallest Violin
Technically, I’m not even allowed to be posting this. But this semi-nightly open thread must go live, embargoes be damned. Right now, I’m in San Francisco, at an event for a video game. I’ll tell you more about it tomorrow, right around 1 p.m. Kotaku Time. Thanks for being patient. While I go play a…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 23, 2011 -
UncategorizedSmall Screen NBA Jam is a Ported Trail Blazer
NBA Jam, available from the iTunes App Store for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch (on OSes 3 and 4) is the most complete port of a console sports game to this platform in its two-year history. It helps to have Electronic Arts’ muscle behind this – but it also helps that NBA Jam’s quirky…
By Owen Good Published February 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
Psychologist Clarifies Bulletstorm Comments to Fox News
One of the two experts quoted in Fox News’ notorious hit-piece on Bulletstorm has clarified his remarks, and while he stands by them, says their presentation lacks context – and that he enjoys playing Mature-rated shooters in his free time as well. To recap, Dr. Jerry Weichman, as quoted by Fox News, said: If a…
By Owen Good Published February 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
Duke Nukem Forever Is Planning One Hell of a Credits Roll
Fourteen years in the making, a lot of people have had a hand in the development of Duke Nukem Forever. Many of their names are lost forever. Gearbox Software, which will finally deliver the game in May, wants to credit everyone it can find who had a role in the game’s creation. “It is our…
By Owen Good Published February 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
The New Look For Portal 2’s Heroine Explained
One of the stars of Portal 2, the human heroine Chell, has undergone a few changes during her centuries-long sleep. And during the last year, she’s been given a new makeover by Valve’s art team, ditching her “dressed by machines” look for something more familiar. When Portal 2 was first unveiled in the pages of…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
What The Onion Wants From Madden NFL 12
Putting Aaron Rodgers on the cover of Madden NFL 12 is believable. Everything else, well, you should be able to tell this is satire even without The Onion Sportsdome branding. With a lockout looming, and as the league recently reconfigured its contract to terms more favorable to EA Sports, I can guarantee that this will…
By Owen Good Published February 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
The Hero of Hyrule, As Colorful As A Rupee
Carlos Lerma illustrated another great fan art piece to celebrate Zelda’s 25th Anniversary. Navi: “Hey,Listen!” Related Rampages: Courage, Wisdom, Power | TRON (More) The Hero of Hyrule by Carlos Lerma (Tumblr) (deviantART) (Twitter) Via: lerms Need your daily fill of geek eye candy? If so, head over to Justin Page’s Rampaged Reality and get your…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 23, 2011 -
UncategorizedBulletstorms, Storytelling, And Double Babies All The Way
Since this is the first chance I’ve gotten to do one of the new video day notes, I figured I’d demonstrate why I shouldn’t be allowed to do these ever again by showing off baby pictures. Really early baby pictures. The Marvel Edition Versus Fighting Pad Is Hideously Wonderful The Marvel Edition Versus Fighting Pad…
By Mike Fahey Published February 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
FarmVille’s Creepiest Crop Is The ‘Watermelon Baby’
FarmVille players in China have access to some incredibly bizarre vegetation. Take the “Watermelon Baby,” for example, a Chinese exclusive crop that bursts forth with a pink, fruity fetal-thing that demands a player’s attention. Maybe it will encourage players to check in on their own kids? When this weird watermelon is ready for harvest, out…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 23, 2011 -
ReviewsLowbrow, Sure. But Bulletstorm Isn’t Stupid
Bulletstorm did a ton of advance work securing its reputation as this year’s fratboy game, full of snickering, dick jokes and arm punches. It’s unapologetically lowbrow, but that doesn’t mean it’s stupid. Hell, some of the smartest guys I know were in my fraternity. Don’t look to Bulletstorm’s protagonist, Grayson Hunt, for enlightenment. He’s a…
By Owen Good Published February 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
Japan Falls In Love With Its Harsh Mistress, Catherine
Atlus’ weird and (for some) nightmarishly difficult adventure Catherine is on its way to being a bit hit overseas. One week in and the game has sold more than 160,000 copies to eager Japanese gamers. That’s better than another big new release, Marvel vs. Capcom 3, fared this week. Capcom’s fighting game managed to knock…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 23, 2011 -
UncategorizedDigging The Rift Collector’s Edition
Trion Worlds’ massively multiplayer online role-playing game Rift opens its doors tomorrow to head start players. Cost conscious players can purchase it from Steam for $50. Those less concerned with price can spend $80 on this thing. While I only played Rift in beta for the briefest of moments, I have to say I’m excited…
By Mike Fahey Published February 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
Discovery’s Final Launch Is PlayStation Home’s First Live Broadcast
The final launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery is scheduled for tomorrow, and PlayStation space exploration fans can tune in directly from Sony’s console-embedded virtual world, provided they know someone with a digital yacht. The space shuttle Discovery takes off on its final voyage tomorrow at 4:50PM from the Kennedy Space Center. The shuttle will…
By Mike Fahey Published February 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
To-Do In San Francisco: Stare At Cool Video-Game-Inspired Art
The big Game Developers Conference happens next week in San Francisco. Then it ends and people who care about video games will have nothing to do but discuss all their great new ideas for video games and attend an art show in the area. The show, called Game Over IV, will display video-game-inspired artwork by…
By Stephen Totilo Published February 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
I Disagree With Will Wright…
I respect Will Wright. He is one of the first game developers to really be a “game designer,” helping form the foundation of what I do for a living today. The games he contributed to were really formative to me, especially SimCity, which I actually used as a class project in middle school, doing a…
Christian Allen Published February 23, 2011