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David Bowie’s Son Is Excited About The World Of Warcraft Movie
Okay, that’s not fair. Duncan Jones is more than just David Bowie’s son. He’s also the son of fashion model Angela Bowie And, of course, Jones is a terrific filmmaker in his own right, helming the wonderful sci-fi flick Moon Jones tells Badass Digest that he’s “very cynical” of directors who claim to be gamers.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 31, 2010 - Uncategorized
Did Japan Fall Out Of Love With Love Plus?
Anecdotal evidence at best, but a mountain of Love Plus items apparently didn’t exactly move like hotcakes at Comiket. The Comiket goods Konami is offering cost around US$67 for each set. There are three different sets, one for each Love Plus character. Developed by Konami, Love Plus is a love simulation game for the Nintendo…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 31, 2010 -
UncategorizedRoger Ebert’s Past Game Addiction Made Him Sad
This year, famed film critic Roger Ebert said games could never be art — a mistake he later admitted. While Ebert might not be a fan of games, that doesn’t mean he didn’t used to play them obsessively . In a “Siskel & Ebert” holiday gift guide from 1989, Ebert and his former co-host Gene…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 31, 2010 - Uncategorized
On A Quest For More Cosplay Photos?
No, it’s not Halloween. It’s the end of December, and Japan is dressing up at Comiket, or “Comic Market”, the country’s biggest gathering of fan fiction, toy figures and otaku. Sure, folks are buying self-published manga, games and photobooks, but it’s really hard to overstate how big the event’s cosplay (“costume play”) is. Hordes of…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 31, 2010 - Uncategorized
Possibly Illegal Lengths To Get Xbox 360s In Japanese Homes
In Japan, generally speaking, you cannot rent video games, nor can you rent consoles. It’s just not done. Software and hardware companies successfully pushed for a ban on rentals, which is why used games in Japan are in such good shape. Players buy new games, complete them very quickly and then sell them second hand.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 31, 2010 - Uncategorized
What Did You Think Of Gaming In 2010?
It’s Friday. Friday, Friday, Friday! Let’s talk. Here’s how it works: We ask a question, you answer it. Simple and no strings attached! This isn’t some marketing survey or whatever. It’s an emotional investment in you. Yes, we’re interested in knowing you, Kotaku reader person. You probably know oodles about us – more than you…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 31, 2010 - Uncategorized
New Year Brings New Anime Girl Shrine Hopefuls
December 31 is the eve of Japan’s biggest holiday, New Year’s. Why not celebrate it with a beautiful anime girl? The entire country will descend on temples to (literally) ring in the new year as bells are rung 108 times in what’s called joya nokaneto, which aims to purify the souls of the 108 worldly…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 31, 2010 - Uncategorized
Career Mode, New Controls On Serve For Top Spin 4
Tennis sim Top Spin 4 teased more realistic controls when it was announced three months ago; a retail listing says it’ll continue sports gaming’s trend of moving commands to the right analog stick. A singleplayer career mode also is coming. “My Player,” which debuted in MLB 2K10 last spring and has been a moderate success…
By Owen Good Published December 31, 2010 - Uncategorized
Reigning King Of Kong Goes After Own Record
After Steve Wiebe reclaimed the world record high score in Donkey Kong in September, the Seattle teacher said there still was “room at the top” left for future challenges. He’ll try to beat his own mark in about two weeks. Wiebe, whose 1,064,500 in Donkey Kong is currently the top mark, thinks a score of…
By Owen Good Published December 30, 2010 -
UncategorizedThe Year, NSFW
Some year-end retrospectives play out to the accompaniment of a tinkly piano. Others to a cheese-cloth montage. Our subject here plays out to strains of bow-chicka-bow-bow and the censor bars. It’s Kotaku’s Year, NSFW. (Warning, NSFW, duh.) Heavy Rain is Light on Clothing: Midway through the PS3 thriller Heavy Rain, Kotaku reader kuroner declined a…
By Owen Good Published December 30, 2010 - Reviews
From the Mouths of Babes, Withering Criticism
Tron: Legacy has been, at best, a critical disappointment. At worst, well, “a Dora the Explorer movie would be more interesting.” Who said that? The eight-year-old daughter of noted video game academic Ian Bogost. Bogost, whose “Cow Clicker” Facebook application this year masterfully blended his talent for games criticism and design, today received a four-paragraph…
By Owen Good Published December 30, 2010 -
UncategorizedDead Rising Mobile Is Little More Than a Reanimated Corpse
There’s a difference between dead and lifeless, as this iPhone port of Dead Rising unfortunately demonstrates. Tedious mission design, bad frameskip and close – I mean very close – redraw distances, plus a slapped-on social networking feature, don’t do the Dead Rising brand any favors in Dead Rising Mobile. Its sludgy virtual stick controls are…
By Owen Good Published December 30, 2010 -
UncategorizedLet It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
To: Ash From: Crecente Re: Some Things I Like About America Sweet Baby Rays! I love that stuff. But how could you, a Texas guy, leave out barbecue. You know that means you’re going to Texas Hell… El Paso. What you missed Review: The World Of Warcraft: Cataclysm MMO Mouse Caters Shamelessly Do Cheap Tactics…
By Brian Crecente Published December 30, 2010 - Uncategorized
The Platform That Plays Together Unlocks The Bad Company: Vietnam Map First
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 wanted to see a team spirit on its new Vietnam DLC package before unlocking a remastered Operation: Hastings map. PC players have answered the call first, passing the 69 million “team action” threshold required earlier today. By comparison, the Xbox 360 community is about halfway there (37 million team actions), and…
By Owen Good Published December 30, 2010 - Uncategorized
Rock Band 3 Rings In 2011 With The Man In Black, Old Tracks
One of your resolutions for 2011 should probably be “play more Rock Band 3.” Harmonix is encouraging that kind of behavior with a long list of new additions to its full band music game, including an injection of Johnny Cash. The Man In Black will lead off Rock Band 3’s list of downloadable songs with…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 30, 2010 - Uncategorized
Activision Rips Lawmakers’ Fixation On Postal
When the mainstream debate turns to violent video games, it’s inevitable that someone will dredge up Postal. It’s like the triple dog dare, or comparing someone to Hitler, a completely bogus trump card with no real argumentative value. George Rose, the chief public policy officer for Activision Blizzard, finally called bullshit today in a guest…
By Owen Good Published December 30, 2010 - Uncategorized
Get A Good Look At The All-New Tomb Raider
The rebirth of Lara Croft, simply known as Tomb Raider, may be the prettiest entry yet—even if Lara herself looks like she’s gone through hell. If you haven’t already seen what the new Tomb Raider looks like in the pages of Game Informer magazine, the outlet has published a big gallery of screen shots, concept…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 30, 2010 - Uncategorized
The PSP Had A Very Good Year (In Japan)
Sony’s six-year-old PSP may feel in need of an update, but the portable PlayStation managed to still be the bestselling platform in Japan this year, where Monster Hunter (and its clones) made 2010 great for the PSP. That’s according to a report from ASCII Media Works, publisher of Dengeki game magazines, which pegs the PSP…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 30, 2010