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Happy 25th Birthday, Nintendo Entertainment System!
It’s not just Super Mario Bros. turning 25 this year. Today, October 18, marks the 25th anniversary of the Nintendo Entertainment System going on sale in the United States. While a widespread release of the console wouldn’t take place until 1986 (the same year it was released in Europe), it was in late 1985 at…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
Fable Is Not Limited To A Trilogy
Action role-playing game Fable III is out this month. Fable III? That’s a trilogy, and trilogies are a good way to end a series. “Forget about the word ‘trilogy’,” Fable designer Peter Molyneux said. “I hate limiting ourselves to a trilogy.” “I want you to feel that you’re on a journey in Fable and I’m…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
Young Idol Date Scandal Ends In Resignation, Tears
Earlier this month, 56-year-old Sakura Wars co-creator Hiroji Oji was spotted staying over at 22-year-old AKB48 singer Sayaka Akimoto’s residence. The scandal that ensued made the papers and the morning talk shows. Both denied that there was any hanky panky. The tabloid that broke the story, however, claimed that the lights in Akimoto’s abode were…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
Mario’s New Red DSi XL Coming To America
That very snappy red DSi XL that was minted for Super Mario Bros’ 25th birthday? It looks like it’s coming to the US market, courtesy of a listing on Walmart’s website. As you can see, it appears to be the same red unit offered in Japan (and also confirmed for the European market), right down…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 18, 2010 -
UncategorizedLatest Gran Turismo 5 Trailer Might Be Short On A Release Date…
…but it’s got some Alfa 8C goodness and that should count for something. The oft-delayed game was first shown at the E3 gaming convention in 2006. GT5 was dated for March 2010 for Japan, but delayed. It was then slated for November 2, and is now expected to be out “soon”. That’s better than “later”.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
These Halo: Reach Figures Don’t Know The Battle Is Already Lost
The first series of Halo: Reach action figures was missing a few key characters. Who are, of course, included in the second series from toy company McFarlane. Spartan 259, Carter, is the leader of Noble Team, and was missing from the game’s first wave of figures. He’s joined in this “advance wave” of series 2…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
NSFW Report: These Bad Words Are Okay In Pokemon: Black And White
Words might be words, but some people are offended by certain words. That’s why game makers — especially those making games for younger players — block certain words. Apparently, Pokemon: Black and White does not. WARNING: OFFENSIVE WORDS AHEAD. A Japanese blog has gone through and attempted to enter a wide variety of questionable words…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 18, 2010 -
UncategorizedHere’s A New Use For Your Old PlayStation 3
Turning an old PS3 into a George Foreman grill is silly. Those things get hot! You’re far better off turning it into something useful. Like a bed for your pets. So cuddly. Which upon further viewings also looks a lot like a coffin for your pets, which makes it cuddly and – ultimately – practical.…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
Bayonetta Designer, Now Hairy And Hunky
Hideki Kamiya has designed a handful of games like Viewtiful Joe, Okami and Bayonetta. In Bayonetta, the heroine sports a body suit made from her own hair. Kamiya, however, is short on hair. He’s bald! That’s fine. Having hair or not having hair does not impact designing games. Also, you can be handsome and totally…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
Final Fantasy XIII Developers Couldn’t Cater To Western Tastes
While we’d be hesitant to use the word “failure” in relation to Final Fantasy XIII, “disappointment” works just fine. If only Square had known people outside Japan wouldn’t like the game before they released it! Oh, wait. They did. The latest issue of Game Developer magazine has a fascinating insight into the development of Square…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 18, 2010 -
UncategorizedA Look Back At Super Mario
This fall marks the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. After appearing in 1981’s Donkey Kong and 1983’s Mario Bros., the overall-wearing plumber got “Super” in 1985. Here is a look back at Super Mario’s promotional art through the past quarter century. Note: Super Mario Bros. 2 was not originally released in the USA, but…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 18, 2010 -
UncategorizedThe World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Cinematic Introduction
Here’s the cinematic introduction to the Cataclysm expansion pack, due Dec. 7, and it features one pissed-off, tormented dragon. The video is 2:30 long. Not sure if this is the same thing that Blizzard said will be broadcast during the Cowboys-Vikings game currently in the first half. We’re capturing video from that and if it’s…
By Owen Good Published October 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Comic Junker
To: Luke From: Owen Re: Half a Dozen Flags We’re in the process of remaking the Sunday Comics, something well overdue for some new strips. This morning we put out a call for suggestions and in the next week we’ll be putting together a list of candidates for the community to vote on Sunday. We’ve…
By Owen Good Published October 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
The Week In Games: Everything’s Ring-A-Ding
Fallout: New Vegas is assuredly this week’s top drop for the core, but Kirby’s Epic Yarn and EA Sports MMA also are worth a look for fans of Nintendo scrollers and simulation fighters. Today Kirby’s Epic Yarn (Wii) – A Kotaku editor’s choice, this side scroller returns everyone’s favorite pink blob to a beautifully rendered…
By Owen Good Published October 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
How To Keep Your Man: Play Video Games
Cosmopolitan, which formerly advocated unplugging your man’s console to improve communication about feelings, now gets on the games bandwagon as a relationship builder. The survey it cites is three years old. From this month’s edition, seen via GamePro.
By Owen Good Published October 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Kotaku’s Top 5 List Of Top 10 Lists
Each week throws off several new video game lists ranging from the humorous to the trivial. What’s better? A list of those. Here’s a roundup of the rundowns out there. •Top 10 PC Games That We All Want On a Console. [Planet Xbox 360] This is a good list but I tell you, if they…
By Owen Good Published October 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Kinect’s Solved Its Sitting-Down Problem
The subject of much gumflapping post E3, Kinect’s ability to handle players who are sitting down has been more finely tuned, Eurogamer reports. It’s now calibrated to focus on your neck-al area rather than your ass-al area. The “base node” used to create the skeletal models that the controller recognizes has been switched from the…
By Owen Good Published October 17, 2010 -
UncategorizedWatch Owen Get Destroyed By Yahoo! Games In EA Sports MMA
I can speak highly of the authenticity of EA Sports MMA’s Live Broadcast because, were I to fight a mixed martial arts bout in real life, I’d get wrecked exactly this bad, too. This is a demonstration of a Live Broadcast, an innovative and highly entertaining feature in EA Sports MMA, due on shelves Tuesday.…
By Owen Good Published October 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Think We Need New Comics? We Agree. Tell Us Your Favorites.
The tree of video game webcomics must be refreshed from time to time with new blood. Sunday Comics, begun more than a year ago, has held the same crop of features for about that long, dropping out some strips that either closed, went entirely off message, or didn’t update reliably enough. What you’ve seen today…
By Owen Good Published October 17, 2010