Kotaku: ‘Shop Contest: Bored on the Fourth of July

Yep, you can tell where this one’s headed. Yes, yes, the Founding Fathers – TJ, Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Col. Sanders – they were all awesome guys. Four score and … a bunch of years ago, on July 4th, 1776, they defeated the British at Gettysburg and established such concepts as “freedom,” “no taxation without…

Sunday Comics

Penny Arcade published June 30. PvPonline published June 29. ActionTrip published June 28. EXTRALIFE published June 29. Ctrl+Alt+Del published June 25. Dueling Analogs published June 28. Nerf NOW published June 25. Rooster Teeth published July 1. Monday Night Crew published June 30. Virtual Shackles published July 2. Little Gamers published June 30. Dotgif published June…

Kotaku Off-Topic: ∫elf-Evidence

Today being Independence Day, we’re requiring all who comment to make their S’es look like Fs, in the tyranny-free official off-topick threade of Kotockyu. In a draft of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson originally used the word “subjects,” then scrubbed out the word and replaced it with “citizens.” It’s a very significant choice of words.…

Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: Up the Wall Edition Winners

8thR Arrow_Six boopadoo cake.0 crzayzn_dude David Falkinburg discoron77 gorp jawadkho kneeofwisdom MisterSensation mr.good.kat Mr S nyleveia Rictor SammiiDoogles sensai.gamer SpringerFinger Zhejan Zinger314 Psykofaze

Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: Up the Wall Edition Winners

As I feared, last week’s calamity with the image server all but ruined one of the best ‘Shop Contest roundups we’ve had in this feature’s short history. I’m still pressing ahead, though. To recap: This is for the ‘Shop Contest of June 20. Participants were given a picture McWhertor E3 photographer Scott snapped of the…

Shooting (Among the) Stars in Halo: Reach

Teased in Microsoft’s E3 keynote, seen by yours truly and played by Totilo, here’s a solid minute of gameplay in Halo: Reach‘s space combat sequence that GameTrailers just threw up on its site. Wait, that didn’t come out right. Eh, what I meant to say is, GT, got its hands on something you’ll probably want…

If There’s Only One Team on the Field, Is It Still a Winner?

Earlier this week, we learned that Madden NFL 11 had created a new player attribute, but then sold the naming rights to a deodorant maker. And a million knees jerked in unison. So this is what passes for innovation at EA Sports! Am I also getting a discount on the price? And, this old saw:…

Box Scores: Holy Crap, We Have a Box Score

Bristol Rovers aren’t a good side. They finished in the middle of League One this past season. But in HatchC2’s FIFA 10 universe, they’re in their third English Premier League season, and first Champions League finals appearance, facing Bayern Munich. More than that, the Pirates have dispatched AC Milan and Barcelona getting to this stage.…

The Moneysaver: Freedom Isn’t Free

If you don’t throw in your buck o’five who will? Freedom costs $1.05. With free shipping from Newegg. Hardware • The Xbox 360 Final Fantasy XIII Special Edition Bundle is $249.99 after a $100 coupon from NewEgg. Normally $349.99. Use coupon code XBOX625B. [LogicBUY] • An Xbox 360 12-month Gold Subscription Card is $29.99 (normally…

Programming Note

In observation of the U.S. Independence Day weekend, Kotaku is on an abbreviated posting schedule today and tomorrow. Posts will be filed every two hours. All weekend standing features will still publish. To everyone in America, enjoy the Fourth of July; and to everyone not in America, you enjoy it too. Or else!

The Week in Review: Conflict Consoles

To be told you paid money for a games console whose unseen components ended or ruined lives a world away is more than uncomfortable. It’s angering. That much was clear in the discussion of two of Kotaku’s top stories this week, concerning what console makers are, can, and could reasonably do about the use of…

This Might Be The Best Transformer Ever

I don’t mean the greatest Transformers character ever. That would be an exercise in folly. No, I mean the greatest Transformers toy ever. Autobot powerhouse Omega Supreme was already on the top shelf of Transformers figures, thanks to his scale and triple transforming threat (he could break into three separate things), but this new custom…

What Is The Definitive Video Game?

Let’s talk, it’s Tell Us Dammit. Tell. Us. Dammit. 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…

Playing Tetris On A 3D Display Made Of Water

We’re at a stage in human scientific advancement where Tetris in 3D isn’t that mind-blowing. But Tetris in 3D using water, that’s impressive. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have found a way to create three-dimensional images using a projector and layers of water droplets. The water drops in curtains, while the projector switches up what’s…

3DS Games Could Look Better If They Ditch The 3D

According to “developers working on the system”, games running on the Nintendo 3DS can look (and perform) even better than those we’ve seen on one condition: they lose the 3D. That’s what a report on IGN says, as developers “could theoretically use the extra processing power for additional texture passes and more complex object and…

Warning: Little Mac Now Shoots Flaming Balls

Punch-Out!! hero Little Mac now floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee and can blow your fingers clean off with his flaming balls. As seen by Kotaku reader ChillyBilly at an unnamed fireworks vendor.

Kotaku Off Topic: Happy America

Man, who could use a little independence? Good thing this pre-Fourth of July edition of Kotaku Off Topic is now serving up all you can eat American pride! Let’s fatten up on some patriotism! Hey, when did Captain America start carrying a gun? Nevermind. That’s kind of a silly question. A better question is: what…

Super Mario Bros. Finally, Faithfully Ported To Sega Genesis

With Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario enjoying a comfortable friendship these days, a port of Super Mario Bros. to its 16-bit rival console doesn’t seem that strange anymore. What’s somewhat more surprising is how solid of a port it is. It looks and almost sounds exactly like the NES original Super Mario Bros., a game…

Madden NFL Shows Us Eight from the AFC

The annual screenshotapalooza for the upcoming Madden commenced today with 42 images of the eight teams in the AFC East and West. That’s the Jets, Patriots, Dolphins, Bills, Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs and, of course, the Raida Organization. The overall team ratings for each division are: AFC East New York Jets – 89 (4th overall) New…

Madden NFL 11: AFC East and West