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Why Isn’t There A Big Nintendo Sign In Kyoto?
Kyoto is not only rich in Japanese history. It is also rich in video game history. The prefecture is home to Nintendo. But you wouldn’t know that if you visited. So why not put a display on the headquarters for all to see? The question was put to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata at a recent…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
The 2010 Club Nintendo’s Members-Only Rewards Are…
Did you remember to register for Gold and Platinum membership status for Club Nintendo? Kotaku had a public service announcement and everything. If you did remember, here’s what you get: Platinum members receive this statue. Pat yourself on the back, you’re awesome! And Gold members get this. A calendar. Thanks to everybody who sent this…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
Sony: Nintendo, Let’s Work Together!
Sony and Nintendo may be mortal enemies in many regards, but there’s one area the two should be working together: 3D. At least, that’s what Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida reckons. “I have hope that they have a broader perspective with 3D,” he told IGN. “When you listen to what they are saying about…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
Bullet Hell Shooter Models Don’t Get Better Than This
A Type-B plane from Cave’s shoot-em-up DoDonPachi Dai Ou Jou is getting immortalized in resin. Priced at yen;14,700 (US$166), the made-in-Japan 1/100 fighter jet is the latest Cave shooter craft from model manufacturer RC Berg. Previously, RC Berg released the Type-A plane from DoDonPachi Dai Ou Jou as well as several planes from Cave’s Ketsui…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
Okami Merchandise Reaches Its Ultimate, Cuddly Conclusion
For all the magic, combat and cleavage that features in Capcom’s Okami games, there’s always a white elephant in the room: the dogs are cute, and they are cuddly Whether that be Okami’s adult wolf or upcoming DS title Okamiden’s pup, you don’t feel like high-fiving your hero at the end of a battle. You…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
Will Nintendo Release Its Games On, Say, Apple Hardware?
During a Q&A session during a recent investors meeting, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata was asked whether or not Nintendo will be releasing its games on hardware produced by other companies. “Nintendo’s software and hardware are the same thing,” he replied. “Other companies don’t share Nintendo’s values or traditions when it comes to creating devices. We…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
Super Nintendo’s Celebratory T-Shirt
Japanese shirtsmiths King of Games are celebrating their 8th birthday. Happy birthday! To celebrate, they present you with this cheery Super Nintendo t-shirt. The Super Nintendo is a rare instance I, as a PAL gamer, feel sorry for Americans. Grey and purple are so drab compared to the chipper colour scheme used in the Japanese…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
Let’s Guess Mario Creator’s New Game!
Shigeru Miyamoto has created a plethora of game characters and games. Many of his ideas come from his hobbies. He has expressed his desire in making an all-new character. That could mean an all new game. But what? Miyamoto’s game design M.O. is often based on his hobbies. He takes up gardening and makes Pikmin.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
When Britney Spears Meets Japanese Hack-And-Slash
After nearly a decade of trying, Microsoft still hasn’t cracked the Japanese market with its Xbox consoles. We’re not quite sure why, what with savvy cross-promotions like this! This disc was a prize offered by Japanese magazine Famitsu back in 2002. It’s a DVD combo, including a demo of From Software’s hack-and-slash title Otogi, some…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
You Should Know One of These Boy Band Members
If you like Clint Eastwood movies, that is. Nintendo has repeatedly roped in Japanese boy band Arashi, which means “storm” in Japanese, to promote its games. The band appeared in television ads for Super Mario Kart Wii, Super Mario Bros. Wii, Super Mario Galaxy 2 and more recently Wii Party Wii Party is Nintendo’s forthcoming…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 -
UncategorizedWoW: Cataclysm’s Worgens Are A Flirty Bunch
The Worgen – the “Wolverines of the Alliance” – are a new race available in World of Warcraft’s expansion Cataclysm. And they’re a saucy lot. Just listen to them, in these files yanked from Cataclysm’s beta, which kicked off today. The female is a hairy strumpet. The male? Austin Powers with a furry fetish. It’s…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
Roger Ebert Admits His Mistake
“I was a fool for mentioning video games in the first place,” writes the famed movie critic. “I would never express an opinion on a movie I hadn’t seen.” This past April, Ebert wrote a post titled “Video games can never be art” that carried dogmatic statements like this: “Let me just say that no…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
THQ Promising Big-Name Signings (But Who Could They Be?)
Publisher THQ is going after the “core” market hard. In addition to an existing stable of talent like Relic (Company of Heroes), the publisher has signed Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki for a game. So, who’s next? We ask because THQ is promising more than just Itagaki’s name on a contract. A lot more.…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
Will Rampage Jackson Ever Get His Own Video Game?
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has gone from mixed martial arts to Hollywood, recently playing B.A. Baracus in the A-Team movie. Next up? How about his own video game. Jackson is a gamer and once told ESPN that he had hooked up two original Xboxes in his personal limo just so he could play Halo. “You can’t…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
The Nintendo Love Tester Was More Than A Vitality Sensor
Nintendo hasn’t always made video games. It’s over 100 years old, and in that time has made stuff like cards and children’s toys. Oh, and also love testers, like this one, designed by the man who created the Game Boy. In 1969, Gunpei Yokoi – who has Game & Watch, the Game Boy and Metroid…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
Now Square Enix Has A Monster Hunter Type Game
In Japan, Capcom’s self-descriptive Monster Hunter series (above, pictured) is enormously popular, selling millions. Namco Bandai has created its own Monster Hunteresque game, the popular God Eater. Now it’s Square Enix’s turn. Dubbed Lord of Arcana, this forthcoming PSP title from Square Enix lets players create customizable warriors that slay large beasts. There are quests,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
The Legend Of Team Fortress 2: Jar Of Piss Of Time
We like Zelda. We like Team Fortress 2. By that thinking, then, it is safe to assume we like it when the two are combined. Last year, Steam user goldenhearted took Valve’s multiplayer shooter and transplanted its lovable characters into other people’s game worlds. Mass Effect, Street Fighter, even Persona 4. If you’ve seen these…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
Fable III Going Episodic, Downloadable
Fable II’s episodic experiment seems to have been a success, because Lionhead and Microsoft will be doing the same thing with upcoming Xbox RPG Fable III, releasing the game in downloadable chapters over Xbox Live. It won’t replace the retail version, of course, as it’ll be shipping shortly afterwards. But it’ll be a nice complement…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2010 - Uncategorized
In Defence of the Cut-scene
A lot can (and has) been argued against the use of cut-scenes in games. They are broadly seen as an archaic film mechanic that stumbled into gaming convention in an age when games were too young and naïve to put forward any other alternative. I agree wholeheartedly that instead of relying on the storytelling mechanics…
By Kate Finegan Published June 30, 2010