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Kotaku Off Topic: Oh, To Unsee
*Grumble Grumble* Oh, it’s Kotaku Off Topic time? I suppose we should get together and have some non-video game related discussion. It may make this Monday a little easier to forget. Perhaps we’re in need of those clean memory wiping services as fictionalized in movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Hell, I’ll even…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Splinter Cell: Conviction Gets Deniable Ops ‘Insurgency’ On May 27
Ubisoft is giving Splinter Cell Conviction a surge of fresh Deniable Ops, pricing and dating the Xbox 360 and PC game’s first batch of downloadable content for next week. For 800 Microsoft Points or $9.99, Splinter Cell Conviction fans will get four new maps for their troubles set in locales ranging “from the docks of…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 17, 2010 - Reviews
Looksley’s Line Up Micro-Review: Broken Promise
When we first saw the pseudo-3D wonder of Nintendo’s hidden object game Looksley’s Line Up in action, we wondered why we’d ever need a Nintendo 3DS. Now we know. Looksley’s Line Up is a hidden object puzzle game that works by showing you various scenes presented in a perspective-altering sort of pseudo 3D. While looking…
By Mike Fahey Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Mass Effect 2’s Planet Scanning Thrills Now More ‘Optimized’
The intergalactic hunt for minerals may not be Mass Effect 2’s most marketable feature, but BioWare’s latest update to the Xbox 360 version of the sci-fi role-playing game has “optimized” its mundane planet scanning, resulting in many happy players. “Scanning for minerals has been optimized” may sound vague, but the small change has been met…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
How Did You Get Fired From GameStop?
As seen on Joystick Division
By Mike Fahey Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
A Clearer Look At El Shaddai: Ascension Of The Metatron
For another glimpse at Ignition’s El Shaddai: Ascension Of The Metatron, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 game that could use a punchier title, come here. See how the unusual looking game with a Devil May Cry pedigree is shaping up. We’ll have to wait until E3 to get a more up close and personal…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
What Makes Spider-man Amazing? What Makes Him Noir?
Activision’s suiting up its Spider-man license again with the hopefully does not suck Spider-man: Shattered Dimensions. In one reality Spider-man’s stealthy. In another, he appears he may have been bitten by a radioactive Kratos. We’re still not clear on the alternate dimensions that old Spidey will find himself in—although the 2099 universe looks like a…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Bionic Commando, Dark Void Last Straws For Capcom
After not one, but two Western-developed sales blunders, Capcom is planning to stick with its home turf. Capcom’s president, Haruhiro Tsujimoto, tells the Financial Times that the company is giving up on developing new franchise titles in the West after the catastrophic sales of two of its attempts, Bionic Commando and Dark Void. Predicted to…
By Lauren Orsini Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Am I A Wake?
To: Bash From: Crecente Re: The Lunch I Made? Just Awful, Horrible And Rotten I flew in to LA last night for this week’s Game Critics pre-E3 judging. Met up with MTV’s Russ Frushtick for dinner at a Santa Monica Italian bistro and spent a chunk of the meal discussing Alan Wake. I can’t wait…
By Brian Crecente Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Rumor: ‘Premium’ Version Of PlayStation Network Unveiled At E3
Sony may finally be ready to make a little more cash from its PlayStation Network, with rumors that the PlayStation 3 maker will introduce a “premium” option at this year’s E3 popping up weeks before the big video game expo. According to a report from VG247, one part of Sony’s E3 showing will focus on…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
iTunes Chart Toppers: Zombie Infestations
It looks like Resident Evil, but it’s not Resident Evil. And it joins the other zombie games that are big on iPhones and iPads on this week’s charts. Here’s the full list of games for both platforms: Which do you think should be the top game? Check out all of our iPhone game reviews iPhone…
By Stephen Totilo Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Lessons Of The Mario Kart Cheaters
The more people play Mario Kart online with their friends, the less often they cheat — at least under their own name. That’s the finding of an expert on the psychology of games and the group tracking online Mario Kart. Last week I spoke to Jamie Madigan, a blogger and gamer with a PhD in…
By Stephen Totilo Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Metal Slug XX & Aqua Double Up The Shooting Action On Live Arcade This Week
Get ready to enjoy two heavy doses of heavy metal shoot ’em up action on Xbox Live Arcade this week as Metal Slug XX and Aqua digitally ship for the platform this Wednesday. Metal Slug XX costs a cool 1200 Microsoft Points, but gives Metal Slug fans more of that side-scrolling heavy machine gunning they…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Gears of War Designer On Gears 2’s ‘Masturbating’ Problem
It’s not every day that you get to hear Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski talk video game masturbation. Today, however, is that day. Lucky you! “I’ll always be a staunch and loyal supporter of everything we do, but at the same time, as a creative, I always know we can do better,” Bleszinski said…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Vote for the TV Set That’s Begging to Be Reduced to a Pile of Debris
Thanks to all who entered the Split/Second Faux Destructo Contest. We got some delightful suggestions for TV sets that you’d like to drive through and destroy, a la Split/Second. Your top ten nominees, complete with compelling arguments, await! Entry 1: Little House on the Prairie If i had a chance to drive through a set…
By Gawkercreative Published May 17, 2010 - Reviews
Split/Second Review: A Blue Shell Game
Not many racing games feature exploding silos that violently alter track layouts and redirect traffic onto an airstrip, requiring you to play chicken with a cargo plane apparently transporting fireballs. But Split/Second does. Why all the explosive destruction? Split/Second is pitched as a “dynamic new TV show” in which contestants compete in high-speed races made…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
In Ghost Trick, First You Die – Then You Have Fun
You can have your Gran Turismos. The GT that I’ve been anticipating playing again since I first tried it last week is Ghost Trick. The new DS game comes from Shu Takumi, the creator of the Ace Attorney games, Capcom’s chatty and funny courtroom dramas. Our boss Brian Crecente already played it, in Hawaii last…
By Stephen Totilo Published May 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Blizzard Ends StarCraft II Beta In Two Weeks
StarCraft II players currently on the free multiplayer gravy train are in for a bit of good news/bad news. First the bad: StarCraft II’s multiplayer beta is nearing its end and will shut down May 31. The good news? After a hiatus planned to last “several weeks while [Blizzard] make[s] some hardware and software configuration…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 17, 2010 -
UncategorizedSony’s VP Of Trash-Talking Sony’s CEO
What happens when Sony’s hilarious mouthpiece Kevin Butler goes head to head against Sony Computer Entertainment America’s CEO and President Jack Tretton in ModNation Racers? “Tell me more, grown-up child actor.” Kevin Butler hams it up in this extended commercial for ModNation Racers, discussing his success, creativity, and ham sandwiches, at least until SCEA CEO…
By Mike Fahey Published May 17, 2010