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Ex-Con Exec: Sony Should Leave The Game Business
At one time, Takafumi Horie was the most powerful man in Japan. Now, he’s not. He does have a lot of followers on Twitter. The Tokyo University dropout headed up internet portal Livedoor and attempted to not only buy an Osaka baseball team, but also carry out a hostile takeover of a major Japanese television…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
Shenmue, Billy Hatcher, Meet The Xbox Live Avatars
I’m not saying this is worth paying for – no 360 avatar gear is worth paying for – but a Shenmue get-up for the little guys is certainly worth pining for. It’s part of a range of gear released to advertise Sonic & Sega All-Star Racing, and along with a bunch of other rubbish, there’s…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
Miyamoto: Last Year, Nintendo Was Short On the Fun
2008 was a blast. Remember that? Non. Stop. Party. 2009? Well… In 2008, Nintendo released Wii titles like Animal Crossing: City Folk, Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Bros and Wii Music. In 2009, it didn’t! When asked by The Economist why Nintendo had a better year in 2008 than last, Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Mario…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
First King Of Fighters XIII Footage (And It’s Tiny!)
There’s a new King of Fighters game coming. And yeah, it’s got Mai in it. Want to see what it looks like? Here’s some shaky-cam footage from the game’s public debut in Japan. It’s hardly high definition, I know (sorry!), but at this stage, it’s all we’ve got. Special thanks to Kotaku Japan for providing…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
I Like Mortal Kombat’s New Direction
As seen on Woot
By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
The Master Sword, Now Safe For Children
Previous replica Master Swords we’ve seen have been, well, dangerous. Pointy. But this one? It’s soft. Widely available. And you can hit small children with it. It’s a new sword by toy company Nerf, and even a sideways glance will tell you that garish shade of pink’s primary purpose may well be to hold off…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
Mai Shiranui Confirmed For King of Fighters XIII
There was something missing from The King of Fighters XII. Make that, there were many things missing from KOFXII. But one of the most notable was jiggly ninja character Mai Shiranui. She did not make it into The King of Fighters XII, but was mentioned as possible DLC last year. “I think the thinking is…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
Hey, Olivia Munn Was Cut From Iron Man 2, Then Added Back
Olivia Munn, host of television program Attack of the Show! and Playboy covergirl, was slated to appear in forthcoming Hollywood film Iron Man 2. Then she ended up on the editing room floor. “As they started to edit they realized it was becoming darker than what they’d expected and what my scenes had allowed for,”…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
The Dirty Men Of The Wild West’s Last Days
You know, Red Dead Redemption could be the worst game of the year, and I think I’d still enjoy it. It’s predecessor, Red Dead Revolver was pretty awful, and I loved it. Why? Because Rockstar just “get” Westerns, that’s why. A good Western setting or story can get me past poor gameplay. And a good…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
What Does Kingdom Hearts 3 Depend On?
Kingdom Hearts is the Square Enix role-playing series staring Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. The series has had several spin-offs, but gamers are eagerly awaiting Kingdom Hearts 3. “About the next title, Kingdom Hearts 3 depends on Final Fantasy Versus XIII, but development of the next title is already underway,” Kingdom Heart…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
“Wii HD” Device: Saviour, Or Snake Oil?
Unless you’re cheating and playing via an emulator on a PC, the Nintendo Wii can’t do high definition. One company, however, claims that by using its new device, it can VDIGI reckons that its new VD-W3 upscaler can take a Wii game, perform a little magic on it then display it in full, 1080p fidelity…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
The Console With The Best Game Scores Is…
According to Japanese game magazine Famitsu, that is. The publication has crunched the review scores and has listed the platforms in order with the best library of games. In the current issue of Famitsu, reviews until late 2009 were considered. Famitsu grades scores on a scale of 40 points out of 40. For games to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
The PSP Is Dead, Long Live The PSP
The PSP turned five today. For some, it was cause for celebration, but in light of other events taking place this week, I’m not in such a joyous mood. My mood is more…optimistic. Why? Because the PSP’s fifth birthday might also be one of its last. Nintendo’s continued dominance of the portable market outside Japan…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
Do You Love This Love Plus DSi XL? How About This One?
For a moment, forget that Nintendo is releasing new portable hardware. Just imagine, there’s you, schoolgirl Manaka and a DSi XL. Dating simulator Love Plus is quite popular in Japan. It is getting an updated version this summer called Love Plus Plus, complete with special DSi XL bundles that come in three colors and three…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 25, 2010 -
UncategorizedRetro: See Mario & Starfox’s First Appearance On A 3D Portable
Fan site PlanetVB has posted what it claims to be the first ever online footage of two unreleased games for Nintendo’s first 3D system, 1995’s Virtual Boy. These two titles, Mario Land and Starfox, both of which were most likely never completed, were only shown at demonstration events all the way back in 1995. We’ve…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
Halo Creators Have Been Hitting The Mountain Dew
It’s understandable that game creators hold their franchises dear, and think the world of them. But Bungie’s hopes for the upcoming Halo: Reach might be going a little too far. Speaking with Industrygamers, Bungie’s Brian Jarrard has revealed he has some high hopes for the latest Halo game. High hopes indeed “Are there more stories…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
Prince of Persia Has Lost Players to God of War, Says Ubisoft
The animation director for Prince of Persia says the game’s suffered from a migration of players away from it and to the God of War series, and says his game’s tamer visuals, particularly death animations, are the reason why. “When we make questionnaires and we ask, ‘what did you play in the past?’ The answer’s…
By Owen Good Published March 25, 2010 - Uncategorized
Serious Sam HD Gets Its First Encounter on Steam
Serious Sam HD just landed a deathmatch update on the Steam PC gaming service. The Serious Sam HD:The First Encounter Deathmatch update includes deathmatch multiplayer added for up to 16 players, seven new maps and 22 new achievements. There’s also an updated spectator mode. There’s also a bunch more little dodads and tweaks that you…
By Brian Crecente Published March 24, 2010 - Uncategorized
Kotaku Off Topic: We Can Relax Now, They Found The Universe
While we’ve been busy discussing video games, space scientists found the rest of the universe, and it wasn’t behind the couch, as we last surmised. This is my first time posting Kotaku Off Topic, so forgive me if I go astray. McWhertor is enjoying a day off, while I desperately attempt to get things done…
By Mike Fahey Published March 24, 2010