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  2009 In Review: The Trailers

  They’re at the forefront of marketing, rarely show gameplay and have been hopelessly corrupted by “developer diaries”, but that’s not to say we hate trailers. We like trailers. There are even some that we love. Whether indicative of a game or just the “feel” or “tone” of one still in development, the humble game trailer…

  By Luke Plunkett Published December 25, 2009
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  Southpeak Games Wishes You A Charmingly Awkward Christmas

  The gang from Southpeak Games wishes you and yours a happy holidays and a something 2010, showcasing one of the most adorably goofy groups of game industry professionals ever assembled, except for that one guy. Man, that one guy. He’s just not in the holiday spirit at all. I’m not going to single out which…

  By Mike Fahey Published December 25, 2009
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  Final Fantasy XIII Impressions: 15 Years Later, 25 Hours In

  Well, I’ve played twenty-five hours of Final Fantasy XIII in the past few days, and the one thing I can say with confidence is that I sure have played twenty-five hours of Final Fantasy XIII in a few days. I suppose I’m not “qualified” to write a “review” because I haven’t finished the game, and…

  Tim Rogers Published December 25, 2009
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  The Christmas (And Holiday) Cards We Got

  Out of the goodness of their hearts and the possible desire to remind us of their biggest and best brands, gaming companies of the world (and, I think, one regular reader) sent Kotaku the following batch of holiday cards. Click thumbnails to enlarge. These are the fronts of the cards, most of which were physically…

  By Stephen Totilo Published December 25, 2009
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  What Games Did You Get For Christmas Today, For Better Or Worse?

  You asked for Uncharted 2 but grandma got you .hack? Did you receive that prestige edition of Modern Warfare 2 you asked for? Is your Christmas console broken already? Celebrate or vent about your gaming Christmas gifts right here. We know the hurt you’re feeling now… or the joy. Let it out in the comments…

  By Stephen Totilo Published December 25, 2009
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  Left 4 Dead 2’s Midnight Riders Wish You Warm Christmas Beatings

  They may not be getting a starring role in Left 4 Dead 2 downloadable content as we’d hoped, but the self-proclaimed Greatest Southern Rock Supergroup of All Time is providing more musical back up than we were expecting. The Midnight Riders—or their management, we presume, since the band has been missing in action since October—have…

  By Michael McWhertor Published December 24, 2009
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  Big Final Fantasy XIII Sales Mean Big PS3 Sales In Japan

  When you’re selling over 1.5 million copies of Final Fantasy XIII to the Japanese game buying public, you’re gonna sell some PlayStation 3s to go along with it. How many? More than triple what Sony sold the week before. That big red slice in the Japanese hardware pie represents the 237,000-plus PS3s snapped up by…

  By Michael McWhertor Published December 24, 2009
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  What Are You Playing This Holiday Weekend?

  As I mentioned last weekend, my gaming options are limited to one platform—the Nintendo DS—and two games—The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks and Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes. And so it goes this weekend… I may get my hands on a few Wii games during Christmas break, but nothing I’m planning on playing for…

  By Michael McWhertor Published December 24, 2009
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  Here’s Nintendo’s Enviro-Friendly Game Case [Update]

  The TIE Fighter-Wing looking “green” game cases have been out for Xbox 360 since most November releases. Go Nintendo has an image of what they’ll look like for Wii games, beginning with Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers. As you can see, it keeps the octagonal hexagonal circular hub-and-spoke design on the right side,…

  By Owen Good Published December 24, 2009
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  Stolen 360 Helps Cops Bag Prolific Bronx Burglar

  Jeremiah Gilliam’s streak of 200-plus larcenies and burglaries came to an end when the criminal mastermind plugged in a jacked Xbox Live, leading the cops directly to his door. Police got a search warrant for Gilliam’s home in the Bronx based off tracing info gathered by Microsoft and Gilliam’s ISP. Seems he snatched an Xbox…

  By Owen Good Published December 24, 2009
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  Two Big Outlets List FIFA World Cup Edition for April

  EA Sports has not yet announced a date for its 2010 FIFA World Cup version, but both Amazon and Gamefly have it listed for April 27. World Cup 2010 begins June 11 in South Africa. EA has produced a dedicated version in every World Cup year going back to 1998; Pasta Padre notes the most…

  By Owen Good Published December 24, 2009
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  Rock Band Takes A Gamble On Even More Country

  Harmonix, clearly knowing when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em, has gone all in—in terms of bringing exactly seven new country tinged tracks to Rock Band next week. Rock Band and Rock Band 2 owners with a taste for twang should count their money, then decide if new downloadable tunes from Alan Jackson,…

  By Michael McWhertor Published December 24, 2009
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  Guess What San Jose Mercury News’ GOTY Is?

  Street Fighter IV wowed the San Jose Mercury News enough this year to earn it’s Game of the Year award. No, there won’t be a parade — have you seen the streets in downtown San Jose? Mercury News writer Gieson Cacho put together a top 10 list the likes of which I’m more used to…

  By AJ Glasser Published December 24, 2009
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  Final Fantasy XIII Versus The Competition, By The Numbers

  Square Enix released Final Fantasy XIII last week, a release that, in its first four days, sold more than 1.5 million copies. But how did the competition fare with the Final Fantasy sales juggernaut vying for Japanese gamer’s yen? Quite well, especially if you consider the competition to be New Super Mario Bros. Wii, which…

  By Michael McWhertor Published December 24, 2009
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  Why Can’t This Ever Happen At The Airports I Use?

  This is quite possibly the only Army of Two: The 40th Day teaser that’s made me laugh. Probably because I’ve spent six hours in airports so far this holiday and have another four ahead of me to go home. I don’t even care that it’s a United Kingdom teaser instead of a North American one.…

  By AJ Glasser Published December 24, 2009
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  New Screens For Carrier Command Remake

  Bohemia Interactive, creators of Operation Flashpoint and ArmA, are working on a remake of the classic Carrier Command. Things had been pretty quiet on that front, but then we got these new screens.

  By Luke Plunkett Published December 24, 2009
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  Sony Add NBA, NHL Games To The PlayStation Network

  Continuing moves made earlier in the year, when MLB, UFC and wrestling content was made available on the PlayStation Store, Sony yesterday announced there are now NBA and NHL games ready for download as well. The NBA content is the more appealing of the two, Sony promising “select games” will be made available every week…

  By Luke Plunkett Published December 24, 2009
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  Mommy, Where Do Game Trailers Come From?

  As we’ll get into on Christmas day in a little more detail, video game trailers are big business these days. But did you ever stop and wonder where they actually come from? The Kartel did, so went and paid a visit to FAILSAFE Creative Group, an ominous-sounding company that specialises in the production of trailers…

  By Luke Plunkett Published December 24, 2009
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  Batman Was Great, But Remember, Batman Was Late

  Game delays are big news and bad news. But once a game comes out and proves to be good, game delays are often forgotten news. Batman: Arkham Asylum was delayed in 2009. Its lead creator recalled that forgotten moment. You would think that delaying a game is an awkward process. The game is closing in…

  By Stephen Totilo Published December 24, 2009
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  It’s White Knight Chronicles, Only This Time In English

  Level 5’s White Knight Chronicles, a previously Japan-only title, is to be released in the US early next year. Want to see what it looks like in English? Click to view

  By Luke Plunkett Published December 24, 2009