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The StarCraft II Beta Test Has Officially Begun
Hell, it’s about time… to start playing some StarCraft II! Blizzard has announced that the closed beta test for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is officially a go, with invitations going out to “thousands of gamers.” Yeah, check your e-mail! Scratch that. Check your Battle.net account! That’s where you’ll find your StarCraft II closed beta…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Konami Sets N3II: Ninety-Nine Nights For Spring Stateside
The follow-up to Phantagram and Q Entertainment’s Ninety-Nine Nights for the Xbox 360, now in the hands of developer Feelplus, is coming to North America. Konami has loosely dated what it’s calling N3II: Ninety-Nine Nights for spring. That’s the same seasonal window for the Japanese release of the hack and slash Xbox 360 exclusive. Based…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 17, 2010 - Reviews
STALKER: Call Of Pripyat Review: Third Time’s A Charm?
STALKER: Call of Pripyat is the third game in the first-person shooter STALKER series, but seeing as it’s also meant to fix its predecessors many, glaring failures, it’s also a first. Again set in a near-future world centred around the Chernobyl exclusion zone, Call of Pripyat is supposed to be more focused, and more importantly…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
No, There Isn’t A Jimi Hendrix: Rock Band In The Works
The internet is swirling with rumors that Harmonix is working on a standalone version of Rock Band featuring the music of rock legend Jimi Hendrix. According to Harmonix, those rumors are false. The tips are rolling in, citing websites from Billboard to Ultimate Guitar, all referencing a L.A. Times interview with Hendrix’s sister Janie. Discussing…
By Mike Fahey Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
The Real StarCraft II Beta System Requirements Have Arrived
Blizzard has revealed the real minimum PC requirements for playing in the StarCraft II beta test, and while not quite as low as the imaginary ones we posted last month, they’re still relatively modest. Last month Blizzard accidentally posted what looked like World of Warcraft system specs as ones for the StarCraft II beta test,…
By Mike Fahey Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Final Fantasy XIII, Chrono Trigger and Kingdom Hearts: The Statues
The small Square-Enix booth at Toy Fair 2010 had some fancy Final Fantasy jewelry, the newest versions of upcoming Final Fantasy XIII statues, some tiny Chrono Trigger pieces and some new Kingdom Hearts figures. Sorry, I didn’t photograph the jewelry.
By Stephen Totilo Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
There Were Video Game Bobbleheads In Here Somewhere
Somewhere in the crowd of Funko’s Wacky Wobbler bobbleheads (and lamps) at Toy Fair 2010 were familiar gaming faces. Sonic is a prototype. Also new for 2010 are the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars ones. No shaking, please.
By Stephen Totilo Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Pandaren Monk Generates $1.1 Million Worth Of Wishes
In November, Blizzard released a Pandaren Monk in-game pet for World of Warcraft on the company’s online store, with half of the proceeds from the sale pledged to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The $10 item generated $1.1 million for charity. The Pandaren Monk, an adorable little anthropomorphic panda that follows players around as they explore Azeroth,…
By Mike Fahey Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Talk Live To Xbox’s Director of Product Management Right Now On Kotaku Talk Radio
Join us live today on CBS Radio for our latest episode of Kotaku Talk Radio. It is time to talk Halo Reach, Xbox Live, Project Natal with the product manager of all things Xbox 360. Call in now to talk to Microsoft’s director of Xbox 360 product management Aaron Greenberg. The show kicks off at…
By Brian Crecente Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
“Demon King” Descendant and Strategy Game Namesake Figure Skates In the Olympics
The inspiration behind Koei’s classic turn-based strategy game Nobunaga’s Ambition lives on, as Nobunaga Oda’s 17th descendant takes to the ice in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Nobunaga Oda was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the rule of the Shogun in the late sixteenth century. 23-year-old Nobunari Oda, Nobunaga’s 17th descendant,…
By Mike Fahey Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Halo Legends DVD Review: Ring Around The Halo Universe
Delve deeper into the Halo Universe with seven animated shorts from acclaimed animation studios in Halo Legends. Does anime and Master Chief mix? Announced in July of last year, Halo Legends is an animated anthology that gives five of Japan’s top animation studios a chance to expand on the fiction of Microsoft’s beloved franchise. Studio…
By Mike Fahey Published February 17, 2010 -
UncategorizedWhite Knight Chronicles: Sitting Down Is So Hot
I’ve a feeling my time with White Knight Chronicles would have been a great deal more entertaining had these folks been by my side. How did the Japanese ever play this game without voice chat? This little advertisement displays the best part of any online game – getting together with like-minded individuals and not doing…
By Mike Fahey Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Metro 2033 Struts Its Direct X 11 Stuff
4A Games and THQ would like everyone to know that their upcoming post-apocalyptic shooter Metro 2033 will feature “the most advanced DX11 techniques yet seen” on your PC. If advanced depth of field effects and full tessellation on character models means something to you, than you’ll want to keep an eye out for Metro 2033,…
By Mike Fahey Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Ultima Creator, NCSoft Exec Returns to Gaming
After a two-year break from gaming, and a short trip into space to visit the International Space Station, Ultima creator and former NCsoft executive Richard Garriott is back, this time as the technical director of a social media company. Austin-based Portalarium will focus on “developing and publishing online social games, virtual worlds and related services…
By Brian Crecente Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Mile Marker 22: Rocketbirds: Revolution!
Tired of stodgy corporate games made by The Man and his minions? We’re playing the 31 best indie games for a change of pace —- and so we can judge them. Today, Rocketbirds: Revolution! In A Sentence Take control of HardBoiled Chicken in this web-based side-scroller as you shoot your way through the avian army…
By Brian Crecente Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Talk Amongst Yourselves
Video game debates can involve the most inane things. But whether Donkey Kong wearing a tie is “inane” is just one thing you can comment about here. All video game talk is welcome. Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ.
By Stephen Totilo Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Nier Takes Down a Giant Shade
When last we joined Nier, the protagonist of Square Enix’s upcoming role-playing game was fighting off the Giant Shade invading his village. In this latest trailer, we get an eye-full of Nier combat and an ear-full of salty language as he takes down the creature with the help of Kaine. The PS3 and Xbox 360…
By Brian Crecente Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
Come Chat with Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg on Kotaku Talk Radio Today
Join us live today on CBS Radio for our latest episode of Kotaku Talk Radio with the Xbox 360’s director of product management. Hot off his appearance at last week’s big Xbox 360 showcase event in San Francisco, Aaron Greenberg joins us live to chat about the console, gaming in general and to take your…
By Brian Crecente Published February 17, 2010 - Uncategorized
White Port
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: White Chili Man, I love chili. Family here is LEERY of it, because I like chili with beans. And while they like green beans, beans that make you, for a lack of a better word, toot don’t get much love from the Japanese folks in chez Ashcraft. But white chili?…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 17, 2010