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  The Mass Effect 2 Launch Trailer Has It All

  Action, adventure, drama, and even a little romance, the launch trailer for Mass Effect 2 covers all the bases. BioWare sure knows how to put together a trailer, don’t they? This Mass Effect 2 launch trailer looks like more of a movie trailer than anything from a video game, which is completely appropriate when you…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 21, 2010
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  Game of the Year 2009: The Popular Vote

  We’ve had our say, announcing which three games we think should be named game of the year for 2009. Now it’s your turn. Over the week we’ve laid out our thoughts about why Assassin’s Creed II, Demon’s Souls and Uncharted 2 is, or isn’t, the best game of 2009. And make no mistake, we still…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 21, 2010
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  An Attempt To Solve The iPhone’s Joysticklessness, Radically

  There’s a big problem with video games on Apple’s iPod Touch and iPhone. There’s no joystick to control them with, no directional pad to press. Just glass to touch and a device to tilt. At last, there’s a strange solution. Prepare to welcome to the world the two-directional virtual joystick, a virtual slider rendered on…

  By Stephen Totilo Published January 21, 2010
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Whether or not you’ve noticed the TAY theme this week, you may still comment here about video games. Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ.

  By Stephen Totilo Published January 21, 2010
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  Capcom May Announce New Versus Game This Year

  Capcom plans to announce a new game in their Versus series this year if Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars sells well enough in the U.S., the game’s producer tells Kotaku. When Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars hits stores and the Wii next week it will be the seventh fighting game from Capcom to blend characters…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 21, 2010
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  The Heartbreak of An Obi-Wan Haircut

  To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Pricey Bags Until today, Mini-Bash hadn’t had a haircut in months. And when Mrs. Bashcraft took him to get his haircut earlier today, the kid brought along something to show the stylist: a DVD copy of Star Wars Episode I. Mini-Bash wanted a haircut like Obi-Wan has in Episode I.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 21, 2010
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  The Best Digital Game of 2009

  Not all video games last year were released on tangible discs. There were also games released via digital means, and some of those games were without a doubt among the strongest titles to hit in 2009. And not all games are big, and neither are all awards. Kotaku has already listed its choices for the…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 21, 2010
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  Study: Brain Size And Gaming Ability Related

  How good you are at video games could be related to the size of certain parts of your brain, researchers suggest. Beyond gaming, the research also suggests differences in learning rates. In the latest issue of everyone’s favorite brain journal Cerebral Cortex, a new study from University of Illinois, the University of Pittsburgh and Massachusetts…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 21, 2010
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  Report: Airport Security Tears A Man’s Xbox 360 Apart

  Consumerist reader Adam thought it was safe to take his Xbox 360 on a plane with him. He’d received assurances from US Airways that it was. Uh, no. It wasn’t. Upon landing, Adam says he opened his luggage and found his Xbox 360 had been cracked open. He also found inside his luggage something he…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 21, 2010
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  God Of War III Snarls Itself Up A Console Bundle

  This is a God of War III hardware bundle for the European market, first hinted at yesterday, now with its cover completely blown. Just like the Heavy Rain bundle, this one costs €350 (USD$500), and includes a 250GB console, controller and a copy of the game in question. Amazon France also reckon the bundle will…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 21, 2010
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  SNK Shoots Out New KOF Sky Stage Screens

  On January 22, Osaka-based developer SNK Playmore, best known for The King of Fighters series, will be releasing its latest arcade…shoot ’em up. Well, it does feature KOF game characters! Characters like Kyo and Mai Shiranui. Dubbed KOF Sky Stage, the game is a vertical arcade shooting game. The fighting here is for your pocket…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 21, 2010
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  Heavy Rain DLC Puts You In The Shoes Of A Killer

  Speaking with French site gameblog, Heavy Rain creator David Cage has revealed just what you’ll be getting up to as part of the game’s downloadable “Chronicles” episodes. Running for around an hour in total, one of them will see you playing the part of the Origami Killer, a key character from the main game. Another…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 21, 2010
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  Japan Getting Uncharted Game Pack

  While PS3 exclusive Uncharted is a hugely successful franchise in the West, it has yet to capture the Japanese gaming public’s imagination. That’s not because the Uncharted franchise is not very good — quite the contrary — nor is it because the series doesn’t have appeal in Japan — I believe it very well could.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 21, 2010
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  Own A Little Piece Of Batman: Arkham Asylum

  DC Direct has unveiled a statue based on Batman: Arkham Asylum, featuring the game’s fox-eared take on Gotham’s Dark Knight. It’ll go on sale in September (only a year after the game came out!), stands 7.25″ and will form part of DC’s exquisite “Black & White” range of statues, which also features pieces based on…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 21, 2010
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  First Good Look At New Metal Gear Solid PSP Bundle

  Earlier this week, word leaked from the upcoming issue of Japanese game mag Famitsu that PSP stealth game Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker will be getting a PSP bundle. But leaked Famitsu images are usually crap. Famitsu.com images are much better. As Kotaku posted previously, the game will be getting a special camouflage PSP when…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 21, 2010
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  New Digital Store To Sell “Pre-Owned” Games

  Green Man Gaming, a company based in the United Kingdom, is about to launch a digital download shopfront for the PC with a difference, claiming its store will be able to offer “pre-owned” digital sales. “Previously the minute you had paid and downloaded your game it had no resale value”, says Gian Luzio, Green Man’s…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 21, 2010
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  Forza Motorsport Developer Mentions Natal Platform Games

  Developer Turn 10, the studio behind popular racing simulator Forza Motorsport, appears to be planning a new title for Microsoft’s upcoming Natal motion system. A job posting for a Turn 10 business development manager position notes this: set strategy and drive high-quality game content for our next generation games including the Natal platform As an…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 21, 2010
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  Reports: EA Working On Apple Tablet, Kindle

  According to a report on the Wall Street Journal, when the Apple Tablet is revealed later this month – as seems almost certain – it’ll have Electronic Arts along for the ride. “Apple is also working with videogame publisher Electronic Arts Inc. to show off the tablet’s game capabilities”, the Journal says, suggesting the games…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 21, 2010
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  But What Does Modern Warfare 2’s Timed Exclusive DLC Mean?

  At last year’s E3 gaming expo in Los Angeles, Microsoft announced that the first two downloadable maps for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 are timed Xbox 360 exclusives. Timed? How long is that? “We have a 30-day timed exclusive on the Modern Warfare content packs,” a spokesperson told website Eurogamer. “So it will be…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 21, 2010
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  Microsoft Points Were Never Meant To “Mislead People”

  Like Nintendo’s currency of the same name, Microsoft’s “Points” have been confusing people since they were first released, humans being accustomed to think of money spent in terms of, well, money spent. Not some abstract points scheme. If it makes you feel any better, Microsoft never meant for MS Points to confuse you. To mislead…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 21, 2010