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  Make-A-Wish Kid Designs GameStop’s Holiday Gift Card

  If it looks like GameStop’s 2009 holiday gift card was designed by a 12-year-old, that’s because it was. GameStop is donating $1 from every gift card purchased this holiday season to the Make-A-Wish foundation (up to $100,000), and they’ve gotten wish recipient Emily Adkins to pitch in with her own original artwork. “During the holidays,…

  By Mike Fahey Published November 25, 2009
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  The Wii Buyer’s Guide

  With a new Super Mario Bros. title to tide fans over, and plenty of third-party software, this year’s Wii offering includes an eclectic mix of games. But which to buy? While the list below isn’t a rundown of all of the reviews that ran this year on Kotaku, it is a fairly strong sampling. Use…

  By Michael McWhertor Published November 25, 2009
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Do you like video games? Talk about them here. Especially if you like new video games. Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ.

  By Stephen Totilo Published November 25, 2009
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  My MacBook Pro Is Starting To Lock Up

  To: Crecente From: Ashcraft RE: Games, Games, Games I’ve had it about two years, now. And it’s on all damn day long. It’s been locking up more and more recently. Pin wheeling. Some programs just stop working. Dunno what the deal is. How long do computers last anyway? What you missed last night New Final…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 25, 2009
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  Mass Effect 2 PC System Requirements Ahoy!

  BioWare have released the system specs and DRM information for the upcoming Mass Effect 2, putting some potential customers out of their misery and sending others straight to their local GameStop. Here they are, straight from BioWare’s Chris Priestly. So if there’s a problem, take it up with him, not me. OS = Windows XP…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 25, 2009
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  There Is A Lawsuit Featuring World Of Warcraft, Winona Ryder & Depeche Mode

  Erik Estavillo is suing Activision Blizzard over World of Warcraft. Erik Estavillo is also a funny guy. That or he’s crazy. It could go either way. Estavillo claims the company “continues to maintain a harmful virtual environment to many of its customers by forcing them to follow [World of Warcraft’s] sneaky and deceitful practices”. And…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 25, 2009
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  Kasumi! Figure! Bikini!

  Just like death and taxes, figures of Dead or Alive character Kasumi are something that can be counted on. They’re inevitable. This DoA Xtreme 2 features Kasumi in two different bikinis: skimpy and skimpier. Retails for ¥9,240 (US$105). Out March 2010. Can there be too many Kasumi figures? Yes, yes there can. A Fusion of…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 25, 2009
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  We Prefer The Tony Hawk: Ride Prototype

  Robomodo, the developers behind Tony Hawk: Ride, have posted some photos showing off the prototype controller used as a testbed before the final design was nailed down. And we love it! Sure, with wires, wood and buttons all over the place it doesn’t have as compact a final form as the retail model, but it’s…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 25, 2009
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  Why Mario Is In So Many Darn Games… Explained!

  The story goes that Mario was originally called “Jumpman.” That’s not what Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto called the character. “Well, I called him ‘Mr. Video’,” Miyamoto said in the recent Iwata Asks feature on Nintendo’s official site. “My plan was to use the same character in every video game I made.” Miyamoto was confident that…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 25, 2009
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  Steam To Come Pre-Installed On Alienware PCs

  In what’s probably more important news than you first realise, Dell and Valve have signed a deal whereby Steam will come pre-installed on all Alienware computers. That’s every single one of the gaming PC-makers laptops and desktops going forward. With a free copy of Portal thrown in for good measure. Sounds trivial, but this is…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 25, 2009
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  These Are The Faces of Space Invaders

  As seen on Logan Walters.

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 25, 2009
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  Mario 64 Used To Have Multiplayer

  Mario 64 remains, for many, the pinnacle of singleplayer gaming. As close to a perfect game as you’re going to get. Wonder how that would have changed had the game’s original multiplayer component made it into the final product. In a Q&A session posted on Nintendo’s site, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto has revealed that Mario…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 25, 2009
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  Is The DSi LL Bigger Than Uncharted 2, Nolan Ryan’s Autograph, A Can of Beer?

  Comparing the DSi LL to other DS portables? Seen that. To other handhelds? Ditto. But what about comparing to other things — like cabbage, a baby, a baseball signed by Nolan Ryan? Haven’t seen that yet. Until now. This is not a scientific comparison! And, of course, a baseball is round. The DSi LL is…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 25, 2009
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  SingStar Gets Into The Christmas Spirit

  SingStar is normally something you associate with “Europeans”, “drunk women” and “popular music”. But with Christmas coming up, Sony figured it might be a good idea to add “tacky holiday songs” to the list as well. I say tacky because, sadly, when putting the list of Christmas songs together, they didn’t go the preferred route…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 25, 2009
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  DSi LL Unboxing

  Ah, yes. Unboxing. The ritual of taking things out of a box and then posting photos of what is inside. Here is a look inside the DSi LL box. Hello cardboard!

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 25, 2009
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  WoW Cosplay Goes The Extra Mile With Official Uniforms, Weapons

  It’s World of Warcraft‘s fifth birthday this week, and longtime Blizzard collaborator Sideshow Collectibles are going all out. Not with statues, either. With tabards (ie the things you wear over chainmail), giant flags, and even full-size replica weapons. There are two tabards ($80) available, one for the Horde, one for the Alliance. They’ll fit a…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 25, 2009
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  iDOLM@STER Statue Brings The Fishnet Stockings

  Azusa Miura from Namco’s pop idol simulator THE iDOLM@STER is getting yet another statue. She’s wearing yellow garb and fishnets. Out March 2010, yours for ¥8,190 (US$95). Nerd heroin like this ain’t cheap! 『ブリリアントステージ アイマス』あずささんの限定カラー版を接写してみた！ [Dengeki]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 25, 2009
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  Miyamoto Wanted To Patent “Jumping”

  Nintendo’s website has published another Q&A session between company legends Satoru Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto. And, like always, there’s some interesting stuff being discussed over upturned tea tables. In this instance, the fact that in the 80’s, Miyamoto thought seriously about patenting the idea of a jumping platformer. Iwata: Donkey Kong involved jumping, as did…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 25, 2009
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  Lufia II DS Trailer Looks Like This

  We’ve already seen how the Lufia II remake is giving the game’s hero a makeover. Now let’s have a look at the game’s actual trailer. So here it is, the game’s trailer. Right now. Thanks Men!

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 25, 2009
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  EA Backing Slowly Away From Wii Development?

  EA’s Montreal studio (Army of Two) certainly is, putting Wii development on the back-burner in favour of more big budget titles for the 360, PS3 and PC. “The Wii market is a little bit unpredictable these days.” EA Montreal‘s GM Alain Tascan told Edge. “We’re going to see how Christmas is going to do and…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 25, 2009