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Kotaku Off Topic: Apple Corpse
Welcome back to Kotaku Off Topic, where things not necessarily video game related are discussed. Up for discussion tonight? Whatever you want. Actually, what do you want? My daily internet travels are often limited to a tiny subset of the internet, generally movies, music, world news, technology, general nerdiness. But what do you read on…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
The Bestselling Game Of All Time In The U.S. Is Wii Play
The NPD Group has compiled fifteen years worth of video game sales in the United States, determining that Nintendo’s 2006 release Wii Play is the industry’s top seller, beating out Grand Theft Autos and Call of Dutys easily. And it did it on one platform, with its nearest competitor, Guitar Hero III relying on four…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
No New Half-Life Coming In 2010, Says Game Informer
The latest issue of Game Informer magazine has a bit of potential bad news for Gordon Freeman fans, casting doubt on the release of Half-Life 2: Episode Three in 2010. Specifically, Game Informer’s rumor-centric Loose Talk column notes that there “won’t be any game from the [Half-Life] franchise in 2010, and what will finally come…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
Super SFIV’s Juri Looks Lovely In Resin
If you love Super Street Fighter IV’s Juri as much as Crecente did, then you’ll be pleased to know that SOTA toys is working on a kickin’ resin statue of the character to help free you of your excess money. SOTA has done a lovely job capturing the likenesses of the boys, girls, and green-skinned…
By Mike Fahey Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
When World Of Warcraft Influences Russian Cologne Ads
Blizzard’s sphere of influence knows no bounds as Swedish health care and beauty company Oriflame’s recent Russian shampoo men’s fragrance ad confirms. See if you can spot the World of Warcraft influence. If your memory is hazy, Blizzard’s epic frosty trailer for the Wrath of the Lich King expansion is embedded below. As egear points…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
Super Monkey Ball And The Most Appropriate Cross Promotion Ever
When you have a game like Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll, which centers on collecting bananas, you couldn’t pick a better cross-promoting partner than the leading distributor of bananas in the United States, Chiquita. Starting next month, more than 180 million Chiquita bananas will feature stickers promoting Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll for…
By Mike Fahey Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
LittleBigPlanet Is Also Playable… In 3D!!!
Sony was among the many home electronics makers getting behind the 3D revolution at CES 2010, offering a handful of PlayStation 3 games playable in 3D. The latest PS3 game to get the 3D makeover? LittleBigPlanet. Media Molecule’s DIY platformer joins games like Super Stardust HD and Gran Turismo 5 as one of many possible…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
Fly Away, Fly Away, Fly Away Home
To: Ash From: Crecente Re: Suggestions My 20 hours in Los Angeles were blissful. Granted, I spent more than a third of it sleeping, but still: Blissful. The rain that has so confused and confounded Californians mostly stayed away and I spent the morning in the MTV offices shooting a segment with Geoff Keighley for…
By Brian Crecente Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
Is Sony’s Motion Controller Now Named “Arc”?
Sony’s stab at motion control for the PlayStation 3 is currently known only as the PlayStation 3 Motion Controller, a name that likely won’t stick. But is the glowing magic wand ultimately going to be known as Arc? That’s what VG247 says, citing an unnamed but “concrete source” who outs the PlayStation Eye powered wand…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
The Brink Character Customization Video That Almost Wasn’t
Bethesda passed me a package containing a pair of posters and this character customization trailer for its upcoming first-person shooter, Brink. Now that I realize the video exists, I shall share it with you, along with the story of how I nearly missed it. The package consisted of a long, skinny box, packed with foam.…
By Mike Fahey Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
The Avatar Video Game Disappointment
I was ready to like Avatar: The Game, the official video game of the movie like I’ve liked no other movie-game before. I said so when I reviewed the movie last month. And then, well… I feel I owe readers of that review an update. How was virtual Pandora, you might wonder? Hey, I’ve been…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
After Burner Climax XBLA Screens Barrel Roll Online
The reality of After Burner Climax making the leap from arcade to consoles becomes that much more clear, thanks to a new batch of screens from the game, reportedly of the Xbox Live Arcade version. While we’d heard about the newest After Burner game coming to the PlayStation Network, according to new shots of the…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
Gamer Comes Home To Blu-ray, DVD
You can now own (OK, rent) last year’s video game turned mind-controlling futuristic bloodsport, Gamer on handy DVD and Blu-ray formats, giving you a chance to enjoy the movie that Crecente called “more Second Life than Counter-Strike.” Before you go ahead and buy this thing—or more likely, add it to your Netflix queue—you can see…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
Fans Localize Fatal Frame 4
Nintendo’s decision to withhold Fatal Frame 4 from Western release didn’t sit well with fans, so a group of them has produced an English patch that translates the game for players in North America and Europe. Fatal Frame 4, known in Japan as Zero: Tsukihami no Kame, won’t see a U.S. retail release any time…
By Mike Fahey Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
2009 Game of the Year Finalist Debate: Demon’s Souls
The brilliantly immersive Demon’s Souls, unfortunately known better for its brutal difficulty than its rebellious game design, is my choice for the title most deserving of the accolade “Game of the Year.” From Software’s original role-playing game is admittedly challenging. The constant cycle of death and rebirth is not the escapist entertainment that’s often expected…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
Section 8 Makes With The DLC
The first downloadable content for Section 8 is now live, bringing three new maps and 10 new achievements to TimeGate’s first-person shooter in the Seek and Destroy Map Pack. Four months and change after SouthPeak Games released it, and Section 8 is finally getting a dose of downloadable content. The Seek and Destroy Map Pack…
By Mike Fahey Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
Mass Effect 2 Is Latest EA Game To Sweeten The Deal For “Original Purchasers”
In the war against used game sales, publisher EA appears to be favoring one tactic: Adding value for those who purchase the company’s games new. The publisher announced such a tactic today for Mass Effect 2. With Mass Effect 2, as with last fall’s Dragon Age: Origins and The Saboteur, EA will reward “original purchasers”…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
3D Dot Heroes Does Not Need More Dots
Atlus has dropped off the first localized screens for Silicon Studio’s 3D Dot Heroes for the PlayStation 3, and I’d be remiss in my duties if I didn’t point out how blocky the graphics are. Then again, I suppose that is the point. Call it a Zelda ripoff, or call it a tribute to retro…
By Mike Fahey Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
Kotaku Programming Reminder: Talk Live With Mass Effect 2’s Greg Zeschuk On Wednesday
As noted yesterday, Greg Zeschuk, co-founder of role-playing-game powerhouse BioWare, will be our guest on tomorrow’s live Kotaku call-in podcast. Show time’s 11am MT, 1pm ET. Call-in and listening details will be live on the site at show time.
By Stephen Totilo Published January 19, 2010 - Uncategorized
Preorder BioShock 2 PS3 From Amazon And You Get This
PlayStation 3 owners who put their money down on BioShock 2 at Amazon will find themselves the proud owner of this excellent Big Daddy outfit for PlayStation Home. The Big Daddy costume for PlayStation Home is the creation of Heavy Water game production, the company responsible for many of Home’s more creative personal spaces. Perhaps…
By Mike Fahey Published January 19, 2010