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Unpaid Internet Bill Leads to Game-Blamed Stabbing
Game-blame news from Romania: a 15-year-old boy said to be “dependent” on video games stabbed to death his adoptive mother, after she refused to pay the Internet bill in hopes the disconnection would put an end to his Counter-Strike addiction. In the narrative of the attack the boy, Ionut Savin (pictured), stabbed his mother (on…
By Owen Good Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
Night Flyer
To: Ash From: Crecente Technically it’s not night, but I am flying to Los Angeles for the day. I’ll be returning tomorrow afternoon. I may have some hours to kill tonight and tomorrow afternoon any suggestions on what I should do? What you missed: Video Games Survive Recession, But At What Cost? The Best Games…
By Brian Crecente Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
The Long Hello: Games ‘Arrive’ as a Threat to Network TV
Anyone old enough to remember RF switchers knows that video games and network television have long competed for the same eyeballs on the same TV set. Only recently does it feel like games are getting credit – or blame, rather – for contributing to the decline of prime time programming. This discussion has reconstituted itself…
By Owen Good Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
Rest In Peace, Taco Bell Guy
After countless marathon gaming sessions interrupted only by alternating runs to “the border” for cheap Mexican food and the bathroom, I can’t let the passing of Taco Bell founder Glen W. Bell Jr. go unnoticed by our readers. Many gamers, myself included, consider tacos to be the ultimate food. Indeed, if it weren’t for the…
By Mike Fahey Published January 18, 2010 - Reviews
Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth Micro-Review: Something M2 Whipped Up
Konami goes back to Castlevania’s roots with Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth, as the series joins Gradius and Contra to get the Konami ReBirth treatment. Once again, developer M2 takes a long, hard look at a classic Konami franchise and produces a retro-styled rehash. This time around the game is Castlevania: The Adventure, the 1989 Game…
By Mike Fahey Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
Nintendo Spot Makes UK Most Irritating Ad List, But Isn’t That Annoying
A Nintendo DS ad took the number nine spot among the most irritating TV ads aired in the UK last year, as determined by England’s Marketing magazine. The ad doesn’t seem that annoying to me, but then I have no attachment to its stars, British comedians Ant and Dec. Now, the number one ad is…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
Heavy Rain’s ESRB Rating Spoils Everything
The ESRB has given Quantic Dream’s Heavy Rain an M for Mature rating, explaining the game’s drug use, violence, horror, and sexual situations in ridiculous detail. Needless to say, spoilers ahead. Here’s the obligatory paragraph I put in between the lead and the actual rating listing, in order to make sure no one accidentally reads…
By Mike Fahey Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
Report: ESPN Coming To Xbox 360?
The New York Times reports that ESPN and Microsoft are in talks to bring a subscription-based service to Xbox Live that would stream live sporting events through the Xbox 360, no cable TV connection needed. The paper notes that none of this is official, sourcing anonymous “people close to the talks”: Microsoft has held in-depth…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
Aliens VS. Predator Kill Moves Are A Tad Bit Graphic
Actually they aren’t too bad, provided you turn the sound down a little and keep your hand away from the pause button. Pause is not your friend here. It’s hard to tell who at developer Rebellion is having more fun making this game – the animation guys, figuring out creative new ways to mangle 3D…
By Mike Fahey Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
God of War III’s Wildest Moment (So Far) Explained
Squint or you’ll miss God of War protagonist Kratos in new screenshots released by Sony today. Click through them here and I’ll explain what in the world is happening via captions next to each shot. The shots were captured from the briefest playable sequence of a major game that I’ve ever been asked to try.…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
DeathSmiles Smiles On North America
The top-selling shoot-em up of this console generation is coming to North America, as Aksys Games announces a U.S. release for Cave’s brilliant Xbox 360 gothic lolita shooter, DeathSmiles. DeathSmiles is a scrolling shooter, but instead of piloting spaceships through unknown galaxies, you fly young angels and their demonic familiars through the gothic world of…
By Mike Fahey Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
2009 Game of the Year Finalist Debate: Uncharted 2
I think Uncharted 2 was the best game of 2009. By a country mile. Why? Because Uncharted 2 was also 2009’s best action movie. See, for me, the main appeal of the first game was never, well, the “game”. Sure, the platforming’s version of “auto-pilot” was fun, and enjoying a spot of Gears of War…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
BioWare’s Greg Zeschuk Takes Your Calls During This Week’s Podcast
Our podcast adventures continue this week, with our second week recording live from CBS Radio’s studios. This time, the co-founder of Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2 studio BioWare will take your calls live. Greg Zeschuk will be our in-studio guest for the hour. On Wednesday at 11am Kotaku Time (that’s 1pm ET, 10am PT),…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
This Week In XBLA: Death By Cube And Vandal Hearts
Square Enix‘s blood-filled box shooter Death by Cube is joined by the prequel to Konami’s 1996 tactical role-playing game Vandal Hearts to form this week’s new additions to the Xbox Live Arcade. Robots shooting cubes filled with blood – this is the perfect way to describe Square Enix’s new twin-stick shooter, Death by Cube, which…
By Mike Fahey Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
When Darksiders’ Hero Goes Off The Juice (Or A Little War Never Hurt Anyone)
War’s prop sword from Darksiders, as found in a box mailed to my house and promptly wielded (sorta) by Tristan. Later to be given away at Kotaku’s annual fundraiser.
By Brian Crecente Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
Apple Invites Us To Jan 27 Special Event, Think iSlate?
Invitation sent to Kotaku today: “Please join Apple on January 27 for a Special Event.” Assumption made by Kotaku today: iSlate reveal? Now, why would Kotaku be sent that? “Come see our latest creation,” the colorful invitation states. Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple’s long-rumored tablet computer, the iSlate (perhaps?) would…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
Here’s What You Get For Preordering Skate 3
EA’s Skate 3 might not come with a high tech plastic skateboard controller like its chief “competition,” but putting money down on the sequel does earn you this nifty exclusive skate park. Now that I think about it, “Doesn’t come with a high tech plastic skateboard controller” could actually be a selling point. Easily as…
By Mike Fahey Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
How To Pick The Best Game of 2009
You might be wondering what happened to our annual Game of the Year awards. Don’t worry they’re coming, we just didn’t see the need to rush them. I know it’s crazy, but I’ve always felt that the game of the year should be decided after the year has actually ended. I know that may be…
By Brian Crecente Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
Hellgate To Reopen In The West, For Real This Time
Just when you thought North America and Europe were safe from the invasion of hell spawn, Korean online gaming publisher HanbitSoft goes and acquires international publishing rights for Hellgate from Namco Bandai, and all hell breaks loose. Yes, this time they mean it. HanbitSoft first announced plans to reignite Hellgate: London in November of 2008,…
By Mike Fahey Published January 18, 2010 - Uncategorized
The Nintendo Download: Everybody Let’s Muscle March
Men (and bears) in tight bikini briefs invade the Nintendo Download this week, bringing Dark Void Zero, Starship Defense, The Secret of Shinobi, and more along for the wild ride. Namco Bandai’s Muscle March (500 Wii points) is one of the oddest titles to hit the WiiWare service so far. Thieves have made off with…
By Mike Fahey Published January 18, 2010