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  I Kept Playing — The Costs Of My Gaming Addiction

  “I hated level 40,” she said with a sigh. It was the first time we’d spoken in eight years, and she had never forgotten the night I spurned her advances in favor of gaining a level in EverQuest. During the course of my tenure at Kotaku I’ve referenced my days in EverQuest on many occasions,…

  By Mike Fahey Published October 19, 2009
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  Welcome To Halo Waypoint

  Microsoft has released a new trailer and screenshots showcasing the Career Mode of Halo Waypoint, Xbox Live’s destination for everything Halo related, launching on November 5th for Xbox Live Gold and Silver subscribers. Yes, Xbox Live Silver subscribers will have access to Halo Waypoint, but only for a limited time. From the November 5th launch…

  By Mike Fahey Published October 19, 2009
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  You Can Play Dragon Age: Origins Sort Of Like Four Other Games

  Gamers can play BioWare’s next epic as if it was an action-role-playing game, an MMO, like Kingdom Hearts or like Final Fantasy XII, a company rep recently explained to Kotaku. EA/BioWare senior product manager David Silverman explained the four Dragon Age playing styles during a live demo of the PlayStation 3 version of the game…

  By Stephen Totilo Published October 19, 2009
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  A Fresh Look At Assassin’s Creed: Lineage

  Ubisoft gives us a sneak peek at Assassin’s Creed: Lineage, the short film series prequel to Assassin’s Creed II, launching next week on YouTube. Announced at the San Diego Comic Con earlier this year, Assassin’s Creed: Lineage follows the story of Giovanni Auditore da Firenze, the father of Assassin’s Creed II protagonist Ezio. The first…

  By Mike Fahey Published October 19, 2009
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  Rock Band Live on iTunes

  All of those pretenders to the portable rhythm game throne better be ware, the official Rock Band game just hit iTunes. Harmonic’ Rock Band for the iPhone and iPod Touch lets you jam out with a lead guitar, bass, drums or vocals… though no singing is involved with that last one, and will set you…

  By Brian Crecente Published October 19, 2009
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  Need For Speed: Nitro – So Fast It’s Coming Two Weeks Early

  In a fall season filled with game delays, it’s nice to see a release date jump forward a couple weeks, as is the case with Need for Speed: Nitro for the Nintendo Wii and DS. Originally scheduled for a November 17th release in North America, the stylized arcade racing of EA’s Need for Speed: Nitro…

  By Mike Fahey Published October 19, 2009
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  Xbox 360 Update Hands-on: Last.FM In Action

  The final part of our Xbox 360 November dashboard update saves the best for last, without intending the pun. Here’s Last.FM in action on my 360, injecting a bit of Zelda and MF Doom into my system. I downloaded a preview version of next month’s Xbox 360 update this morning and quickly found that Last.FM…

  By Stephen Totilo Published October 19, 2009
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  Windows 7: What Happened to Gaming?

  In 2006, then Microsoft Vice President Peter Moore apologized for what he called a dereliction of duty to the company’s number one gaming platform: The PC. Now more than three years after promising, and some say failing, to deliver a PC gaming renaissance with the Vista operating system, Microsoft is set to roll out Windows…

  By Brian Crecente Published October 19, 2009
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  Xbox 360 Update Hands-On: The Stuff That Didn’t Work, For Me [UPDATE]

  Instant streaming in 1080p? Microsoft did warn that its new Zune video marketplace might not allow for streaming for people with slower (slow-ish?) connections. This is my low-point in my three-part preview of the 360’s new November dashboard. The video marketplace on the Xbox 360 has been re-branded with the Microsoft Zune brand. I checked…

  By Stephen Totilo Published October 19, 2009
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  The Nintendo Download: Domo Arigato, LostWinds, Shootanto, Domo Domo, Domo Domo

  Nintendo loses more winds this week, and they’re passing the savings on to you before the furry Japanese television mascot Domo completely devours the DSi. It’s a Domo invasion on DSiWare today as five titles starring the adorable whatever the hell it is show up for 200 DSi points apiece. We’ve got your Crash-Course Domo,…

  By Mike Fahey Published October 19, 2009
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  Xbox 360 Update Hands-On: Facebook And Twitter

  Microsoft provided Kotaku with an early version of the November Xbox 360 dashboard update. I just tested Twitter and Facebook on my 360. Watch. Both Xbox versions of the social-networking services are available only to paying Xbox Live Gold users. Apologies for the low volume. Turn it up before you start watching/listening. The Facebook video…

  By Stephen Totilo Published October 19, 2009
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  Press Start 2: Your Princess Is In Another Movie

  The unapologetically cheesy video game homage film Press Start gets the inevitable sequel next year, as Dark Maze Studios announces the brilliantly named Press Start 2 Continue. I was a big fan of the original Press Start, a direct-to-DVD affair that had a shoestring budget, ridiculous characters, and a great deal of heart. It was…

  By Mike Fahey Published October 19, 2009
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  iPhone Chart Toppers: Revenge Of Bejeweled 2

  It’s that time again. Time to look at the top grossing games on iTunes for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Tap Tap Revenge 2’s ride at number one didn’t last very long. But what knocked it down from the top spot? Position Title Price Weeks Last Week 1 Bejeweled 2 (PopCap Games) $2.99 8 6…

  By Brian Crecente Published October 19, 2009
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Who knew the lady was a PC gamer? Comment about games here. Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ.

  By Stephen Totilo Published October 19, 2009
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  You Can Call Me “Brown” (Hi Brown!)

  To: Crecente From: Brian Ashcraft Lady from the bank came over today so I could fill out some forms — starting to save money for the kids’ college. College is expensive! My name in Japanese is rather unusual, granted, and when filling out forms, there’s always the should-I-write-my-name-in-romaji? Or katakana? But since it is possible…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published October 19, 2009
• Reviews

  Borderlands Review: Guns! Guns! Guns!

  Gearbox Software’s Borderlands is part first-person shoot ’em up, part role-playing game, a dusty slog across the planet Pandora in search of the legendary treasures of the Vault. Along the way, from the bus that drops your player off at the nearly deserted town of Fyrestone to the final showdown at the secretive Vault, a…

  By Michael McWhertor Published October 19, 2009
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  Who Would Be A Good Live Action Bayonetta?

  Not Sarah Palin, don’t start, we’re not going there again, no Sarah Palin, no, no, no. Bayonetta designer Hideki Kamiya has someone else in mind. And it’s not me. Sadly. When asked what actor would make a good live action version of character Jeanne if (big “if”) there was ever a movie, Kamiya says he’s…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published October 19, 2009
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  Have A Look At The New Pink, Blue Wii Remote

  Forget blue is for boys and pink is for girls. These upcoming Nintendo Wii Remotes are for both. Out in Japan December 3, they are priced at ¥3,800 (US$42) each.

  By Brian Ashcraft Published October 19, 2009
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  How’d That Germany “Killer Game” Trashing Rally Go? (Eh….)

  Over the weekend, a German advocacy group asked individuals to bring their “killer games” to the front of an opera house to throw away in a large dumpster. This comes in the wake of a school shooting earlier this year. The mass media drummed up links between that shooting and counter strike. The game trashing…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published October 19, 2009
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  Nintendo Is Working On New Mario Game

  Hold onto your smelly socks, because Mario voice actor Charles Martinet has a bombshell. Nintendo is, are you ready, making, wait for it, another, braces, Mario game. Unbelievable, huh? The voice actor tweets, “Awesome new Mario Game! And it’s not NSMB Wii, and it’s not Galaxy 2, but it’s going to be crazy fun!” And…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published October 19, 2009