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  NPD Cross-Ownership Data Shows Some WiiPS360 Love

  The NPD Group published a report today showing that game buyers in the United States get their game info from word of mouth “above all other information sources.” But somewhat more interesting is the platform crossover makeup of those surveyed. That data says that Xbox 360 owners and Wii owners look to have the biggest…

  By Michael McWhertor Published September 14, 2009
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  Scribblenauts Word Count Higher Than Reported

  Over the weekend, a hacker seemed to prove that there are exactly 22,802 words in Scribblenauts. Not true, the game’s creative director told Fast Company. An online article quotes Jeremiah Slaczka, creative director at game development studio 5th Cell, told the outlet that the the weekend word count report missed some words: “That was leaked…

  By Stephen Totilo Published September 14, 2009
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  Yes, Gabe Newell Is Goin’ To Australia

  Getting Valve’s big boss to fly halfway ’round the world isn’t as hard as you might think. All it takes is a few thousand dollars and a handful of e-mails. Yes, Gabe Newell is going to Australia. Newell has apparently ended his mock boycott of a Left 4 Dead modder’s campaign, committing (along with Valve’s…

  By Michael McWhertor Published September 14, 2009
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  Shane Kim To Retire From Microsoft

  Microsoft exec Shane Kim, formerly the corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios and current corporate vice president of Strategy and Business Development for the Interactive Entertainment Business, will leave that verbose title behind later this year. He’s retiring. In his role at Microsoft Game Studios, Kim oversaw releases such in the Halo, Age of…

  By Michael McWhertor Published September 14, 2009
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  Nintendo’s Unusual 2009 Wii Strategy: Publishing The Oldies

  Major music labels are happy to re-release re-mastered classic albums, year after year. Video game publishers, by contrast, focus on issuing new games. But in 2009, Nintendo hasn’t been doing that, as the full-year release lists now make clear. The impending release of Wii Fit Plus in two weeks is the latest in an atypical…

  By Stephen Totilo Published September 14, 2009
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  Nintendo Weekly Download Update Issues A Street Challenge

  Nintendo and its valued third parties are churning out the content this week for WiiWare, Virtual Console and DSiWare. This week, six new downloadable selections await the Nintendo fan with access to the information superhighway. The list of new items? Texas Hold’Em Poker, Spaceball: Revolution, Mart Racer, Crash ‘N The Boys Street Challenge, Art Academy:…

  By Michael McWhertor Published September 14, 2009
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  Follow League Of Legends On Facebook, Get A Beta Key

  Riot Games wants to build a huge following for League of Legends, and its willing to flood the closed beta of the game with Facebook users to make that happen. Riot Games wants 40,000 folks to follow the League of Legends Facebook group, or become fans, or whatever it is you Facebook people tend to…

  By Mike Fahey Published September 14, 2009
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  This Is The Underwear Department, Honest

  Boxes of video game underwear, including “Guitar Hero Men’s Sleep Shorts” as seen in the men’s underwear department at Target in Brooklyn, New York.

  By Stephen Totilo Published September 14, 2009
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  Final Fantasy XIII Could Move Another Half Million PS3s In Japan

  The Japanese release of Final Fantasy XIII might just do wonders for the PlayStation 3 in Japan, if the president of Famitsu publisher Enterbrain knows what he’s talking about. A massive marquee game moving consoles? What you talkin’ ’bout, Hamamura? Look, that’s what Enterbrain prez Hirokazu Hamamura said at today’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan,…

  By Michael McWhertor Published September 14, 2009
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  Rage Of The Gladiator: Naginata

  Behold Naginata, the ninja-flavored combatant featured in the upcoming first-person WiiWare gladiatorial combat game Rage of the Gladiator. We’ve not had a chance to mention Ghostfire Games‘ Rage of the Gladiator on Kotaku yet, so what better way than with the debut of the game’s ninja boss, Naginata? He joins the already revealed human, Minotaur,…

  By Mike Fahey Published September 14, 2009
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  Can ‘Patrice Mode’ Solve Gaming’s Back Problem?

  Patrice Desilets is both the creative director of the Assassin’s Creed games and a jovial interviewee eager to advance game design. I thought he’d be troubled that we always stare at video game characters’ backs. See that Batman shot at the top of this post? I took it with my camera this morning. That’s the…

  By Stephen Totilo Published September 14, 2009
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  Twilight Princess Zant Statue Kicks Off “Master Arts” Line

  First 4 Figures, always ready with a high quality Nintendo character in statue form, will be releasing a center piece modeled after Zant from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess early next year. The first in the one-quarter scale “Master Arts” line of licensed Twilight Princess center pieces, Zant will set serious Zelda fans back…

  By Michael McWhertor Published September 14, 2009
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  Dexter Stalks The iPhone

  Just in time to tide fans over until the launch of season four of the show later this month, today Marc Ecko Entertainment unleashes Dexter the Game for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Dexter the Game follows the general premise of the Dexter television show. You play Dexter Morgan, the serial killer who only kills…

  By Mike Fahey Published September 14, 2009
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  Crime Rates Drop in 08, Video Game Sales Increase

  Violent crime, arson and car theft all dropped nationwide in 2008 compared to the prior year, according to the FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Report. But what does that mean to gamers? In reality, it shouldn’t mean a thing. Crimes and the things that cause people to commit them are far too complex to compare to…

  By Brian Crecente Published September 14, 2009
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  Toys R Us Ad Points To $199 Wii Price Drop This Month

  Last week, we got a peek at an alleged upcoming Walmart ad that indicated an official price drop would be coming to the Wii. Today, it appears that retailer Toys R Us may have heard the same thing. While the Walmart listing we saw didn’t put a price tag on the Wii—currently still at its…

  By Michael McWhertor Published September 14, 2009
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  The Söldner-X Saga Continues On PSN

  Side-scrolling shooter Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer is getting a sequel on the PlayStation Network this winter, as SideQuest Studios and eastasiasoft announce the development of Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype. Side-scrolling shooters have seen a bit of a comeback thanks to Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network, and the original Söldner-X was one of the better results…

  By Mike Fahey Published September 14, 2009
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  Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time Preview: Floor Of The Year

  The second or third sequel to a good video game is usually better than the first. But the seventh — arguably ninth — Ratchet & Clank runs the risk of Friday the 13th diminishing returns. This preview checks for pitfalls. What Is It? Ratchet And Clank Future: A Crack In Time is the third PlayStation…

  By Stephen Totilo Published September 14, 2009
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  Insane Night Brings Two New Challenge Maps To Arkham Asylum

  This Thursday’s free Insane Night downloadable content for Batman: Arkham Asylum brings two new challenge maps to the game, testing the limits of players’ FreeFlow Combat and Invisible Predator skills. We knew the Insane Night DLC was coming to the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC this week, and now we know what it is.…

  By Mike Fahey Published September 14, 2009
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  Minority Report: The Non-White Gamer’s Experience

  Fergus Mills searches for the words. It’s clear he wants to say this carefully. The 22-year-old from Macon, Ga. is black. His Xbox Live avatar is black. Except that it’s not. Drawing it out of him, Mills says it’s because of the avatar’s body language. And while Mills doesn’t say that’s really a white guy…

  By Owen Good Published September 14, 2009
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  XBLA Weekly: Command & Conquer Bubble Bobble

  This week on Xbox Live Arcade, players get a little real-time strategy in the Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Commander’s Challenge and a bit of retro arcade goodness with Bubble Bobble NEO. The Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Commander’s Challenge is a series of fifty new challenges set in the Red Alert 3…

  By Mike Fahey Published September 14, 2009