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  Nintendo Packing Heat, Mario For Penny Arcade Expo

  When the doors to the Penny Arcade Expo open this Friday, Nintendo plans to give gamers their first chance to get their hands on several upcoming Wii and DS titles. Nintendo says they will have playable versions of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks and Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside…

  By Brian Crecente Published September 3, 2009
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  Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising’s Skira Island

  Explore the history of Skira Island, the fictional setting for Codemasters upcoming Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, coming in October for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. Skira Island has long been a place of turmoil. Luckily its real-life inspiration, Kiska Island, which was the scene of much strife during World War II. In 1942 the…

  By Mike Fahey Published September 3, 2009
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  World Of Warcraft Faction Changes Go Live

  The Horde doubtlessly doubles in size today, as players rush to join the winning team courtesy of Blizzard’s newly-activated faction change service for World of Warcraft. First announced back in June, the faction change service allows Alliance players to switch to the Horde side of things, choosing a new race on the opposing side and…

  By Mike Fahey Published September 3, 2009
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  The Many Lawsuits of Take-Two

  While Take-Two recently settled a lawsuit brought against them over the now infamous Hot Coffee of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas this week, that doesn’t mean they’re in the clear. The publisher has faced nearly a half-dozen other lawsuits dating back to 2005 over everything from alleged fiduciary mishandling to refusing to sell the company…

  By Brian Crecente Published September 3, 2009
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  This is the first TAY post written from Seattle. Amazed? Don’t be. But please do comment about video games. Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ.

  By Stephen Totilo Published September 3, 2009
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  What To Wear To A Fashion Show, What To Wear, What To Wear

  To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Party Plans Speaking of fashion shows, this Saturday, the wife and I are going to a fashion show. What do you wear to a fashion show? No matter what, I’m sure you feel underdressed. I plan on wearing jeans and a UNIQLO t-shirt. TAKE THAT FASHIONISTAS!! Oh — really excited…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published September 3, 2009
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  Game Executive Might Go For Ted Kennedy’s Seat

  “Game executive”, “former baseball star”, take your pick, whichever one you choose, it’s the same guy – Curt Schilling – and he’s looking at running for the Senate seat left vacant following Ted Kennedy’s passing. Writing on his blog, Schilling – who founded 38 Studios, a team working on an unrevealed MMO – says: While…

  By Luke Plunkett Published September 3, 2009
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  LittleBigPlanet PSP Screenshots

  LittleBigPlanet is coming to the PlayStation Portable. And while it may lack a few of the features of its big brother on the PS3, it doesn’t seem to have lost any of its charm.

  By Luke Plunkett Published September 3, 2009
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  Gundam Creator: “Video Games Are Evil”

  But giant mechanized machines are your friend! Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino gave a speech at the CEDEC game conference hoping to, as game site Gamasutra says, “provoke game developers.” He wasn’t looking for a fist fight! The man is a senior citizen. Rather, he was hoping to get game developers to think deeply about the…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published September 3, 2009
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  Empire: Total War In Line For Another Round Of Fixes

  Empire: Total War devotees will be more than aware that, even after the game’s been patched, there are still some glaring issues with the game’s AI. Guess it’s time for another patch, then! There’s a wide variety of minor fixes being made to the game in late September, most of them to do with improving…

  By Luke Plunkett Published September 3, 2009
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  Is Cave Going To Release A Bullet Hell Shooter Outside Japan?

  Japanese shoot ’em up developer Cave has brought several of its arcade shooters to the Xbox 360. Sadly, they’ve been Japan only. But that could change. In a recent blog post, Cave’s Makoto Asada talks briefly about meeting with Microsoft and hints at a worldwide release for one of it’s titles by discussing looking into…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published September 3, 2009
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  Japanese Arcade Cabinets For Japanese Toys

  We’re a multinational bunch here. Very global in our outlook. So if we post a bunch of GI Joes hanging out playing GI Joe-sized arcade machines, it’s only fair we do the same for the Japanese. Here’s a bunch of Japanese figures, noticeably not as armed as the Joes, just kickin’ it, playing Street Fighter,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published September 3, 2009
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  Sony Thanks Its Customers With PSN Ads

  How thoughtful! A PlayStation Network promotion wrapped in a thank you note sent to selected folks. Sony, you should’ve have. No, really. You shouldn’t have. Thanks everyone who sent this in!

  By Brian Ashcraft Published September 3, 2009
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  God Of War Collection: Not Until 2010, Europe

  Americans love a bit of blood, a bit of grunty men tearing things in twain. So Americans will be getting the God of War Collection in 2009. Europe, though? Home to Greek mythology? Yeah, Europe has to wait. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe have confirmed with VG247 that that “it will not be possible to release…

  By Luke Plunkett Published September 3, 2009
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  So How Did That Japan PS3 Slim Launch Go?

  The PS3 Slim launched today in Japan — there was even a special launch event at the Yodobashi Camera in Akihabara. Kotaku Japan was on hand for the festivities. There was a countdown and folks could check out PS3 title Mobile Suit Gundam: Battlefield Record U.C.0081 on the big screen in front of Yodobashi Camera.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published September 3, 2009
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  A Zelda Peripheral For Hyrulapalooza

  It’s dangerous to rock out. Here, take this. It’s $95, is real, and comes fully endorsed, because it has the word “FUZZ” on it. No harm ever came from a combination of fuzz and guitars. We’re a bit sceptical about the item’s selling spiel: The Bit Legend of Fuzz Guitar Effects Pedal is an intense…

  By Luke Plunkett Published September 3, 2009
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  Rolling Stones Shamble Onto Guitar Hero

  While The Beatles are lauded with their own game, one of Britain’s other 60’s super-groups – The Rolling Stones – are just going to have to make do with a downloadable track pack for Guitar Hero 5. There are five songs available starting from today, all live versions. Sadly, not one of them is “Street…

  By Luke Plunkett Published September 3, 2009
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  Final Fantasy XIII Odin Summoned In Figure Form

  Over the weekend, figure and hobby event Chara-Hobby was held at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. It’s the home of the Tokyo Game Show, you know. The event had loads of new figures on display, including this prototype of Final Fantasy XIII‘s Odin. Odin is the summon for FFXIII heroine, and this unpainted figure…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published September 3, 2009
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  Sony No Longer The One And Only, Gets A New Corporate Tagline

  Every big corporation needs a snappy tagline. Something to close out a commercial with, and put on the front cover of investor relations reports. Sony’s had a few over the years, but this week unveiled a new one. You can see it up there. It’s make.believe. Intended not to invoke feelings of fantasy and forts…

  By Luke Plunkett Published September 3, 2009
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  Japanese Game Voice Actress Buys Xbox 360 Late, Too Early

  Earlier this week, Microsoft announced that it would be lowering the price of the Xbox 360 in Japan like it had abroad. Bad time to buy a new Xbox 360, no? Right before the announcement, voice actress Hitomi Harada bought, that’s right, an Xbox 360. That is, she bought it after doing voice work for…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published September 3, 2009