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Left 4 Dead 2 “Banned” In Australia [Update]
While the Australian government dawdles on changes to the country’s classification guidelines, games continue to be “refused classification” on the grounds they exceed the maximum rating of MA15+. The latest game on the chopping block? Left 4 Dead 2. Yup, Valve’s Zombie shooter has been refused classification, which means it can’t be made commercially available…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Racial Term in DS’ Scribblenauts? Unintentional, Developer Explains [Update]
Nintendo DS title Scribblenauts has players solve puzzles by writing words. The game has a database of tens of thousands of words — writing words causes objects to appear on screen. So what happens when you write “sambo”? You get what appears to be a watermelon. The word “sambo” is in the 22,802 wordlist we…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Turbine Swept Up in Infringement Lawsuit
Turbine, maker of Dungeons & Dragons Online, has a busy legal department of late. In addition to suing Atari, it’s being sued – along with Sony and Blizzard – by a holding firm alleging infringement of their patented realtime technology. The company, Paltalk Holdings Inc., has successfully settled claims against Microsoft, alleging it infringed the…
By Owen Good Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Yet Another Disgaea Gamesave Panic Results in Free DLC for All
No sooner does Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days go out the door than NIS America has to send out another message concerning some alarming gamesave notices that players are getting. This time, they’ll be rewarded for their needless anxiety. Gamers were getting some confusing error messages regarding downloadable content, which is strange because the game…
By Owen Good Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Writing for MMOs: A GDC Perspective
Gamasutra has a great write-up of a Game Developers Conference Austin panel wherein Tracy Seamster of ZeniMax Online and Steve Danuser of 38 Studios talk massively multiplayer online game writing. To me, MMO writing seems tough. There’s just so much text to take into account like menu text, quest text and dialogue trees (to say…
By AJ Glasser Published September 16, 2009 - Reviews
Trine Micro-Review: The Fat Knight
Trine has been out for a while now on PC. But with the game’s PSN release imminent, let’s take a second look at it, see what all the fuss is about. Trine is a 2D platformer built on a 3D engine, where you’re able to switch simultaneously between three characters: a fighter, a thief, and…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Yao Ming to Play This Season, if 2K10 Has Anything to Say About It
2K Sports fired up another batch of NBA 2K10 screens, giving us a look at Shaq as a Cavalier and Vince Carter as a Magic, uh, person? Also, Yao Ming, who’s expected to miss the season with a bum foot. Apropos of nothing, Kobe Bryant looks a little like Lt. Daniels from The Wire in…
By Owen Good Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Flight
To: Ash From: Crecente Re: I’ll be leaving for Tokyo via Los Angeles on Friday and I haven’t started packing yet. In fact, I haven’t even located my bag. I really need to do that. Also to load up my carry-on with stuffs to keep me amused during the flight. Is it just me or…
By Brian Crecente Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Nike Thanks the PlayStation with 24 Pairs of Shoes
Nike sent a size 10 love note to Sony for past collaborations on console-themed kicks, but this series, based on the face buttons of a PlayStation controller, might be a little hard to find. Only 24 pairs will be made. They also won’t be sold to the general public. Ron Eagle, the director of product…
By Owen Good Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Need For Speed: Shift – The True Driver’s Experience
Need for Speed Shift drifts its way onto store shelves this week, and the official trailer shows up what to expect from EA’s more realistic take on the classic racing series. I don’t even drive this realistically in real life.
By Mike Fahey Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Casting Call for “Contra Bros.” Bomberman, Tetris Pieces …
Someone’s doing a shoot in LA “for a commercial that will show all over the internet on game related sites,” and their list of needs includes everything but the kitchen sink. Not that there’s anything wrong with kitchen sink cosplay. “Do you have a passion for acting AND gaming? Do you have a costume emulating…
By Owen Good Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Konami Reflects On DSiWare
Konami throws its hat into the DSiWare ring with Reflection, a puzzle platformer from Intrinsic Games that has the player controlling one character twice over. Reflection stars Kirra, a young adventurer tasked with retrieving the pieces of a broken magical mirror that has ripped reality in two. Kirra herself is split in two as well,…
By Mike Fahey Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
This Week In Video Game Comics [UPDATE]
Clearly getting out of the way of the release of Executive Assistant Iris #3, comic publishers are releasing just two four video-game-themed comics today. Sorry for skipping last week and not getting to post about this Dead Space Extraction comic. Click the thumbnails for more details. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic #45 ……
By Stephen Totilo Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
SCEA Working on Something Called “TV Superstars”
This trademark filing, listed Sept. 11, shows Sony Computer Entertainment America is working on something called “TV Superstars.” One can only hope it involves Gabe Kaplan and Lynda Carter, and Telly Savalas, smoking during an interview with Howard Cosell. The filing covers “computer game and video game software,” for “operating a real-time game for others…
By Owen Good Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
All Things BioWare: Answers From The RPG Powerhouse About Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Star Wars And More
Get a chance to talk to a studio head like Greg Zeschuk and we’ll ask him about everything. For a bit of news about every recent and upcoming BioWare game from Pinnacle Station to The Old Republic, keep reading. The following material all comes from an interview between myself and BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk conducted…
By Stephen Totilo Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Forza 3: So Many Ferraris
It’s Ferrari week at Forzamotorsport.net, with Microsoft and Turn 10 showcasing the 29 different models of the legendary Italian sports cars, along with a new original track set along the scenic Amalfi Coast. The only thing I could really tell you about Ferraris is the fact that I will never own one. It’s not because…
By Mike Fahey Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Assassin’s Creed II Dev Diary III – Now With More Variety (And Gameplay)
Assassin’s Creed II‘s second developer diary gives gamers a better look inside Italy’s churches and pickpocket-ridden streets. Designers, directors, writers and other production people at Ubisoft also promise a lot of variety in this second outing for the series. Players can expect everything from collectable quests, climbing puzzles and the chance to run down (and…
By AJ Glasser Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Dancing, Bodyguarding and Blowing Up Of GTA IV: The Ballad Of Gay Tony
If words And moving pictures alone cannot prepare you for the October 29 GTA IV episode expansion, The Ballad Of Gay Tony, will 12 new screenshots released today suffice?
By Stephen Totilo Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3 Lands In November
Sony has announced a November release date for SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 for the PSP, with two well-armed special units available to those keen to preorder. Fireteam Bravo 3 is being deployed to the PSP on November 24th, making it the perfect stocking stuffer for the new PSP or PSPgo owner in…
By Mike Fahey Published September 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Podcast Complete — Stream Or Download The Lastest Kotaku Talk Radio Show Here
Our latest one-hour audio experience is ready for you, featuring your calls, our debate about whether the PS3 should permit porn, a little GTA talk and a call-in guest playing the role of Kanye West. Co-Hosts: Brian Crecente, Stephen Totilo Special Call-In Guest: Owen Good Music: Song from The Protomen‘s Mega Man-inspired Act II: The…
By Stephen Totilo Published September 16, 2009