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Playing Games as a Form of Travel
In light of the fact this is a holiday weekend, here’s a lighter look at how video games are a context for our cultural experiences, and may one day be a substantial basis for them. Confronted with his ex-girlfriend’s rather facile reduction of two experiences – travel and video games -to somewhat common traits, writer…
By Owen Good Published September 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
Bit.Trip Void Preview: The Stick’s Turn
The stylish and always tricky Bit.Trip music series returned with a surprise third entry on display this weekend in Seattle. I believe this is the Bit.Trip game I’ll be good at. What Is It? Bit.Trip Void is the fall-scheduled downloadable Wii follow-up to Bit.Trip Beat and Bit.Trip Core. All developed by Gaijin Games, the three…
By Stephen Totilo Published September 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
Study Manages to Make Game Ads Even More Obnoxious
Hey you got your video game violence in my in-game ads! You got your in-game ads in my video game violence! Two great trends go great together in a study that says blood-spattered brands are more memorable. Well, duh. A team of U.S. and European researchers found that, even though players spent less time looking…
By Owen Good Published September 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
Live From PAX 09: SeanBad And His Magical Gameboy
It’s just not PAX without an improptu chiptune performance on the stairs outside the Seattle Center. The artist is SeanBad, the music is pretty damn amazing, and the crowd is slightly nuts. In some cases extremely nuts. Questionable crowd quality aside, SeanBad’s performance completely made my night. Be sure to check out his MySpace, where…
By Mike Fahey Published September 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
In the Preseason, 2K Sports Reports First
The preseason may not matter in the standings. But look at the NFL’s, look at baseball’s spring training. It matters to those sports, and to their bottom lines. And it’s starting to matter to video games. NBA 2K10’s Draft Combine released Thursday for the PS3, a week after it went out to Xbox Live. The…
By Owen Good Published September 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
Scenes And Screens From Ron Gilbert’s DeathSpank
Behold screenshots and a trailer for Ron Gilbert‘s DeathSpank, due out 2010-ish for too many platforms to mention. DeathSpank is a 3D action RPG from Ron Gilbert, the man behind classic PC games like The Secret of Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion. With that sort of pedigree, you can expect a game that’s at the…
By Mike Fahey Published September 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
Weekend Coupons: Sniagrab
Back in Denver, Labor Day weekend was when the Gart sports castle downtown ran the legendary “Sniagrab” -“bargains” spelled backward. Any skier in that city knows what I’m talking about. In its honor, we present this weekend’s coupons. Hardware • If you’re willing to take out a new credit card – and you should think…
By Owen Good Published September 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
What’s Inside The Aion Launch Party Goody Bag?
What glorious treats were hidden within the depths of the gift bag handed out at NCsoft’s Aion launch party at the Space Needle in Seattle yesterday evening? Though technically more of an open beta launch party, NCsoft’s soirée held atop Seattle’s landmark Space Needle was full of good food, a bit of excitement, and a…
By Mike Fahey Published September 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
Kotaku Originals: Is a Man Not Entitled to the Sweat of His Brow?
No, says the man in Seattle. It belongs to PAX. Labor Day might be the working person’s holiday, but persons such as Fahey, Totilo and Adam will be working there this weekend. Otherwise, we’ll be having an abbreviated holiday weekend. Here’s your programming guide. My posts will run every two hours beginning with this one.…
By Owen Good Published September 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
Here’s Your Labor Day Weekend Listening Material
During this week’s Kotaku Talk Radio, listeners called in to debate what the console wars will mean to them, the value of pre-order goodies and one lucky listener got free tickets to PAX… thanks to another listener. The hour long show also has plenty of good music and talk of games. If you’re looking for…
By Brian Crecente Published September 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
Fat Princess To Get Fatter In New Pork
Fat Princess is soon to get a little fuller in the content department, with developers Titan Studio announcing at PAX earlier today a new map for the game. Called “New Pork”, it’s an urban map, with a sewer system running underneath and plenty of rooftops overhead. No idea on when it will be out, but…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
New MAG Trailer
Glad this ends up being a trailer for PS3 multiplayer shooter MAG. For the first five seconds or so, I thought it was a Streets video. In actuality, it’s a nice touch; the trailer features voice-over work done by some of the game’s community members and beta testers, giving the clip an air of people…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
Uncharted 2 Collector’s Edition Includes Art Book, Knife
Introducing the Uncharted 2: Fortune Hunter Edition. It’s the game’s fancy-pants version, and includes a copy of Uncharted 2, art book, collector’s case and a replica of the game’s mysterious, ancient artefact. Sounds good. Only, there’s a catch. See, Naughty Dog & Sony want this to be a genuine limited edition deal. Not something anyone…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 4, 2009 - Uncategorized
New Bits Of Brutal Legend, Uncharted 2 Revealed At PAX
Don’t read this post if you don’t want the Brutal Legend demo’s cut-scene spoiled and don’t want to read about a never-before-revealed level of Uncharted 2. Both were just shown at the Penny Arcade Expo. At a Friday evening panel here at PAX in Seattle called Spike Sneak Peeks, Game Trailers TV host Geoff Keighley…
By Stephen Totilo Published September 4, 2009 - Uncategorized
And The PS3 Box Redesigns Begin
With a new PS3 comes a new PS3 logo, and with a new PS3 logo comes a new PS3 box. And a new PS3 box means all the cover art we’ve seen for upcoming games needs to be changed. First off the blocks is Uncharted 2. Old art on the left, new one on the…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 4, 2009 - Uncategorized
PAX Cosplay Round One – FIGHT!
The doors are open and the cosplayers are out at this year’s Penny Arcade Expo. Here’re the highlights of the first day. The Killzone 2 guy is by far one of the better non-sexy costumes on display, while Pyramid Head leaves a lot to be desired (like an actual prymid, perhaps). In the sexy department,…
By AJ Glasser Published September 4, 2009 - Uncategorized
Company Says It Can Predict Review Scores a Year in Advance
A U.K. company named Vertical Slice claims it’s able to predict video game review scores a year in advance of release, by reverse engineering magazine reviews, combined with an analysis method used by marriage counselors. Speaking to Eurogamer – you really should read the entire story – Vertical Slice director Graham McAllister boils down the…
By Owen Good Published September 4, 2009 - Uncategorized
3D Coming To The PS3 In 2010 [Update]
As expected, Sony have announced at the IFA Consumer Electronics show in Berlin that stereoscopic 3D will be coming to the PlayStation 3 in 2010. This kind of 3D doesn’t need a “special” TV (catch: you will need a 200hz+ set); rather, you just need a set of stereoscopic glasses, the likes of which you’ve…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 4, 2009