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  How One Of The “Hottest Video Game Babes of 2008” Was Designed

  You play Dead Space? Then you’ll know Kendra and her whiny, whiny ways. Fortunately for Kendra, she was also a little easy on the eye. Ever wonder, then, how one of Maxim’s “Hottest Video Game Babes of 2008” came to be? Artist Joey Spiotto, who designed the character, has posted on his blog a run-down…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 12, 2009
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  This Is An Encyclopedia of Otaku

  Look what just arrived on my desk, today. This! Yes, this. Written by the always insightful Patrick Galbraith, The Otaku Encyclopedia is just that, an otaku encyclopedia. From A-Z, the book covers everything Japanese nerd — an impressive feat. It also features interviews with maids, famous cosplayers, arts like Takashi Murakami, retro game idol Haruna…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 12, 2009
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  Square Enix, Eidos Working On Something TOGETHER

  Japanese publisher Square Enix now owns Eidos. While both will continue to operate independently, and both develop and release games independently, there’s one project they’ll be working on together. Speaking with Gamasutra, Square boss Yoichi “Imperial Hot” Wada says the two firms “are going to be creating a new IP together”, which will be the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 12, 2009
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  Ultimate Hits From Square Enix Ship 2 Million

  Square Enix’s “Ultimate Hits” series has shipped over 2 million copies in Japan. Going on sale in Septmber 2005, the series features 47 classic (and not so classic) Square Enix titles, all at lower prices. On July 30, the next group of “Ultimate Hits” will be going on sale. Those titles include Final Fantasy, Final…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 12, 2009
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  EA Goes Hatin’ On Rival Racing Games

  EA’s long-running, big-selling racing franchise Need for Speed has fallen on hard times in recent years. Which seems to have the mega-publisher on the front foot when it comes to their competition in the genre. Speaking (well, hating) at E3 last week, EA Europe’s Patrick Soderlund had some rather unkind words for Need for Speed…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 12, 2009
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  Katamari Tribute Trailer Brings Monkey Sock Puppet

  PS3 title Katamari Tribute is out next month in Japan. This game trailer is here to remind us of one thing: Sock puppets are great.

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 12, 2009
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  Japanese Xbox Live Guy Mugged Before E3

  This is less game-related, and more crime-related. Right before E3, Icchou Mori from Xbox Live‘s Inside Xbox was taking pictures pictures in front of the convention center, when… His bag was swiped. Gone were his passport, cash, credit cards and cell phone. Mori had been in Los Angeles only three hours. He contacted the LA…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 12, 2009
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  What Do Cammie Dunaway, Peter Molyneux & Yoko Ono Have In Common?

  They were the least popular people at E3! Least, they were according to some round-up work done by Bitmob in the wake of their E3 keynote study. While tidying up the various highs and lows of gaming forum NeoGAF’s reaction to the three major E3 keynotes, Andrew Hiscock notes that when it comes to the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 12, 2009
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  iPhone Install base vs Console Install Bases

  Ever wonder why people will not shut up about iPhone gaming, even though the platform is yet to really hit its straps? This graph, showing the install base of the device compared to the install base of “real” gaming systems, explains it. Combining the iPhone and iPod Touch together, you can see that while the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 12, 2009
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  Check Out Cross-Dressing Phoenix Wright, Part 2

  Once again, the ladies at musical troupe Takarazuka Revue are bringing Phoenix Wright to the stage — complete with singing, dancing and cross-dressing. And once again, Takarazuka star Ranju Tomu will be taking the role of Phoenix Wright in Gyakuten Saiban 2 – Truth Resurrected, Again. This time, Tomu is sporting a new hairdo. There’s…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 12, 2009
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  How Valve Find The Time To “Leak” Team Fortress Vids

  When the excellent “Meet The Spy” video was “leaked” a while ago, it didn’t take long to assume that, well, it hadn’t been leaked at all. Instead, it looked as though it had been released by Valve, and made to look like a leak. So why would the company go to such lengths to fake…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 12, 2009
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  What Does Autographing 500 Dead Rising Coffee Mugs Look Like?

  This, apparently. Not only have we never seen 500 Servebot Dead Rising mugs, we’ve also never seen Mega-Man creator Keiji Inafune sign 500 Servebot Dead Rising mugs. Now we have. Beware: This clip has clinking noises. If you are sensitive to clinking noise, might want to turn the volume off. Keiji Inafune Signing 500 Servbot…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 12, 2009
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  Steam Getting Oblivion, Morrowind

  Looks like Bethesda will soon be bringing a lot more than just Fallout 3 to Steam, with users spotting some advertisements on the service advertising games like Oblivion and Morrowind. Reader Tom sends us the above image, and while I haven’t seen the same advertisement myself (nor can I see any mention of the games…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 11, 2009
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  No More Bossing Ashley Or Wrex Around In Mass Effect 2 [Update]

  Mass Effect had a fairly memorable supporting cast! The fascist soldier lady, the angry turtle man, the slightly too-handsome junior officer. Hope you didn’t get too attached to them, however, as they won’t be returning to your party in the sequel. While some of them will feature in Mass Effect 2, none will be returning…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 11, 2009
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  Here Is Your Japanese Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver Packaging

  This fall, Nintendo is releasing Pokémon Heart Gold and Pokémon Soul Silver for the Nintendo DS. These are tenth anniversary remakes of Pokémon Gold/Silver. The original Gold and Silver appeared on the Game Boy and sold 23 million copies worldwide. Pokémon Heart Gold and Pokémon Soul Silver will be packaged with pedometers dubbed the Poké…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 11, 2009
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  Japanese Hardware Sales Go Down, Down, Down

  With little in the way of new software releases charting in Japan, console and handheld gaming system sales take a dip across the Pacific. Nintendo DSi sales were way down, but one console actually saw a boost. That would be the Xbox 360, which is a little bit odd, considering there were no new major…

  By Michael McWhertor Published June 11, 2009
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  Flock Gets Spring Update, Fan-made Shoes

  Flock! is getting a PC update tomorrow called “Spring” that features six new levels, a new animal and special objects that “change the way you herd.” To go with this announcement, Capcom has also blogged a fabulous pair of fan-made shoes. Flock! for those of you sheeple who haven’t gotten into it, yet, is an…

  By AJ Glasser Published June 11, 2009
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  So, How Many People Actually Buy Stuff Over XBLA Or The PSN?

  Digital delivery of games and gaming content is the inevitable future. But how prevalent is it in the present? The NPD Group estimate that, as it stands, digital downloads on a console are doing…OK. The retail tracking firm reckon that, of all Xbox Live “Gold” subscribers, 18% of them “regularly download from Xbox Live Arcade”.…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 11, 2009
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  More Duke Nukem Forever Footage, If You Want It

  Still morbidly curious about the bloody twelve-year-long pileup that was Duke Nukem Forever? Then the Jace Hall Show has you covered with new gameplay footage of the indefinitely on-hold 3D Realms game. If screen shots, artwork, rough video and legal shenanigans weren’t enough to satisfy you, perhaps off-screen footage—no direct feed here—of the unbelievably delayed…

  By Michael McWhertor Published June 11, 2009
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  Sam & Max Save The World Next Week

  Telltale Games is releasing the first season of Sam & Max on Xbox Live June 17 as Sam & Max Save the World. The six-episode collection of Sam & Max’s 2006/2007 adventures features Achievements, tweaked gameplay controls and HD graphic support. The compilation used to be called Sam & Max: Season One, but I guess…

  By AJ Glasser Published June 11, 2009