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  When You Hear “Exclusive,” Guess What It Means

  The recent announcement of a PlayStation 3 release of Fallout 3 content that was previously announced as exclusive to Microsoft sent us searching for answers about what constitutes an “exclusive.” Last July Todd Howard, lead designer at Bethesda Softworks, took the stage during the Microsoft E3 press briefing and did a rather un-extraordinary thing. Like…

  By Stephen Totilo Published May 21, 2009
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  Gears Brings Steam to the iPhone… Sorta

  A new App on the iPhone serves up details from the Steam community to your iPod Touch or phone. Gears includes three pages of information from Steam accounts for $3. The App has you type in a Steam nickname and then displays the user’s avatar, location, online status and bi-weekly gameplay stats. Another page breaks…

  By Brian Crecente Published May 21, 2009
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  Brutal Thoughts with Jack Black

  Jack Black hams it up in the first of a series of live-action shorts promoting Brutal Legend, with a guest appearance by insane game developer Tim Schafer. I don’t know about you, but for me it’s gotten to the point where I prefer to see animated characters with Jack Black’s voice over actually seeing Jack…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 21, 2009
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  PlayStation 3 Getting The Total Watchmen Experience

  The PlayStation 3‘s Blu-ray drive has its advantages, as proven by the Watchmen: The End is Nigh The Complete Experience, a two-disc set collecting the game and the film for the PlayStation 3. While the Xbox 360 is getting Watchmen: The End is Nigh Parts 1 and 2 as a standalone retail release, the PlayStation…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 21, 2009
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  Armin Van Buuren Gets His Own DJ Game

  The relentless march of DJ rhythm games continues, as TransGaming launches their new development studio with Armin van Buuren – In the Mix for the Nintendo Wii. Perhaps best known for enabling PC games to play on the Mac, TransGaming now enters the full-on game development biz, partnering with Foreign Media Games on Armin van…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 21, 2009
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  A Trip To the X Games As Seen Through LBP

  Freestyle skier and X Games competitor Sarah Burke is a big gamer and, apparently, a LittleBigPlanet fan. Burke recently created her own LittleBigPlanet level, with the help of the Playstation folks, to document what it’s like to travel to and participate in the X Games. Burke went on to win a gold medal in Superpipe…

  By Brian Crecente Published May 21, 2009
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  The Queen Of England’s Gold-Plated Wii

  THQ knows that if you’re going to deliver a Wii to Buckingham Palace to promote your new game no ordinary console will do, so they had one gold plated. The shiny Nintendo console was delivered to Buckingham Palace today as part of a marketing stunt meant to promote BIG Family Games, the latest title in…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 21, 2009
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  Blur’s Shocking Teaser Trailer

  Following up yesterday’s screens from Bizarre Creation’s new weapon-based racer comes this teaser trailer, which demonstrates that good looks only get you so far in Blur. Teaser trailer? More like taser trailer. While the screenshots did an admirable job of showing off the game’s graphics, I believe this teaser trailer captures the game’s essence. This…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 21, 2009
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  Warner Bros. Offers to Buy Most of Midway

  Midway today announced that they have received a more than $33 million offer from Warner Bros. to buy out most of their company. “It’s in writing now, that there is interest,” said Geoffrey Mogilner, director of corporate communications for Midway, who added that the company has been in talks with other potential owners as well.…

  By Brian Crecente Published May 21, 2009
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  North American Pangya Back In Business

  The North American version of Ntreev’s popular online fantasy golf game Pangya is officially back in business as of today. Pangya is a free-to-play, microtransaction-based online game that banks on players purchasing new costumes and equipment for their adorable anime avatars. Previously operating in North America under the name Albatross 18, the games was to…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 21, 2009
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  GameStop Reports Record Quarter As Used Game Sales Flourish

  Video game retailer GameStop reports record sales and earnings for first quarter 2009, with a slight drop in new game sales bolstered by a significant rise in used products. Despite the unstable economy, GameStop once again delivers a report indicating record sales and earnings for the first quarter 2009. Sales were up 9.2% compared to…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 21, 2009
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  Rockstar Co-Founders Form New Studio

  Jamie King and Gary Formeman, who founded Rockstar Games with three others, are teaming up with former Image Metrics and NBC execs to create a new video game studio. 4mm Games is developing “online worlds that will define social gaming”, according to the company’s website. The studio is teaming with CEA Autumn Games in a…

  By Brian Crecente Published May 21, 2009
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  You can’t use a stylus to discuss video games in this, the Official Kotaku Forum post. But you can use your keyboard. Have at it in the comments section, please. Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ.

  By Stephen Totilo Published May 21, 2009
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  What Happens If You Don’t Pay Your Speeding Ticket In Japan

  To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Swine Flue Two Hope Tristan is feeling better… Previously, I got a speeding ticket for speeding. It was a trap, a set-up so to speak. And for one reason or another, I didn’t pay it by the deadline the cops had set. _> Anyway! The police sent me a new…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 21, 2009
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  PSP To Get A Major Music Store?

  Hmm, let’s see. The PSP is doing OK, but not great. The iPhone, now, it’s doing great. So what can the PSP do to be more like the iPhone? Get itself a music store! According to sources speaking with CNET, Sony have already been in talks with several major record labels over the possibility of…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2009
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  Studio Ghibli Taking Their Time On DS Game

  Ninokuni is a dream collaboration between Japanese developers Level 5 and anime craftsmen Studio Ghibli. And, because they are craftsmen, Ghibli are taking their sweet time on the game. With around 15 minutes of animation to be included on the cart, and the game due in Japan later this year, Ghibli’s work should have been…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2009
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  Official Pokemon Camping Gear (Sure, Why Not?)

  If there are Pokémon planes, Pokémon X-ray machines and Pokémon beverages, then damn skippy there should be camping goods. There are. Later next month, a line “Pikanicamp” outdoor goods go on sale. There are Pokémon Diamond/Pearl themed camping gear that includes chairs, mini-tables, flashlights, sunshades and leisure seats. 『ポケモン』がアウトドアグッズになった [GPara]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 21, 2009
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  Punch-Out Caters To Nintendo Fanboys With A Secret Character

  It can be argued that many of Punch-Out’s characters are big Nintendo names in their own right. Buuuuttt, eeehhh…they don’t have the pulling power of, say, one of Nintendo’s other characters. Punch-Out!! – more footage of that secret character [Go Nintendo]

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2009
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  China’s Take On Monster Hunter

  What better way than to pay Capcom a compliment for its hugely popular Monster Hunter franchise than ripping it off? Chinese game developers bring the world this: Hunter Blade. You can watch game footage and marvel at the ballsiness of the game — and font, even. It’s not Monster Hunter. Oh, no. This is different.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 21, 2009
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  Capcom Wises Up, Promises Punctual Steam Releases

  As an avid PC gamer, and a dedicated Steam user, few things grind my gears like delayed Steam releases. You know the kind. Game comes out on console, then PC, then Steam, weeks later. There are many publishers that, for some reason, do things this way. Even when it’s just a PC game, the Steam…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2009