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  iPhone Gets It’s Own Advance Wars…Sort Of

  Luc Bernard bounces back from the release of Eternity’s Child with Mecho Wars, an Advance Wars-esque strategy game now available for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Remember back when we reported that Mecho Wars was due out in March? We were a little off. It’s available on the iTunes App Store now for $4.99 though,…

  By Mike Fahey Published June 15, 2009
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  Blizzard Preps For StarCraft II Beta

  Blizzard is starting to gear up for the StarCraft II Beta, the company said recently in an email sent out to game writers. The email, which asks game writers to make sure they have a Battle.Net account set up and a request in, says that Blizzard has no date yet to announce for the start…

  By Brian Crecente Published June 15, 2009
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Bonus points today … if you comment about games here in TAY, and take the extra time to make your comment rhyme. Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ.

  By Stephen Totilo Published June 15, 2009
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  The American Toilet Is Very American

  To: Crecente From: Bashcraft Had to the U.S. Consulate today to renew Mini-Bash’s passport and make one for Micro-Bash. Something I noticed: At the U.S. Consulate, there are not fancy Japanese toilets. Like, there are regular American toilets — no seat warmer, no bidet, no butt washer, nothing. What’s more, they have toy cars for…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009
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  British Sales Charts: On, On You Most Noble…Sims

  Poor ol’ Prototype. You’d think June would be a good month to launch a solid piece of new IP and, with Activision’s backing, see it take the top spot. Thing is, The Sims 3 was released this month, and retains its #1 position ahead of the hoodie-clawing simulator. Something it’ll probably do for a few…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 15, 2009
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  Don’t Expect Much Story From Mario Galaxy 2

  There were two big surprises to be found with Mario Galaxy: firstly, that it had a substantive story, and secondly, that the story was good. Pity, then, the sequel won’t be doing anything of the sort. Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto has said that, despite the love fans had for the first game’s plot (centred around…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 15, 2009
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  Peter Molyneux Wants To Help Rare “Get Well Known”

  What is developer Rare best known for? Doing games for Nintendo in the 1990s? Making Banjo Kazooie? Battletoads? Viva Piñata? Peter Molyneux, creative director of Microsoft Europe, wants to help Rare have more of an identity. Here, let’s let him say it in his own words: “Actually one of the things I really want to…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009
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  Here Are Some New Lost Planet 2 Screens

  Capcom’s Lost Planet 2 trades the snowy landscape of the first game for the firey landscape of the second. This makes us wonder what’s in store for the third game. Rain, we hope rain. 海に囲まれた要塞…？『ロストプラネット2』新たなステージ公開 [Gpara]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009
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  Erotic Game Makers Give Games “Cleaner” Titles

  With “rape games” officially banned in Japan and politicians cracking down, the country’s erotic game makers are feeling the heat. What to do? In order to avoid another outcry or to prevent falling target of international protests, adult game developers are giving new and upcoming titles less sensation names. So, Slippery Pregnancy Princess (our translation)…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009
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  Prison Bans PS3 Consoles Over Escape Fears

  We’ve heard how the PS3’s Cell processor can be used for not just games, but other things like cancer research. But prison breaks? That, we hadn’t heard. Until now. Apparently inmates at Rye Hill prison, near Rugby in the United Kingdom, had been “found to be using the consoles’ built-in wireless connections to chat to…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 15, 2009
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  Nintendo And McDonalds Japan Serve Up DS Service

  Following on the test program Nintendo launched in Tokyo last spring, the Kyoto-based game company and the fast food giant announce “Mac de DS”. Way back in 2005, Nintendo of America teamed up with McDonalds to offer free WiFi in the United States. This new nationwide service is a first for Japanese McDonalds. Starting June…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009
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  ArmA II Looks, Well, Incredible

  The original Operation Flashpoint did a good job of making you feel like you were part of not just a mission, but a war. ArmA II, from the same developers, looks set to do an incredible job. Those aren’t scripted sequences. Or cutscenes. Or background objects. That battle going on involves hundreds and hundreds of…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 15, 2009
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  Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver Japanese Pre-Orders Include…

  Anyone pre-ordering Pokémon: Heart Gold or Soul Silver? Good news — pre-orders start July 4th, and there are pre-order goodies. In Japan, those pre-ordering Heart Gold will get a Ho-Oh figure, and those pre-odering Soul Silver will get a Lugia. Pre-order both, and you’ll get a Arceus figure. Heart Gold and Soul Silver are DS…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009
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  Shiva’s Lesbian Motorcycle Mode Solves An Age-Old Dilemma

  Square Enix have finally solved the age old question of “ass or crotch” with their Shiva design for Final Fantasy XIII. The answer? Give ’em both. While I’ve seen this thing in action before, most you haven’t. So take a look at these, showing Shiva in her Gestalt mode. The core design itself, in the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 15, 2009
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  Playing Super Mario Bros. On A Theremin

  The theremin isn’t only good for playing "Good Vibrations", it’s also good for playing Super Mario Bros. — not just the music, but the game itself. YouTuber conquerearth explains how it works: The sound from the theremin is split into its frequency and amplitude components in real time, which are then mapped to values in…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009
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  Japan Gets Blue Wii Remote, Nunchuk (With A Catch)

  While the rest of the world suffers under the tyranny of a single Wii colour, Japan has choices! First a black Wii & Wii Remote, and now a blue Wii Remote & Nunchuk. But wait! There’s a catch! The special coloured controllers are being offered as part of a Club Nintendo deal for Wii Sports…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 15, 2009
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  Metal Gear Online Bikinis Are Online

  To celebrate the first anniversary of Metal Gear Online, Konami has provided very special DLC: Bikinis. Just in time for summer! Players will need to have at least the GENE Expansion to download the bikini outfits. You can check out the bikinis in action right here. 念願のビキニ装備が配信開始、『メタルギアオンライン』が活気に溢れる [はちま起稿]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009
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  Brutal Legend: Ronnie James Dio Dropped As Guest Character

  There once was a time that Black Sabbath legend Ronnie James Dio was included amongst the list of guest stars appearing in Brutal Legend. That time has passed. But don’t worry. You should see who’s replacing him. While no official reason was given for the move, it may have something to do with this lawsuit,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 15, 2009
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  Big Shi(r)t Sale

  To: Luke From: Owen Re: E3 Done Got a really flattering phone call the other day, from the publisher of the Washington (N.C.) Daily News. I interned there in 1994 – it was my first news writing job, the summer before my senior year of college. They’re celebrating their 100th anniversary and asked if I…

  By Owen Good Published June 14, 2009
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  Week in Games: Bustin’ Makes Me Feel Good

  For my money, the years 1984 to 1986 might have been the greatest consecutive three -year stretch ever for summer blockbusters. In 1986, we got Top Gun, Aliens and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off; 1985 was Rambo: First Blood Part II, The Goonies and Back to the Future; and 1984 saw The Karate Kid, Indiana Jones…

  By Owen Good Published June 14, 2009