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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
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  This Is A PSP Survey On Download Rental Services

  An online survey from market research firm TNS Interactive quizzed folks not only about game purchasing habits, but also a proposed PSP rental service with subscription option. So… Who’s up for renting PSP games via download service? Thanks NoBullet for the tip!

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 21, 2009
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  Watchmen Games Coming To Retail

  The first episodic Watchmen game was awful. Which is probably why we’ve heard little of the second. Still, the game’s publishers are soldiering on, and will be releasing the pair on a retail disc. Deadline Games director Søren Lund has told 1UP that both “The End is Nigh” and the second title will be released…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2009
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  Hey Foreigners! Tell Famitsu About Your Otaku-ness

  The always delightful Otaku USA has hooked up with Japanese game mag Famitsu in hopes of finding out what is going on in your nerdy, foreigner head. Oh goodie. Otaku USA bossman Patrick Macias blogs, “We want all foreign otaku to rise forth and fill out our ‘Foreign Otaku’ survey below. The results will be…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 21, 2009
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  Sonic, Now On iPhone

  On the off chance he hasn’t entirely worn out his welcome in your heart of hearts, Sega have quietly released a version of the original Sonic the Hedgehog. As with most iPhone ports these days, the game just kind of…turned up, and as with most iPhone ports these days, control is handled by a touch-sensitive…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2009
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  Pokemon Might Get More Action

  Pokémon has been around for a while now — since 1996. Maybe it’s time to spice up the franchise with a little more action to the hugely successful role-playing-game franchise. Pokémon Diamond and Pearl game director Junichi Masuda is very keen on trying out new elements. “This is just an idea but…as you know, Pokémon…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 21, 2009
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  Use Your N64, NES & SNES Pads On The Wii

  Not the first time this has been done, granted, but Komodo’s Retro Adapter is certainly the most elegant way of using all your old Nintendo pads on the Wii. Due to come in at around $20 when it ships in July, the Retro Adapter works like a controller hub, allowing you to use NES, SNES…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2009
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  Japanese Politicians Contend Adult Game Cause Sex Crimes

  The recent Western crackdown on the legally-released-three-years-ago game Rapelay has inspired Japanese politicians swoop onto the bandwagon. Surprised? The New Komeito Party is fingering erotic games as a negative influence on the rate of Japanese sex crimes. As website Sankaku Complex points out, Japan has an extremely low sex crime rate: UN Rape Rates per…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 21, 2009
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  But What About Japan’s Swine Flu Travel Restrictions? Do They Exist?

  Several Japanese game companies have restricted employee travel to the United States for this year’s E3. For Osaka-based game maker Capcom, the basis for this decision was “travel restrictions”. The cause: H1N1 Influenza 09, aka Swine Flu. “Our Capcom guys are not coming to E3 because of the Japanese government restrictions,” said Capcom’s Chris Kramer,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 21, 2009