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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 - Uncategorized
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 - Uncategorized
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 - Uncategorized
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 - Uncategorized
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 - Uncategorized
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 - Uncategorized
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 - Uncategorized
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 - Uncategorized
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 - Uncategorized
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 - Uncategorized
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 - Uncategorized
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 - Uncategorized
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 - Uncategorized
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 - Uncategorized
More Saints Row 2 DLC Escapes From Busey’s Teeth
Say what you will about Saints Row 2, you can’t say Volition aren’t supporting the game post-release. They’ve just announced a second DLC pack for the game, called “Corporate Warfare”. Due on May 28, it’ll introduce a new set of missions where you have to take on the Ultor Corporation, along with other stuff like…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2009 - Uncategorized
Why Kojima Productions Copied A Grindhouse Movie Site
When Kojima Productions launched a web teaser, many noticed “April 2007” written at the bottom of the page. People wondered what it referred to and if it was code for something. It’s not. That date, Konami now confirms, was an accident. “April 2007” referred to the release date for Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 21, 2009 - Uncategorized
Terminator Salvation Totally Recalled
If you own the PS3 or 360 versions of Terminator Salvation, you’re fine. If you own the PC version, however…well, you probably already know the thing doesn’t work. Users have been complaining about serious install errors all week, to the point where the game has had to be recalled from North American retail shelves. A…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Cover E3 With Kotaku Challenge
We’re down to a dozen finalists. I’ve emailed each of them to warn them to come read this post. Now’s here how they can win: Since we expect you to write, and write under pressure, at E3, we’re going to need a little proof that you can handle the pressure. I’m going to provide all…
By Brian Crecente Published May 21, 2009 - Uncategorized
The First Non-EA Lord Of The Rings Game Is…A Kids Game
For years, EA held the license to the Lord of the Rings movies. So only EA could make games using the likenesses of Seans Astin and Bean. But no more. EA’s deal is up, and having broken LotR fan’s hearts with the cancellation of White Council, the rights to the films (other companies, like Turbine,…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 20, 2009 - Uncategorized
Hideo Kojima: There Is “Pressure” To Make Metal Gear
Hideo Kojima is best known for creating Metal Gear Solid. That’s not to say he’s pigeonholed as “The Metal Gear Guy”, but at this point in his career, the stealth series equals Kojima. When the game was released, there was talk from the designer about leaving the franchise — like there is every time he…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 20, 2009