• Uncategorized

  Lord Of The Rings: Conquest Demo Hits 360

  Xbox 360 owners now get to taste the delicious flavor of large scale battles over the fate of Middle Earth as the demo for EA and Pandemic’s Lord of the Rings Conquest hits Live. Out for the PlayStation 3 for a good week and a half now, the Lord of the Rings: Conquest demo is…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 2, 2009
• Uncategorized

  Microsoft Rewards Soldiers with Mediocrity

  I was browsing the Fort Bliss PX with my folks yesterday when I stumbled across this bad boy: An “Xbox 360 Military Appeciation Bundle.” That’s right Microsoft rewards the men and women defending our country with a discounted copy of a mediocre game from 2007. Patriotism or overstock?

  By Brian Crecente Published January 2, 2009
• Uncategorized

  That New Year Smell

  To: Crecente From: Luke So, new year, huh? That’s EXCITING. Another 12 months of news, games and game news to look forward to. Or dread. Probably both. Here’s what you all missed while enjoying your day off: Americans Spent 2008 Playing World Of Warcraft, PlayStation 2 Games Rock Band’s January Lineup Includes Roy Orbison, Lenny…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 2, 2009
• Uncategorized

  Skate 2 Demo To Grind, Fall Then Smash Into 360s On January 8

  I picked up Skate on the cheap with some post-Christmas cash. Am absolutely loving it. Can’t remember the last time skateboarding in a game was so much fun. So I’m looking forward to Skate 2! And only have to wait a week to get my hands on (some of) it. A competition page on Xbox.com…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 2, 2009
• Uncategorized

  Throw Four Korg DS-10’s Together, You Got Yourself A Hoedown

  Last month, four Australians got together at a record label party. Each had a copy of the Korg DS-10 synthesiser for the Nintendo DS. The four joined forces, improvised then rocked out. You can catch an mp3 of the event – IF Records’ 13th birthday party – here. Not the greatest of tunes, I know…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 2, 2009
• Uncategorized

  Law Firms Setting Up Video Game Teams

  Games are getting bigger. As they get bigger, they become big business. And as they become big business, they attract lawsuits, and lawsuits attract lawyers. Video game lawyers. The LA Times have an interesting article up about how many of America’s biggest law firms have, in recognition of both the specialist needs and increasing size…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 2, 2009
• Uncategorized

  Get Game & Watch On Your iPhone (Before Lawyers Take It Down)

  No way in hell Nintendo will ever put games on the iPhone. Not even Game & Watch ones. Which is why, we guess, Mobile 1UP have stepped in and done the next best thing. These “developers” have ported bootleg versions of four classic G&W titles and made them available in the iTunes Store: GW Parachute,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 2, 2009
• Uncategorized

  Japanese TV Networks Afraid Of The Big Bad Wii Video Service

  As you know, Nintendo are teaming up with Japanese ad agency Dentsu to launch a video service on the Wii next year. Japanese Wii owners are intrigued. Japanese TV networks, however? They’re afraid. A senior executive at Fuju Television – the biggest network in Japan – says that if the Wii was able to become…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 2, 2009
• Uncategorized

  You’ll Need Teamwork To Finish This Left 4 Dead Tank

  Left 4 Dead is scary. Paper? Not so scary. But paper folded to appear as though the paper takes the form of Left 4 Dead’s scariest bad guy, THE TANK? OK. That’s…scary enough. You can download a pack containing the outlines and instructions here. [4chan]

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 2, 2009
• Uncategorized

  Gears Of War 2 Figures Grant Your Chainsaw Diorama Wishes

  While NECA’s first lines of Gears of War figures lagged badly behind the release of the original game, their third line – featuring Gears of War 2 characters – is a little more punctual. Series 3 will comprise 6 figures: a new Marcus Fenix, a COG soldier and three Locust (Theron Palace Guard, Grappler and…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 2, 2009
• Uncategorized

  Banned 360 Commercial: The Auditions

  Waaay back in 2005, this European commercial was minted to help promote the launch of the Xbox 360. It was promptly banned for encouraging violent behaviour. The ad’s auditions, however, aren’t anywhere near as troubling. Click to view XBox Commercial Audition – watch more funny videos

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 2, 2009
• Uncategorized

  Well, At Least Microsoft Are Using Home

  After the first few days, how many of you are still using Home? Hands up? Yeah. That’s what I thought. Ah well. Hey, Sony, look on the bright side; at least Microsoft are using it! A program instituted by Portsmouth University in the UK – aimed at cutting the cost of travel and communications for…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 2, 2009
• Uncategorized

  Rock Band’s January Lineup Includes Roy Orbison, Lenny Kravitz & Steve Miller Band

  Someone’s accidentally posted most of Rock Band’s January DLC lineup on the game’s forums. Oops. The listings were quickly taken down but, like an elephant, the internet never forgets. Seems we have at least three bands lined up for the month. As we reported last month, Roy Orbison is coming to the game, and the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 1, 2009
• Uncategorized

  Americans Spent 2008 Playing World Of Warcraft, PlayStation 2 Games

  We get a fair idea of which games sell the most. But what about the games we play the most? Little harder to quantify. That hasn’t stopped surveyors Nielsen from trying to find out! According to their “best of 2008” lists – which record stuff like the ten highest-grossing movies, biggest-selling albums, etc – America’s…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 1, 2009
• Uncategorized

  Kotaku’s Most Read and Commented Stories of 2008

  We’ve given you the site’s most popular videos, features and reporting, but what single story was the most read on Kotaku in 2008. And which story elicited the most comments? Surprise! The most popular involves nudity! Most Read Playboy’s Jo Garcia Pwns Wii Fit Girl Nintendo Announce New DS: The Nintendo DSi The Top 50…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 1, 2009
• Uncategorized

  Welcome to 2009, What Are Your Gaming Resolutions?

  Last night I shot off a few Kotaku resolutions, things I hope to do on the site during 2009. But what about you? We’re officially a short sleep into 2009, so you’ve had plenty of time to ponder your slow death and gamer failings. What do you hope to do this year gaming wise and,…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 1, 2009
• Uncategorized

  My New Year’s Resolutions Are…

  To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Kotaku Resolutions Happy New Year’s! Last night we spent the evening watching a music program on NHK and trying to teach Mini-Bash how to say the Japanese New Year’s greeting — he kept putting it in the past tense for some kooky reason. Regarding New Year’s resolutions, I have only…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 1, 2009
• Uncategorized

  Your Three Favorite Dioramas

  Our Arcade Mania diorama contest has come to a close, and Kotakuland has picked the winners. What to see your favorite dioramas? Winners, please send an email to kotakucontestATgmailDOTcom to claim your copy of Arcade Mania. Be sure to include your address and let us know if you’d like your copy signed. Arcade Mania is…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 1, 2009
• Uncategorized

  What’s Nintendo’s Year End Tokyo Stock Exchange Ranking?

  Let’s take look back at something very exciting: Nintendo’s year end Tokyo Stock Exchange market ranking. What number did the company come in? Oh, the suspense! Here is the 2008 year end Tokyo Stock Exchange market cap ranking: 1. Toyota Motors: 10.160 trillion yen 2. NTT Docomo: 7.915 trillion yen 3. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group:…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 1, 2009
• Uncategorized

  More SEGA Dreamcast Game Trademark Re-Registering Fun

  SEGA has re-registered yet another trademark for yet another Dreamcast game. This time, it’s puzzler ChuChu Rocket. On December 22, SEGA U.S. re-registered the ChuChu trademark — one of many DC titles to get their TMs renewed. According to game site Siliconera, this year SEGA has re-registered trademarks for following Dreamcast games: Sonic Shuffle, Cosmic…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 1, 2009