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Skate 2 Online Does Not Feature Wizards And Warlocks
/ In this latest Skate 2 developer diary-style video featurette, online producer Brian Lindley reveals new online multiplayer modes for the game before storming off set and ultimately killing a guy with eldritch energies. Brian does a fine job of detailing Skate 2’s new online features despite being obviously uncomfortable in his role of straight…
By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
A Look Inside China’s Game Addiction Treatment Centers
The Christian Science Monitor recently visited Beijing’s internet addiction center to talk to the docs and addicts about the issue of, among other things, gaming addiction. The center, which opened in 2004 at military base, has become the model for the nearly 300 similar centers that now dot China. The center treats the addiction with…
By Brian Crecente Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Discover Five Simple Ways To “Green” Your Gaming
If you’re concerned about global warmi… I mean, climate change, but also happen to spend a good portion of your free time gaming, Discovery has five helpful environmentally conscious tips for you. While many are obvious, such as “Turn Off the Console When Not in Use” when used in conjunction with tip number two (“Buy…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Learn To Knit The Wii Way
In response to my failed attempt at knitting during the Kotaku Holiday Podcast, reader Austinpoet offered a link to KNiiTTiiNG, a project that teaches players to knit using the Nintendo Wii. Call it Knitting Hero. KNiiTTiiNG is a collaboration between artist Rachel Beth Egenhoefer and scientist Kyle E. Jennings. Rachel’s interest in the intricate hand-movements…
By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Least Productive DS Mod Ever
This has got to be the most work for the least return I’ve ever seen in a mod. The Geekothon points to a modder who completely gutted his DS Lite so he could: A: Make it play videos B: Turn it into a Pez dispenser C: Add video camera support D: Swap out the logo…
By Brian Crecente Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Microsoft Planning “Significant” Cuts, Source Says Layoff Reports “Exaggerated”
Xbox 360 manufacturer Microsoft is reported to be jumping on the cost-cutting bandwagon, according to reports from CNBC. Said to be pursuing “significant” savings measures, spokespeople say that reports of mass layoffs are greatly exaggerated. Over the past week, reports from other sources, namely Fudzilla, pegged the Redmond giant as laying off as much as…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
New Trailer And Screens Herald Battlestations: Pacific Website
Eidos has just launched Battlestations.net, the community-focused website for their upcoming follow-up to Battlestations: Midway, Battlestations: Pacific, and they’re celebrating by bombarding fans with new screens and trailers. The Battlestations.net website will play host to new screenshots, movies, developer blogs, podcasts, and just about everything Battlestations: Pacific you can imagine. Fans will be able to…
By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Turbine Confirms New Massively Multiplayer Title Featuring In-Game Item Sales
Lord of the Rings Online developer Turbine confirmed that they are working on a new massively multiplayer online game that will sell in-game items for cash. Word of the game leaked out after a job posting for a micro-transaction and e-commerce manager hit Turbine’s website. In the description, the company said the position would be…
By Brian Crecente Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
White Knight Chronicles, Dissidia Reign Supreme In Japan
While the Nintendo DS and Wii typically dominate Japanese sales charts, this past week was all about PlayStation, with Level 5’s White Knight Chronicles and Square Enix’s Dissidia: Final Fantasy topping software sales overseas. Media Create numbers put three days worth of White Knight Chronicles for PlayStation 3 at 207,000 copies sold, a tad more…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Subway Teams With Konami To Promote Healthy DDR Sales
From now until the end of March, succumbing to that damnable “Five Dollar Foot-Long” jingle could net you some plastic DDR crap and a $10 coupon good towards your next living room-eating dance pad game. In the name of promoting healthy lifestyles in children, Subway has teamed with Konami in order to include DanceDanceRevolution toys…
By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Australian Silent Hill: Homecoming Ban Lifted
One of many titles banned in Australia last year due to a rather wonky classification system, Konami’s Silent Hill: Homecoming has now been granted a rating of MA15+, clearing it for launch. As we’ve touched on in previous stories, Australia’s game classification stops at MA15+, lacking the R18+ rating that particularly violent films are afforded.…
By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Capcom Focus Testing In San Mateo Friday
If you’ll be in the San Francisco Bay area this Friday and seek to experience the exciting world of video game focus testing, Capcom could have just the opportunity you’re looking for. Capcom is holding a round of focus testing on Friday, and unless they’ve suddenly decided to go into the soft drink market, that…
By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Logitech’s Color-LCD Sporting Keyboard, New Mouse and Headphones
Logitech today took the wraps off of three new PC gaming peripherals: A color LCD-toting keyboard, a 5000-dpi mouse and a 7.1-channel surround sound headset. The new lineup is an expansion of Logitech’s gaming G-series. “The G-series product line is all about seeing how far we can push the envelope, giving gamers extraordinary, engineered-to-win features…
By Brian Crecente Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Earthrise Beta Sign Ups Rise
Announced at the beginning of last year, Masthead’s upcoming post-apocalyptic MMORPG Earthrise is now accepting applications for the battle between oppressive order and anarchic freedom. Earthrise takes place years after a cataclysmic third world war. A new society has arisen, populated by clones and controlled by a government that enforces its idea of Utopia by…
By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
SCEA: Holiday PlayStation 3 Sales Jump 130%
Despite an 18.8% drop in year to year PlayStation 3 sales in November, Sony Computer Entertainment America states early internal data puts them at a 130% increase over pre-holiday PS3 sales. Although November saw relatively disappointing PS3 sales and analysts were expecting numbers to be slightly lower than or right on track with last year’s,…
By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Crayon Physics Deluxe Hits PC Tomorrow
Crayon Physics Deluxe, last year’s Seumas McNally Grand Prize winner at the Independent Games Festival, hits PCs tomorrow, developer Petri Purho emailed to let us know. A true indie developer, Purho only entered his whimsical game in the Independent Games Festival so he could get a free pass to the Game Developers Conference. Now Purho…
By Brian Crecente Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Slimmed Down Free Radical Very Attractive To Buyers
Having recently shed 140 employees worth of weight, the slimmer, more manageable Free Radical is drawing a great deal of interest from various parties, with sale news expected later this month. Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Cameron Gunn of administrator ReSolve Partners indicates that interest in the recently trimmed company is very high, with multiple parties vying…
By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Ashcraft Talks Arcade Mania!
Over at Game Set Watch there’s an exhaustive interview with our own Brian Ashcraft about his book, Arcade Mania!, containing more insight from Ash than I generally see over the course of a year. Ashcraft is the night guy, so I generally roll into work right as he is hitting bed, and have finished up…
By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Midway Gets Reprieve From Bankruptcy Axe
Midway landed a stay of execution late Monday night, getting their debt holders to hold off on collecting until February, Business Week reports. The Chicago-based developer and publisher convinced the holders of its $75 million convertible senior notes to extend their right to make the company buy them back until Feb. 19. Midway is in…
By Brian Crecente Published January 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
New Ninja Blade Screens And Ninja Blade Facts
Microsoft has releases a storm of new Ninja Blade screenshots showing off just how silly Ryu Haybusa would look without the mouth piece of his Ninja Outfit. Sure the action looks intense and the enemies look immense…none of this matters when your main character looks like he rode the short bus to ninja school. The…
By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009