- Reviews
Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars: Hardcore Returns to the Wii
Gamecock does one thing really well: Promote video games. The thing is, their excellent cheer leading skills don’t always mean they publish good games. In fact, they haven’t really published many good games at all this year. And each time another dud passed across my desk and little part of me died, because I knew…
By Brian Crecente Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
One More Bonus Round Before 2009
What? One more Bonus Round plug?! You betcha! The fifth and final (and I mean it this time) segment features me, Giant Bomb’s Ryan Davis and Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter talking about our consoles of the year, the PlayStation 3 in 2009 and maybe one more other item of interest that escapes me right…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
Family Gaming Awards Play The Age Card
UK site Game People takes a slightly different approach to video game awards, breaking games down into life stages instead of the more traditional console or genre distinctions. The Family Gaming Awards consist of six different categories – Infants, Juniors, Students, Workers, Parents, and Seniors – along with an award given to the overall best…
By Mike Fahey Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
Kotaku’s Game of the Year Nominations
There are two ways to approach Game of the Year awards. Either you create awards meant to be used as a sort of buying guide, a consumer-centric list that tells people who own a certain console which games they absolutely must buy for that year. That’s what we did last year with our Goaties. This…
By Brian Crecente Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
StarCraft II’s Zerg, Protoss Campaigns On The Backburner
When Blizzard revealed that it was splitting StarCraft II into three separate products, we grumbled. Who wouldn’t? But we’ve come to terms with it, especially since the Terrans get first shot at the story. StarCraft II lead designer Dustin Browder tells 1UP that while the Terran single-player campaign — over two-dozen missions strong instead of…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
Watch The Japan-Only Ninja Blade Demo
Japan was gifted with a demo of From Software’s upcoming Xbox 360 game Ninja Blade on Monday, and the guys at Inside Digital Foundry were nice enough to play through it for our enjoyment. Upon first glancing at the video I was hard pressed to notice much of a difference between this and Ninja Gaiden,…
By Mike Fahey Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
Legacy Of Ys Pre-Orders Get Music Of Ys
Atlus today reveals a special bonus soundtrack for fans who pre-order the upcoming Legacy of Ys: Books I & II compilation for the Nintendo DS in their own signature Atlus style. Legacy of Ys is an update of the first two games in the classic Ys RPG franchise, with updated graphics, new enemies and equipment,…
By Mike Fahey Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
The King of Stampede
The thing about goals, they must be measurable, and they must be achievable. That’s how I justify going after some low hanging fruit – beating Steve Wiebe’s score on an Atari 2600 classic. Click to viewYou may remember Steve Wiebe, the protagonist of “The King of Kong” (and with a cameo in the more recent…
By Owen Good Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
Good Old Games Run Through With Broken Swords
Classic gaming website Good Old Games takes the last few moments of 2008 to bolster their adventure game line up with two more titles from Revolution Software’s Broken Sword series. Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror is now available for purchase n the website, which offers DRM-free classic PC games at low, low prices –…
By Mike Fahey Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
Gaza Strife Reflected Poorly In Raid Gaza Flash Game
A new flash game up at and flash website Newgrounds might be taking its tongue-in-cheek look at the Israeli-Palestinian fighting along the Gaza Strip a bit too far. The flash game has the player controlling the Israelis, portrayed as a powerful and resourceful group overreacting to Palestinian Qassam rockets, which ineffectually swoop in the air,…
By Mike Fahey Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
How To Spend Your EVE Online Trial Period
Massively has posted an excellent article for those interested in trying out EVE Online that details exactly what you should do in order to get the most out of your free trial. I’ve signed up for the EVE Online free trial program countless times now, and each time I’ve been faced with this massive universe…
By Mike Fahey Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
So Where’s The License For Archon Now?
React! Games has picked up the license to Free Fall Associates’ classic action board game hybrid, Archon, with plans to return the game to its former glory in 2009. When we’d last left our intrepid action board game it was in the hands of Myriad Interactive early last year, with big plans to do…something. Now…
By Mike Fahey Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
2008 Alternative Edge Awards Highlight Deficiencies In Fallout 3’s Whoring
Edge’s 2008 Alternative Edge Awards celebrate the best and worst moments in 2008 gaming from a slightly skewed perspective, driving home a point that many reviewers missed: Fallout 3’s whoring sucked. Fallout 3’s award for Most Unsatisfactory Whoring is but one of myriad awards handed out by Edge this year, including Most Special Special Editions…
By Mike Fahey Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
Orlando Sentinel: Blu-Ray is a Needless Expense
The Orlando Sentinel took at look at the now years-old tech of Blu-ray players, trying to determine whether it’s worth investing in a new player. Their conclusion: Yes and no. The articles author seems to think that the Blu-ray could eventually come into its own if you are able to use it for more than…
By Brian Crecente Published December 30, 2008 -
UncategorizedNo, Tim Burton’s 9 Is Not Riffing On Sackboy
Several readers have sent in tips pointing to the trailer for Tim Burton’s latest animated feature, 9, suggesting the film’s characters are homages to Media Molecule’s Sackboy of LittleBigPlanet fame. Not the case! While the characters do bear a certain similarity, what with the sackcloth construction and zippers at their necks, Tim Burton’s 9 is…
By Mike Fahey Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
Here Is Your New Kotaku Editor For The Day
This is it, the last contest of the year for Kotaku. The lucky winner receives a sweet schwag pack, and guest editing privileges here on the site. What does that mean? They get to hang out in the tower, maybe write a few posts and appear in one of our podcasts. And now for the…
By Brian Crecente Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
PS3 Keyboard Remote Is Elegant Solution To Home Chatting
Rather than rely on a controller add-on or a full blue tooth keyboard, Success HK has just released a 3-in-1 wireless keyboard controller that provides a more convenient way to navigate PlayStation Home. From the looks of it, the remote-sized 3-in-1 wireless keyboard remote functions as your standard Blu-ray disc remote, with a slide-out keyboard…
By Mike Fahey Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
Ah, The Delicious Taste Of Tentacle Rape
When the folks at Mnemosyne aren’t busy running MMORPG Rubies Of Eventide, the busy themselves with other pursuits, such as developing the world’s first beverage with the great taste of anime tentacle rape. Tentacle Grape is a caffienated grape soda that Mnemosyne is targeting at gamers, cosplayers, and comic book fans. It is also perhaps…
By Mike Fahey Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
Home Could Remain in Beta Indefinitely
Jack Buser, director of Home, was kind enough to join us for this podcast. He let Fahey, Adam and I drop in to his surprisingly stark virtual home on the Playstation 3 were he talked about the future of the free virtual world and surprised all of us by saying there’s a good chance it…
By Brian Crecente Published December 30, 2008 - Uncategorized
What Are Your New Year’s Plans?
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Here Comes The New Year Tomorrow is the New Year’s Eve in Japan. We’re gonna eat soba, which symbolize longevity, and I’ll probably polish off some sake, which symbolizes a good time. Mmmmm, sake. Later in the week, we’re gonna go to shrines and pray and toss money at the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 30, 2008