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  There Are 100 Keys to This Weekend’s Tera Beta Test Hidden in This Post

  Who wants to see if Tera‘s promise of action-driven massively multiplayer online role-playing combat rings true this weekend? I’ve got the beta keys, but you’re going to have to work for them. Might want to stretch first. Tera‘s closed beta test two runs from Friday, February 24 at 3PM Eastern to Monday, February 27 2:59AM…

  By Mike Fahey Published February 24, 2012
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  When Gal Gun Is Maid to Order

  Gal | TOKYO, JAPAN: Gal Gun gets an Akihabara maid cafe promotion (Photo: Mantan Web) A Beautiful Collection of Awesome Nintendo Logos I like the games and the hardware, of course, but one of my favourite things about Japanese video games from the 1980s were the logos. And some of the best ones came out…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 24, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Crazy Dude Tearing Off Women’s Underpants

  There is a stream of reports of women having their underwear forcibly torn off of them. No, this isn’t Akiba’s Trip. This is real—and frightening. According to Nippon TV, a man called out to his victims as they minded their own business, walking down the street. Then suddenly, he forcibly lifted their skirts, peeled off…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 24, 2012
• Kotaku East

  This Metal Gear Cosplay Is Direct-Action, Bananas

  Omi Gibson isn’t called the queen of Metal Gear cosplay for nothing. It’s because, you know, she is. Check out her latest effort from Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, complete with Direct-Action Suit and banana. The costume work on display is, per usual, amazing. Check out more pics the gallery above. MSF女子兵士 （ZERO ver ）/…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 24, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  The Final Fantasy Social Game in which You Do NOTHING

  Last week, as part of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy‘s Japanese launch, Square Enix released the tie-in promotional game, Social Theatrhythm. In this flash game, you create a character and then join up with three Twitter or Facebook friends to play a co-op version of Theatrhythm Of course by “play,” I mean “do nothing.” After choosing your…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 24, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Otaku Meccas Are More Than Video Games

  In Japan, the two most famous geek districts are Akihabara (in Tokyo) and Nipponbashi (in Osaka). Just their names alone conjure up notions of cute anime characters and old Famicom consoles. Yet, these areas aren’t only for gamers or folks into anime/manga. Take my father-in-law. He has zero interest in video games, comics, or cartoons.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 24, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Metal Gear Creator’s Next Game Has an Ogre

  Hideo Kojima is working on a new game codenamed “Project Ogre”. Today, he confirmed on Twitter that the game deals with an ogre (Kojima wrote “oni”—demon or ogre—in Japanese). Yep. [Twitter]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 24, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Gossip! Rumors! What Is Nintendo’s Track Record?

  Earlier this week in an uncharacteristic move, the president of one of Japan’s biggest companies, Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata, hopped on Twitter to address “gossip”. “By the way,” Iwata tweeted, “on Monday there was an inaccurate report online. This sort of thing has continued repeatedly, with no context, self-serving language, and the blurring of truth and…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 24, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  An Indepth Look at The Last Story‘s Versus and Co-op Multiplayer

  Despite being 1) a Japanese game, 2) an RPG, and 3) a Wii game, The Last Story has not one but two online multiplayer modes included in its package. The first is a versus mode, which includes a three-on-three team deathmatch. Unlike in the normal game where you are often forced to play as Zael,…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 24, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Chinese iPad Dispute Is Coming to America

  While Apple is duking it out in Chinese courts over the iPad name, Proview, the company that is claiming legal rights to the iPad moniker, is now filing a lawsuit in California. The Shenzhen-based company is accusing Apple of using deception to get the trademark, Reuters reported. In the lawsuit, Proview is alleging that Apple…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 24, 2012
• Kotaku East

  This Metal Gear Figure Costs Nearly $500!

  The master craftsmen at Hong Kong’s ThreeA are working on a Metal Gear Rex figure. It’s 1/48 scale, which sounds small. That is, until you see someone hold it. Then, it looks friggin’ enormous. The Rex goes on sale this March for US$490. That’s a big price for a big figure. ThreeA’s Metal Gear Rex…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 24, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  Mai Shiranui, Brought to Life

  Mai Shiranui from The King of Fighters isn’t real. But a few days ago in Taiwan, you could’ve swore she was. Taiwanese model Yoyo appeared dressed as SNK’s jiggly ninja at a promotion for her new photobook, which features photos of her in various states of dress against cheesy Photoshopped backgrounds. Yoyo isn’t a stranger…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 24, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  Painting Your Way to Victory. Seven Minutes of Sumioni Gameplay

  Sumioni: Demon Arts combines the most basic gameplay of old school Ninja Gaiden with the traditional Japanese art style, “sumie”, in this side-scrolling, platforming adventure. You’ll have to wait until next week for our in-depth preview, but feel free to see how it plays in the video above. Sumioni: Demon Arts was released for the…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 24, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Girl Group Wants Japan To Stop Killing Itself

  Suicide is serious. It’s horrible. It’s touched me personally as well as many people in Japan, which has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. The ruling political part decided to take action to help prevent it: with a slogan and cute idols. Earlier this month, the Democratic Party of Japan unveiled a…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 24, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Kotaku East Starts Now

  Kotaku East runs from 4am to 8am EST. For more info about Kotaku East click here

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 24, 2012
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  Let This Street Fighter II Song be Your Gateway to Shirtless Keyboard Fun

  As Sonaje starts playing the Street Fighter II intro on guitar, you might think this is just another boring video of some guy playing the Zelda theme on violin, or the Mario theme on a tamborine, or whatever. It’s not. Stick with it. There are keyboards. Sonaje is a delight. And watching this video let…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 24, 2012
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  The Death Star Arrives in Earth Orbit, They’re Here for our Toys

  In this neat ad for Toys ‘R Us in Denmark, the Death Star pops into Earth orbit and Imperial shuttles start landing. In Denmark. Which seems pretty believable. That’s where all the LEGO is. If I came from outer space for something, it’d probably be LEGO.

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 24, 2012
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  Heavy Rain’s Most Screwed up Scene, Recreated in Living Color

  If you haven’t yet played PS3 adventure Heavy Rain, and want to, don’t watch this. It contains a pretty big spoiler. If you have, though, or haven’t and don’t care, or haven’t and want to see drama, take a look at what reader David came up with for his media arts interview at Sheridan College.…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 24, 2012
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  Go Land on the Moon, it’s Real Pretty up There

  Indie developer Sean Edwards’ Lunar Flight, which we first showed you last year, is now done. And it’s looking very, very pretty. It’s currently available for $10 on GamersGate

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 24, 2012
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  The Smithsonian’s Video Games Exhibit is Nearly Ready, Let’s See how it’s Coming Along

  The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s “The Art of Video Games” exhibition opens next month. Which is exciting! While the doors aren’t quite open yet, here’s a look at how the exhibition are shaping up as the team puts it all together, and some of the cool/interesting things you’ll see if you manage to make it…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 24, 2012