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Syndicate: The Kotaku Review

The year is 2069. The government as we know it is obsolete. In its place are various syndicates, all racing to develop the most advanced bio-digital implants that allow their host to connect to the dataverse, and even control it. Syndicate is a telling of that story, originally written by Bullfrog Productions in 1993, and…

By Tina Amini Published February 21, 2012

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Spec Ops: The Line Deploys June 26, Preorders Get FUBAR’ed

Cheer up, soldier! 2K Games first foray into the military shooter genre hits retail on June 26 (June 29 internationally), and preorder customers receive a free upgrade to the premium edition in all its FUBAR glory. Man, look at that screenshot. You’d think they were in the middle of an emotionally charged military shooter, desperately…

By Mike Fahey Published February 21, 2012

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When Sega Released the Hounds. The iHounds.

Woof | TOKYO, JAPAN: Back in 2005, Sega Toys released iDogs. (Photo: Shizuo Kambayashi | AP) Crusader Kings II: The Kotaku Review I was playing as the King of England. I ruled for over thirty years, sometimes a tyrant, other times a hero. When I died, I could keep playing, because I was now controlling…

By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012

Kotaku East

The Plastic Wonderland of Japanese Arcades

The recent Amusement Operator Union arcade expo wasn’t only about dancing girls and giant robots, it was also about figurines and prizes. Kotaku‘s Toshi Nakamura and Richard Eisenbeis were on hand to slap buttons and to snap photos of prizes that punters can win from redemption games. Some of the figures were prototypes, while others…

By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012

Kotaku East

Nintendo Holding Online Press Conference Tomorrow. You’re Invited.

Nintendo announced today via sloppy handwriting that there will be a “Nintendo Direct” online presentation on Feb. 22 from 9am EST. In Nintendo Direct, the Kyoto-based game maker speaks directly via an online video presentation.

By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012

Kotaku East

Dancing Girls and Giant Robots! The Arcade Games of AOU 2012.

Every February, the Amusement Operator Union holds its annual trade show. Much like the Tokyo Game Show, it’s held at Makuhari Messe—right outside of Tokyo—and also much like TGS, it showcases all of Japan’s upcoming games—only this time in arcade form. Other than the incredibly fun Speed of Light, there were several interesting games at…

By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 21, 2012

Kotaku East

Wasabi Kit-Kat? Um, Okay!

Man, I love Kit-Kat. They are truly fantastic. Japan often gets interesting Kit-Kat flavors, such as “pudding” or even tea-flavored ones. The most interesting flavor I’ve seen is “wasabi”, which I spotted when traveling home for the holidays. Wasabi flavored Kit-Kat! I actually didn’t get them. I kind of chickened out at the last minute.…

By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012

Kotaku East

Do Nintendo’s Presidents Have Crappy Handwriting? Or Should We Blame the 3DS?

Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s president, wears spiffy banker suits. He has floppy hair. His glasses are nice. But how’s his handwriting? On a 3DS? Above is the Swapnote message Nintendo is sending out for its monthly “Nintendo Direct” online presentation in which Iwata and Nintendo directly speak to the internet. The message is fairly simple: “Hello.…

By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012

Kotaku East

Songstress Unloads Racist Rant on Twitter

America-based singer song-writer Jenny Hyun made a name for herself penning tunes for Girls’ Generation, one of Korea’s biggest pop groups and Nintendo DSi product pitch girls. But this week, Hyun made a bigger name for herself with a racist twitter rant. On Feb. 16, Hyun loaded on Twitter, apparently spewing a diatribe of hate…

By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012

Kotaku East

Playing the 3DS with…a PlayStation Controller?

For Monster Hunter, the Nintendo 3DS has a mostly great extra slide pad. Screw that! One Japanese gamer figured out how to use a PlayStation Controller instead. The mod shows just how easy playing Monster Hunter with a dual thumbstick controller is. A snap! 3DS モンスターハンター専用　改造スライドパッド [YouTube via HighGamers]

By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012

Kotaku East

Cyclops Girl Is the Stuff of Nightmares

Spotted by Danny Choo of DannyChoo.com, this cosplayer popped up at the recent Wonder Festival, etched herself in our brains, and haunted our nightmares. For more photos, check out Danny’s site below and here for more Wonder Festival cosplay. Wonder Festival Cosplay [DannyChoo via I Heart Chaos via FashionablyGeek]

By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012

Kotaku East

Witness Arcade Button-Mashing Madness

Last weekend, Kotaku East scoured the Amusement Operators Union (AOU) trade show for the craziest game coming to Japanese arcades in 2012. And what we found is a game as fun and simple as it is crazy. Speed of Light is an arcade consisting of nothing but a wall of buttons and a digital counter.…

By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 21, 2012

Kotaku East

George Lucas’ Daughter Could Kick Your Ass

She really could. She could kick a lot of people’s asses—not just yours. That’s because Amanda Lucas is a mixed martial arts superstar. Lucas began MMA in 2008 after taking Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes. The former dance instructor’s first fight was in May of that year. “I got beat up pretty bad,” Lucas told Sports Illustrated.…

By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012

Kotaku East

Wii Video Service Ending. Bye Bye!

Launching May 2009, Wii Channel “Wii no Ma” offered videos and family-oriented programing. Today, Nintendo revealed the channel was ending on Apr. 30. Not a surprise with the Wii U coming out. [Wiiの間]

By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012

Kotaku East

Fighting with Swords and Shields Isn’t Berserk, It’s Awesome

Exercise is important. Some jog. Others play tennis. In Tokyo, a group of folks don medieval armour, wield swords, and beat the tar out of each other. Welcome to Castle Tintagel, a Middle Ages oasis in a hyper modern metropolis. And when Jay Noyes, Castle Tintagel’s founder, isn’t teaching students the finer points of medieval…

By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012

Kotaku East

Kotaku East Starts Here

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

By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012

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ARGH, a Half-Life Barnacle for your HOUSE

German artist Daniel Ritthanondh is the man to thank for this Half-Life-inspired lamp, which will simultaneously light up your room and darken your dreams. As big a Half-Life fan as I am, I could not own this. Wherever it went, I couldn’t walk under it. Ever. That or I’d come home one day and creep…

By Luke Plunkett Published February 21, 2012

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Thug PSP Attacker Facing “Long Time in Prison”

Last August, the shameful attack on Malaysian student Ashraf Haziq—carried out as part of the riots sweeping London at the time—captured the attention of the world and left him with a broken jaw and a stolen PSP. Haziq received small consolation at the time, being given a free PSP and some games by Sony and…

By Luke Plunkett Published February 21, 2012

Reviews

Crusader Kings II: The Kotaku Review

I was playing as the King of England. I ruled for over thirty years, sometimes a tyrant, other times a hero. When I died, I could keep playing, because I was now controlling his son. Who, it turns out, not only had a lisp, but was gay, whose arranged wife hated him and wanted him…

By Luke Plunkett Published February 21, 2012

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Bored Soldier Recreates Modern Warfare Box Art

Note the “bored” was the words of Reddit user Travissimo, not me. I can’t picture soldiers serving overseas having enough spare time to approach being bored, let alone bored enough to engage in box art cosplay. Of sorts. But hey, he must have had a little spare time, because he does a damn good job…

By Luke Plunkett Published February 21, 2012