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  Pac-Man Creator Moves Game Making Back to Japan, Drops 90 Staff

  Namco Bandai America yesterday let go around 90 staff, in a move that doesn’t just cut costs at the U.S. branch of the Pac-Man publisher, but will also see local development shifted back to Japan. Some of the losses are the result of a merger between the company’s online and mobile divisions, while others are…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 2, 2010
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  What’s The Story With Catherine?

  Grisly murders, deadly nightmares, and a marriage proposal followed immediately by a one-night-stand? What exactly is going on in Atlus’ Catherine? the game’s official website gives us the skinny. The Japanese website for Atlus’ Persona side-story Catherine has updated its story section, and Japanese gaming website Adriasang has translated the details, shedding light on what…

  By Mike Fahey Published November 2, 2010
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  Do Not Object To This Ace Attorney Bundle

  Nintendo DS adventure game Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth 2 will be out next February in Japan, and it’s getting special bundles. Both the “Extended Edition” and the “Limited Edition” bundles come with this 18cm Miles Edgeworth figurine. Apparently, it will only be available as part of this bundle and there are no plans to…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 2, 2010
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  Both Sides React To The California Game Law Supreme Court Hearing

  Oral arguments were heard this morning in the Supreme Court case regarding California’s violent video game law, and Stephen Totilo was on the scene to get reactions from California Senator Leland Yee and video game industry lawyer Paul Smith. First up is lawyer Paul Smith who, along with Entertainment Software Association president Michael Gallagher seemed…

  By Mike Fahey Published November 2, 2010
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  Medics Aren’t As Smoky (Or Hairy) As The Men With The Guns

  Starcraft II’s iconic “man in large helmet” shot gets a gentler makeover. By VonSchlippe, thanks Doug!

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 2, 2010
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  Specter of Censored Fairy Tales, Rap Music Raised in Supreme Court Video Game Case

  The Supreme Court justices appeared highly skeptical of the State of California’s arguments today that certain violent video games should be illegal to buy, questioning whether such exceptions would need to be applied to rap music and even Grimm’s fairy tales. The justices were hearing arguments in California vs. the Entertainment Merchants Association and Entertainment…

  By Stephen Totilo Published November 2, 2010
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  Knights Of The Crystals Is Final Fantasy For Facebook

  Square Enix takes the winning formula from Zynga’s Mafia Wars and applies it to Final Fantasy to create Knights of the Crystals. Will you party up, or spend some quality time breeding chocobos in Chocobo’s Crystal Tower? Yes, it’s Final Fantasy: Mafia Wars, more or less. Players complete quests using action points, leveling up and…

  By Mike Fahey Published November 2, 2010
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  Five Ways For Apple To Improve Game Center

  Months after the launch of Apple’s much lauded Game Center, the iPhone gaming platform is still in need of quite a bit of work. In this article MTV’s Russ Frushtick walks us through what needs doing. Two months ago, Apple launched Game Center on iOS devices. The service is basically a gaming platform, allowing people…

  Russ Frushtick - MTV Multiplayer Published November 2, 2010
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  Found In Translation

  The opening for the NieR’s Japanese version is subdued. The music is relaxing. It’s a bit like watching fish swim. “Weiss, you dumb ass!” The localized opening is a 180-degree about face. It could not be further from the Japanese version. From the get go, it kicks you in the teeth and grabs you by…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 2, 2010
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  Pay Street Fighter Champ Money To Kick Your Butt

  Daigo Umehara is a world class champ. You? You might be a world class chump. Gamers in Kuwait apparently have a chance to go one-on-one with Daigo. According to website Lucky Generation Gamers Podcast, the top Street Fighter player will be in Kuwait for the “Umehara Daigo Exhibition” at White Tower, a well-known arcade in…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 2, 2010
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  The November TAY images start strong. A round of applause, please, for the work of reader buckyboy2009. Done? OK. Let’s talk about video games. Submit your custom images to #TAYpics and get them featured in a future installment.

  By Stephen Totilo Published November 2, 2010
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  Right Now, I Am Wearing Pants

  To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Ash, You Have Four Hours To Respond Crazy, huh! I used to never get dressed, because I work at home. This resulted in me not getting dressed for days. Those who work from home understand. Hermits, too. Hermits understand. So recently, I’ve actually started getting dressed everyday. Like, you know,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 2, 2010
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  Mario, Pokemon Represent Among Hundreds At U.S Supreme Court

  People started lining up at 5 a.m. today in front of the U.S. Supreme Court for a chance to hear arguments in a landmark case that will decide whether video games should be afforded First Amendment protection. Among the more than 200 present were quite a few video game supporters. The rally and line-up to…

  By Brian Crecente Published November 2, 2010
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  Hundreds Gather on Steps of The Supreme Court of the United States

  Leland Yee

  By Brian Crecente Published November 2, 2010
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  PC Classic Horror Puzzle Game 7th Guest Hits iPhone Next Month

  Classic 90s full-motion video puzzle game The 7th Guest is headed to the iPhone. The 7th Guest, which was the first PC game released on CD-ROM when it hit in 1993, will sell for $3.99 when it hits in early December.. That’s quite a price drop compared to the $79.95 it sold for when it…

  By Brian Crecente Published November 2, 2010
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  Of Course, There Will Be 2D Games On The 3DS

  The 3DS is Nintendo’s upcoming glasses-free 3D portable device. Not all gamers like 3D. Nintendo knows this. According to Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto at a recent Q&A, “When Super Mario became Mario 64, the size of the audience shrunk.” Some players were put off by the leap from traditional 2D Mario platforming to a three…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 2, 2010
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  So, Microsoft, Why The Xbox Live Price Hike?

  This week, the price of a subscription to Xbox Live Gold went up. Want to know why? Here’s the reason Microsoft is peddling. “In 2002 it was strictly multiplayer gaming,” Xbox Live’s Craig Davison told Gamasutra. “Now we get those Call of Duty map packs before anybody else does. We’ve got Gears and Halo, of…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 2, 2010
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  Shadows Of The Damned Bringing Rock N’ Roll Straight To Hell

  Shadows of the Damned, a game being worked on by Goichi Suda (No More Heroes) and Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil), has a new trailer out. Click through to see if it features leather jackets, demons and rock n roll. Well of course it does. Shadows of the Damned will be out next year on PS3…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 2, 2010
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  European PS3 Owners, Get Ready For MUBI!

  Movies? No, MUBI. The streaming art house cinema service is coming to the PS3 this week, so grab the popcorn. On November 3rd, the service commences on the PS3 in the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. The following week the service will launch in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 2, 2010
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  How The Weak US Dollar Is Good For Video Games

  The US Dollar is as weak as it’s ever been at the moment. That’s (generally) bad news for Americans, but for everyone else? It’s good news if you buy video games and like to save money. It’s long been a complaint from gamers in territories like Europe and Australasia that video games are disproportionately priced…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 2, 2010