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  WoW: Cataclysm’s Worgens Are A Flirty Bunch

  The Worgen – the “Wolverines of the Alliance” – are a new race available in World of Warcraft’s expansion Cataclysm. And they’re a saucy lot. Just listen to them, in these files yanked from Cataclysm’s beta, which kicked off today. The female is a hairy strumpet. The male? Austin Powers with a furry fetish. It’s…

  By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2010
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  Roger Ebert Admits His Mistake

  “I was a fool for mentioning video games in the first place,” writes the famed movie critic. “I would never express an opinion on a movie I hadn’t seen.” This past April, Ebert wrote a post titled “Video games can never be art” that carried dogmatic statements like this: “Let me just say that no…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010
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  THQ Promising Big-Name Signings (But Who Could They Be?)

  Publisher THQ is going after the “core” market hard. In addition to an existing stable of talent like Relic (Company of Heroes), the publisher has signed Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki for a game. So, who’s next? We ask because THQ is promising more than just Itagaki’s name on a contract. A lot more.…

  By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2010
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  Will Rampage Jackson Ever Get His Own Video Game?

  Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has gone from mixed martial arts to Hollywood, recently playing B.A. Baracus in the A-Team movie. Next up? How about his own video game. Jackson is a gamer and once told ESPN that he had hooked up two original Xboxes in his personal limo just so he could play Halo. “You can’t…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010
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  The Nintendo Love Tester Was More Than A Vitality Sensor

  Nintendo hasn’t always made video games. It’s over 100 years old, and in that time has made stuff like cards and children’s toys. Oh, and also love testers, like this one, designed by the man who created the Game Boy. In 1969, Gunpei Yokoi – who has Game & Watch, the Game Boy and Metroid…

  By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2010
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  Now Square Enix Has A Monster Hunter Type Game

  In Japan, Capcom’s self-descriptive Monster Hunter series (above, pictured) is enormously popular, selling millions. Namco Bandai has created its own Monster Hunteresque game, the popular God Eater. Now it’s Square Enix’s turn. Dubbed Lord of Arcana, this forthcoming PSP title from Square Enix lets players create customizable warriors that slay large beasts. There are quests,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010
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  The Legend Of Team Fortress 2: Jar Of Piss Of Time

  We like Zelda. We like Team Fortress 2. By that thinking, then, it is safe to assume we like it when the two are combined. Last year, Steam user goldenhearted took Valve’s multiplayer shooter and transplanted its lovable characters into other people’s game worlds. Mass Effect, Street Fighter, even Persona 4. If you’ve seen these…

  By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2010
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  Fable III Going Episodic, Downloadable

  Fable II’s episodic experiment seems to have been a success, because Lionhead and Microsoft will be doing the same thing with upcoming Xbox RPG Fable III, releasing the game in downloadable chapters over Xbox Live. It won’t replace the retail version, of course, as it’ll be shipping shortly afterwards. But it’ll be a nice complement…

  By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2010
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  In Defence of the Cut-scene

  A lot can (and has) been argued against the use of cut-scenes in games. They are broadly seen as an archaic film mechanic that stumbled into gaming convention in an age when games were too young and naïve to put forward any other alternative. I agree wholeheartedly that instead of relying on the storytelling mechanics…

  By Kate Finegan Published June 30, 2010
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  Kotaku Off Topic: By Hermes’ Sneakers!

  This edition of Kotaku Off Topic gives you wings. On sneakers. It’s also a great place to talk amongst yourselves about things that aren’t video games. Like these outlandish, but still likable Jeremy Scott Adidas sneakers that turn any mere mortal into a footwear god. I’m too old and conservative to pull these, but is…

  By Michael McWhertor Published June 30, 2010
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  Transformers Pre-Order Codes Fetching Crazy Bids on eBay

  Transformers: War for Cybertron doled out three exclusive codes with preorders through three different retailers – unlocking Jazz, Shockwave or Demolisher for play. Some people must have confused “exclusive” with “rare,” as eBay bids on these codes have touched $100. Demolisher (pictured), unlocked with the Amazon preorder, got a bid as high as $105 in…

  By Owen Good Published June 30, 2010
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  Report: Mario Creator Wants To Develop An All-New Character, Get Pikmin 3 Done Quickly

  A new 3D take on Super Mario World may not be the only thing on Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto’s mind these days. Nintendo’s famous game designer may also have plans for an all-new character and a sooner-than-you-think Pikmin sequel. Miyamoto reportedly said that, since it’s been 10 years since his last original character creation, Captain…

  By Michael McWhertor Published June 30, 2010
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  You Can’t Escape the Vuvuzela, Even on the Wii

  Quieting the obnoxious plastic horn in the Wii version of 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa requires that you first win a game. In the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, vuvuzela volume is an audio menu option. Seen on Reddit.

  By Owen Good Published June 30, 2010
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  Club Nintendo (of Japan) Rewards Mario Fans With Mario Tees

  Another reason to turn green with envy at Club Nintendo of Japan’s member prizes? This new series of customizable Super Mario Bros. tees, only available to the serious (and in good standing) Nintendo super fan. Nintendo will be giving these Mario-themed tees to Japanese Club Nintendo faithful this year for a pittance. Just 600 points.…

  By Michael McWhertor Published June 30, 2010
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  Redbox Kiosks Now Testing Game Rentals in Three States

  The kiosk-rental service Redbox began offering $2-a-day game rentals at 150 locations in Nevada, North Carolina and Texas last weekend, but the selection was disappointing to analysts examining the offerings. An analyst with a New York firm examined kiosks in Austin, Texas, finding on average 2.8 different titles on three different platforms. In other words,…

  By Owen Good Published June 30, 2010
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  Is Super Mario World On The List of Nintendo 3DS Remakes?

  Mario creator and chief Nintendo fungineer Shigeru Miyamoto has given a firm “Maybe!” to that question, saying that a 3D revamped Super Mario World would be a “fun” fit for the Nintendo 3DS. In response to an IGN reader’s question about the SNES original version of Super Mario World—”What aspects of the game would you…

  By Michael McWhertor Published June 30, 2010
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  Grand Theft Auto… Insurance?

  Who knew that escaping a four-star wanted level in Grand Theft Auto was as easy as flashing proof of insurance to Liberty City’s finest? SafeAuto Insurance takes some liberties of its own to shill coverage to “tough guys.” Thanks, Killer_Walrus!

  By Michael McWhertor Published June 30, 2010
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  Nessler Knows Your Name in NCAA Football 11

  The return of college football means the return of tradition, pageantry, and the voice of an old friend on Saturday afternoons – such as Brad Nessler welcoming you to another classic showdown between the Death Bats and the Cash Money. Eat your heart out, Keith Jackson. Following last year’s unexpected enthusiasm for NCAA Football 10‘s…

  By Owen Good Published June 30, 2010
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  This is Not a Perfect Game

  To: Ash From: Crecente I am trying to finish off a PSP game that is said to be perfect. I disagree. What you missed: Weighing Morality in Gaming Farmville, World of Warcraft Are Divorce Lawyers’ Latest Weapons in Court Who Cheers For War? Did Buying Your Gaming Console Help Fund War Atrocities in the Congo?…

  By Brian Crecente Published June 30, 2010
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  Not So Fast My Friends: Lee Corso’s Not Done with NCAA Football

  In last week’s impressions of the NCAA Football 11 demo, we reported that EA Sports and the game’s longtime analyst, Lee Corso, had mutually parted ways for this year’s game. That’s not the case. Corso, 74, is not a part of the booth team in NCAA Football 11‘s PS3 or Xbox 360 versions. But he…

  By Owen Good Published June 30, 2010