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  I Kept Playing — A Happy Ending

  In October I told the story of the EverQuest addiction that nearly a decade ago cost me my job, my health, and the woman I loved. Last weekend I asked that woman to marry me. Emily first came into my life during a very turbulent time. My world had completely changed in the span of…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 16, 2010
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  The Marshal Of Mushroom County

  As seen on Threadless

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 16, 2010
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  Hostesses? Ha! Hosts!

  In Japan, hostesses are dolled up girls that work in bars, pour men’s drinks and light their cigarettes. Hosts? Hosts are dolled up dolls that…work in bars, pour women’s drinks and light their cigarettes. Host bars are popular with all sorts of regular women (business women, housewives, college students, etc), but as documentary The Great…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 16, 2010
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  Week In Games: Better Red

  May get serious with its top line video game releases, including Red Dead Redemption (pictured), Alan Wake, a new Prince of Persia and one of the Nintendo DSi’s most interesting puzzle games. Monday, May 17 BIT.TRIP RUNNER (WiiWare) Looksley’s Line Up (DSiWare) Frogger Returns (DSiWare) Tuesday, May 18 Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360, PS3) –…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 16, 2010
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  The Helmet Question

  In Mass Effect 2, your space-faring hero can wear a helmet. It’s not mandatory. I choose to have my character not wear a helmet. What’s that signify? Wearing a helmet provides statistical advantages which can make a tough fight easier or a resistant conversationalist pliable. Should Commander Shepard don the Breather Helmet, she’ll enjoy 5%…

  By Stephen Totilo Published May 16, 2010
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  Red Dead Redemption Is No Grand Theft Auto

  Rockstar Games’ Jeronimo Barrera, as heard during this week’s live episode of Kotaku Talk Radio

  By Lauren Orsini Published May 16, 2010
• Culture

  Sunday Comics

  Penny Arcade published May 10 PvPonline published May 13 ActionTrip published May 10 EXTRALIFE published May 13 GU Comics published May 12 Dotgif published May 14 Ctrl+Alt+Del published May 10 Dueling Analogs published May 10 Nerf NOW published May 14 Rooster Teeth published May 15 Monday Night Crew published May 14 Virtual Shackles published May…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 16, 2010
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  Nintendo’s Bamboo-Walled, Flower-Roofed Headquarters

  With corridors made of bamboo, a roof layered with flowering sedum plants and buildings named after Mario, Donkey Kong, Yoshi and Wario, Nintendo’s new Redmond headquarters sounds every bit as fanciful as the games the publisher makes. The 300,000-square-foot-building sits on a 10-acre site on the Nintendo campus, home to most of the Japanese company’s…

  By Brian Crecente Published May 16, 2010
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  This Sultry Princess Peach Will Stick Around Forever

  Or at least until she’s removed. As seen on Hawty McBloggy

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 16, 2010
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  Our First Look at Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light Trailer

  Wait, is this Lara Croft? For a second I thought I was watching a sexy, next-gen Prince of Persia throwback… and I love it! No wonder McWhertor was looking for a better word than reboot when he saw Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light at the Game Developers Conference earlier this year.

  By Brian Crecente Published May 16, 2010
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  Find Tranquillity With Video Game Haiku

  Games can be so LOUD, and also often so poorly-written, that the opportunity for moments of quiet reflection often pass us by. Time then for some gaming haiku. Haiku, the restrictive, formal Japanese art of poetry, is often able to reduce even the most complex subject matter down to its core elements. So it is…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 16, 2010
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  These LocoRoco Plushies Are Adorable, Handmade

  Reader Michael Wootton sent along these pictures showing off the personal LocoRoco plush collection he and his girlfriend handmade. Your turn Sony!

  By Brian Crecente Published May 15, 2010
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  Flipping Through The Nintendo History System

  Artist Bill Mudron shipped out the first issue of The Nintendo History System this week, the first chapter in an 8-part series that offers a fun, historical look at the company’s rise from playing card manufacturer to video game giant. I ordered a copy of the prologue (which quickly sold out) and Mr. Mudron was…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 15, 2010
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  Love Monster Hunter 3? You’re Not Alone.

  If you’re enjoying a riveting adventure in Monster Hunter 3, don’t keep it to yourself! On Kotaku, you can share your exploits with fellow MH3 fans. How? Just use the #mh3lounge tag and hang with your fellow gamers. And remember, you can create a new tag to discuss any game that’s currently occupying your console…

  By Lauren Orsini Published May 15, 2010
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  WHAT! A Gamebird???

  Illustrator Josh McKible created a bit of a papercraft phenomenon when he decided to turn his “Nani” paintings into little papercraft birds. Then he started asking other artists and designers to come up with their own question-asking 3D bird designs. You can check out all of the designs over on the Nanibird site, but only…

  By Brian Crecente Published May 15, 2010
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  Frankenreview: Lost Planet 2

  It’s time to return to E.D.N. III, the beautiful land of giant, heat-giving insects that serves as the backdrop of Lost Planet 2! Before you pack your sunscreen and insect repellant, check out these travel advisories from the video game reviewers. The winter wonderland of the original Lost Planet is melting away, giving way to…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 15, 2010
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  Heavy Rain Action Figure Does Not Mope, Shout “JASON!”

  Baker009’s custom Ethan figure, from Sony’s PS3 thriller Heavy Rain, looks great. Sounds great, too, since he never opens his damn mouth. Standing 6.4″, he’s not only a striking recreation of the in-game character – down to his slacks and crummy beard – but also includes Ethan’s important accessories, like a shoe box, camera, gun…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 15, 2010
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  Video Games Aren’t Killing Laser Tag, They Can Coexist

  As a 25-year player of Laser Tag and a manager of the busiest Laser Tag arena on the planet, I took some exception to the idea that Laser Tag is obsolete as entertainment because it’s not convenient Far from dying away, our center has seen a grand resurgence in a tough economy. We’re up around…

  Jason Bock Published May 15, 2010
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  A Short History Of Gay In Video Games

  As seen on GoNintendo

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 15, 2010
• 

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  At Least The Zune HD Can Play Game Boy Titles

  Microsoft’s support for the Zune HD as a game playing device has been pretty abysmal. Luckily there are hackers, one of which has the beginnings of a serviceable Game Boy Advance emulator working on the device. I purchased a Zune HD the first week the device was available, after my bother spent the better part…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 15, 2010