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  PETA Targets Ringling Bros. Game

  The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are at it again, shifting their sights from Cooking Mama to the virtual big top. PETA today launched a campaign to try and put a stop to Take-Two’s Wii game featuring Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, saying that the famed circus is “looking to take…

  By Brian Crecente Published May 13, 2009
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  Blizzard’s Next Online Game Is Completely Original

  Dreams of World of StarCraft are dashed as a blue poster in the World of Warcraft forums confirms that Blizzard’s next massively multiplayer online game is part of a brand new franchise. Responding to a forum post suggesting that there was no new online game coming from Blizzard because they hadn’t begun advertising it yet,…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 13, 2009
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  900,000 Castle Crashers And Counting

  As of this weekend more than 900,000 players have crashed castles in The Behemoth‘s Xbox Live Arcade title Castle Crashers. Can you guess when they’ll hit the one million mark? That’s what the developer is asking fans in the latest blog posting over at The Behemoth Blog, where they’ve been keeping an eye on the…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 13, 2009
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  Apple, Game Devs Prep For New iPhone Update

  The week after E3 the iPhone will be getting some pretty major new additions including the ability to sell DLC through the phone and expanded multiplayer support. The new firmware will arrive during Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference which kicks off on Monday, June 8 at 10 a.m. with a keynote that may also deliver…

  By Brian Crecente Published May 13, 2009
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Yesterday’s TAY was a commenting success, thanks to that old chestnut: gaming list of shame. And here I expected debate about Wiis draining AA batteries. I had more dead ones today. Anyway, discuss gaming below. Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ.

  By Stephen Totilo Published May 13, 2009
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  Hardwood Floors Vs. Carpeting FIGHT!

  To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: 90 Percent Booked My new house has both. My last place had only carpeting, and my place before that had tatami mats (which smelled nice!). These days, fewer and fewer houses in Japan have tatami. Our new place doesn’t even have a Japanese room and neither did the last one.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 13, 2009
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  Those Real, Free Sackboys Were Pretty Decent!

  When we heard Media Molecule were just giving some Sackboys away, we figured they’d be of a pretty shoddy quality. They were free, after all. Turns out they were better than we thought! Reader Ackers sends in these pics of his recently-arrived plush friend, showing both its build quality and its scale. Looking good! If…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 13, 2009
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  Well, The DSi Didn’t Stay Piracy-Free For Long

  I’ve always suspected that whole point of the Nintendo DSi – and its online firmware updates – was not to introduce new features, but to curtail piracy. Fat lot of good it’s done them. See, the DS and DS Lite were easy pickings for anyone looking to play homebrew titles or pirate illegal copies of…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 13, 2009
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  “No Plans” for PS3 Redesigns

  Sony loves redesigning its hardware — slimmer, slicker, better. Rumor has it that the Japanese company will be announcing not one, but two hardware redesign-related announcements at this year’s E3. According to Sony, “We currently don’t have any plans for a redesigned PS3.” Our internet dictionary defines “currently” as “at the presenttime; now.” So currently…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 13, 2009
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  Magna Carta 2 In TV Spot Form

  We’ve already seen the debut trailer for role-playing-game Magna Carta 2. Now let’s watch the TV spot, complete with them sony by Japanese rockers GLAY. Magna Carta 2 features a completely new battle system from previous titles in the series, and the models closely match illustrator Kim Hyung Tae’s character design. The game will be…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 13, 2009
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  So, How Many Homes In The UK Own A Console?

  While Britain is in the grip of Wii fever at the moment, it’s not the first time the nation has gone mad for a games console. So you can imagine console ownership rates are high. And they…are? We think. Can’t be sure, since there aren’t many comparable statistics like this, but it sounds high, so…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 13, 2009
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  Where Fallout 3 Meets The Sims

  While it sells like heated cakes, The Sims probably isn’t high on too many of your playlists. Know what can fix that, though? Making the whole thing look like Fallout 3. Which is exactly what you can do with these in-game tilesets and objects, some ripped from Fallout itself, others hand-made, allowing you to recreate…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 13, 2009
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  Soul Breeding RPG Gets Promo Clip

  PS3 soul breeding role-playing-game Agarest Senki ZERO once again has players battle monsters and chat up expressionless girls. There’s banana-eating and cat ears, too. Agarest Senki ZERO will be released with a Limited Edition pack that comes with a soundtrack CD, a Japanese fan and a jigsaw puzzle. Above is a newly released promotional four-minute-plus…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 13, 2009
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  Hey Look, Some Kojima Productions Ad Announcing An Announcement

  The Hideo Kojima hype train continues. The Metal Gear creator has announced that he will announce a game at this year’s E3. Game site 1Up was tipped off that Kojima Productions was launching a website. Now Japanese game magazine Famitsu is the latest to run Kojima’s announcement of an announcement. A two-page ad reads: 2009.5.18…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 13, 2009
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  Patrice Has Been Found!

  While the gaming press was falling over itself for Jade Raymond’s flowing locks in 2007, our eye had instead been caught by another Ubisoft employee. Patrice Desilets. His name…so beautiful. His beard…so magnificent. His accent…so alluring. And yet, our admiration has been tinged with sadness, because shortly after Assassin’s Creed was released in late 2007,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 13, 2009
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  Miracle Witch Is Like Zelda, Only New And Free

  Nigoro are surely the masters of the browser flash game. Rose & Camellia, Mekuri Master, Death Village, everything they touch, it turns to gold. And Miracle Witch is no different. Rather than creating another “simple” title, Nigoro have made their own take on old 8-bit adventure titles like Zelda, complete with dungeons, magic and a…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 13, 2009
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  Monster Hunter 3 (tri-) Dated For Japan

  Action game Monster Hunter 3 (tri-) has a release date. The Capcom developed Wii game will be out in Japan on August 1 with a Limited Edition bundle. Tri is the third Monster Hunter console game, and it was originally scheduled for the PS3. In fall 2007, it was announced for the Wii because of…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 13, 2009
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  Browse The Entire Catalogue Of Arty NES Carts

  We are, unreservedly, big fans of hipster Japanese game store Meteor and its Famicase art exhibition. So please, join us as we peruse the entire history of the show. The store has posted on its site every cartridge ever submitted for the exhibition, from the sublime to the absurd and everything in between. And hey,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 13, 2009
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  Be Like Mike With New Xbox LIVE Avatar Shoes

  Microsoft has released new shoes for your Avatar — and as usual they’re free. Besides the Air Jordan knock-offs, there are: Flip flops, socks and sandals, 1970s leather platforms, sunny day sandals and white 1960s go-go boots. Hrm, Jordan knock-offs or white socks with sandals. Choosing is hard. New shoes are now available for your…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 13, 2009
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  Nintendo: We Can’t Satisfy You And You Enjoy It

  Nintendo can’t win, can it? Put out games to expand their audience, and the core gamers are upset. Put out core games, and core gamers want more. According to Nintendo’s Denise Kaigler, the moment that core gamers are satisfied, players will become disinterested in the company. So Nintendo cannot satisfy gamers, and gamers should enjoy…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 13, 2009