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  LEGO Batman Deemed Oppressive And Destructive To Young Kids

  The Boston-based organization Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood has given the stink-eye to Warner Bros’ LEGO Batman, nominating it as one of the most “oppressive and destructive” toys of 2008. Congratulations, WB! I mean… Why does the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood find LEGO Batman, of all games, so distasteful for our children, nominating it…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 22, 2009
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  Black Thursday

  To: Ash From: Crecente Re: Small Car Or Big Car, That Is The Question Wow, today was a dark day in the industry, what with Sony, Microsoft and EA’s employment news. I heard earlier that a bulk of the 1,400 people let go at Microsoft today came from the Devices and Entertainment Division (aka Zune…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 22, 2009
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  Enjoy Double The Bikini Zombie Slaying In February

  D3Publisher reaffirmed today the release dates of its two jiggly, gore-filled hack and slash games, Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers and Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad. That’s twice the bikini fun—just in time for Valentine’s Day! If you haven’t been keeping up, D3’s T&A cash cow series Onechanbara has been delighting fans of cheap, flesh-exposing action in…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 22, 2009
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  Rumor: EA Canada GM’s Leaked Memo to Surviving Staff

  Earlier today we broke the news that Electronic Arts Canada laid off more than half of the staff from Black Box, the day after the studio launched their latest game: Skate 2. EA spokespeople decline to confirm the layoffs to Kotaku, but they have confirmed them to Joystiq. We did receive, from unofficial channels, what…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 22, 2009
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  Metal Gear Online Set Up Us The Bomb Mission!

  Konami’s keeping the legion of Metal Gear Online fans in fresh content by announcing an all-new mission for the PlayStation 3 online tactical shooter. What is it? It’s the Bomb Mission! Due to land on January 27th — no need to do anything regular Metal Gear Online players, it will coincide with regular maintenance —…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 22, 2009
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  Left 4 Dead — Now For Kids!

  If the zombie apocalypse broke out a few decades earlier than it did in Left 4 Dead, it might look a lot like this. (And no, this is not concept art for the Wii version.) Artist Jason Chan — who also happens to work for concept art house Massive Black, partially responsible for the visual…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 22, 2009
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  Is My Champion Super-Heroically Hot Or Not?

  Cryptic Studios makes a game out of the vast character customization options in their upcoming superhero MMO Champions Online with the addition of a new “Rate My Champion” section on their website. It’s basically “Am I Hot Or Not?” for the superhero set. Characters generated in the beta version of Champions Online appear in the…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 22, 2009
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  Student Showcase Finalists Include Tetris-Meets-SimCity Game

  The Independent Games Festival today announce the ten winners finalists for their annual Student Showcase awards. As usual, the finalists include some interesting titles like City Rain, a blend of Tetris and SimCity, and Zeit Squared, a shoot-em-up that allows you to go back in time to assist yourself through the game. All ten finalists…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 22, 2009
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  Noby Noby Boy Is Just Five Bucks

  Namco Bandai’s American arm confirmed the updated release date of Noby Noby Boy today, putting a low, low price on the PlayStation 3-bound thing-eating game. It’s cheap. Five measly bucks cheap. Due on February 19th, the PlayStation Network release will let plays stuff the titular BOY with everything in the game world, letting him stretch…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 22, 2009
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  BFG Begins Taking Orders On Their New, Expensive Gaming Rigs

  Need a state of the art gaming PC? Got $3,000 to $8,000? No? Then you probably don’t want to head over to www.BFGSYSTEMS.com, where the BFG’s new Phobos systems have just gone on sale. Most people know BFG for their graphics cards, but they’re looking to make a splash in the high-end gaming / home…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 22, 2009
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  An Exceptionally Old Game Reviewed… In Song

  If you’re going to sing a song about a game, reviewing it while you do so, I think it would be a good idea to take the Adam Sandler approach and not the Jewel one. Hotel Dusk Review [Game People]

  By Brian Crecente Published January 22, 2009
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  Japan’s Bestselling Game? It’s A GameCube Game

  The newest Wii-make, part of Nintendo’s “Wii de Asobu” series is Mario Power Tennis. It also happens to be Japan’s favorite game, at least for this week-long span, landing the number one spot. Now that Japanese game releases are off vacation, things are starting to get interesting. Perhaps most notable are the number of PlayStation…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 22, 2009
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  Cursed Mountain Screens Are Cursed, Mountainous

  New screenshots for Deep Silver’s upcoming survival horror title Cursed Mountain go great lengths to showing just how cursed this particular mountain may or may not be. What the screens actually do is give us a look at Cursed Mountain’s expansive scale and some of the unique enemies you’ll come across on your journey to…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 22, 2009
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  Update: EA Lays Offs Hit Black Box Today

  Electronic Arts today laid off as many as 150 to 200 people today as part of the company’s ongoing cut backs announced back in December, sources tell Kotaku. These latest rumors come on the heels of word that there was a company-wide meeting today held at EA Canada to discuss the current state of the…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 22, 2009
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  Obama Takes Office, Video Game Analogies Start To Flow

  The Obama campaign, fresh off an inauguration, just ran face first into federally-mandated technological obsolescence and what better way to express their frustrations than with a video game analogy? “It is kind of like going from an Xbox to an Atari,” Obama spokesman Bill Burton said of his new digs. Can you imagine how blown…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 22, 2009
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  Riddick Waxes Philosophical On Desperation

  If this new "Desperation" trailer for The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena doesn’t get you excited about Starbreeze’s upcoming continuation of the Riddick saga, then this probably isn’t the game for you. In the trailer, the Diesel-powered Riddick ponders the nature of desperation, or does the best that he can considering the limited…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 22, 2009
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  Ubisoft Imagines Petz In Their Early 2009 Lineup

  As part of Ubisoft’s 3rd quarter sales report, the company posted their release schedule for the first three months of 2009, filled with iPetz, Jace Power, and a heaping helping of imagination. With news that the eagerly anticipated survival title I Am Alive has been pushed back, seemingly within the last day, Ubisoft’s earlier 2009…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 22, 2009
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  Assassin’s Creed 2, New Ghost Recon, Red Steel 2 Coming From Ubisoft

  Ubisoft plans to release seven franchise titles, three new brands and four movie licensed games in their 2009/2010 fiscal year, which starts in April, the company said today. Among the games will be Assassin’s Creed 2, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon and Anno. The company also plans to release three new…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 22, 2009
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  Hands-On With Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost And Damned

  The first of two planned downloadable episodes for the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV, The Lost And Damned, will arrive in February, giving players a fresh look at the well-traveled Liberty City. In The Lost And Damned, you’ll step into the biker boots of Johnny Klebitz, vice president of the motorcycle gang…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 22, 2009
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  First Tomb Raider: Underworld DLC Coming February 10th

  The first of two new chapters in the Lara Croft saga comes exclusively Xbox 360 next month, as Eidos announces a February 10th release date for the Tomb Raider: Chronicles Beneath the Ashes DLC. First announced back in October of last year and originally slated for a December release, Beneath the Ashes finds Lara returning…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 22, 2009