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  Mass Firings At 1UP After Sale

  Oh boy. Looks like the sale of 1UP to Hearst hasn’t gone as smoothly as you’d expect. Rather than simply move house, it seems most of the site’s most experienced/popular writers have instead been let go. Looks like when Ziff CEO said “Many of our employees will travel with this business and become part of…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 6, 2009
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  Energizer Reveals Hot Controller On Controller Charging Stations

  Battery maker Energizer wants to be more than just your battery maker of choice. It wants a slice of that sweet video game accessories revenue, announcing four controller charging stations in advance of CES ’09. Why simply buy rechargeable AAs when you can enjoy the luxury of dedicated charging stations? Plugging your mini-USB cable into…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 6, 2009
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  Want To Buy A Games Mag? Hardcore Gamer Is For Sale (On eBay)

  Now isn’t the best time to be buying into the games mag business. Times are tough. But hey, if you’re not swayed by this harsh reality, Hardcore Gamer are for sale. And for only $42,000! And that’s not even the best part. No, the best part is that owners Double Jump Books are selling the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 6, 2009
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  New X-Blade PS3 Screens – Get Your Russian Booty Fix

  I had the great good fortune to check out X-Blades for the PS3 today and have fresh screenshots to share with all of you. Hit the jump and ogle away. X-Blades is scheduled for a Feb. 10 release on PS3.

  By AJ Glasser Published January 6, 2009
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  Rumor: NiGHTS Sequel Was Originally An Xbox 360, PS3 Game

  Sega’s NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams for the Wii was once planned for release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but shifted platforms against the wishes of Sonic Team producer Takashi Iizuka. Sonic the Hedgehog-centric site TSSZ News cites a now-deleted personal blog “Boss Rush” written by former Sega Europe employee Ben Andac as its source…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 6, 2009
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  Beat To Hell

  To: Ash From: Crecente Re: About Glasses… I had the pleasure of hanging out at a Best Buy for an hour and a half or so today while they car guys installed a hands-free telephone dealio into my uber-wagon. I eventually meandered over to the game section and then over to where they had Rock…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 6, 2009
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  Prototype Web Site Counting Down To… CES

  The official Prototype web site has exciting news. It has a new countdown clock! As you can see, there’s not much of a wait, but what does Activision have planned for Prototype? Just before the holidays, the developer of Prototype, Radical Entertainment, hinted that we may see the action adventure game sooner than its planned.…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 6, 2009
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  A Peek Inside MTV’s Desks

  MTV Shows MTV’s Stephen Totilo is mixing things up over at Multiplayer, first redesigning the site to look oddly familiar, now posting odd, news-light videos. Totilo’s first stab at irrelevant videos is a quick tour through some of the game-related crap he discovered in his desk while cleaning out the office. Included in the list:…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 6, 2009
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  Grand Theft Auto Helping Six Year Olds Drive To School

  Why doesn’t the mainstream media ever focus on the positive aspects of Grand Theft Auto‘s influence on our six year olds? Stealing the family sedan is petty in the name of perfect attendance. Take the six year old offspring of Jacqulyn Deana Waltman and David Eugene Dodson from Wicomico Church, Virginia who swiped his parents’…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 6, 2009
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  Skate 2 Online Does Not Feature Wizards And Warlocks

  / In this latest Skate 2 developer diary-style video featurette, online producer Brian Lindley reveals new online multiplayer modes for the game before storming off set and ultimately killing a guy with eldritch energies. Brian does a fine job of detailing Skate 2’s new online features despite being obviously uncomfortable in his role of straight…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009
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  A Look Inside China’s Game Addiction Treatment Centers

  The Christian Science Monitor recently visited Beijing’s internet addiction center to talk to the docs and addicts about the issue of, among other things, gaming addiction. The center, which opened in 2004 at military base, has become the model for the nearly 300 similar centers that now dot China. The center treats the addiction with…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 6, 2009
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  Discover Five Simple Ways To “Green” Your Gaming

  If you’re concerned about global warmi… I mean, climate change, but also happen to spend a good portion of your free time gaming, Discovery has five helpful environmentally conscious tips for you. While many are obvious, such as “Turn Off the Console When Not in Use” when used in conjunction with tip number two (“Buy…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 6, 2009
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  Learn To Knit The Wii Way

  In response to my failed attempt at knitting during the Kotaku Holiday Podcast, reader Austinpoet offered a link to KNiiTTiiNG, a project that teaches players to knit using the Nintendo Wii. Call it Knitting Hero. KNiiTTiiNG is a collaboration between artist Rachel Beth Egenhoefer and scientist Kyle E. Jennings. Rachel’s interest in the intricate hand-movements…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009
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  Least Productive DS Mod Ever

  This has got to be the most work for the least return I’ve ever seen in a mod. The Geekothon points to a modder who completely gutted his DS Lite so he could: A: Make it play videos B: Turn it into a Pez dispenser C: Add video camera support D: Swap out the logo…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 6, 2009
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  Microsoft Planning “Significant” Cuts, Source Says Layoff Reports “Exaggerated”

  Xbox 360 manufacturer Microsoft is reported to be jumping on the cost-cutting bandwagon, according to reports from CNBC. Said to be pursuing “significant” savings measures, spokespeople say that reports of mass layoffs are greatly exaggerated. Over the past week, reports from other sources, namely Fudzilla, pegged the Redmond giant as laying off as much as…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 6, 2009
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  New Trailer And Screens Herald Battlestations: Pacific Website

  Eidos has just launched Battlestations.net, the community-focused website for their upcoming follow-up to Battlestations: Midway, Battlestations: Pacific, and they’re celebrating by bombarding fans with new screens and trailers. The Battlestations.net website will play host to new screenshots, movies, developer blogs, podcasts, and just about everything Battlestations: Pacific you can imagine. Fans will be able to…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009
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  Turbine Confirms New Massively Multiplayer Title Featuring In-Game Item Sales

  Lord of the Rings Online developer Turbine confirmed that they are working on a new massively multiplayer online game that will sell in-game items for cash. Word of the game leaked out after a job posting for a micro-transaction and e-commerce manager hit Turbine’s website. In the description, the company said the position would be…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 6, 2009
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  White Knight Chronicles, Dissidia Reign Supreme In Japan

  While the Nintendo DS and Wii typically dominate Japanese sales charts, this past week was all about PlayStation, with Level 5’s White Knight Chronicles and Square Enix’s Dissidia: Final Fantasy topping software sales overseas. Media Create numbers put three days worth of White Knight Chronicles for PlayStation 3 at 207,000 copies sold, a tad more…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 6, 2009
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  Subway Teams With Konami To Promote Healthy DDR Sales

  From now until the end of March, succumbing to that damnable “Five Dollar Foot-Long” jingle could net you some plastic DDR crap and a $10 coupon good towards your next living room-eating dance pad game. In the name of promoting healthy lifestyles in children, Subway has teamed with Konami in order to include DanceDanceRevolution toys…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009
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  Australian Silent Hill: Homecoming Ban Lifted

  One of many titles banned in Australia last year due to a rather wonky classification system, Konami’s Silent Hill: Homecoming has now been granted a rating of MA15+, clearing it for launch. As we’ve touched on in previous stories, Australia’s game classification stops at MA15+, lacking the R18+ rating that particularly violent films are afforded.…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2009