Hello! Here at Kotaku, we’re not just about snacks, toys, and TV shows: sometimes we like to give you long, in-depth looks at the world of video games, too.
In fact, we’ve got an entire section for Kotaku longreads, and in case you’ve missed some of them over the past few months and years, here are a few stories to check out:
Nintendo’s Secret Weapon
In honor of tomorrow’s big new Zelda and Mario releases, check out the story behind Nintendo’s Treehouse, the secretive group of writers and translators who help make Nintendo games great.
https://kotaku.com/inside-the-treehouse-the-people-who-help-make-nintendo-1301809672
The Amazing Life of Sean Smith, the Masterful Eve Gamer Slain in Libya
Read about the virtual and real life of Sean “Vile Rat” Smith, the U.S. diplomat and EVE Online player who was killed in Libya last year.
https://kotaku.com/the-extraordinary-mischievous-too-short-life-of-sean-481060252
How LucasArts Fell Apart
Why don’t we have more great Star Wars games? This is the story behind the collapseof one of the world’s most iconic gaming studios.
https://kotaku.com/how-lucasarts-fell-apart-1401731043
Why Video Game Characters Say Such Ridiculous Things
“What’s that sound?” Check out our in-depth look at “barks”—those bizarre things that video game characters like to randomly say
https://kotaku.com/why-video-game-characters-say-such-ridiculous-things-5921878
From Halo to Hot Sauce: What 25 Years Of Violent Video Game Research Looks Like
We need a lot more research into the effects of violent video games. Here’s why.
https://kotaku.com/from-halo-to-hot-sauce-what-25-years-of-violent-video-5976733
Sid Meier: The Father of Civilization
A look at the life and history of Sid Meier, the creator of Civilization and one of gaming’s folk heroes. Some really neat anecdotes and stories here.
https://kotaku.com/the-father-of-civilization-584568276
The Complicated Truth Behind Games That Want To Change The World
Can video games tackle real-world issues? Can they change world issues? We took a swing at some of those tough questions
https://kotaku.com/the-complicated-truth-behind-games-that-want-to-change-5952933
How Sony’s Hometown Studio Rose From The Ashes In Time For The PS4
The PlayStation 4 is here, and Sony Japan is ready to bring its A game for their next-gen system, even after a disappointing last generation.
https://kotaku.com/how-sonys-most-creative-studio-rose-from-the-ashes-1458030068
Metacritic Matters: How Review Scores Hurt Video Games
You probably know that Metacritic is important to video game publishers, but do you know just how important it is? The truth is a little scary
https://kotaku.com/metacritic-matters-how-review-scores-hurt-video-games-472462218
The Incredible Rise and Fall of a Hacker Who Found the Secrets of the Next Xbox and PlayStation—And Maybe More
Read about superDAE, the Australian hacker who knew about the next Xbox and PlayStation before just about anyone else.
https://kotaku.com/the-incredible-rise-and-fall-of-a-hacker-who-found-the-5986239
Original top photo via Flickr
