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Chat Live With the Man Behind Tony Hawk: Ride Next Week
Next week Robomodo president Josh Tsui joins us live on Kotaku Talk Radio to chat about his company’s upcoming game Tony Hawk: Ride. Before co-founding Robomodo in 2008, Tsui worked at Midway Games on the Mortal Kombat series. He went on to co-found Studio Gigante in 2000, which developed both Tao Feng: Fist of the…
By Brian Crecente Published October 9, 2009 -
Carnage Strikes Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
Cletus Kasady, AKA Carnage, is making his way to Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, and he’s much more than another Spider-Man clone. Carnage is what happened when comic book writers looked at one of Spider-Man’s most powerful foes, Venom, and decided he just wasn’t dangerous enough. Marvel describes Carnage as a total psychopath with no sense…
By Mike Fahey Published October 9, 2009 -
Activision Lays Off Shaba’s Ranks, Closes Studio [Update]
San Francisco-based developer Shaba Games is no more, according to a pair of Kotaku tipsters who wished to remain anonymous. The developer of Spider-man: Web of Shadows is said to have been shuttered by parent company Activision today. Sources claiming to have knowledge of the situation estimate that some 30 employees were laid off earlier…
By Michael McWhertor Published October 8, 2009 -
Christian Science Monitor Wrings Hands Over Modern Warfare 2’s D.C.
Over the weekend Infinity Ward unveiled a trailer for Modern Warfare 2 in the middle of the Steelers-Chargers football game. The two-minute ad gave a national audience a gander at a war-torn Washington, D.C. Too soon after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks? The Christian Science Monitor thinks so. Does the game go too far?…
By Brian Crecente Published October 7, 2009 -
Activision Originally Didn’t Want Modern Warfare
Speaking to Official PlayStation Magazine, Infinity Ward’s boss said that Activision did not believe in Infinity Ward’s concept for a modern Call of Duty setting and was actively working to demonstrate the idea wouldn’t succeed. Vince Zampella, IW’s chief, said the studio had wanted to do a modern combat shooter for years, and bring their…
By Owen Good Published October 6, 2009 -
Activision Subtracts From 7 Studios, Hits Ex-Scratch Dev With Layoffs
In April, publisher Activision purchased 7 Studios, then the developer of DJ Hero competitor Scratch the Ultimate DJ. Today, Kotaku has been told by sources close to the studio, it laid off an estimated 30 people from 7 Studios. The Los Angeles based 7 Studios was at the heart of an ensuing lawsuit filed by…
By Michael McWhertor Published October 6, 2009 -
Wii Tony Hawk Rides With Your Mii
The Wii version of Tony Hawk Ride might not have the stunning graphics and online multiplayer of the HD versions, but who cares about all that when you can skate with your Mii? IGN spills the beans on this new feature unique (obviously) to the Nintendo version of the game. Wii owners will be able…
By Mike Fahey Published October 6, 2009 -
Tony Hawk: Ride: The Soundtrack
It must be music list day at Activision. First they sent out their full set list for DJ Hero and then they drop the full soundtrack for Tony Hawk: RIDE. The game, due to hit shelves for the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 on Nov. 17, includes 50 tracks and here they are: Adam Tensta…
By Brian Crecente Published October 6, 2009 -
All 93 of Dj Hero’s Mash-ups
From the late DJ AM to Grandmaster Flash, from 2Pac to Wild Cherry, the full track set list for upcoming rhythm game DJ Hero is packed with unique mash-ups from the world’s best DJs. Activision today finally spilled the beans on all 93 mash-ups, featuring 100 songs. DJ Hero hits stores for the PS2, PS3,…
By Brian Crecente Published October 6, 2009 -
Modern Warfare 2 Delayed Two Weeks for PC?
Citing unnamed sources, the site Electronic Theatre reports that the PC version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be delayed two weeks past its general Nov. 10 release date to Nov. 24. Electronic Theatre says it has no official reasons for the delay, and speculates that “manufacturing constraints” may be to blame, perhaps…
By Owen Good Published October 5, 2009 -
Is A Call Of Duty Movie Really Happening?
Would a big screen adaptation of the Call of Duty franchise even remotely surprise you? Didn’t think so. But if you want inconclusive evidence that a Call of Duty film might be happening, here are a few scraps. Take this message from Infinity Ward “creative strategist” Robert Bowling, posted to his well-followed Twitter account earlier…
By Michael McWhertor Published October 5, 2009 -
Modern Warfare 2 “Infamy” Trailer: The War Comes Home
“Infamy,” the heavily anticipated Modern Warfare 2 trailer is now live on Infinity Ward’s site. In it, a narration of the biblical story of the first murder introduces sequences that depict Washington under seige. Modern Warfare 2: Infamy [Infinity Ward]
By Owen Good Published October 4, 2009 -
A First Look at Guitar Hero: Van Halen
Those who ordered Guitar Hero 5 in September and took advantage of the free Guitar Hero: Van Halen offer are starting to get their game in the mail, offering a peek at something that’s flown under the radar until now. The game arrives in a promotion-copy-only sleeve, with the same advisory stamped on the disc…
By Owen Good Published October 4, 2009 -
Guitar Hero 5 No Longer Half Off at Amazon [Update]
Just noticed this – the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero 5, game only, is down to $29.97 on Amazon.com. Update: Looks like the deal is now dead. Sorry. All of this stuff below is now inoperable. Of course, the offer to get Guitar Hero: Van Halen free with GH 5 has by now expired,…
By Owen Good Published October 4, 2009 -
Eminem on DJ Hero Renegade: “The S—t is Dope”
Eminem, one of two big names on DJ Hero’s Renegade Edition, stopped by DJ Whoo Kid’s show to flack the limited series, and declare “the s—t is dope.” See, when the kids say “s—t,” they really mean “cool.” To be fair, I think he’s talking about the carrying case (“DJ coffin”) that transforms into a…
By Owen Good Published October 3, 2009 -
Here are Your Modern Warfare 2 Achievements
The achievements list for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is out already and I suppose it rates a mild spoiler alert, as some of the descriptions of each title might give away plot details. Edit: I updated the headline to be something mildly more compelling and less embarrassing than that facepalm-inducing placeholder hed that…
By Owen Good Published October 2, 2009 -
The Next Modern Warfare Trailer Will Be Televised
Activision is kicking off a multi-million dollar advertising campaign for Modern Warfare 2 with a new trailer, airing during this week’s installment of NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Interrupting a football game between the San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers is enough reason to cause some sports fans to want to shoot someone, so slipping the…
By Mike Fahey Published October 2, 2009 -
New Band Hero Songs Confuse And Delight
Band Hero’s track list continues to confuse the hell out of me, as newly revealed songs from Hilary Duff and Jesse McCartney mingle with newly revealed songs from David Bowie and Counting Crows. This is so amazingly not fair. David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”, Counting Crows’ “Angels of the Silences”, and Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ “Impression That…
By Mike Fahey Published October 1, 2009 -
Oil Giant Greener than Activision, Says Newsweek
Measuring the 500 largest corporations in America, Newsweek found no video game maker in the top 100 and even rated Activision behind environmental bogeyman ExxonMobil. Newsweek’s methodology draws on ratings in three different categories and, interestingly, Activision is the leader in its sector (“Consumer Products, Cars”) by a scant margin over Electronic Arts, in the…
By Owen Good Published September 30, 2009 -
The Official Energy Drink Of Modern Warfare 2
Activision teams up with Monster Energy next month for special Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2-branded packages, with the chance to win free stuff packed right in. What kind of free stuff? the Monster Modern Warfare 2 Giveaway will be handing out 1,000 copies of the Modern Warfare 2 Hardened Edition; 5,000 map pack codes…
By Mike Fahey Published September 30, 2009