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Minesweeper and Solitaire Now Have Achievements. Sigh.
Well, this is depressing. In preparation for the release of Windows 8, Microsoft is updating some of the platform’s stalwart titles, like Minesweeper, Solitaire and Majong. Updating them with achievements. Minesweeper, for example, has four of them. Four. One is for finishing a board, and one is for losing a round. Solitaire has 3. Presumably…
By Luke Plunkett Published August 7, 2012 -
Microsoft Finally Admits There Will Be A Next Xbox
After dodging many, many questions about the Xbox 360’s successor, Microsoft has finally confirmed what we’ve all known for years: there will be another Xbox. Windows Live general manager Brian Hall mentioned the new console to The Verge in a podcast last week “We did this- we’ve had Hotmail for- and operated Hotmail for about…
By Jason Schreier Published August 6, 2012 -
Reviews
Wreckateer: The Kotaku Review
This review of Wreckateer is a little late because last week, I was also under siege from large stones, some of them burning. They were just in my kidneys. While Wreckateer may be more enjoyable than a trip to the urologist, it still involves its own degree of waiting and uncertainty, and likewise requires you…
By Owen Good Published August 2, 2012 -
ReviewsDeadlight: The Kotaku Review
Now is the summer of our zombie apocalypse discontent. We’ve played so many zombie games; we’ve had glorious highs and depressing lows. We’ve grown sick of zombie games only to be surprised by good zombie games only to become sick of zombies games all over again. At this point, what kind of magnificent zombie game…
By Kirk Hamilton Published July 30, 2012 -
Blizzard Isn’t Happy With Windows 8 Either
Valve says Windows 8 is a catastrophe. Blizzard doesn’t disagree. Blizzard executive vice president of game design Rob Pardo says Microsoft’s controversial new operating system also isn’t great for his company, which makes games like Diablo III and World of Warcraft “Nice interview with Gabe Newell – ‘I think Windows 8 is a catastrophe for…
By Jason Schreier Published July 27, 2012 -
OK, That Halo 4 Console Doesn’t Look as Bad as I Thought
Let’s be honest: most people’s reaction to the upcoming Halo 4 Xbox 360 console was probably somewhere between “oh” and “oh God my eyes”. Which may explain why some new pictures of the console have turned up on Halo’s official site looking, well, a lot better. It’s all down to that transparent effect. Not really…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 26, 2012 -
Microsoft Reportedly Shuts Down Vancouver-Based Studio [UPDATE: Projects Cancelled]
Looks like Microsoft has laid off quite a few people at its Vancouver-based studio that was responsible for developing a core Kinect shooter Update: Microsoft has informed Kotaku that they have not shut down the studio but it has ended development on flight simulator Microsoft Flight and Project Columbia, a Kinect interactive TV project designed…
By Jason Schreier Published July 25, 2012 -
Microsoft Won’t Take Blame for Lack of Fez Fix
Microsoft has denied responsibility for a game-breaking glitch that the developers of puzzle game Fez said they couldn’t afford to fix. Earlier this week, Fez developer Polytron said they wouldn’t fix a rare game-breaking bug because Microsoft asked for too much money to re-certify the game. In response to Kotaku‘s request for comment, Microsoft sent…
By Jason Schreier Published July 20, 2012 -
EA, Zynga, Microsoft Support Challenge to Defense of Marriage Act
Three companies with major involvement in video games—EA, Zynga and Microsoft—have joined some 40 other companies, including the Gap, Google and Starbucks, along with several cities, including New York, Boston and Los Angeles, in filing a brief to support a legal challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act. The Act, signed into federal law in…
By Stephen Totilo Published July 19, 2012 -
Fez Won’t Be Fixed Because Microsoft Wants a Ton of Money
Polytron, the developers of indie hit Fez, have issued a surprising statement regarding the potentially game-breaking patch they recently released, then recalled The full statement: We’re bringing the first FEZ patch online. It’s the same patch. We’re not going to patch the patch. Why not? Because microsoft would charge us tens of thousands of dollars…
By Kirk Hamilton Published July 18, 2012 -
It’s July 18, Check the Security of Your Xbox Live Password Today
The general manager for Xbox Live today told gamers of the more aggressive steps the service was taking to combat online fraud and phishing scams—like those that have recently generated a wave of bad publicity—while reminding everyone to take some steps that would make that job a lot easier. In a post on the official…
By Owen Good Published July 18, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Thousands Line Up To Make Your Hardware
Even though heavy rains have been hitting China’s Chengdu, that didn’t stop thousands from lining up for work at the city’s Foxconn plant. As website MIC points out, Foxconn seems to be hiring up for this summer. Those who apply need to fork over 150 yuan (US$24) and have good eyesight. Just goes to show…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 18, 2012 -
Now You Can Use Your iPad To Control Your Xbox 360, If You Really Want To
I know what you’re thinking. “Boy, I wish I could use my iPad to control my Xbox 360.” What’s that? You’re not thinking that at all? You just want to play video games? You don’t care about ridiculous control schemes or hardware gimmicks? Well okay then. At least this one’s free: Microsoft released a new…
By Jason Schreier Published July 17, 2012 -
NASA Made A Game That Lets You Land On Mars. Sounds Cool. Now What?
Hop on Xbox Live and search for Mars Rover Landing. You’ll find a Kinect game made by NASA and Microsoft that’s meant to simulate the tense experience of landing Curiosity, NASA’s rover that will land on Mars on August 5 after eight and a half months of travel. It’s “seven minutes of terror,” is how…
By Tina Amini Published July 16, 2012 -
“Legendary Edition” Halo 4 Hardware Also Offers Controller Sold Separately
The “Legendary Edition” Halo 4 console bundle, outed on Thursday, was officially revealed yesterday at Comic-Con. What we didn’t know is that it’ll have some Halo 4-themed controllers sold separately. For those who want a piece of Halo themed hardware but can’t take the $400 the full console package costs, a custom gamepad will run…
By Owen Good Published July 15, 2012 -
Custom Halo 4 Xbox 360 Bundle Leaks Ahead of Microsoft’s Official Announcement
A Microsoft store listing, since removed, said a limited edition Halo 4 console bundle will be released, delivering the game and a specially designed case on a 320 GB Xbox 360 configuration for $400. IGN spotted the listing earlier this evening. The Halo 4 360 will play custom Halo sounds whenever the device’s capacitive eject…
By Owen Good Published July 12, 2012 -
One Console To Rule Them All
In today’s slightly late (sorry!) edition of Speak Up on Kotaku, commenter Gusi A. Rincon puts forth the argument for a unified console. Forget the console wars! If the big console makers would all just declare peace, everyone would benefit. Right now the best that could happen to the Game industry (just hypothetically speaking) would…
Featuring Gusi A. Rincon Published July 11, 2012
