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What It’s Like To Be A Woman Making Video Games

There’s been a lot of anger creeping into my corner of the internet: Anger about the unequal or insensitive treatment of women and minorities, specifically within the game industry. As a woman working in games since 2007, I’ve felt hurt, discouraged, and isolated by various forms of discrimination. Most of it came from people who…

Conan O’Brien Is Unimpressed With The Voices In Diablo III

If you’ve ever imagined what’s going on in the heads of your Diablo III characters, it probably has something to do with killing and looting and questing. But not according to Conan’s imagination. Not his funniest work, but I continue to enjoy Conan’s increasing interest in video games.

Developer Jailed on Immigration Charges After Swimming to the U.S. [UPDATE]

An independent games developer is in custody and charged with violating U.S. immigration law after allegedly swimming the Detroit River, which forms the U.S.-Canadian border, to gain entry to the country. Sam Smolders (pictured), creator of the role-playing game Victim of Xen, was found by border agents around 2 a.m. on Thursday, soaking wet on…

The Spectacular Story Of Metroid, One Of Gaming’s Richest Universes

Nothing beats the passion of a true fan writing about something they love. That’s what you’re about to see here: one of the richest, most amazing tributes to a great gaming series that we’ve ever run on Kotaku. Warning #1: this one might make your browser chug, so close your other tabs. Warning #2: This…

The Spectacular Story Of Metroid, Part 2

This article is a continuation of Mama Robotnik’s epic telling of the story of Nintendo’s Metroid series. Please make sure that you’ve read part one—and its official explanation of where this lore comes from—first. And make sure your browser is ready for a long piece stuffed with awesome images. Top image here is from art…

Prettier than Super Mario Galaxy, But More Ornery, Too

Gravity Ghost looks like a children’s book come to life. There’s no shooting or killing. But jumping from planet to planet is a lot trickier than it looks in this pastel-colored journey through the cosmos. It’s been fascinating to watch Erin Robinson’s indie space fantasy evolve over the last year or so. Gravity Ghost’s looks…

The Internet Reacts To Grand Theft Auto V‘s Map And Its Size

After months of speculation, the map of Grand Theft Auto V finally made its way to the web, and the details on it opened up the opportunity for a little bit of speculation. SPOILERS FOR THE MAP FOLLOW! Less than a day was more than enough time for the community to come up with some…

Everything You Could Want In A $275 Final Fantasy Keyboard

Behold the limited edition Final Fantasy XI XIth Anniversary keyboard, nearly $300 worth of Moogle-embossed enter keys and FF-fonted F-keys. It’s so beautiful. Available today for preorder from the fine folks at Hori, the Final Fantasy XI XIth Anniversary (so clever) keyboard looks like the perfect way to have a freaking Final Fantasy-themed keyboard on…

So many unanswered questions in this screenshot from Skyrim… The random, yet unmistakable cuddling. The positioning. The imperial guard’s moustache… Let’s just leave these two here in peace. Dayshot is an image-based feature that runs every morning, showcasing some of the prettiest,funniest game-related screenshots and art that we can find. Send us suggestions if you’ve…

A Stabtastic Trailer Heralds Killzone’s Arrival To The PS Vita

Killzone: Mercenary has arrived to North America. What better way to celebrate than by watching gratuitous amounts of murder? The Vita’s own entry in the Killzone FPS series actually comes with not one, but two launch trailers. So generous! You can take a look at the trailer #2 below, which is a slightly slower demo…

A Classic, Beloved Beat ‘Em Up Is Getting A Sequel After 25 Years

Indie group Conatus Creative wants to release an official follow-up to Technōs’ classic ’89 side-scrolling street thug-beating simulator, River City Ransom. But first, they are turning to—you guessed it—Kickstarter. As the project page explains, River City Ransom: Underground is just about ready to leave the pre-production phase. This means that the engine is done, and…

Perhaps The Corniest Game Trailer Of All Time

Hokey PC adventure series Tex Murphy is coming back with Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure (its Kickstarter having hit its mark), and it’s celebrating with this trailer that is, well, a triumph. Of corn. It just…never ends. The making out, the expressions, the Fabergé eggs, it’s all magnificent. The game’s out next year.

We Forgot One Of The Greatest Grand Theft Autos Ever Made

You’ve already forgotten about it. You’ve forgotten about time spent on the train, hunched over a stylus, frantically car-jacking getaway vehicles. You’ve forgotten high speed chases, weaving in and out of traffic. Cop cars in your wake colliding bonnet first with trucks on the freeway, their sirens spluttering and wailing. You’ve forgotten how rewarding that…

A PC First-Person Horror Game Set In A German Subway. Sounds Idyllic!

Announced seemingly to further torment Kirk, U55 is another first-person horror game for the PC. Only this game’s set in a German subway line, and you’re playing a kid trapped in the dark who has to use the light on his mobile phone to get around. Inspired by the works of HP Lovecraft, Dead Space,…

Photographer Enters Noclip Mode In The Real World

Carlos Ayesta takes photos of buildings. Rather than do it the easy way, though, and just stand on the ground (or other buildings), he’s gone slightly mad, rigging himself up like a mountain-climber in order to take shots that look like he’s stepped outside reality’s level design. You can see how he does it in…

Video Games Don’t Need Color. Just Style.

This is Project Monolith, a first-person puzzle game with one hell of an art style. Going all monochrome is a bold choice, especially given the perspective, but it works really well here, as it’s not only tying into the design of the world, but giving the game a trademark look at the same time. It’s…

Stealth Game Continues To Push More Buttons Than I Knew I Had

Klei made 2012’s best stealth game in Mark of the Ninja, so the fact their next game Incognita is also about sneaking – only this time with the squad mechanics of a game like XCOM – is exciting This new clip gives us a long, good look at Incognita’s gameplay, especially how the different teammates…

Paypal Gives Indie Devs Their Money Back

Yesterday, we told you how Paypal were keeping half the money raised by an indie game until the game had been finished. Even though…the devs needed that money to finish the game. Today, somebody at Paypal has woken up on planet Earth and done the smart thing. Less than 24 hours after sending the initial…

How To Clean Your Control Pads

I know you use control pads, and I know damn well you never clean them. Nobody does. Which is disgusting, so I’m here to try and convince you to change your disgusting ways. If you’ve been to a show like PAX or Gamescom, and played any games, you’ll have noticed that booth workers are meticulous…

Breaking Bad Has Officially Gone Bananas. Time For Some Predictions.

And with that, Breaking Bad entered its endgame, and everything went completely bonkers. What’s going to happen in the end? Hell, what’s going to happen in the next 30 seconds? Breaking Bad spoilers follow. You’ve been warned. This past Sunday’s episode ended with what might be the most infuriating (but also kinda funny) cut-to-black I’ve…