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Watch and See How Papo & Yo Might Be 2012’s Most Charming Video Game
I’ve been wanting to get my hands on upcoming PS3 exclusive Papo & Yo ever since hearing how it draws on the bittersweet childhood of designer Vander Caballero. A playable build at GDC gave me my wish and the video above shows the first few minutes of the game from Montreal-based developer Minority. There’s a…
By Evan Narcisse Published March 12, 2012 -
I Don’t Care for Modern Warfare 3 Much, But I’d Play These Two New Maps
I avoid Modern Warfare multiplayer, because it’s no fun to lose all the time. (I’ve got no time to practice!) But you might be having fun—and I might finally have the will to join you, thanks to a twist in two of the three new maps coming to the Xbox 360 in the coming days.…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 12, 2012 -
WTPT: Kid Loses It When His Mom Insists He Quit Call of Duty
We’ve all encountered some pretty hilarious gamers on Xbox Live, whether they’re intentionally comedic or not. The diverse age range means that many of these encounters involve some kid battling with his mom or dad to stay online for just a little bit longer. Two guys camp out in an airplane in Call of Duty,…
By Tina Amini Published March 12, 2012 -
Halo Fan Films Never Look This Good
Though the acting can seem a little hammy in this fanmade Halo film, which creator Xerxes Sangco sent us yesterday, the graphical effects are seriously impressive. And the art direction is phenomenal. Even more impressive: the fact that Sangco and crew made this whole thing without spending more than $200. Hope you’re paying attention, Hollywood.…
By Jason Schreier Published March 12, 2012 -
Is This Instagram App an InstaMatch?
I am obsessed with Instagram. I think it’s the most wonderful thing. Ever. It’s not, I know, but I am finding myself spending significant amounts of time on it. So when I heard there was an app that incorporated Instagram, I got all excited. Talk about easily excited! It’s called InstaMatch, and it’s a card…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 12, 2012 -
A Drugged and Delirious Nathan Drake Terrorizes the Local Flea Market
Uncharted hero Nathan Drake makes getting hit with a tranquilizer dart and stumbling through an open-air market mumbling to yourself look easy. Video game satirists supreme Mega64 make it look hilarious. Does anyone else feel like investing in a blowgun now, or is it just me? Not that I’d use it, of course. Especially after…
By Mike Fahey Published March 12, 2012 -
The Art of Video Games Brings Pac-Man and Mass Effect to the Smithsonian This Weekend
The biggest game here in Washington, DC is usually the game of politics. But this weekend, the city will be hopping with something much more fun. This Friday, March 16, the Smithsonian American Art Museum will open their new exhibit, “The Art of Video Games.” And as always happens these days in gaming, they have…
By Kate Cox Published March 12, 2012 -
Why Can’t Male-Centric Sports Games Let the Ladies In?
The football players in the NFL are male. The baseball players in the MLB are male. It stands to reason that custom characters in video games based off these sports should be male, but Kotaku commenter Seoul Sister makes a valid point: When has reason ever stopped a video game? Someone posted in response to…
By Mike Fahey Published March 12, 2012 -
Talk Amongst Yourselves
You ever wonder what we might find out there in the stars, folks? We can discuss those things and more in this very web destination! Welcome to Kotaku’s official forum, known affectionately as Talk Amongst Yourselves, where we gather on a daily basis to discuss all things video game and existential. It’s a cartoony cosmic…
By Evan Narcisse Published March 12, 2012 -
A Normal Life, An Extraordinary Death and the Video Game That Wasn’t Meant to Be
In late 2003, a friendly, attractive and perfectly normal 38-year-old woman named Joyce Vincent died in her London flat. She was in the midst of wrapping Christmas presents. No one knew that Joyce Vincent died that day. Not right away. Not for a while. Joyce’s remains were eventually discovered when building officials entered her apartment…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 12, 2012 -
Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD Feels the Same But Different
While at GDC, I talked to skating legend Tony Hawk about the upcoming re-make of the releases that made him an icon to a generation of gamers. He thinks it’s great but, of course, he would. Me? I found myself surprised at how much I missed the unique style of extreme sports offered by the…
By Evan Narcisse Published March 12, 2012 -
The Real Stars of Prototype 2 Have Spinning Blades on Their Heads
You know what sold me on the original Prototype? Protagonist Alex Mercer leaping onto a helicopter and punching his way inside. I’m sure Prototype 2’s James Heller is a compelling new hero, but what about the whirlybirds? Ah yes, here they are. Radical Entertainment and Activision, keen on the importance of proper helicopter destruction and…
By Mike Fahey Published March 12, 2012 -
“Just For Kids” Comes to PlayStation 3 Netflix, Still Waiting for “Just for Adults”
The menacing black box lurking within your entertainment center just got a bit less menacing, as Netflix adds the bright and colorful “Just for Kids” to the PlayStation 3 version of its streaming video app. For those of you unfamiliar, the picture above depicts the Backyardigans, a group of singing, dancing and imagineering young animals…
By Mike Fahey Published March 12, 2012 -
My, Shepard, How You’ve…Changed
Reader Sgt.LulzJager has kept the same female Commander Shepard model across all three Mass Effect games. That’s a lot of time spent with the same character. So it didn’t take long for him to notice something different about her in Mass Effect 3 Beside a few tweaks to her face, he didn’t make any changes…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 12, 2012 -
The Witcher Developers Abandon DRM Forever
The developers behind The Witcher series are done with DRM for its PC games. Seriously. It says that no game the company releases going forward will have any kind of DRM whatsoever. “Every subsequent game we [release] will never use any DRM anymore, it’s just over-complicating things,” CD Projekt Red CEO Marcin Iwinski said during…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 12, 2012 -
Magic Card Freakouts are the Best Kind of Freakouts
Internet comedian Francis, who by now has his nerd shtick almost perfected, leaves his webcam and bedroom behind and takes to the streets for a Magic Card tournament. Before you ask, yes, there’s a gif available. Buzzfeed is one step ahead of you on that one Francis Plays Magic the Gathering [YouTube, via BuzzFeed]
By Luke Plunkett Published March 12, 2012 -
First Look at Art From the Mass Effect Animated Film
In addition to a Dragon Age anime, EA and BioWare also have a Mass Effect anime in the pipeline. It’s been pretty low-key until now, but at SXSW we’ve finally got our first look at the project. Sadly, it’s not a trailer, or even finalised art, but what we do have is concept art for…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 12, 2012 -
There was a Portal Gag in Tonight’s Simpsons Episode
The Simpsons in 2012 is a largely irrelevant force. Still, from time to time it at least tries to appear relevant. Which is why, in tonight’s episode, there’s a fairly obvious Portal reference. While Portal 2 came out almost a year ago, these shows aren’t exactly made overnight, so I guess this is timely? It’s…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 12, 2012