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When Your University Teacher Is a Badass Ninja
Most teachers are regular folks. Before they entered education, maybe they worked in an office. Maybe they were students themselves. But how many of them were ninja, head-butting trees in the forest? While centuries ago, there were real ninja sneaking about, spying and assassinating targets; they are now part of the popular imagination in both…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 2, 2012 -
Facebook Cares about Your Stupid Farm
While you might hate browser game FarmVille, Facebook revealed that it needs the game’s developer, Zynga. In its recent SCE filing, Facebook stated, “We currently generate significant revenue as a result of our relationship with Zynga, and, if we are unable to successfully maintain this relationship, our financial results could be harmed.” According to Facebook,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 2, 2012 -
BioWare’s Tips for Writing Your Own BioWare Stories
So the latest piece of official BioWare fiction is a little rough around the edges. Let’s say you want to write your own Mass Effect story. Need some help? BioWare themselves are here to help. David Gaider, who’s been a writer at BioWare for over ten years now (and who’s worked on games like Knights…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 2, 2012 -
Music Video is a Total Homage to Old Sega Arcade Games
Me and You, by Nero, is kinda famous right now as it’s been used as the jingle for the Beats by Dr. Dre line of gear at Best Buy. Which is lovely for Best Buy and everyone else involved. Me, I’m just here for the track’s music video, which is one giant tip of the…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 2, 2012 -
Sony Is Bleeding Money (Again)
Today, Sony announced its recent financials, and the Tokyo-based electronics giant is hemorrhaging money. For the fourth year in a row, Sony is in the red. This March, the company should post an annual loss of US$2.9 billion, Reuters reported. The loss is worse than expected. The company is battling slow sales and a strong…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 2, 2012 -
Mass Effect 3 Demo Includes Free Xbox Live Gold
The Mass Effect 3 multiplayer demo requires you to have a Gold subscription because, well, it’s a multiplayer game and that’s how Xbox Live rolls. Not to worry. Microsoft is giving away ” a limited time Gold access” pass to everyone who downloads the demo, meaning we can all get in on the action. No…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 2, 2012 -
Heroic Man Makes Day of the Tentacle Figure
Lucasarts, being preoccupied with making average Star Wars games based on terrible Star Wars movies and cartoons, obviously couldn’t care less about treasured old properties like Day of the Tentacle. So it’s lucky reader SewerShark does. Using the magic of a 3D printer, he’s built himself this amazing little DotT piece based on Purple Tentacle.…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 2, 2012 -
For Serious Skyrim Addicts, the Only Option is Intervention
I shook my serious Skyrim addiction after a couple of weeks, but if you’ve only just noticed it’s now February 2012, and that you’ve been playing the game non-stop for months now, you might need some help. You might need…an intervention.
By Luke Plunkett Published February 2, 2012 -
Behind the Scenes of The Last of Us
Sony has posted an interesting glimpse behind the scenes of Naughty Dog’s upcoming The Last of Us, showing the human actors who bring the game’s characters to life. Naughty Dog have always been good at documenting this stuff, as any Uncharted fan who’s checked out the bonus features on a game disc could tell you.…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 2, 2012 -
How the Sega of the Future Could Look
Sega is an old brand. There’s heritage in that, but also baggage. So French design firm SYN decided to take a swing at sprucing the company’s image up a little! While this is a purely fan-driven project – think of it was arty fan fiction – it’s still interesting to see the ways a company…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 2, 2012 -
Crysis’ Developers New Online Gaming Service is OnLive + Skype + Facebook
Crytek, the developers behind the Crysis series (and the CryEngine), will soon be helping release their own online multiplayer gaming service. It has a stupid name, but everything else about it is very interesting. It’s called GFACE. Seriously. Get over the name, though, and you see it’s trying to take online gaming on a PC…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 2, 2012 -
EA: No Online Pass for Syndicate
Not all Electronic Arts-published games will be given the Project $10/ Online Pass treatment. Rather than slap Syndicate with a one-use code that unlocks the game’s multiplayer features, EA will keep such access free, to grow interest in the shooter’s co-op mode it says. Syndicate is being published by EA Partners, meaning it doesn’t own…
By Owen Good Published February 1, 2012 -
Reckoning‘s Launch Trailer Should Prompt Much Chest-Beating
You can’t help but feel the inspiration watching this Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning launch trailer. The diehard voice-over does well to remind viewers that once this game drops on Feb. 7, fate will be theirs to write.
By Pierre Bienaimé Published February 1, 2012 -
Riding the Soul Train Into the Great Beyond
Greetings Kotaku-eers, and welcome to the evening open-thread. Without any further ado, here are some things you might want to talk about. And some other things that are just fun to look at. And one thing that is gross. And one thing that is kinda disturbing. Rest in Peace, Don Cornelius – May the Great…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 1, 2012 -
How THQ Went From Bad to Very Bad
In 2007, shares in publisher THQ were going for over $30 a piece. Today, in 2012, they’re going for around $0.70. Studios are rumoured to be on the chopping block. Over 200 employees are being let go. And the company’s boss has taken a 50% pay cut. How’d it all go so wrong? Easy. THQ…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 1, 2012 -
Finally, a Video Game with Machine-Gun-Wielding Flying Snakes
I know I’ve been waiting for that for a while, anyway. This video was sent in from the recent Global Game Jam, an indie meetup where developers have 48 hours to build a game. Any game. The theme at this game jam? “Ouroboros,” the snake eating itself. Or, as the presenter here says, “Basically, a…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 1, 2012 -
Simpsons! Simpsons Arcade Here!—Oh, You Get the Idea …
Konami has confirmed that the beloved beat-em-up The Simpsons Arcade is coming to consoles, and sooner than you expected. Not only does it get here, like, Friday (on Xbox Live), it’ll be available free to PlayStation Plus subscribers when PSN gets it on Tuesday Feb. 7. For those who don’t get it free, The Simpsons…
By Owen Good Published February 1, 2012