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Oh Mai, This Figure Could Be Better
There are literally a gazillion Mai Shiranui figures. The King of Fighters character is a figurine favorite. Some of the figures are great. Some are good. Then, some are so-so, or bad, even. This one is so-so. Granted, it’s not terrible. As commenters on website Neko Magic pointed out, there’s discoloration in her hair and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
Angry Birds Ball
Dodge Ball | As seen at the Angry Birds online store, this makes me love dodge ball like a billion times more. Dragonvale Captured My Heart and My Wallet in 2011 I never should have downloaded a free iOS game about breeding cute and colorful dragons; it was a tremendously bad idea on my part.…
By Brian Crecente Published December 27, 2011 -
‘Ocean Stratagy’ Guy is ‘Sorry’; Penny Arcade Deems him a ‘Bully’
An update to the ongoing drama (part 1, part 2) of an ex-controller marketing guy, an angry customer, and Penny Arcade. The guy’s “sorry.” Penny Arcade thinks he’s a “bully” who’s sorry he got caught. Part 3’s on Penny Arcade
By Stephen Totilo Published December 27, 2011 -
Looking for Some of That Facebook Money, L.A. Times Starts Hosting Casual Games on Website
Casual games make money. The L.A. Times needs money. So, the L.A. Times is adding casual games to its website. That seems to be the logic at work in a new partnership announced today between the newspaper and casual gaming company Arkadium, which makes Facebook games Mahjongg Dimensions and Solitaire Heaven Visitors to latimes.com will…
By Evan Narcisse Published December 27, 2011 -
Adventure? Hardcore Pornography? A Jedi Cares Not For These Things
A Jedi might not care about the sins of the flesh, but Google certainly does, replacing the still for a developer diary with a steamy porn thumbnail in the search results for Star Wars: The Old Republic While it might have changed in the time between the writing and publication of this post, the Google…
By Mike Fahey Published December 27, 2011 -
Don’t Be Puzzled by the Dragon Quest Diorama
To mark 25 years of Dragon Quest, Square Enix is releasing this Dragon Quest “Map Diorama Collection Box”. The map of game world Alefgard is made up of 11 parts, which fit together like puzzle pieces, and features monsters and terrain. Yes, terrain The map goes on sale Mar. 23 for ¥6,615 or US$85. 『ドラクエI』のマップ「アレフガルド」が立体化！…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
Let’s Play the Complete PS Vita Gravity Rush Demo
I’ve only had about ten minutes with Gravity Rush, but I’m already thinking that it’s one of the most exciting new games coming to Sony’s PS Vita. The game blends a gravity-defying puzzle quality with action combat, a bit of platforming and a wonderful, arty aesthetic and surreal story. Gravity Rush is due out on…
By Brian Crecente Published December 27, 2011 -
Cut Paul “@OceanMarketting @OceanStratagy” Christoforo a Break—He Might Just Have Roid Rage [Updated]
It’s been a heck of a day for Paul Christoforo, whose flippant email to a customer asking about his Avenger controller order has made Christoforo a walking memetic punchline. But maybe we should cut Christoforo a break for his overly aggressive emails: he could just be feeling the effects of roid rage. We asked for…
By Joel Johnson Published December 27, 2011 -
The Five 3DS Game Demos Aren’t Unlimited. Some Are Nice, Though.
As first revealed during last night’s Nintendo Direct, the 3DS is getting five game demos in Japan: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, Rhythm Thief & The Emperor’s Theater, New Love Plus and Resident Evil: Revelations In this video, I showed off some of the game demos and talked a bit about…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
Halo‘s Graphics Guru Talks The Problems of the Future
Way before you pick up a controller, the first thing lots of folks think about when they think video games is how it’s going to look. This generation of gamers isn’t so enlightened that they’ll overlook shitty graphics in lieu of anything a game presents. Yet, graphics need to be balanced against various systems’ processing…
By Evan Narcisse Published December 27, 2011 -
Now’s a Great Time to Pick Up Those PlayStation 3 Add-Ons You’ve Been Eyeing
Have you purchased add-ons like controllers, headsets, or glowing balls-on-sticks for the PlayStation 3 in the weeks leading up to Christmas? Why would you do that? Didn’t you know Sony’s Play Days sale was coming? Well you do now. Between now and January 21, Sony has teamed up with select retailers to offer their hardware…
By Mike Fahey Published December 27, 2011 -
These Are the Best PC Game Mods of 2011
Every year thousands of PC gamers around the world sacrifice some of their play time in order to make the games they play even better that the original developers, and every year the community at modding hot spot ModDB choose the very best. Who made the grade this year? This is the joy of PC…
By Mike Fahey Published December 27, 2011 -
PC Gamers, Never Get Cold Hands Again with this Silly Cat
It’s winter. That is, unless you leave below the equator. For those using computers and shivering, the wizards at Japanese peripheral company Thanko have a ridiculous mouse pad for you. WITH VOLTRON EYES. It’s a cat mouse pad that has a USB powered heater in it, which should keep your mitts nice and toasty throughout…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
This PS Vita Game Has Panty Photography Blocking? [Update]
When you think of virtual bar hostess game Dream Club, you think of girls in micro outfits. You think of underpants galore. The PS Vita Dream Club game, Dream Club Zero, isn’t short on skivvies, but according to sister site Kotaku Japan, it apparently won’t allow Vita owners to take screenshots of underpants. It will…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
Konami Staffer Sues for Maternity Leave Discrimination. Wins.
In 2009, then 36-year-old Konami Digital Entertainment employee Yoko Sekiguchi sued her company after being demoted following maternity leave. Sekiguchi negotiated soccer team and foreign player licensing rights for Konami’s Pro Evolution soccer games. In Oct. 2008, Sekiguchi took maternity leave, returning the following spring. Upon returning, she was not only demoted due to a…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
The Best Game Music of 2011: Rayman: Origins
Listen: the first thing you need to know about the music in the newest Rayman game is that it’s got some kickass virtuoso kazoo playing. Yes, kazoo. Like, a plastic one. And it kicks a lot of ass. That bit of whimsy comes courtesy of Christophe Héral, a musician/composer who’s worked on Ubisoft games since…
By Evan Narcisse Published December 27, 2011 -
Fire Emblem To Set Japan Ablaze Next Spring
Last night, Nintendo held the second of its Nintendo Direct online press conferences. In it, the Kyoto-based game creator confirmed several Japanese release dates. One of them was new—the one for Fire Emblem While Nintendo did confirm Japanese release dates for titles like Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D (Mar. 8, which we knew), it…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
Please Do Not Arm Our Readers with Weapons, Especially Those with Cutting Edges
Commenter GiantBoyDetective poses here with the replica Master Sword he received for Christmas, a harbinger of dark times ahead in today’s Speak Up on Kotaku. Merry Christmas (or whatever you celebrate) one and all! I had probably the best video game haul of my life this morning. A lot more than I was expecting. –…
By Mike Fahey Published December 27, 2011 -
Finally, The 3DS Gets Its MUCH Better Pictochat
In case you missed it during all of your holiday revelries, Swapnote hit the e-Shop last week for free. It’s sort of like Pictochat for the 3DS but it also supports 3D sketches, the ability to send to friends online and attach real images to your messages. It’s pretty great.
By Brian Crecente Published December 27, 2011