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Star Wars Nerds Win Again
It’s a popular if tired trope to cast the bankers, traders and other functionaries of the financial industry as big, bad guys. So, either the EA execs who gathered at the NASDAQ this building to ring the trading service’s opening bell this morning were there to cleanse the site of evil or showed up to…
By Evan Narcisse Published December 20, 2011 -
Our Readers Create Their Own Damn Game of the Year Awards
While high atop Kotaku Tower we sit in high-backed chairs around a marble and gold inlaid table pondering our official Game of the Year, commenter GiantBoyDetective and friends organize their very own awards, and you can help in today’s Speak Up on Kotaku. Alright. So I think we should start the research for The Speakys…
By Mike Fahey Published December 20, 2011 -
If Creative Classic Mario Paint‘s Theme Had Lyrics, They Might Sound Like This
Retro game lyricist Brentalfloss rings in the holiday season with a musical tribute to the only Super Nintendo game to come bundled with a mouse and a mouse pad. Take that, uDraw!
By Mike Fahey Published December 20, 2011 -
Talk Amongst Yourselves
Star Wars :The Old Republic launches today, and I wish I could play it (I only have Mac computers). Then again, I also enjoy seeing the outside world sometimes Has anybody picked the game up yet? What are your first feelings about? Well, I guess it’s time to Talk Amongst Yourselves! Many thanks to Incursor for…
By Chris Carolan Published December 20, 2011 -
UK Treatment Group Preps For Next Big Addiction: Video Games
A UK-based charity treatment group is preparing for what they believe will become the next major addiction issue: Video Games. Norcas, which has been supporting those affected by addictive behaviors in Norfolk, UK since 1978, recently commissioned an independent study into gaming and addictive behavior to prepare for what they believe will be a rising…
By Brian Crecente Published December 20, 2011 -
Bag It! Magically Finds the Joy in an Unrewarding Menial Task
Some 21 years ago I spent the summer as a bag boy, filling paper sacks with other people’s groceries. It was the most boring and demeaning summer of my life. Hidden Variable Studios has somehow transformed these bad memories into a hell of a good time. I might hate them. I still remember the training…
By Mike Fahey Published December 20, 2011 -
Can You Tell These Multiplatform Final Fantasy XIII-2 Screens Apart?
Because, honestly, it’s getting to the point where I cannot. And that is not a bad thing! Multiplatform games should look relatively the same. But here we have the Xbox 360 and the PS3 versions of role-playing game Final Fantasy XIII-2 facing off in a screenshot battle of who’s prettier. You’re both pretty, Final Fantasy…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 20, 2011 -
BRZ PLZE
It’s Meisa | CHIBA, JAPAN: Actress Meisa Kuroki showed off the new Subaru BRZ. (Photo: 4Gamer) Sony Delivers with the PS Vita. It Does Not Disappoint. When I fired up the PS Vita for the first time this past weekend, I couldn’t help but think back to Dec. 2004. So much has changed. I had…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 20, 2011 -
North Korea Will Be Ruled by a Manga-Reading Gamer
Kim Jong-il passed away this week—something almost predicted by Homefront, a video game. The question now is: what’s next? Rather, who Kim Jong-un, who also appeared in Homefront, will be the dictator’s successor. Not much is known about Kim Jong-un. Photos of him did not surface until recently, which is why an actor originally played…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 20, 2011 -
A Treasure Trove of Plastic Fantasy
Last weekend was the 2011 Treasure Festa in Ariake, Japan. The show is a figure festival, showcasing upcoming releases, one-off originals, and limited edition figures. An array of figures was on display. Japanese website Moeyo was on hand to check things out. Click through the gallery to see what you missed. 「トレジャーフェスタin有明6」 会場速報ダイジェスト [Moeyo]
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 20, 2011 -
How Motion Sickness Can Ruin Games (And How You Can Fight it)
I can play games for hours on end. No problems. Good friend of mine, though, there are certain genres—FPS and driving mainly—that make him physically sick. He’s not alone. It’s a safe bet most of you either know someone, or suffer yourself, from motion sickness brought on by video games. There’s a great piece on…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 20, 2011 -
Sony Sued Over Its “No Sue” Legal Terms
Sony, along with several other big companies, has recently tried to institute a “no sue” clause in the terms of service agreements for its consoles. To oppose this, some people are, yes, trying to sue them over their “no sue” agreements. According to a report on GameSpot, a man in Northern California is leading a…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 20, 2011 -
The Realistic Summer Sports Simulator Totally Nails The Olympics
You know Owen’s 2011 Sports Game of the Year awards? Throw ’em out. Straight out the window. Because now, at the 11th hour, we have a game that bests them all. Get a load of Realistic Summer Sports Simulator. Looking to have been inspired by Epyx’s Summer Games and QWOP, it’s a $0.99 iPhone game…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 20, 2011 -
Two Heartfelt Love Letters From the Mass Effect Universe
Here’s a treat for Mass Effect fans. If you’ve played Mass Effect 2, you’ll know that at some point, you run into an old friend from Mass Effect 1 on the colony of Horizon, who depending on how things play out, leaves you a heartfelt letter upon your departure. It’s a nice touch for those…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 20, 2011 -
The Bronx: History’s Stranglers
Ah, The Bronx. They’re a punk band, if you want to label them that generally, but they’ve always been a little out of sorts in that scene. The last time I saw them live, for example, was at a festival in Melbourne where they played right after Slayer and right before Iron Maiden. And they…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 20, 2011 -
Sony Sells Over 300,000 PS Vitas in First Two Days
As sister site Kotaku Japan pointed out, the PS Vita sold 321,407 units in its first two days on sale. Sony shipped over 700,000 units, meaning that around 46 percent of the initial shipment was sold. [Kotaku Japan]
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 20, 2011 -
This Awesome Metal Slug Tank Was Born a Fisher Price Toy
Jin Saotome, a man who moulds toys like Demi Moore fondles clay, has taken a cheap, awful Fisher Price toy and turned it into something about a million times cooler. What began as an Imaginext Robot Police Tank has, through modifications and a paintjob, become the iconic tank from the Metal Slug series, complete with…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 20, 2011 -
Relic Working On Company of Heroes 2?
Oh please God let this be true. The rumours section of the latest issue of PC Gamer magazine says that, in addition to its work on yet another Dawn of War game, THQ’s Relic is also gearing up for something to do with Company of Heroes They don’t explicitly say what that is, but the…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 20, 2011
