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Can Someone Explain this PS Vita Ad to Me?
Sony, never one to release straight-forward ads, is at it again with the PS Vita’s debut commercial. Honestly, I don’t understand it. The screens flashes 12.17, which is Dec. 17, which is when the Vita launches in Japan. That I get. That, however, is just the beginning. There’s a guy on a bike. Okay, I…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 23, 2011 -
This Game Engine Wants to Build Entire Planets
The kids at Outerra aren’t out to do much. Only create a game engine that can create entire planets for you to mess around in. An indie project, the goal is to build a “3D planetary engine for seamless planet rendering from space down to the surface”. Which means build a whole planet, letting you…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 23, 2011 -
Thank Evangelion for Tokyo’s Latest Nerd Hotspot
Harajuku is famous for its fashion. Stylish young Japanese women flock to its boutiques, snapping up the latest trendy threads. But now, a new crowd is coming: The anime nerds. Today, a Neon Genesis Evangelion themed shop, dubbed Evangelion Store Tokyo-01, opened up in Harajuku. Neon Genesis Evangelion is an iconic Japanese manga and anime…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 23, 2011 -
Holy Crap, This Guy Is into Zelda: Skyward Sword
Some of you are playing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. YouTube user AJLStunts is doing that, and then some. Just…watch. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was released on Nov. 20. If you missed it, check out Kotaku‘s review Skyward Sword is Serious Business [YouTube] You can contact Brian Ashcraft, the author of this…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 23, 2011 -
EB Games/GameStop Gets Rid of Used Games Section [Update]
An employee of Canada’s EB Games (read: GameStop) has let us know that, in one of the company’s shittier moves in recent years, the distinction between “new” and “used” games (at least in Canada) is apparently going to be all but removed. Instead, according to internal documentation forwarded to Kotaku, all games will be lumped…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 23, 2011 -
This Amazing Skyrim Shot Is Pure William Tell
This isn’t the most amazing, but YouTube user Ross3’s “apple shot” is pretty damn great. What makes it especially cool is how quick he works. A shot from that distance isn’t difficult by any means. A shot from that distance and done with that efficiency is. “I would have made the shot further,” wrote Ross3,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 23, 2011 -
GameStop Employees Suing Over Unpaid Conditions
Multinational retailer GameStop is facing a lawsuit from its own employees over security checks the company performs on them whenever they go for a break or clock off for the day. It’s policy to make sure nobody has stolen anything when coming and going from a store, yet while this may seem intrusive and untrusting,…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 23, 2011 -
Get a 3DS for $99, PS3 Bundle For $200
Ahead of Black Friday madness in the US, here’s two deals in particular to keep an eye out for. One is Walmart’s (UPDATE: and other retailers as well) $200 PS3 bundle, which includes a 160GB console and copies of both LittleBigPlanet 2 and Ratchet & Clank All 4 One. As the box art says, that’s…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 23, 2011 -
Minecraft Looks Good, But Let’s Make it Look Better
After years of being available as both alpha and beta, Minecraft is finally available as a finished (though never truly finished) product. Yet for all the fanfare, I haven’t played the game in over a year. Talking to lots of other people, I hear the same thing. They dabbled in it in 2009 or 2010,…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 23, 2011 -
Hey Michelle Bachmann, The Roots Would Like a Word
Greetings one and all, and welcome to another night of open-threadedness. We’re one day closer to Thanksgiving, which means one day closer to a meat-coma video game marathon. Are you planning to play Super Mario 3D Land while half-watching football? Because I sure am. Here, as always, are some links and randomness from around the…
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 22, 2011 -
Like Rich Wine and Sharp Cheese, Some Games Just Go Well Together
I’ve noticed over the years that I enjoy playing games in pairs, coupling them like a fine wine and a dry, aged cheese. (Or a hoppy beer and a slice of spicy pizza, if you prefer.) I’ve got professional obligations now that I didn’t have in the past, but all the same, I find that…
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 22, 2011 -
Modern Warfare, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, Arkham City DLC New This Week on the PlayStation Store
This week, Sony has begun its fall sale at the PlayStation Store, with oodles of discounts on all manner of games, add-on, theme, and bundle. Notable new full games include Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for just $20 as well as the just-released Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One. The Robin DLC for Batman: Arkham…
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 22, 2011 -
Skyrim is the Pinnacle of Short Attention Span Gaming
I think that Skyrim might finally be the Bethesda game where I lose the thread. Or maybe I should say threads—this tapestry is so rich, and I have so many loose strings running through it, that I find myself letting go altogether and simply admiring the whole mess. The main quest seems great—and I’m sure…
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 22, 2011 -
Fund Auro: The Golden Prince, Bite sized RPG for the iOS
Auro: The Golden Prince, has a charming art style and an interesting concept it’s working off of. I love how much the creators value animation, and I think it really shows in the video. It also has a Half Minute Hero feel to it, but without the anxiety. Goal: $15,000 Notable Reward: $175 – Your…
By Chris Carolan Published November 22, 2011 -
New Kinect Hardware For Windows Gets Up-Close and Personal
Making Kinect Windows-friendly is more than just a fancy new SDK and some marketing materials. Developers are going to need some tweaked hardware as well, and Microsoft is prepared to deliver with a Windows version of Kinect capable of accurate sensing as close as 50 centimeters from the sensor. In a post on the official…
By Mike Fahey Published November 22, 2011 -
Is That New BioWare Game a Mercenaries Game? Or a Command & Conquer One? How about an Army of Two One?
Here’s an interesting theory, hatched by an astute video game message-board poster: the new BioWare game that will be revealed during next month’s Spike TV Video Game Awards is a Mercenaries game. This is just a theory—EA’s comment to us about it: “We don’t comment on rumors or speculation”—but let’s consider the speculation and gathered…
By Stephen Totilo Published November 22, 2011 -
Portal Flashlights!
A Bright Set of Morons | Look! Just in time for the holidays. Portal-themed flashlights. One’s a turret the other’s a Wheatley. Watch Two Women Play Skyrim’s Haunting Theme on Violin and Piano This is Lara and Taylor playing the theme music to The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Lara…
By Brian Crecente Published November 22, 2011 -
Activision’s CEO Thinks Call of Duty Deserves Hurt Locker-Level Respect
Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg had some sharp words when asked about the criticism that Call Of Duty games get for their supposed glorification of violence and military aggression. “There’s a sense that games are more exploitive in a way that The Hurt Locker—which also was designed as form of entertainment—isn’t.” Hirshberg’s opinion is that “video…
By Evan Narcisse Published November 22, 2011 -
Style Alert: Bayonetta‘s Costume Designer Made These Fetching Soulcalibur V Looks
For a bunch of itinerant warriors chasing after a sentient, demonic weapon all over the medieval world, the characters of Namco’s Soulcalibur franchise have always looked exceptionally striking. There’s been lots of layers and detailing to the outfits that Taki, Cervantes and Xianghua have rocked over the years. Maybe even appliqué, too? Well, that’s all…
By Evan Narcisse Published November 22, 2011