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The Original PlayStation Controllers Looked Stupid (Thank God for Evolution!)
There’s a reason why the world has the PlayStation 1 controller it does. The reason is that the other PS1 controller prototypes were dumb-looking. Previously, Kotaku‘s Total Recall featured the PlayStation 1 controller you never got to use Before Sony settled on the new iconic PlayStation controller, it tried and tried again to create something…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 12, 2011 -
First Screenshots, Official Info From the New Syndicate
So, there’s a new Syndicate game. Still not quite sure what to think about that. Anyway, here are the first official screenshots from the title. EA just sent through a press release confirming the game’s existence, as well as all the information contained in the leaked info we posted over the weekend Tiny versions of…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 12, 2011 -
Link, Samus and Mario are Model Nintendo Characters
Artist Ty Lettau combines two (well, four) of my favourite things in these pieces: classic Nintendo characters and plastic model kits. They’re pretty unique as far as the crowded “pixellated tribute art” dealio goes, but damned if they don’t now make me actually want some kind of “create-a-Nintendo-game” kit from Revell to show up. soundofdesign’s…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 12, 2011 -
For This Idol, Life Sounds More Like Rhythm Hell
Famous since the age of twelve, sugary sweet idol Ai Kago grew up in the limelight. By the time she turned 18, that light had dimmed. During the past few weeks, Kago’s been on television, first for Yakuza connections. The second reason is far more tragic: Ai Kago tried to kill herself. During the early…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 12, 2011 -
Winning Isn’t Everything. Blowing Our Minds Is.
Sega arcades are populated with UFO Catchers, claw redemption games that allow punters their chance to win a prize. Prizes can vary from figures to even snacks. The fellow filming this clip didn’t snag the intended prize, he did something else entirely. Just watch. You can contact Brian Ashcraft, the author of this post, at…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 12, 2011 -
OK, So This Neon Genesis Game Doesn’t Look That Stupid After All
There’s a new Neon Genesis Evangelion game coming out soon on the PSP. It’s a music game. Which at the time of its announcement both sounded and looked, well, a little stupid Now that this clip shows off a ton of Rebuild of Evangelion: Sound Impact’s gameplay footage, though, maybe that was a little harsh.…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 12, 2011 -
There Will be at Least Six Blizzard Releases In the Next Three Years
Up on stage at the Citi 2011 Technology Conference last week, Activision Blizzard COO Thomas Tippl told attendees that over the next three years there should be six “proven property” releases from Blizzard. That doesn’t mean six games. It just means six releases, as five of them are going to be expansions: two more add-ons…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 12, 2011 -
Ninja Academy
But Is It Accredited? | A new school opened this week in Jonesville, N.C. Its faculty is a little young. If you have to ask where the entrance is you probably won’t pass the admissions exam. (Photo: Katie Tysinger, used with permission) The Syndicate Reboot Is Real, First Details & Screens Leak Out of EA…
By Owen Good Published September 11, 2011 -
MineCon Attendees Get First Dibs on Mojang’s Next Two Games
For those on the fence about attending MineCon, the inaugural Minecraft convention to be held Nov. 18 and 19 in Las Vegas, Mojang is hoping an early look at its next two games will sweeten the deal. All attendees will receive codes for the alpha versions of Scrolls and Cobalt once the games are ready.…
By Owen Good Published September 11, 2011 -
Tetris Art, or, When Life Gives You an L-Piece, Use It to Create Luigi
Yesterday I featured an obvious ‘shop of Game Boy Tetris, purporting to show a playing area whose remaining blocks resembled two people having sex fucking. Boy did I miss the boat. Turns out there’s a guy out there who actually does use Tetris to create pixel art, and he just completed one of Luigi, nine…
By Owen Good Published September 11, 2011 -
Modding’s Biggest Hits
Each week throws off several new video game lists ranging from the humorous to the trivial. What’s better? A list of those. Here’s a roundup of the rundowns out there. •The 10 Craziest Console Mods Not Used for Gaming [Ranker] Smokey up there headlines a list that includes a PS3 converted into a George Foreman…
By Owen Good Published September 11, 2011 -
Kinect Keeps an Eye on Grandma Without Invading Her Privacy
Because of the way its camera depicts what it sees, Kinect is being used by researchers to monitor elderly patients for their risk of a fall while still respecting their privacy. The device is helping the University of Missouri’s independent living community predict health risks 10 to 14 days before their most serious symptoms manifest.…
By Owen Good Published September 11, 2011 -
Tax Breaks for Games Makers are So Rich, Even Oil Companies Question Their Fairness
The New York Times this morning published an extensive look at the system of tax incentives and breaks exploited by games makers, concluding that their write-offs to research and development costs satisfy the letter, but not the spirit, of 50-year-old tax policies that by now defy common sense. Focusing almost exclusively on Electronic Arts, the…
By Owen Good Published September 11, 2011 -
Boxplay
Yes, I’m aware I said I wouldn’t go back to the cosplay crutch so soon. Then that thing appeared at Fan Expo a couple weeks back. An anthropomorphic box cover? We can’t let that one go stale. Fire up your Photoshop, GIMP, or whatever you use and meet us inside! We’re never at a loss…
By Owen Good Published September 11, 2011 -
Weekend Talk Amongst Football Night in America on CBS
Good morning, fellow amongst-yourselves talkers. Today we bow our heads in solemn remembrance of a most important day in America: The NFL’s opening weekend. Commence to solemnly remembering, amongst yourselves. Big thanks to NotTheOtherBob for today’s TAYpic. Want to have your TAYpic featured here? Submit your images to #TAYpics. Check out this thread for details…
By Owen Good Published September 11, 2011 -
The Syndicate Reboot Is Real, First Details & Screens Leak Out of EA
The forever-rumored reboot of EA’s Syndicate franchise, originally created by the defunct Bullfrog Productions in 1993, is real. First gameplay details and a handful of screen shots have just allegedly leaked from Electronic Arts’ Origin store, giving us our first glimpse at developer Starbreeze’s new game. While the original Syndicate was a real-time tactical game…
By Michael McWhertor Published September 10, 2011 -
Smash Mountain Winners
Some Gamecube-playing jokesters’ trip to Splash Mountain supplied the canvas upon which our smart ‘Shoppers illustrated all sorts of hilarious scenes for the latest Kotaku ‘Shop Contest. We’ve got a gallery of 20 all-stars, plus winner meelooteen inside! Leading off, BigMike McCarthy (2) supplied a solid callback to an earlier contest. Prof. Bananas Goldsteinberg (15)…
By Owen Good Published September 10, 2011 -
Saints Row: The Third‘s Latest Trailer Takes You to Tron-Land with the Deckers
McWhertor told me the other day that when it comes in, I’ll be in charge of the review for Saints Row: The Third. Mkay. I suppose I should familiarize myself with this game by watching this trailer. Let’s see, we’ve got gangs, driving sequences, gunplay, cyber-demons with giant swords and Tank Pong from Combat. Nice…
By Owen Good Published September 10, 2011 -
Study Tries to Break Down Who Buys In-Game Items—by Race
A study found that whites and, by a slighter margin, blacks were more likely to account for purchases of in-game items from mobile games, in a study that examined purchasing habits by ethnicity. What it seeks to prove, I have no idea, but the mobile entertainment portal MocoSpace sounds pretty smug that it’ll change the…
By Owen Good Published September 10, 2011 -
Tetris Porn, or, It’s Not the Size of the Line Piece but the Motion of the Squiggle
I’ll kill the fun right now by saying this is a ‘shop. Can you name at least one reason why it’s fake? I’m sure you will. Or, just enjoy some good ole crude junior-high humor as conceived (snicker) on the Game Boy. via Digg You can contact Owen Good, the author of this post, at…
By Owen Good Published September 10, 2011