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Violent Video Game Legal Battle Could Cost California Another $1.1 Million
Now that the smoke has cleared and the video game industry stands triumphant over the state of California in the Supreme Court battle over making it a crime to sell violent games to minors, the Entertainment Software Association needs to pay its lawyers. Why hello there, California taxpayers. For six years the state of California…
By Mike Fahey Published July 25, 2011 -
For Some, “Gamer” Still Means “Social Outcast”
Anders Behring Breivik was a likable loner, a seemingly harmless Norwegian who masked his sudden disappearance from society to prepare for the biggest single-handed massacre in recent history with a modern affliction: Video game addiction. Breivik, 32, the confessed terrorist behind a bombing and shooting spree that left nearly 80 dead, many children, said he…
By Brian Crecente Published July 25, 2011 -
Dead Island‘s Infestation Spreads to PlayStation Home
The zombie strain that strikes the vacationers on Dead Island is so virulent that even advertising the game results in a full-on undead plague, as European PlayStation Home users will discover shortly before the game launches in September. PlayStation 3 owners will start feeling the effects of the Dead Island infection shortly before the game…
By Mike Fahey Published July 25, 2011 -
In Search of New and Exciting Collectible Card-Based Video Games
Appropriately named commenter Tengen Toppa Duck Face has a craving for video games based on collectible card games, but his experience is limited to Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon. Somebody help a brother deal a fresh hand in today’s Speak Up on Kotaku. Are there any collectible card video games that come highly recommended, new or old?…
By Mike Fahey Published July 25, 2011 -
Original Chuck E. Cheese Added to Registry of Historic Gaming Locations
The most terrifying all animal band in history is finally getting the recognition it deserves. The Registry of Historic Gaming locations is adding the site of the original Chuck E. Cheese’s to it’s list of historic sites. First built in San Jose, California in 1977, Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theatre was the first family…
By Sam Winstrom Published July 25, 2011 -
There’s a Hard-Hitting Story Behind Anarchy Reigns‘ Battle Royale
What, you thought Platinum Games’ online multiplayer brawler was just a bunch of super-powered beings battling each other for no reason? No sir, there is some sort of story going on in Anarchy Reigns; it just happens to involve a lot of punching, kicking, and stabbing. Shit’s going down in Altambra, yo, which I’m imagining…
By Mike Fahey Published July 25, 2011 -
Need for Talk Amongst Yourselves
Stop what you’re doing. Start talking about video games. Right here. In the comments. Thanks. And thanks to reader Halfbeast for today’s image. You too can create a featured Talk Amongst Yourselves image. The instructions to get on that path to glory are in our #TAYpics thread right here
By Stephen Totilo Published July 25, 2011 -
It’s 2011 and Someone is Putting a Lot of Effort into a Wii Game
Nintendo’s still making a Zelda and a Kirby for the Wii. Ubisoft is still seeping Just Dances the way a man produces sweat on a hot summer day. But it seems these days that most companies making games just don’t care about making Wii games anymore. What a shock it was last week to find…
By Stephen Totilo Published July 25, 2011 -
Reckless Endangerment Makes for a Sloppy Getaway
When video games call for criminal behavior, I try to portray the bandit with a heart of gold. Running innocents off the road delivers neither a thrill nor a punchline in something like Grand Theft Auto. In fact, I take it as a sign of my own terrible driving. All of that is on display…
By Owen Good Published July 25, 2011 -
Every Dostoevsky Has His Day
A Petersburg Poem – Pixel artist Dave Wilson’s tribute to Dostoyevsky and other giants of Russian literature. (@ megapont) More Amazing Guild Wars 2 Art to Kickstart Your Working Week As we’ve seen previously, with Levi Hopkins’ art, there’s some outstanding work being done at ArenaNet on Guild Wars 2. An impression that’s only reinforced…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 25, 2011 -
You’ll Never Master This Shooter
Really Big Sky is an indie shmup with a twist: it’s procedurally-generated. Meaning you’ll never play the same game twice. The game’s difficulty, levels and enemies are generated on the fly based on how you’re playing, how well you’re playing and how many of you are playing it at once (it support 4-player multiplayer). So…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 25, 2011 -
Mortal Kombat Web Series Winds Up
Mortal Kombat: Legacy, the live-action web series based on the hit fighting game franchise, finished up over the weekend with its ninth and final episode. The project, which began as a sensational concept piece first shown last year, never really hit the same highs again during its actual run. Ah well! It was still a…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 25, 2011 -
Assassin’s Creed: The Wind Waker
If you were at Ubisoft’s E3 press conference (or caught it online), you will have seen this! Since most of you weren’t, though, here’s a look at a very stylish interpretation of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. It’s not for any upcoming game or project. It’s just for kicks! But between those colours, 2.5D perspective and…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 25, 2011 -
Portal 2’s Space Core has Landed On Earth
This is a pretty great replica of Portal 2’s Space Core. The scale is good, the colours are right, the lighting looks spot on, and I bet it was delicious. Wait, what? Yeah, spoilers, it’s a cake. I know, sorry to go all “Kotaku circa 2007” on you, but come on. That’s freaking amazing. It…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 25, 2011 -
There and Back Again, a Minecraft Story
The team behind Minecraft Middle Earth is building, on a reduced scale, the land of Middle Earth from Lord of the Rings. If you think that’s bananas, this walkthrough video above goes for half an hour and only covers the journey from The Shire to the Mines of Moria. LotR fans will know that, well,…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 25, 2011 -
My Teeth Hurt After Watching These Wii Kids
As one of the worst examples of “it’s on the Wii, shovel it out there” publishing, I don’t have many kind words to say about Ubisoft’s Just Dance 2, one of the biggest-selling games in years THAT SAID. I can at least see where the appeal lies. Namely, with the kind of parents who film…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 25, 2011 -
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Gameplay Footage Sneaks Out of Comic-Con [Update]
Hey hey, it’s brand new footage from the upcoming Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This is nothing but raw gameplay, with dragons and villagers and beautiful landscapes. Best part, though? Where the wolf gets kicked in the face UPDATE – Looks like most of it is older footage re-edited into a new trailer. Sorry! [via YouTube]
By Luke Plunkett Published July 25, 2011 -
GoldenEye: Reloaded Screenshots
By Owen Good Published July 24, 2011 -
Activision had Plans for High-Definition GoldenEye All Along
Depending upon the consoles you own, the bad news about GoldenEye: Reloaded may still be the good news. It is most definitely a high-definition remastering of last year’s title reboot on the Wii. But given the much larger shooter constituency on the PS3 and 360, and online multiplayer’s vastly greater viability on those consoles, that…
By Owen Good Published July 24, 2011 -
Adios, Comic-Con
So Long, San Diego | A mini-bust of Shae Vizla, of Star Wars: The Old Republic bids us farewell as Comic-Con 2011 comes to an end. (Photo: Michael McWhertor) Oslo Terrorist Used Modern Warfare 2 as “Training-Simulation”, World of Warcraft as Cover The accused shooter in yesterday’s massacre in Norway has been linked to 1,500…
By Owen Good Published July 24, 2011