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The State (and Stats) of the Portal 2 Gamer
If you ask us, Portal 2 is a great game. However, a few weeks after its release we took a look at its Steam Achievements and discovered that only half of its players had actually finished the game—and we also found that even less had played any of the game’s co-op campaign. We decided to…
By Joshua Rivera Published July 1, 2011 -
What Are You Playing This Weekend?
It’s a perfect time to catch up on new releases and backlogged titles, now that the video game industry is going on what amounts to summer break. Perfect time for me to play Shadows of the Damned, I say. And so I shall, finally taking the shrinkwrap off Grasshopper Manufacture’s game this weekend for a…
By Michael McWhertor Published July 1, 2011 -
Toys R Us Brings Halo, Sonic, Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 and Republic Commando Toys to Comic-Con
Some people go to the San Diego Comic-Con for the latest news on their favorite comic books, television shows, and movies. Some go to hobnob with the stars, or show off their latest cosplay masterpiece. Me, I go for the toys, and this year Toys R Us is bringing plenty of exclusive video game merchandise…
By Mike Fahey Published July 1, 2011 -
How To Kill the Company Behind FarmVille
Hate Farmville, CityVille and all of its billions of pestering, needy fans? There’s a simple way to get rid of the company that makes those games: Kill Facebook. Buried in Zynga’s mammoth digital registration filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which could lead to injecting a billion, perhaps billions, in cash into the company,…
By Brian Crecente Published July 1, 2011 -
The Daily Show Attacks Video Games In Light of Supreme Court Decision
Jon Stewart fumbles the ball on his take down of the Supreme Court’s decision to rule that video games are protected speech this week, forgetting that he’s living in the same glass house. Ironically, Stewart uses the very graphic video game images he thinks should be criminalized, on a television show that is itself protected…
By Brian Crecente Published July 1, 2011 -
The World of Deus Ex: Human Revolution is More Than Just Yellow Lighting
In this behind-the-scenes video for Deus Ex: Human Revolution, the Eidos Montreal development explores the world festering beneath the glow of amber lights, where humanity is in danger of losing itself and freedom fighters struggle to protect the last bastions of green lighting effects.
By Mike Fahey Published July 1, 2011 -
The Next Street Fighter Lets You Try to Re-Create the Coolest Street Fighter Moment Ever
At a tournament in 2004, facing near-certain defeat, Street Fighter player Daigo Umehara turned back a hurricane of an attack from another top player Justin Wong. What he did, under pressure, in front of a hollering crowd, was incredible. It was one of competitive game’s best moments—perhaps its most thrilling play ever. Now you can…
By Stephen Totilo Published July 1, 2011 -
How Zynga’s Billions Stack Up Against EA, Nintendo and Other Gaming Giants
The people who make FarmVille, CityVille and Empires & Allies think their company’s stock will be worth at least $1 billion when they go public. The New York Times thinks the company’s value could go up to $20 billion However it adds up, Zynga is clearly a huge player in modern video games. How do…
By Stephen Totilo Published July 1, 2011 -
Mario Was Dead Before He Hit the NES
Before the cellophane came off your freshly shipped copy of 1985’s Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment Center, Mario was already one life in the hole. Twas unfortunate cover art that killed the plumber. How closely do you pay attention to your video game cover art? If you paid as much as Reddit user…
By Mike Fahey Published July 1, 2011 -
How To Become the Most Feared Bounty Hunter in The Old Republic‘s Galaxy
Being a Bounty Hunter in Star Wars: The Old Republic takes more than just scrounging up a missile-firing backpack and avoiding sarlacc pits. It’s also about choosing whether you want to become a Mercenary or a Powertech when you grow up. What’s the difference? For starters, the Mercenary seems much more serious about his profession.…
By Mike Fahey Published July 1, 2011 -
Zynga Files $1 Billion IPO Fueled By Virtual Farms, Mob Wars and Cityscapes
The game makers behind mega Facebook games Farmville, CityVille and Mafia Wars today filed papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission to take Zynga public in hopes of raising $1 billion. The billion dollar price tag, though, could change once bankers determine the true value of shares and how many can be sold. In an…
By Brian Crecente Published July 1, 2011 -
Zenonia 3 Comes to Android for Free
After triumphant releases on the Android platform for the first two games in its retro role-playing series, Gamevil delivers the third and beefiest installment of Zenonia to the Android Market for the low price of completely free. My favorite mobile role-playing series, Zenonia has gotten better with each installment, culminating in Zenonia 3: The Midgard…
By Mike Fahey Published July 1, 2011 -
The New X-Com is a Shooter, Advance Wars is MIA, So Thank Goodness for Fray
What’s a fan of strategy games supposed to do when all around him or her there’s news of delayed tactics/strategy games, metamorphosized strategy games and, well, not a whole lot to be cheerful about? Pin your hopes on the upcoming real-time and turn-based PC and Mac strategy game Fray. (Official site here.) This game is…
By Stephen Totilo Published July 1, 2011 -
Are Drones So Easy to Fly That Even a Journalist Can Do It?
There’s been much talk lately about the Predator Drone and how using it to take out enemies from a distance is like playing a video game. This sudden increase in Drone buzz may have something to do with the Paris Air show where a number of UAV are on display by a bunch of different…
By Brian Crecente Published July 1, 2011 -
Talk Amongst Yourselves
It has been decided. The TAY image for July shall be Jacques-Louis David’s masterpiece (and apparent Kotaku reader favorite) “The Death of Socrates”. Although we don’t know the exact date of Socrates’ death, there’s a one in 12 chance that he died in what we now know as July, making the timing relevant. Mull that…
By Jen Schiller Published July 1, 2011 -
China’s Glorious Mission in Action Shows How the PLA Will Train Its Army With Games
Development of the People’s Liberation Army video game, soon to be used to train China’s armed forces, seems to be coming along nicely since last we heard about it In this video we get a look at how the first-person shooter will work, and how it was developed. Sifting through comments on the official website…
By Brian Crecente Published July 1, 2011 -
Incredible Machines Come To Life with Apparatus
One man’s random pile of wood, pulleys, cables, and motors is another man’s giant mechanical rabbit capable of projecting a marble into a tiny blue box from a mile away. That second man needs to play Apparatus, the physics building game for Android phones and tablets. In the grand tradition of The Incredible Machine‘s elaborate…
By Mike Fahey Published July 1, 2011 -
I Guess I Collect Business Cards!
Nice To Meet Cha | OSAKA, JAPAN: Even Shinya Arino’s business card, which I got a few years back, says “Kacho”. (Photo: Brian Ashcraft) The Zelda Game of My Dreams Reddit user thepixelartist, who is a “professional 3D artist” by trade, has taken the raw game files included with The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2011 -
Two Lara Crofts. Both Pole Dancers.
There will be no more official Lara Croft girls. After having flesh-and-blood Tomb Raider spokesmodels, Eidos is ditching the fan service and focusing on creating a realistic in-game Lara Croft. That doesn’t mean totally unofficial Lara Croft models are going anywhere! Take these two nice ladies who recently competed at the UKAPP in Bristol. UKAPP?…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2011