-
The Supreme Court’s Best Arguments For and Against Violent Video Games
Whether you agree with the Supreme Court’s ruling against a California law against violent video games, today, you should know that strong arguments were made on both sides. Video games are just like literature? America is okay with kids seeing violent entertainment? Video games are meaningfully more immersive than books? The Founding Fathers never intended…
By Stephen Totilo Published June 27, 2011 -
Wimoweh Your Way Through This Zombie Video
Pungee stick grenades, exploding wind-up monkeys all set to a catchy tune! While I doubt The Kingston Trio will be singing when you play the Shangri-La map in Call of Duty: Black Ops’ upcoming download map pack, everything else will be in there. The pack, along with a clutch of multiplayer maps, hit Xbox Live…
By Brian Crecente Published June 27, 2011 -
Playstation Portable Dual Packs Brings $15 Two-Game Bundles To Stores
New PSP Dual Pack bundles featuring two bundled games grabbed from the “Greatest Hits” and “Favorites” collections hits both retail and the Playstation Network store this week. The first three set to hit stores this week are: Secret Agent Clank and Daxter; Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow and Killzone Liberation; and Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror and…
By Brian Crecente Published June 27, 2011 -
Is Goldeneye Reloaded Just a Fancy Word for Rereleased?
Activision puts nostalgia-loving gamers in their sights once again, gathering a nice list of domain names revolving around something called “Goldeneye Reloaded“. This could mean a number of things are in the works: an HD re-release of Goldeneye for the Wii, an HD remake of the classic N64 Goldeneye, or maybe even a turn as…
By Sam Winstrom Published June 27, 2011 -
Crysis 2 Gets Sexy on the PC Today, Map Editor on Wednesday
As predicted, Crysis 2’s Ultra Upgrade hit today, giving PC gamers full DirectX support for the shooter. What’s that mean? If your computer has the brawn you’re going to get tessellation, water rendering improvements, high quality HDR motion blur, and higher quality texture formats. Starting Wednesday computer gamers will also be able to pick up…
By Brian Crecente Published June 27, 2011 -
Let the Countdown to the Uncharted 3 Multiplayer Beta Begin!
Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells wants gamers ready around 2 p.m. PDT tomorrow to download Uncharted 3‘s multiplayer beta. This release is only for certain people. The rest of us have to wait until July 4. [via Twitter]
By Sam Winstrom Published June 27, 2011 -
Video Games Are Ruled Protected Speech, Now What?
Ending a years-long battle with California legislators, the U.S. Supreme Court this week ruled that video games are protected free speech and that their sale to minors can’t be criminalized. More important than that historic ruling is the reminder by a U.S. Supreme Court Justice that video games, like books, plays and movies, communicate ideas.…
By Brian Crecente Published June 27, 2011 -
Diablo III Looks to be a Gamescom No-Show
Blizzard listed the titles it will be showing at the upcoming Gamescom gaming expo. Diablo III doesn’t appear as though it will be there. Kotaku.com will be there, though! Diablo III is currently slated for who-knows-when. [via VideoGamer]
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2011 -
What’s Wrong With Kids These Days?
Back in my day things were different! If I wanted to play a video game I had to use one joystick to move and aim! In the snow! Come to think of it, it wasn’t that bad at all. Acast010 thinks that this generation is a lot worse—not the games though. He says the gamers…
By Sam Winstrom Published June 27, 2011 -
When Duke Nukem Forever Advertising Goes Horribly Wrong
This has nothing to do with Duke Nukem Forever the game, but it’s still a sad tale as far as game advertising goes. While some titles have caught flak in recent years for appearing on things like buses, we’ve never seen one turn up in such an inappropriate place. This billboard, advertising the decidedly-adult DNF…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 27, 2011 -
Minecraft Plans Slip a Little
Minecraft creator Notch said on his blog today that the game’s next 1.7 beta update will only add pistons to the world-building game. Planned “adventure” content arrives in update 1.8, which “might be a long wait.” The game’s official release has been bumped back to the week after November 11.
By Stephen Totilo Published June 27, 2011 -
First Amendment Trumps California in Supreme Court Battle Over Violent Video Games
The Supreme Court sided with the video game industry today, declaring a victor in the six-year legal match between the industry and the California lawmakers who wanted to make it a crime for anyone in the state to sell extremely violent games to kids. In a 7-2 ruling Justice Antonin Scalia said the law does…
By Stephen Totilo Published June 27, 2011 -
Talk Amongst Yourselves
It’s Monday! Happy Monday everyone! It’s a brand new week where we can talk about games! So come, post, and be merry! Think anything particularly exciting is gonna happen this week in the gaming world? A big thanks to frequent TAYpic contributor Incursor for today’s image. Wanna get your TAYpic on Kotaku? Submit your pic…
By Joshua Rivera Published June 27, 2011 -
Wow, This Kind of Stuff Is Okay on the PSP?
Shirogane no Cal to Suokuu no Jyoou is an adult adventure game that originally hit the PC. Now, it’s getting a PSP release. Lots of adult games get PSP ports, but even hardened Japanese netizens on web forum 2channel are surprised at how explicit the event scenes for the PSP version appear. The game does…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2011 -
Hold Onto Your First Amendment Rights…
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide today on Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association, a case that could make the sale of “ultra-violent” video games to children illegal in California. Here’s your primer on the case. Decision could come any moment.
By Brian Crecente Published June 27, 2011 -
Paper Munchers Trips on the Line Between Addiction and Obligation
After one level you see clearly the inspiration for Paper Munchers. It’s a physics puzzle that places a premium on completion in the fewest turns. Ergo, Angry Birds, and why not. It’s the ultimate lottery winner in mobile games development. The difference is Angry Birds, though it may require some ridiculously precise shots, at least…
By Owen Good Published June 27, 2011 -
The Time I Saw a Car Explode
Explosion | HYOGO, JAPAN: Thankfully, nobody was hurt. Account of what happened below. (Photo: Brian Ashcraft) I’m So, So Sorry, Okami Fans I normally try and keep this cosplay roundup free of furries. Because, well, I’m slightly afraid of them. But there were two instances this week that were simply too good to pass up…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2011
