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Is the bin Laden Kill Game Cathartic, Educational, or Just Ghoulish?

Osama bin Laden hunches quietly in the darkness of an Abbottabad basement, rifle clutched in his hands. He swivels smoothly left. Stops. Then swivels smoothly right. His face is frozen in a thousand mile stare, eyes unblinking. “We found him.” The game developer sounds relieved. The virtual bin Laden, created over a rush of all-nighters…

By Brian Crecente Published May 9, 2011

First Touch Football is Full-Featured Footy

Typically, upon hearing that a sports game is unlicensed, I expect completely generic teams populated by bland rosters. First Touch Soccer is hardly gimped in such a way. Yes, the team names themselves are altered. But draw up a match with “Manchester Red,” and sure enough, there is “Rooney” at forward. You can expect this…

By Owen Good Published May 9, 2011

Those Are Some Nice Sleeves

KEY MOMENT | TOKYO, JAPAN: A festival for visual novel Rewrite kicks off in Akihabara. (Photo: Akiba Blog) PlayStation Network Return “Uncertain”, May Not be 100% Back Until May 31 The PlayStation Network has been down for a while now. We’ve been warned that it may be down for a little while longer. Now Sony…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011

Hawaiian Shirts Covered with Anime Girls

Understated Aloha shirts are for classy island residents. Gaudy ones for the tourists. But Hawaiian shirts covered in anime girls? Those are for Japanese otaku. Japan’s Cospa, seller of otaku costumes and threads, is ready to dress you in K-On!, My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute, Angel Beats! and Twin Angel 2 Ahola shirts.…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011

Will They Ever Run Out of Pokémon?

There are 650 Pocket Monsters. That’s a lot. So Game Freak, the studio behind Pokémon, should be running out of ideas for new Pocket Monsters any day now, right? Wrong. Pokémon: Black and White art director Ken Sugimori told the Official Nintendo Magazine that there are still new Pokémon ideas. “It’s not only myself designing…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011

Sleep with This Voice Actress (Again)

When voice actress Rie Tanaka isn’t capturing the hearts of otaku, she’s snuggling up next to them vicariously through her hug pillow. One Rie Tanaka hug pillow has been available for purchase. Until now. Hug pillows are called “dakimakura” with “daki” referring to “hug” and “makura” meaning “pillow”. Dakimakura covers typically show anime-type characters. Like…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011

Cosplay is All About Beautiful Teamwork

In this week’s showcase of the best in cosplay, teamwork is the key word of the day, with two of the better shots involving not one or two fans in costume, but entire video game casts. Those casts are from BioShock and Final Fantasy XIII, the former showing a motley crew of splicers, the latter…

By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011

PlayStation Network Return “Uncertain”, May Not be 100% Back Until May 31

The PlayStation Network has been down for a while now. We’ve been warned that it may be down for a little while longer. Now Sony says it could be weeks still before the PSN is fully operational. Sony’s Shigenori Yoshida has told Bloomberg that his company’s deadline for the full return of all PlayStation Network…

By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011

Episode IV: A New Earthbound

This piece, throwing Nintendo’s classic Mother RPG series (known as EarthBound in the West) and the original Star Wars together, is just too damn cute for words (via 4CR). Earthbound Star Wars by lauramw

By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011

Alice: Madness Returns Is Adults Only in Japan

According to an online image doing the rounds, Alice: Madness Returns will be out on July 21 and rated “Cero Z”, Japan’s “Adults Only” equivalent. It’s not uncommon for violent games to get Cero Z. Xbox 360’s Gears of War and Wii’s MadWorld both snagged Cero Z ratings. [はちま起稿]

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011

He Co-Wrote Portal 2. Who Is His Favorite Character?

Valve lead writer Erik Wolpaw lent his clever pen to sci-fi shooter Portal 2. If you’ve played the game (this post has spoilers!), you might have your favorite character. Wolpaw does. According to Wolpaw, his favorite character (co-writer Jay Pinkerton’s, too) is Rick the Adventure Sphere, the jabbering AI sphere with a Texas twang. “The…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011

Pillage These New Dragon’s Dogma Screens

Capcom released some new screenshots and class artwork for upcoming open-world RPG Dragon’s Dogma over the weekend. Here they are! If you’re wondering, the three classes are Fighter, Strider and Mage. If you can’t tell which is which, this might not be the game for you.

By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011

Just How Valuable Are Video Game “Brands”?

Advertising and branding specialists Millward Brown have released their annual chart detailing the 100 most valuable “brands” in world commerce. The list takes into account not just a company’s income, but it’s reputation as well. The 2011 list includes all three video game platform holders, with Microsoft in fifth spot (though no doubt its PC…

By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011

Once Upon a Time Capcom Only Made Sequels

Former Capcom developer Keiji Inafune said recently at Ritsumeikan University that there was a time his old studio had a rule that 70 or 80 percent of games were sequels and the rest new games. New games weren’t usually approved—something Inafune hinted to Kotaku in 2006 when he said Capcom rejected both Dead Rising and…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011

Osama bin Laden’s Demise, as Told Through a Game of Super Mario Bros.

The assassination of Osama bin Laden has already provided modders and commentators with political video game fodder, but this French TV show kicks it up a notch with a fanciful presentation of Super Mario Bush In which the former Al Qaeda leader is Bowser, and Mario is played by George W. Bush. At least, he…

By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011

They’re Totally Addicted to Cosplay

If those addicted to work are called “workaholics” and those addicted to chocolate are called “chocoholics”, then what are those who are addicted to cosplay called? Over the weekend, “Cosholic” stormed through Tokyo’s Odaiba. Cosholic is a picture-takin’, costume-wearin’ get together. Some of the costumes were elaborate, others were practically invisible. Cosplayers and cosplayer “circles”…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011

Bedroom Coders Making New Super Mario Bros. Wii “Sequel”

If you’re done playing New Super Mario Bros. Wii—released18 months ago so you may well be—you could always try the fan-made Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii. Currently in development by a team of devoted modders, artists and Mario fans, Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii. is an unofficial sequel of sorts to Nintendo’s 2009 retail release,…

By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011

Violence Erupts at a Chinese Apple Store After iPad 2 Release

Although no one seems sure what exactly happened, reports are coming out that fights broke out between staff and customers at this Beijing Apple Store today. We’re talking bloodied faces and broken glass here. All over the new iPad? The fights come one day after the iPad 2 was released in China, resulting in lines…

By Kwame Opam Published May 9, 2011

Time To Cash in on the Japanese Earthquake Disaster?

When the Great East Japan Earthquake rocked the country on March 11, Japanese games with sensitive imagery were delayed. PS3 title Disaster Report 4, set during a natural disaster, was canceled. The game’s publisher even canned all Disaster Report titles. Not every Japanese game company is taking such drastic steps. According to a report out…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011

This LEGO Master Chief Is so Big He Has a Human Inside Him

For the past six months, Ben Caulkins has been building a Master Chief suit. Which, you know, lots of people do. So why’s Ben’s so special? Because, even though it’s full-size and entirely wearable, it’s made out of LEGO. We showed you an in-progress shot of this suit around Christmas, when it was a helmet…

By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011