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How One Coin Saved Arcades In Japan and Another Killed Them in the U.S.
Arcades aren’t just dead, they’re not coming back. There are hold outs, new arcades that want to offer new ways to game in public, or arcades that cling to tradition in places like L.A. and New York. But a return to the days of of shoulder-to-shoulder, quarter-slapped-on-glass gaming just isn’t in the cards. So says…
By Brian Crecente Published February 22, 2011 -
Monkeys Express Self-Doubt Through Computer Gaming
Are self-doubt and uncertainty purely human traits, or do other members of the animal kingdom experience these feelings? A team of scientists made monkeys play video games because it’s awesome. Oh, and to address the whole self-doubt thing. It’s too late for me, but some of you are still young enough to switch your focus…
By Mike Fahey Published February 22, 2011 -
Canabalt: 2 Player and Other Amazing Indie Games Get Amazing Arcade Cabinet
I don’t know what to be more excited about: That indie darling Canabalt is getting a two-player version or that I’ll be able to play it on an arcade cabinet next week. The Winnitron 1000 is going to next week’s Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. The Winnitron 1000 is a free-to-play video game arcade…
By Brian Crecente Published February 22, 2011 -
Celebrating Five Years Of Dungeons & Dragons Online With Pirates
It’s been five years since Turbine opened the port of Smuggler’s Rest to adventurers heeding the call of Dungeons & Dragons Online, and to Smuggler’s Rest they’ll return for the new quests and special gifts of a special anniversary event. If you’ve been playing Dungeons & Dragons Online for five years, you’ve been through quite…
By Mike Fahey Published February 22, 2011 -
Petroglyph Enters The Online Arena With Rise Of The Immortals
The strategy masters at Petroglyph Games take a stab at online action with Rise of the Immortals, a free-to-play Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game aimed at both casual and competitive MOBA players. Much like Riot Games’ League of Legends or Stunlock Studios’ Bloodline Champions, Rise of the Immortals will put players in control of a…
By Mike Fahey Published February 22, 2011 -
Let’s Just Say White Mage’s Dad Is ‘Old-Fashioned’
White Mage, Red Mage, Black Mage, what’s the difference? In Dorkly’s latest video we discover that not every White Mage is as enlightened as the next. Yes, ‘old-fashioned’ is indeed a polite way of saying ‘racist’. As time progresses we’ll have to eventually replace ‘old-fashioned’ with ‘archaic’ or ‘anachronistic’, though the latter would surely upset…
By Mike Fahey Published February 22, 2011 -
Internet Gaming Obsession Claims Another Life In China
The dangers of internet addiction in China were demonstrated yesterday, when an unidentified 30-year-old man collapsed in an internet cafe outside of Beijing following three days of nonstop online gaming. According to witnesses the man had been playing an online game at the internet cafe for three days, taking in little food or drink and…
By Mike Fahey Published February 22, 2011 -
And Now A Little Princess Saving Music
It’s a musical edition of the daily Speak-Up on Kotaku today, as commenter Harrier entertains us with more than 25 minutes of Mario piano music, played nonstop and without the aid of sheet music. My 25-minute-long medley of songs from various games featuring Super Mario! It isn’t perfect, but it’s kind of tough to go…
By Mike Fahey Published February 22, 2011 -
The Real Enemy To Fight In Homefront Is The Decline Of America
Route 66 is full of potholes and Wal-Mart is out of asthma medication. A high school football field is being used for mass graves. These are facts from a video game world, facts designed to make a gamer angry They’re the truths of Homefront, a March video game that somehow merges an unfathomable near-future event…
By Stephen Totilo Published February 22, 2011 -
Talk Amongst Yourselves
It’s Tuesday, another day made for talking about video games. Chat about them here. With any luck, Mothra will show up. Thanks to Hisilarn for today’s image. Submit yours to #TAYpics (Read this thread for directions on how to do a TAYpic.)
By Stephen Totilo Published February 22, 2011 -
A Nintendo Museum, The Bionic Beat Goes On And Studying In The Toilet
It’s true, studying in toilet is the best. Here’s what we have taped on the door of our bathroom — poems from the hyakunin isshu. Kind of makes the toilet seem all the more literate. When Your Developer Goes Bust, The Music Must Go On Game designer (and musical maestro) Simon Viklund has had some…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 22, 2011 -
The Things China Endured To Bring You Apple Touch Screens
Between May 2008 and August 2009, workers at China’s Suzhou industrial park slaved away, cleaning touch screens for Apple’s iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. The chemical used, hexyl hydride or “n-hexane”, made workers ill. The chemical evaporates faster than alcohol, which is why the Chinese factory, owned by Taiwan’s Wintek, began using it to speed…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 22, 2011 -
The Games You Can Absolutely Buy the Day the 3DS Goes on Sale
Nintendo’s nebulous 3DS launch window includes months for the game company to fill their slate for the new portable. But what will U.S. gamers be able to pick up the day the 3D handheld goes on sale? This morning Nintendo finally dropped a list on us that includes all 16 games available on March 27.…
By Brian Crecente Published February 22, 2011 -
Stereotypical Gay Cartoon Characters Hawk Dissidia Final Fantasy
The World of Golden Eggs is a popular Japanese-language cartoon, set in America with English subtitles. And two of its characters, Rose and Mary, are promoting the latest Final Fantasy game. Rose and Mary are twins. They love exercising and cooking. Rose and Mary seem to be based on Piiko and Osugi, two gay Japanese…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 22, 2011 -
More PSP Cooking (But Not Stupid Or Gross)
A couple of misguided Japanese kids decided it would be funny to make PSP tempura. It wasn’t. It was actually depressing and scary. But the folks at Japanese comedy troupe Megawin aren’t nearly as thick. Instead of actually trying to eat a PSP, which will, you know, probably kill you, Megawin uses a PSP case…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 22, 2011 -
When Your Developer Goes Bust, The Music Must Go On
Game designer (and musical maestro) Simon Viklund has had some adjusting to do over the past few years, watching a game series he was once a driving force behind end up in the arms of another man. Well, team. Viklund served as creative director on 2008’s Bionic Commando Rearmed, a pulsating remake of 1988’s Bionic…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 22, 2011 -
A Country With No Late Night Online Gaming
Starting March 3, those hoping to play online games between 10pm and 8am in Vietnam will need to find a workaround. The country’s Ministry of Information and Communication has asked internet service providers to block access to online games. “Provincial departments of information and communication will inspect on-line games activities nationwide and deal with organizations…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 22, 2011 -
This Uncharted Art Is So Good You’ll Think You Can Touch It
Despite the amazing name, Hanno Hagedorn is not a Norse God. He is a mortal, an artist who worked on Uncharted 2, crafting 3D images so damn pretty you have to be told they’re not actual works of sculpture. These pieces are “unpainted” digital models of some of Uncharted 2’s main characters, including villain Zoran…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 22, 2011