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Xbox Live Screw-Up Soils Clothes Trading Surprise
Dream Club is a bar girl simulator that allows players to patron a virtual watering hole and chat up chicks. But It’s not only about that for fans, it’s also about the outfits and dressing up their favorite characters. A Xbox Live snafu has mucked up a long-awaited clothes trading surprise. See, it isn’t possible…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2010 -
This Is Not A Single Zelda Screenshot
It is hundreds of screenshots, composited into recreations of artwork featuring the two stars of Nintendo’s famous adventure series, Link and the Princess Zelda. These screenshot mosaics were made using shots from every single Zelda game ever made. Yes, even the handheld ones, and yes, even the new ones, and yes, even the awful CDi…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 9, 2010 -
Studio Ghibli Game Will Animate Japanese Sales
Today, the Nintendo DS game from Professor Layton developer Level-5 and My Neighbor Totoro creator Studio Ghibli goes on sale in Japan. How’s it going to do? Well, how do you think it’s gonna do? Level-5 is responsible for several of Japan’s favorite new franchises (like Layton and the soccer role-playing game Inazuma Eleven), while…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2010 -
These PC Games Love It When You Talk To Them
While controlling shooters on the PC is made easier by the precision of the mouse, that’s not enough for some people. Some people want it even easier than that. For them, there is the Dragon Gaming Speech Pack. It’s a piece of software that allows people to issue commands to supported games using their voice,…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 9, 2010 -
Japanese Net Cafes Are A Wretched Hive Of Scum And Villainy
Internet cafes dot the Japanese urban landscape and offer a moment of pause for regular folks. Ditto for criminals. Sure, internet cafes in Japan have game consoles and DVD players, but they also have showers and private rooms with big reclining chairs for customers to crash on. One chain called “Manboo” even has a nail…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2010 -
Kinect Just Filed A Minority Report
So many Kinect hacks have teased a “Minority Report” style interface. Picked at its edges, approached it with half steps. This clip shows it’s not only possible with Microsoft’s new camera, it’s possible right now Using Kinect drivers for Linux, some kids from the Robot Locomotion Group and Learning Intelligent Systems teams at MIT have…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 9, 2010 -
New Law Reminds You To Include Virtual Property In Your Will
A law passed in Oklahoma provides for executors to access social media accounts and, presumably, distribute their holdings. So if you don’t write out that will with LegalZoom, a judge will decide who gets your Second Life counterfeit fuck coffin The law took effect Nov. 1. According to its author, its meant to remind people…
By Owen Good Published December 9, 2010 -
Resident Evil Is Still The Best-Looking Thing On The 3DS
There’s a reason Capcom is so keen to show off its Resident Evil games on the 3DS: they’re far and away the most visually impressive titles we’re yet to see for Nintendo’s new handheld. Sure, these are screenshots – which can never be trusted as 100% faithful representations of a final product – but there…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 9, 2010 -
Cypress Hill “Singer” Suing Grand Theft Auto, Claims He’s The “Real” CJ
Michael “Shagg” Washington, a “backup singer” with rap act Cypress Hill, has decided in 2010 to sue Grand Theft Auto developers Rockstar for a game they released in 2004. Why? He reckons he’s the star of GTA: San Andreas. Washington, who says he only just heard about the game from his nephew, is basing his…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 9, 2010 -
Race A Toilet With NASCAR’s Five-Time Champ
The motto of Jimmie Johnson, who clinched his fifth straight NASCAR Sprint Cup championship last month, is “Anything With An Engine.” With dumpsters, coffins and lawnmowers, this upcoming arcade racer bearing his name takes that to an illogical extreme. Jimmie Johnson’s Anything With An Engine, due next year for PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii, puts…
By Owen Good Published December 8, 2010 -
Video Game Creators Invent The Darndest Finishing Moves
Kratos, star of God of War games, is apparently coming to the next Mortal Kombat as a “kombatant.” What does the man behind the first God of War game think Kratos should do to finish his foes? Fuck ’em, naturally! David Jaffe, the adult language dispensing creator behind the upcoming Twisted Metal for the PlayStation…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 8, 2010 -
Halo Wars’ Leaderboards Saved
Responding to outcry from the game’s close-knit community, Microsoft has about-faced on its decision to end leaderboard and stat-tracking support for Halo Wars on Dec. 15. While the Halo Wars forums will still be merged into the Halo Waypoint forums, ending their presence on HaloWars.com, leaderboards and online statistics will remain active. Dedicated Halo Wars…
By Owen Good Published December 8, 2010 -
The Super Mario All-Stars Unboxing Is Sad For Luigi Fans
Nintendo sent a copy of Super Mario All-Stars for the Wii to Kotaku HQ today, a premium package filled with four classic Super Mario Bros. video games and very little mention of the Mario’s frequently overlooked brother Luigi. The star of Luigi’s Mansion does pop up now and then in this celebration of the more…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 8, 2010 -
Ending Leaked For StarCraft II’s Next Chapter?
A clip, purportedly of the ending for “Heart of the Swarm,” the under-development second chapter of StarCraft II, leaked out earlier today. The video’s since been taken down. We’re not sure if it’s legitimate, but spoiler alert, just in case. The clip merges in storyboards and has no lip-synching to the dialogue, indicating it’s something…
By Owen Good Published December 8, 2010 -
The Visually Sumptuous Infinity Blade
Gaming on the iPhone has now perhaps its greatest champion, a sword and magic fighter created by the team behind Gears of War. The $6 game, due out tomorrow, delivers the sort of graphics and gameplay familiar to console gamers, but long thought impossible on an Apple device. In this video I take a look…
By Brian Crecente Published December 8, 2010 -
Meet Sackbutler, V.P. of LittleBigPlanet-ization
After seeing a baby delivered with the Grabinator, I’d say it’s a virtual inevitability we’re going to end up with Kevin Butler Sackboy costumes sometime soon after LittleBigPlanet 2’s release. As to that, in case you are wondering, Mark Valledor, marketing manager for Sony Computer Entertainment America, has already semi-addressed such a possibility. I’ve tweeted…
By Owen Good Published December 8, 2010 -
FIFA Has Raked In $45 Million From DLC — And Counting
We’ve heard of hardcore customers of EA Sports’ “Ultimate Team” modes – spending more than $1,000 just on virtual sports cards in Madden, FIFA or NHL. We didn’t know what it meant to Electronic Arts’ bottom line, though. According to GameSpot, quoting the company’s chief financial officer, downloadable content accountes for 20 percent of the…
By Owen Good Published December 8, 2010 -
All They Did Was Add More Fun
I will happily argue with anyone that the first LittleBigPlanet was a game more easily appreciated than enjoyed. A marvel of technology and art, maybe not of play. I don’t think the sequel will have that problem. I’ve played Media Molecule’s LittleBigPlanet 2 for only about an hour, away from the Sony developers and promoters…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 8, 2010 -
The Mixer
Dear Ash, Welcome to the future. Apparently it will be all video. If you didn’t have the time to read Kotaku today, here’s your five-minute glimpse. Who Is Hunting Batman In Arkham City? How A Great Cartoon Became Three Great Flash Games Final Fantasy VIII’s Other Main Character Joins Dissidia Duodecim Would You Call This…
By Brian Crecente Published December 8, 2010 -
DC Universe Online Artist Now Tries Competitive Cake Making
Kotaku has a proud history of showcasing the artistic intersection of video games and cakes, so it’s no surprise who our favorite contestant is “Cake Boss: Next Great Baker.” Meet Brian Stevens, senior artist at Sony Online Entertainment. CB:NGB premiered on Monday and Brian survived the first round, so here’s hoping this post isn’t a…
By Owen Good Published December 8, 2010