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7-Eleven Enters The Used Video Game Business
A Slurpee and a used copy of Prototype? It’s more likely than you think. 7-Eleven is teaming up with Game Trading Technologies, Inc. to offer a wide selection of “Great Games Below $20” at franchise locations throughout the U.S. Already known for its creative interpretation of the term ‘street date’ in regards to new video…
By Mike Fahey Published April 19, 2010 -
Ubisoft Does Away With Tree-Killing Instruction Manuals
Is the grand tradition of colorful video game manuals coming to a close? It is for Ubisoft, as the company launches an initiative to replace tree-hungry paper manuals with in-game instructions for all PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 titles. Killing trees just isn’t in style anymore, and Ubisoft is taking steps to make sure it…
By Mike Fahey Published April 19, 2010 -
Capcom News Smashes Into Kotaku 9 a.m. Tuesday UPDATE
Don’t forget to warm up your tubes and computer in preparation for tomorrow’s mammoth day of gaming news. Capcom’s 2010 Captivate embargo lifts at 9 a.m. on the nose. We were at Captivate, doing interviews, playing games, shooting pictures and videos. Tomorrow is going to be a day of massive news, interviews and previews. You’re…
By Brian Crecente Published April 19, 2010 -
The Nintendo Download: Mega Man 4 And Not Much Else
I’m not saying it’s a slow week for the Nintendo Download, but when Mega Man 4 for the Virtual Console is the most exciting title in the lineup – okay, I’m saying it’s a slow week for the Nintendo Download. I mean, there may be joy to be found in three more installments of the…
By Mike Fahey Published April 19, 2010 -
The Genesis Of The Doctor Who Adventure Games
Following Saturday’s BBC broadcast of the latest episode of Doctor Who, fans were treated to their first glimpse of the new Doctor Who: The Adventure Games in action, and now we’re treating you. The BBC officially announced Doctor Who: The Adventure Games last week, bringing fans of the nearly 50-year-old series the first real computer…
By Mike Fahey Published April 19, 2010 -
iTunes Chart Toppers: Meet the iPad
We’ve decided to rework our weekly charts and in so doing reset the numbers as well. Starting this week we will be running two charts, one for the iPhone and one for the iPad. Here’s the full list of games for both platforms: iPhone Position Title Price Weeks Last Week 1 ZombieSmash (gamedoctors) $0.99 1…
By Brian Crecente Published April 19, 2010 -
Please Sing Us A Modern Warfare Song
On Friday, amidst much commentary and schadenfreude about the troubled state of Modern Warfare development studio Infinity Ward there was one attempt to turn the drama into song. Now, we just need someone to sing it. Lyrics by Kotaku commenter Blood Eden Step One you hold our royalties We ask and beg on broken knees…
By Stephen Totilo Published April 19, 2010 -
Do Video Games Shape Who We Are?
Can video games have a Western canon? It’s a question I’ve been pondering since hearing that classic 90s strategy computer game X-COM is being remade as a first-person shooter For gamers of my generation, last week’s news of a new X-COM was akin to hearing that Tom Sawyer was being remade as a cop buddy…
By Brian Crecente Published April 19, 2010 -
Writers Trashing Each Other
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft J.K. Rowling, according to Harold Bloom (2000) “How to read ‘Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone’? Why, very quickly, to begin with, and perhaps also to make an end. Why read it? Presumably, if you cannot be persuaded to read anything better, Rowling will have to do.” James Joyce’s Ulysses, according…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 19, 2010 -
Call of Duty Series to “Broaden” Its Audience
Video game publisher Activision released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 last year. It made over a billion dollars. Now Activision has decide it will make the series more accessible. Because over a billion dollars is not accessible. And not enough people read Harry Potter books. Have you ever seen Star Wars? Thomas Tippl, Activision’s…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 19, 2010 -
PSP Store Display Invites Upskirts
You got to give it to Japanese marketing people. For better or worse, they know how to do attention grabbing in-store displays. This one for PSP brawler Ikki Tousen Xross Imapct is no exception. The display features schoolgirl Ikki Tousen schoolgirl characters Ryofu Housen and Sonsaku Hakufu and their skirts, which patrons are invited to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 19, 2010 -
This Is A Nice, Nice Xbox 360
When a Hollywood special effects master sits down and whips up a custom Xbox 360 console, this is the end result. Designed by Richard Taylor from WETA Workshop (ie the Lord of the Rings special effects guys, who were also down to work on the aborted Halo movie), the one-of-a-kind console – which is part…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 19, 2010 -
The McDonalds Nintendo DSi
A few weeks ago, I showed you every Nintendo DS that had ever been released. Turns out I missed one: the official McDonalds Japan DSi console! While we knew that staff in Japanese McDonalds restaurants were being trained on Nintendo’s handhelds, we had no idea they were being trained on official, company-branded consoles. And tastefully-branded…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 19, 2010 -
No Star Fox? Nintendo, You Have A Volunteer
There has not been a new Star Fox game, recently. The sci-fi adventure series debuted in 1993 and saw a Nintendo DS title in 2006. It’s now 2010, and where’s a new Star Fox game? When game site GamesTM told series creator Shigeru Miyamoto that it would like to see a new Star Fox game,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 19, 2010 -
What Gets You Banned From Xbox Live Until The Year 9999?
A concerned parent has apparently taken to the official 360 forums, looking for an explanation as to why his son had been banned from Xbox Live until the Year of our Lord, 9999. Microsoft was only too happy to oblige. “Would be helpful if someone could enlighten me as to why he has been suspended…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 19, 2010 -
Why Is Japan So Behind?
Once upon a time, Japanese games eclipsed Western ones. They looked better, were more fun and were just better. Those days have passed. At last year’s Tokyo Game Show, Mega-Man designer Keiji Inafune said that the Japanese game industry was “finished”. Inafune, it seems, was speaking in hyperbole. The Japan industry is not finished —…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 19, 2010 -
If Mega Man Was A Hollywood Cartoon, It Would Look A Lot Like This [Update]
Last year, Hong Kong animation house Imagi brought Astro Boy, a beloved Japanese character, to the big screen in a computer-animated film. Astro Boy is great and all, but…what about Mega Man? Artist David Espinoza must have been wondering the exact same thing, because he’s done a number of stunning works showing Mega Man characters…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 19, 2010 -
Japan’s Biggest Cosplay Event Looks Like This
Cure Cosplay Festival 2, The Land of the Rising Sun’s largest cosplay event, was held over the weekend in Yokohama, Japan. Cue the impressive costumes, dynamic poses and gravity-defying hair gel! Video game, manga and anime characters were represented via the cosplayers. How many can you name? Click through the gallery. More images in the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 19, 2010 -
Demon’s Souls PAL Release Has Fan-Made Strategy Guide
There’s a feel-good story to be had behind the PAL release of role-playing game Demon’s Souls: not just the fact it’s on its way to Europe and Australia, but that the accompanying strategy guide has been written by fans Yes, when Namco Bandai said the strategy guide was all-new, it wasn’t kidding, having enlisted the…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 19, 2010