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Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: Metal Gear Solid Product Placement Edition

Product placement in video games is nothing new, but Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is definitely taking it to another level. You’re going to take it even further in this week’s Kotaku ‘Shop Contest. Konami had a big news conference this week to unveil the new … well, advertisements … it’ll be serving up in…

Kotaku Off Topic: Denied

I have a penchant for making things worse. Last year I tweeted that I wanted a rubber stamp that said “DENIED.” Out of the blue a college pal had a print shop send me one, in red ink. Well, I got two parking tickets in Berkeley in January. So you see where this is headed.…

Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: Easter Egg Edition Winners

Last week the Kotaku ‘Shop Contest got in the Easter spirit, offering up a white egg for everyone to color with a video-game theme. Some went further, hatching complicated game scenarios with the incredible edible in them. Boopadoo made the cut with Asshole Dog finding an egg instead of a duck. Many did Dr. Eggman,…

Another Patent Filing Speaks of Rumble-Enabled DS

A newly published patent application lends additional credence to what Nikkei reported last month, that Nintendo’s upcoming 3DS handheld will feature force feedback The application shows it working through a coin-sized motor. An earlier filing in February also hinted at force feedback without identifying how. Its illustrations also used a different configuration of the DS.…

Ubisoft Pledges to Improve Crappy Thing You Don’t Want

Good news, everyone! Ubisoft says it’s “constantly working to evolve and improve” its new “online services platform” for gamers. Awesome! What’s this “online services platform”? Why, it’s Orwellian b.s. for “DRM.” In other words, despite the utter fiasco its PC copy-protection scheme has been so far, that sucker is here to stay, so get used…

Batman: Arkham Asylum Getting Action Figures

Not that Batman has ever gone wanting for action figure exposure, but the Caped Crusader’s getting a new line based on last year’s Batman: Arkham Asylum game. It’ll be revealed in next month’s issue of Toyfare magazine. The line is from DC Direct. No other details are yet known, but if I had to guess,…

Netflix Disses Games-By-Mail, Old Games

Blockbuster’s been toying with games-by-mail in select markets for about a year now, but don’t expect Netflix to join the fun. Leaving aside the fact it’d be following the lead of a company it’s turned into a metaphor for dinosaur business models, Netflix just isn’t digging the idea of offering games. Said a company spokesman…

Taking Games’ Commentary Beyond Repeat Performances

Even if your wideout didn’t see that linebacker coiled up between the hashmarks in Madden, ready to hit him like a lifetime supply of bad news, anyone who’s played the game can quote from memory what comes next. It’s when Cris Collinsworth saunters up like your uncle with three or four in him before Thanksgiving…

Green Day: Rock Band‘s Full Track List

Entertainment Weekly was given first dibs on the track list for Green Day: Rock Band and while 27 of the 47 cuts are not a big surprise, you now have the complete picture of what’s available June 8. Here they are, broken down by performance venue (in the game) and album, with the DLC tracks…

Happily Ever After

Sackboy and Sackgirl wedding-cake toppers. Made by the artist Japanda, submitted by Kotaku reader Johnny Z.

Report: Machinarium/Microsoft Deal Breaks Down Over Exclusive Issue [Updated]

The studio responsible for last year’s indie adventure/puzzle hit Machinarium says six months of talks with Microsoft ended with no progress on bringing the Indie game to the Xbox 360, because Microsoft doesn’t want to support games that aren’t Microsoft exclusives. Update: The original source of this report now says: “When asked about their plans…

Weekend Coupons: Conan! What is Best in Life?

Crush the retailers! See them driven before you! Hear the lamentations of the publishers! Hardware • Personally, I’m furious about this, as I bought one half the size for more money in January. But whatever, the Xbox 360 250GB hard drive is $103.99 at GameStop today only; there’s a coupon that expires today. Get it…

Kotaku Originals: Getting Religion

Jesus H. Christ we had a lot of original copy this past week – fueled by our examination of religion in games and the latest break in the breakup of Infinity Ward’s founders and their former Activision masters. The week that was in Kotaku’s original news report: Kotaku Talk Radio K Monthly – March 2010…

Weekend Talk Amongst Yourselves

You could venture over to a certain social bookmarking site and ask “Am I the only one …” or “Who else …” and get downmods into oblivion. Or you could get answers here, in Kotaku’s Official Open Thread. Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ

Splinter Cell Goes Cheap, Thanks To Busted Merchandise

The Splinter Cell Conviction collector’s edition has just been reduced in price, from $80 to $70. It’s hardly an act of charity, though; you can instead thank some dodgy USB drives for the savings. According to a “random sampling” of the USB drives, which were among a number of goodies included in the collector’s edition,…

Does In-Game Product Placement Bother You?

It’s been a while — hope you haven’t forgotten about me! But yes, let’s talk. You, me and this giraffe. Giraffes are chatty. Didn’t you know that? Here’s how it works: We ask a question, you answer it. Simple and no strings attached! This isn’t some marketing survey or whatever. It’s an emotional investment in…

Pray For A True Tan In Space

Metroid’s conclusion, the HD version. As seen on Albino Raven

Modern Warfare 3 Being Held Up By Legal Confrontation

The legal stoush between publishers Activision and former Infinity Ward bosses Jason West and Vince Zampella isn’t just giving us all some entertaining reading. It’s also holding up development of Modern Warfare 3. The court documents surrounding the case, released earlier today, show that one of Activision’s main complaints is that West and Zampella’s attempts…

A New Look At Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

Given Castlevania: Lords of Shadow star Gabriel Belmont’s situation in the screen shot above, we’d offer the advice “Don’t look down.” But if you want to see how the new PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 game is shaping up, do just that. The Mercury Steam-developed game with the Hideo Kojima touch is still coming this year, looking…

Kotaku Off Topic: Meatball Vs. Egg

Well, thank goodness this particular Friday is over. You want to talk about some things that aren’t necessarily video game related? Let your other geek flags fly in this post, where obsessives of all types are welcome. Right now, I’m obsessed with tonight’s intake of fine Italian foods. Appropriate, given that it’s #foodfriday on Kotaku…