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Activision Terminates Fan-Made King’s Quest Extension
The team of King’s Quest enthusiasts who had, since 2002, been working on an unofficial continuation of the seminal adventure game, have complied with a demand by Activision to cease all development of their game. The Silver Lining has a long and unusual history, even for fan-built games. The final official installment of King’s Quest…
By Owen Good Published February 28, 2010 -
Heavy Rain Film Rights Optioned Long Ago
Heavy Rain was announced way, way back at E3 2006, which was the week of May 8. One week after the show, May 15, 2006, the U.S. Copyright Office recorded an option for the film rights to the game. The option, re-filed in 2007, is between Quantic Dream chief David de Gruttola and New Line…
By Owen Good Published February 28, 2010 -
Indoctrinating the Veterans of a Virtual War
In the past year, 70,000 men and women enlisted in the U.S. Army. Sixty-seven times that amount – 4.7 million – played Modern Warfare 2 on a console or PC, released one day before Veteran’s Day. In the latest edition of Foreign Policy, P.W. Singer examines the growing phenomenon of “militainment,” a type of game…
By Owen Good Published February 28, 2010 -
Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: Next-Gen Cereal System Edition
Last week a box of 22-year-old cereal sold for more than $200 on eBay. Video game cereals died in the 8-bit era. Since then there have been four console generations – and zero cereal systems. That’s where you come in. This week’s assignment: Create a game-themed cereal box whose crossover is just as cynical, whose…
By Owen Good Published February 28, 2010 -
Final Fantasy XI to Get Three Expansions in 2010
At Vanafest 2010 in Tokyo, Hiromichi Tanaka, the lead developer of Final Fantasy XI, announced that game will get three new high level battle area additions this year: Vision of Abyssea, Scars of Abyssea, and Heroes of Abyssea. Vision of Abyssea will be the first release, this summer. The other two are not yet dated.…
By Owen Good Published February 28, 2010 -
K Monthly – February 2010
Welcome to the February 2010 edition of K Monthly, a look back at some of the best original coverage, including reviews, previews, features, weekly columns and more, from Kotaku. Don’t miss our reporting from this year’s DICE summit, where video game industry vets reveal secrets about their games and speak frankly about the industry. For…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 28, 2010 -
Kotaku Off-Topic: Packin’ Heat
In some parts of our fine country, a person can walk into a supermarket visibly strapped and no one bats an eye. I want to try that with a machete, or that replica of Glamdring that the SkyMall catalog sells. People of Walmart: (pictured, above). A study of the wildlife found in that uniquely American…
By Owen Good Published February 28, 2010 -
An Eyes-On Sneak Peek At Tron Legacy… In 3D!!!
Disney held a special screening in Los Angeles today, giving us a sneak peek at the brand new Tron Legacy theatrical trailer, a brief return to the video game world of 1982 computer graphics landmark Tron. Then we saw it again. While other cities held their own Tron Legacy events today, offering a painfully quick…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 27, 2010 -
Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: Worst Sonic & Sega Cameos Edition Winners
This past week saw, by far, the most entries we’ve had in the young history of the Kotaku ‘Shop Contest. The gallery of 20 just doesn’t do it justice. I had three times as many worthy candidates, forcing hard choices. Ultimately, here is your 20-pack of fun. Everyone, though, please take a bow and if…
By Owen Good Published February 27, 2010 -
Teen Convicted of Crashing PlayStation Web Site Because He Was Banned for Cheating
In late 2008, a Pennsylvania teenager playing SOCOM U.S. Navy Seals got kicked out of a tournament for using a cheat mod. So he took revenge by crashing the PlayStation web site for 11 days. Sony got the last laugh, however, in the form of a federal grand jury investigation, which quickly led to the…
By Owen Good Published February 27, 2010 -
Dead or Alive: Paradise is a Game About Beautiful Characters, Y’See
Even though Tecmo Koei America seems happy to market the fact that Dead or Alive: Paradise is called “cheesy” and “creepy,” the game’s director says it isn’t softcore porn, but a game trying to show that women are “beautiful characters.” “From our perspective, we’re trying to make beautiful women, that has been the focus,” says…
By Owen Good Published February 27, 2010 -
More Than Money, Licenses Give a League Control
Sometimes I wonder if, in the future, a sports commissioner raised among our generation will fire up NBA 2K37 at the end of a terrible week, and let his cares melt away in a league where nothing bad ever happens. Video games aren’t just an escapist fantasy for working-class fans or talk radio regulars who…
By Owen Good Published February 27, 2010 -
Sweepstakes Dates Brink for Sept. 7
A sweepstakes promotion by GameStop and Bethesda Softworks says the upcoming FPS Brink will be available Sept. 7. The promo also shows some box art for the game but it’s unlikely that’s the final version. Yesterday afternoon the Bethesda Blog posted a link to the Brink GameStop sweeps, which is pretty sweet on its own.…
By Owen Good Published February 27, 2010 -
Fallout 2’s Rejected ‘Childkiller’ Icon is, Uh, Whoa …
The artist who drew the perk images for Fallout 2 recently revealed his deleted concept for the game’s “Childkiller” status. “Even the designer who requested it realized it was a bad idea,” he writes. Yeah … we can see why that was cut from the game and replaced instead with the “Hated” reputation icon. Just…
By Owen Good Published February 27, 2010 -
Weekend Coupons: Months That End in “Y”
We close out the final weekend of the shortest month with a smattering of deals on new games and a helpful way for you to wring more value out of your old ones. Onward, Weekend Coupons! Hardware • Did your out-of-warranty 360 red ring? An Arcade through Dell Small Business is about the cost of…
By Owen Good Published February 27, 2010 -
Blur Xbox 360 Beta Begins Monday
Plenty of Fileplanet subscribers tipped us to a solicitation that went out overnight, inviting them to “exclusive access into a highly classified Xbox 360 beta event!” that begins March 8. Those who have signed up tell us it is for Blur. This barely qualifies as a rumor. Earlier this month Activision CEO Mike Griffith announced…
By Owen Good Published February 27, 2010 -
Kotaku Originals: The $43,100 Question
Last night a hunk of plastic no one ever played set a sale price record for rare video games. In 1987 it retailed for $30. And people complain about $60 price points and used sales today. The week in Kotaku’s original reporting: Kotaku Talk Radio Top Stories Collector’s Item Obliterates Record for Rare Game Sale…
By Owen Good Published February 27, 2010 -
Gothic Lolita Shooter Sequel Dated For Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 port of Cave’s arcade shooter DeathSmiles II has been dated today at a Microsoft-hosted “Shooting Festa” event in Tokyo. DeathSmiles II will be released on the Xbox 360 on May 27 in Japan, complete with a limited edition version. The port will run at a 16:9 aspect ratio and feature seven stages,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 27, 2010