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How Madden is Raising a New Generation of Football Player
When Denver’s Brandon Stokely caught a game-winning pass against Cincinnati earlier this year, he veered parallel to the goal line en route to the end zone, to both burn time and celebrate. He told Wired it was a Madden-inspired move. It’s one of the more jaw-dropping anecdotal instances of how sports video games – specifically…
By Owen Good Published January 26, 2010 -
Think of the Kittens
To: Ash From: Crecente Re: Tim Tams, Mmmmm Tim Tams No, not really. While I’m intrigued by the idea of an e-reader that will do other things, I’m highly suspicious that Apple’s rumored tablet will be very pricey. Also, every time I buy an Apple product god kills a kitten. Well, maybe god just maims…
By Brian Crecente Published January 26, 2010 -
Rumor: Red 5 Studios Goes Down, Hit By Layoffs
Red 5 Studios may never complete its unannounced MMO. The Irvine, California based developer founded by ex-Blizzard staffers, has been hit by substantial layoffs, sources tell Kotaku, leaving it with a “skeleton crew” and an abandoned massively multiplayer online shooter. According to sources who wished to remain anonymous, Red 5 is now down to about…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 26, 2010 -
Upper-Crust Games Satire Features Glaring Continuity Error
Disney’s forthcoming, darker reboot of Mickey Mouse caught the eye of the Shouts & Murmurs satire column in this week’s New Yorker, the second time in three months the highbrow mag has deigned to poke fun with a video-game purpose. Major continuity error though: “When Mickey is shown starving to death after the nuclear disaster,…
By Owen Good Published January 26, 2010 -
Could Apple’s Tablet Use Natal-Like Technology?
The most intriguing thing about Apple’s rumored tablet isn’t its form factor or potential to reinvigorate print media, it’s the one piece of information no one seems to know: How will we interact with it. If the New York Times knows what they’re talking about, and they should, then interaction with the tablet will be…
By Brian Crecente Published January 26, 2010 -
Report: Nintendo Said “No, Thank You” To Project Natal Tech
Nintendo executives were reportedly given the option to snatch up the technology that powers Microsoft’s controller-free Project Natal but passed, worried that the camera tech was too expensive and not responsive enough for the Wii maker. CVG cites an anonymous source at Nintendo—specifically “a top insider (and we mean top insider)”—as saying that Nintendo bossman…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 26, 2010 -
Mass Effect 2 Has DLC And Helmet Issues
The BioWare forums are being flooded with fan outcry over non-working downloadable content codes, Cerberus Network congestion, and helmet issues. If you’ve got problems, we have a few solutions, courtesy of BioWare’s Chris Priestly. The gaming masses attempting to take their first steps in Mass Effect 2 for the Xbox 360 and PC today have…
By Mike Fahey Published January 26, 2010 -
U.S. Navy: Video Games Improve Brains, “Fluid Intelligence”
The cognitive effects of certain video-game-style activities are not only impressive but can last a couple of years, a researcher for the Navy recently explained. If gamers don’t want to believe that video games have an effect on them — at least any effect that will cause them to do antisocial things — will they…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 26, 2010 -
Scenes From A Dragon Quest Bar
Square Enix has made good on its promise to open a Dragon Quest themed restaurant in Tokyo’s Roppongi district, as proven by new photos of “Luida’s Bar” that offer a sneak peek at cosplaying staffers and Slime-themed foods. Whether you’re interested in ogling Japanese ladies in Dragon Quest costumes or simply want to see if…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 26, 2010 -
Star Trek Online Beta Ends With A Klingon Invasion
With the game’s launch just around the corner, the Star Trek Online beta test ends today as many things have before it – with a large-scale invasion by the Klingons. The Star Trek Online beta test is going out on a high note, as massive Klingon fleet masses near Qo’noS, preparing to enter Federation space.…
By Mike Fahey Published January 26, 2010 -
First Apple Tablet Game Officially Announced [UPDATE]
Stand Alone Inc, maker of a Crosswords program for the iPhone, claimed today that it is also making a version of its game for the unannounced Apple tablet computer or, as they call it, the iPad. In a press release bearing no official Apple seal of approval but plenty of forward thinking, Stand Alone president…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 26, 2010 -
Canabalt Gets Mini-Soundtracked, Ringtoned
Stylish indie platformer Canabalt, which we loved as a Flash game and as an iPhone app, is now lovable in another form—a mini-soundtrack. If having access to the game via your iPhone or iPod Touch wasn’t enough, you can now purchase Daniel Baranowsky’s soundtrack to the excellent one-button platformer for constant listening. You can also…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 26, 2010 -
Record of Agarest War’s Really Naughty Limited Edition Lives Up To Its Name
Breast-shaped mouse pads make their Western debut, along with several other naughty items in Record of Agarest War’s Really Naughty Limited Edition for the Xbox 360, announced today with a slightly NSFW instructional video, in case instinct doesn’t take over. There can be no doubt what the marketing angle for Aksys’ Record of Agarest War…
By Mike Fahey Published January 26, 2010 -
Aflac’s “You Don’t Know Quack” Draws Lawsuit From “You Don’t Know Jack”
The company behind one of gaming’s most famous trivia series are suing the people behind insurance’s most famous duck, as You Don’t Know Jack makers Jellyvision have filed a trademark infringement suit against Aflac. The suit, filed on January 21 in United States District Court for the Norther District of Illinois, alleges that Aflac’s You…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 26, 2010 -
Red Steel 2: Hell Comes To Caldera On March 23rd
Welcome to Caldera, a peaceful little town in the Nevada Territories, at least until a powerful secret hidden in the town’s mines attracted the plot for Red Steel 2. There’s a lesson in this video, and that lesson is, never attract the plot for Red Steel 2 to your prosperous, peaceful town. It can only…
By Mike Fahey Published January 26, 2010 -
Chainsaw Plus Paddle Equals Dead Rising 2’s Paddlesaw
You know how it goes: You see two everyday items that, apart, are ordinary but, together, might help you survive a zombie apocalypse? Capcom now shows us that Dead Rising 2‘s duct tape option allows gamers to cobble together such weapons. That confirms our own Brian Crecente’s theory from September: With the increased presence of…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 26, 2010 -
Mass Effect 2’s Downloadable Companion Delayed
Aging human mercenary Zaeed, meant to join Commander Shepard’s crew in Mass Effect 2 via downloadable content, is having a little trouble making it to the Normandy. Zaeed shows up as downloadable content in the Mass Effect 2 menu on the Xbox 360, but when you try to download the grizzled warrior, he isn’t available.…
By Mike Fahey Published January 26, 2010 -
Latest Forza 3 Pack Lets You Choose the Cars
Microsoft’s Turn 10 Studios recently announced two new add-on car packs for Forza Motorsport 3, both of which will be made up entirely of cars selected by the gaming public. Starting this week gamers can hop over to sister site Jalopnik to vote from a list of 120 cars. The voting ends Jan. 29 and…
By Brian Crecente Published January 26, 2010 -
The History Of The World Of Video Game Music
If the history of video games from the Atari 2600 to the Super Nintendo were turned into a musical, this would be its soundtrack. Remix artist Norg crafted this musical tribute to the history of video games for the MAGfest 8 Dwelling of Duels at VGmix. The video was played at the MAGfest listening party,…
By Mike Fahey Published January 26, 2010