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Backbreaker Scores A Proper Trailer

505 Games and NaturalMotion’s Backbreaker finally gets a proper trailer, complete with pulsing soundtrack and overdramatic voiceover. You’ve read AJ’s preview, now get a look for yourself at how far Backbreaker has come since those early demos wowed us back in 2007.

By Mike Fahey Published January 7, 2010

GameStop Doesn’t Report Record Holiday Sales

After years of record-breaking holiday sales, GameStop reports its second-highest holiday sales ever, citing economic weakness, item shortages, and winter storms as reasons for the lack of upward momentum. The 2007 holiday season saw GameStop sales up 35% over the previous year. In 2008, they were up 22%. This year, however, things remained relatively flat…

By Mike Fahey Published January 7, 2010

The Bravest Game, Mistakenly Neglected

This is the fourth in a series of posts labeled “Hindsight” that discuss games you may have thought we were done writing about. Last time: Wolfenstein. This time: Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. How often do gamers commend the bravery of the people who make games for them to play? A gamer might respond: How…

By Stephen Totilo Published January 7, 2010

Talk Amongst Yourselves 3D

As of today, Kotaku is now delivering Talk Amongst Yourselves posts in 3D. Put on your glasses, comment here about games and watch the replies pop right out of your monitor. We think you’ll agree this is a great innovation. Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ.

By Stephen Totilo Published January 7, 2010

How Was Today? Let My Dinner Tell You…

To: Crecente From: Bashcraft Mmmmm rice omelet. Was hoping that Mrs. Bashcraft would write a buncha hearts, but this message greeted me as I sat down to dinner. What you missed last night Report: Microsoft Drop Natal Chip Xbox 360: 39 Million Consoles Sold, Only Half Are On Xbox Live Shia LaBeouf: Video Games Will…

By Brian Ashcraft Published January 7, 2010

What We Want From The Next Nintendo Handheld

Yesterday, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata made the first public mention of the company’s plans for a successor to the wildly-popular DS handheld. So we know, vaguely, what Nintendo want from the console. That’s fine. Here’s what we want. But first, some caveats! This isn’t pure fantasy. We’re not going to be asking for HD graphics…

By Luke Plunkett Published January 7, 2010

Capcom (Try To) Back Away From Anti-Wii Comments

Only a few days after Capcom France’s boss Antoine Seux made some decidedly anti-Wii comments to French website Gamekult, Capcom Europe’s had to scramble their public relations fighters in an attempt to make nice with the world’s top hardware manufacturer. A small, delicate statement issued by Capcom in the wake of Seux’s comments reads: Further…

By Luke Plunkett Published January 7, 2010

Heavy Rain…In Japanese

This is the Japanese language trailer for upcoming thriller Heavy Rain. The voice acting seems synched up just right, and it looks like Sony and French developer Quantic Dream are giving the game the care and attention it deserves to ensure its a global hit. Heavy Rain is slated for release next month.

By Brian Ashcraft Published January 7, 2010

Mass Effect 2’s Action Figures Revealed

While the first Mass Effect missed the action figure bus, the sequel is avoiding making the same mistake, with a line of figures due for release later this year. There will be four in the first series: Shephard, Tali, Thane and Grunt. All four will stand at around 6.75 inches, and should be out in…

By Luke Plunkett Published January 7, 2010

Report: Microsoft Drops Natal Chip

Microsoft has dropped a chip from its upcoming Natal motion control hardware, reports website Games Industry. The chip processed data for Natal’s “bone system”. In its place, Microsoft will use a software solution. Back in late December, David Ellis and John Davison from the 4 Guys 1UP podcast mentioned that this is something Microsoft would…

By Brian Ashcraft Published January 7, 2010

Giant LEGO Yoshi Is All Kinds Of Creepy

Dirk, the same guy behind that enormous giant LEGO Mario, has just applied the finishing touches to an enormous LEGO Yoshi. And it’s gross! Not for the quality of craftsmanship, no, that’s exemplary. It’s because you can see Yoshi’s insides. Like Dirk has hunted Yoshi, captured him, cut him in pieces and is making some…

By Luke Plunkett Published January 7, 2010

Yes, Alan Wake Is Getting DLC

…like pretty much every other game these days! It’s been known for some time that years-in-development psychological thriller Alan Wake will have an episodic nature. That nature will continue after the game is out. The aim, it seems, is to created gaming’s version of something like the television drama Lost. At CES, Microsoft has confirmed…

By Brian Ashcraft Published January 7, 2010

Ar tonelico III Rolls Out The Manly Lady, Voiced By Pikachu!

Bandai Namco role playing game Ar tonelico III, the third entry in the Ar tonelico series, features more than abundant fan service underwear. The PS3 title features a macho-looking lady named Mute. She’s a military leader and can beat you up. All of you. The character will be voiced by Japanese voice actress Ikue Ohtani,…

By Brian Ashcraft Published January 7, 2010

Four Reasons Why Hironobu Sakaguchi Is Awesome

Game designer Hironobu Sakaguchi is best known for two things: Creating role playing games like Final Fantasy and Lost Odyssey and having a mustache. Impressive, sure, but not part of our four reasons — his New Years photos are. In a blog post from early January, Sakaguchi wrote this message: “I still have unsettled adjustment…

By Brian Ashcraft Published January 7, 2010

MMA Fighter Recovers From Injury, Credits Modern Warfare 2 With Recovery

Around twelve months ago, mixed martial arts fighter Jamie Varner suffered a major injury, breaking the metacarpal bone in his hand. His doctor’s advice? Play some video games. Because the constant movement of his fingers and hands would strengthen the bone, and thus aid in his recovery, Varner was told to go home and play…

By Luke Plunkett Published January 7, 2010

Cave Story Theme As Envisioned By Japanese McDonalds Ads

Cave Story, the freeware action adventure game from indie developer Daisuke Amaya, has a retro sounding soundtrack. It’s perfect fodder to be recreated with Ronald McDonald ads. Actually, that should read “Donald McDonald” as these are Japanese ads, and the character is named “Donald McDonald” and not “Ronald McDonald”. A series of Japanese McDonalds ads…

By Brian Ashcraft Published January 7, 2010

PC Sales Charts: Oh, Hello 2010

After a Christmas break, we’re back this week with some PC sales charts, outlining some of the big sellers (or at least big revenue earners) of the new year period. Since both Steam and Direct2Drive had big sales on over the holiday season, these charts are all screwy. But screwy in a good way! Great…

By Luke Plunkett Published January 7, 2010

Square Enix Says Japanese Retail “Prejudiced” Against Western Games

As far as business execs at large Japanese companies go, Yoichi Wada seems rather forward thinking. He’s been tackling discrimination in video games head on. “Even now, there have been people in Japan using the label youge- (Western games) with a terribly discriminatory meaning,” Wada said in an interview Japanese TV from last December in…

By Brian Ashcraft Published January 7, 2010

Take A Look At How Project Natal Actually Works

You’ve got questions about Project Natal, we’ve got questions about Project Natal. And, for once, Microsoft have some answers, providing this behind-the-scenes look at the development and technology behind their upcoming motion-sensing peripheral for the Xbox 360. Sure, most of it is fluff, but you’ll catch glimpses of how the camera is able to “read”…

By Luke Plunkett Published January 7, 2010

NSFW: Is This The Sexiest Game Developer Website?

Not counting erotic game developers, Japanese game developer Vanillaware must surely must have the market for the industry’s sauciest website cornered. Don’t believe us? Check out its landing page. Largely specializing in 2D sprite-based game design, Vanillaware is best known for developing PlayStation 2 title Odin Sphere and Wii game Muramasa: The Demon Blade. The…

By Brian Ashcraft Published January 7, 2010