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Square Enix Japan To Cut 200 to 300 Jobs

If the small number of booths at this year’s Tokyo Game Show is any indication, the Japanese game industry has seen better days. Even large Japanese companies are hurting. The company behind the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, Square Enix, is rumored to be trimming down its workforce, we hear. Apparently, somewhere between 200 and…

By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2009

Welcome To Aion Server Queues, Europe!

If you thought we had it bad in North America, many European Aion players weren’t even able to get into a queue during peak hours during the game’s launch weekend. Consider yourselves lucky! During the weekend several tipsters emailed us with horror stories about the European launch of NCsoft’s new MMORPG Aion. Like North America,…

By Mike Fahey Published September 28, 2009

Everybody Back In The Britannia

Ultima Online celebrates its twelfth birthday by inviting everyone who has ever played back to rediscover the joys of getting killed over and over again while trying to chop wood. Sure, there are other good things about Ultima Online as well. It’ll run on your toaster, and there isn’t any of that third-person camera view…

By Mike Fahey Published September 28, 2009

Tokyo Game Show Slump Casts Shadow Across Industry

The United States may have given birth to video games, but it was Japan that brought them to life. Games like Space Invaders, Pac-Man and Donkey Kong introduced the concept of plot and character to something that started out as more diversion, more science in motion than art. From these deep gaming roots sprung an…

By Brian Crecente Published September 28, 2009

Talk Amongst Yourselves

Is it morning? Is it night? Who knows? Half of Kotaku may be jet-lagged, but you can help fight that by commenting here about video games. Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ.

By Stephen Totilo Published September 28, 2009

And I Don’t Blink And I Just Keep Going And I Don’t Blink…

To: Crecente From: Bashcraft Crecente, you have already seen this — it amused us at TGS. And I first saw it maybe ten years or so ago on Conan O’Brien — that was before the internets! But, yeah, Michael Caine? Does. Not. Blink. What you missed last night Street Fighter IV Getting “New Warrior” Gran…

By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2009

Fan-Made Fallout 3 Rifle Would Survive The Apocalypse

Harrison Krix is one talented cat. You may have seen his BioShock needle, but his latest work – a replica AER9 laser rifle from Fallout 3 – is just amazing. Fallout 3 AER9 Laser Rifle [Volpin Props] [thanks Link257!]

By Luke Plunkett Published September 28, 2009

Watchmen Sackboys

Not much more to add, really. This Thursday, there will be official Watchmen Sackboys made available for LittleBigPlanet. Four of them: Nite Owl, Ozymandias, Rorschach and Silk Spectre. Sorry, no tiny blue wangs. Here’s a pic, and a clip.

By Luke Plunkett Published September 28, 2009

Tokyo Game Show Attendance Down, Yo

This year’s Tokyo Game Show is over, but our memories will live on. Nothing says memories like checking attendance figures, so let’s do just that. Let’s. For TGS 2009, the attendance breakdown is: • 9/24 (Business Day) 27,435 people • 9/25 (Business Day) 24,605 people • 9/26 (Public Day) 61,138 people (9,579 kids) • 9/27…

By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2009

Can You Name These Famous Game Designer Faces?

As seen on custom illustration site Facemakr.

By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2009

Yakuza 4 Bar Girl, Fancy Chair, Oh My!

What we know about SEGA’s upcoming PS3 exclusive Ryu Ga Gotoku 4 (Yakuza 4): It has bar hostesses. What we know about SEGA’s TGS booth: It has bar hostesses. That’s Osaka bar girl Himeka Kawasaki seated in the long pink dress and impossible heels. She is one of the ladies who successfully auditioned for the…

By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2009

PSPgo: “16,000 Pieces Of Digital Content” At Launch, Network Cards For Stores

The launch of the PSPgo is just around the corner, and Sony have been out showing off some new pre-paid PSPgo cards, as well as providing info on just how much stuff is available for download on the handheld. First off, the stuff, Sony telling IGN that “16,000 pieces of digital content” will be available…

By Luke Plunkett Published September 28, 2009

Ni no Kuni Impressions: Presentation, Presentation, Presentation!

DS title “Ni no Kuni” is not just another role-playing-game from Fukuoka-based developer Level-5, it is the first game venerated animation house Studio Ghibli has worked on. Expectations for the title are running high. At this year’s Tokyo Game Show, I was able to get hands on with the title. What Is It? It is…

By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2009

The Autumn Tones Of The New Battlefield Heroes Map

Battlefield Heroes is finally getting a new map, as part of the “Heroes of the Fall” update. This is what it looks like. Appears to be an infantry map, and a tight, close-range one at that, so gunners should be thrilled. Those (like me) hoping for another expansive level ala Seaside Skirmish, well, you keep…

By Luke Plunkett Published September 28, 2009

First Look At Studio Ghibli, Level-5 DS Game Screens

Next Spring, Professor Layton developer Level-5 is releasing Ni no Kuni: The Another World. The DS and still-unannounced-console-platform title is a single player role-playing-game that features the art and animation of Studio Ghibli. Studio Ghibli is, of course, known for animated features like My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service. While screens of the animated…

By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2009

Machinarium Out Next Month

Machinarium, a cute little adventure game that stars robots and steals hearts, will be out on PC on October 16, the game’s developers (Amanita Design) let us know today. It will be available on the game’s official site, Steam and Impulse. Until then, here’s a new trailer and some concept art.

By Luke Plunkett Published September 28, 2009

Where In These Tokyo Arcades Is Brian Crecente?

There are loads of video game arcades in Tokyo, but there is only one Brian Crecente. We think. Maybe there are two, maybe there are three. Who knows. In this gallery of arcade pics, can you find him? Bonus points for those able to i.d. the arcades.

By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2009

Xbox 360 Getting Pay TV This Month (In Britain)

Next month, Xbox 360 users in the UK will be able to access Sky TV from their Xbox 360. This is probably going to be a big, big deal. Why? Because the arrangement – which was first announced a few months back – means 360 owners get access to the “Sky Player”, a platform that…

By Luke Plunkett Published September 28, 2009

Another Metal Gear Fan Made Movie

Just like the title says: Another Metal Gear Solid fan movie — no, wait! Don’t go. This one actually looks somewhat professional and is relatively watchable. I know, we’re shocked, too. Written and directed by some guy named Giacomo Talamini, the fan flick claims to be totally non-for-profit and has CG graphics, military vehicles, exotic…

By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2009

Blizzard Bossman Buys Part Of The Pittsburgh Steelers

Paul Sams, COO of Blizzard – along with his “family” – are part of a consortium that just bought the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Sams, his wife and three kids are listed as the part-owners, though since Mrs. Sams works for free for a law firm and the kids are, well, kids, we’ll…

By Luke Plunkett Published September 28, 2009