During a recent investor's call, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata made a fairly surprising observation regarding the piracy that's run somewhat rampant on its two gaming platforms. "I do not think we should attribute bad software sales solely to piracy," Iwata explained. "Even with piracy, as long as we can create products which can attract attention from many consumers and which can greatly entertain them, that software can make it to the number one position of the hit software sales chart."
Iwata later added, "it is true there is always the influence of piracy, but it is important for us to increase the number of our consumers who are willing to shell out their money to purchase our products." As far as we've seen, Nintendo doesn't have much of a problem accomplishing that lofty goal.
#photoshop
The news of zombie modes for Call of Duty: Black Ops and Red Dead Redemption last week made us go screw it, let's just zombify everything. More »
I have an admission to make: I have never played a Deus Ex game. But I wish I had, after experiencing a brief encounter with Deus Ex: Human Revolution. The first game promised a game world centered around the consequence of your actions -- and a decade later, the concept is still fascinating. To showcase the versatility of the game world, I got to see one level, played three different ways.
Set in a futuristic Detroit, you'll assume the role of Adam Jensen. There's a chip you must recover, but it's hidden in a corpse locked away in the police station's morgue. How are you going to retrieve the data? Shooting your way in is the last resort, you're told over a communication device. Considering the number of (innocent) police officers stationed there, that's wise advice. You can walk into the front door, but only if you have the right conversational skills.
A former partner of Jensen's is the receptionist, demoted for something related to your past. Somehow, you'll have to gain his favor by choosing the appropriate dialogue commands. When given a choice in the conversation, you'll see big key words appear on the screen, not unlike in Mass Effect. A quick glance should give you an idea of the end result, but Human Revolution goes a step further by providing your full response at the bottom of the screen. That way, there's no confusion over what your character will say when selecting an option.
#controversy
Stars and Stripes, the foremost independent publication covering the United States military, examined the Army and Air Force's recent decision to forbid Medal of Honor from being sold in their exchanges. One enlisted man blasted the decision as shortsighted. More »
The Democrats (Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, and Hilary Clinton)
How to unlock: At the “Press A to Start” screen, press Left 13 times, then plus. A tone will confirm correct entry. On the team select screen, press the plus button and the hidden teams will be revealed.
The Republicans (John McCain, Sarah Palin, George Bush, [...]
If you're a PC gamer that's been waiting to get your feet wet in BioShock 2's pair of DLC expansions, the "Protector Trials" and "Minerva's Den," you're in for a disappointing next few minutes. A 2K Games representative recently commented on the game's official forums, explaining that "we will also not be offering Protector Trials and Minerva's Den on the PC in the future," citing "timing and technical issues" as the reason for the expansions' non-appearance.
The representative went on to apologize for "the disappointment this will cause to PC players out there," though we wouldn't worry too much about that, as PC gamers are almost certainly used to it by this point.
#cosplay
Today, I'm cheating. The adorable Marvel Family and the mid-assassination Ezio were from New York Comic-Con's first day (see that day's cosplay too). But I got them late and am adding them to this all-star bunch, which goes from Alan Wake to Zelda. Good job, cos-players! More »
#nycc
Mega Man is getting a new comic book series this coming spring from Archie Comics, which vows it will be faithful to the game's continuity. More »
Monday Night Football fans will be the first to see Activision's brand new trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops, featuring footage of the game's single player campaign. To tease the trailer airing on ESPN next week, Activision has created a teaser trailer of the trailer, teasing you to watch a longer version of the trailer you just watched.
#stickjockey
They're not haters, they say. They swear they aren't fanboys for the competition, either. But neither would they be EA Sports' favorite people right about now. More »
While you can simply watch these two videos introducing MODOK and Magneto to the Marvel vs Capcom 3 cast, we wanted to simulate the experience of being at New York Comic Con. The Marvel Games panel was bursting with energy, with fans cheering on their favorite characters. Who would you want to play as? The obscure, but awesomely named and shaped "Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing" -- or fan-favorite Magneto? Let us know.
During a panel last night at the New York Comic Con, transmedia company Starlight Runner -- a business that helps plan cross-media campaigns for various properties, including Microsoft's Halo franchise -- gave a presentation on its work. Among the slides shown, company president and CEO Jeff Gomez previewed one that gave the audience a look at the future of Halo: two new trilogies starting in 2012/2013 with a major motion picture set for release by 2014.
Microsoft and Starlight Runner have yet to issue any official comment on the news, though we have to imagine that Master Chief is rolling in his ... uh ... sleep capsule. Either that, or he's already working on motion capture -- one of the two.
#halo
Campaign matchmaking playlists will come to Halo: Reach on Oct. 19, and the game's rank cap should get raised sometime in the month or so, Bungie said yesterday in its weekly update. More »
While you can simply watch these two videos introducing MODOK and Magneto to the Marvel vs Capcom 3 cast, we wanted to simulate the experience of being at New York Comic Con. The Marvel Games panel was bursting with energy, with fans cheering on their favorite characters. Who would you want to play as? The obscure, but awesomely named and shaped "Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing" -- or fan-favorite Magneto? Let us know.
#gameoftheweek
Down four-nil to Spain in FIFA 11, Kotaku commenter Three Stacks dug deep and delivered the kind of victory that should teach us all that winners never ragequit, and ragequitters never win. More »
Wondering what those announced, but mostly unseen DC Direct gaming figures look like? We spotted them this morning at the NY Comic Con, casually posing in a glass case. Most of the items aren't for sale until later this year -- we might find that more troubling if it weren't bank account depletion season (read: Q4).
#clips
Alright, well, that should get you to watch Monday Night Football. At least until the Call of Duty: Black Ops singleplayer campaign trailer hits. The game begins at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN. More »
