All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

#poll Yesterday, we asked you, the Kotaku readership, to name the video games that might make the least thrilling gifts to find under the Christmas tree this season, metaphorically, the fruitcake or the Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge of gaming gifts. More »

Inception director Christopher Nolan has been considering putting together a video game based on his mind-bending film for a while, but it looks like those plans have gone one level deeper: He now tells Entertainment Weekly that the project is a go. Nolan says he's working with a full team on the game as "a longer-term proposition" and that he's excited to "explore" the medium of gaming by creating a new story set in the world of the movie.

EW suggests an MMO, but we have a better idea (that we wouldn't mind planting in the back of Nolan's brain, if someone out there has the means to do it, wink wink): a spinning top simulator. Call us, Nolan -- we've got Dark Knight ideas, too!

The Mario crew show their skills on the court in the Japanese version of Sports Mix!

Mario and friends get some beach sports action in the Japanese version of Sports Mix.

Preview the katana, golf cart, shotgun, and so much more in this zombie-slaying gameplay.

Sony's HD collection fever brings the beloved nocturnal treasure-nabber back to life for generations old and new to enjoy.

A Best Buy employee and Sony spokesperson Kevin Butler (both of which shall henceforth colloquially referred to as "Best Butler") recently appeared an a new PS3 ad announcing a pretty sound deal for you 3D-seekers out there. The retailer is currently offering a trio of bundles featuring Bravia HDTVs and 160GB PlayStation 3s, equipped with Gran Turismo 5 and Grown Ups on Blu-ray. Two of these bundles feature televisions that are 3D-ready, while all of the bundles knock over $1,100 off the combined prices of the products therein. That's not bad for a retailer that isn't, you know, Amazon.

Click past the jump to see what the three bundles offer, and to see the ever-giggle-inducing Best Butler shill his employer's wares.

#uberentertainment Xbox Live Arcade hit Monday Night Combat quenches your thirst for new ways to play—without having to pay—tomorrow, December 1, when the "Spunky Cola" add-on comes to the team-based shooter with a little tower defense flavor. More »

#hollywood Just a few months ago, the director of The Dark Knight and Memento, Christopher Nolan, said he was "looking at" developing a video game based in the world of blockbuster hit Inception. Now he sounds more serious about it. More »

This is a fantastic idea, if you ask me. Screwing around with old-school games, changing values just to see what will happen. I could watch this kind of thing for hours! Direct link and more videos here

A full list of the confirmed fighters featured in this anticipated crossover.

Can you believe this is our first Game Dev Story post? And about the sequel, no less? Believe it.

We'll try to rectify our previous oversight today by bringing you the welcome news that Game Dev Story 2 will be coming to the iOS platform ... at some point. "We will be developing a sequel," Kairosoft, the Game Dev (uh) game dev, told Touch Arcade, "but we are not planning on releasing it soon."

Like the original -- a quirky, standout management sim that's currently just hanging onto a spot in the Top 200 App Store games ranking -- Game Dev Story 2 is expected to be a localized port of an ancient Japanese PC game. The first Game Dev Story actually dates back to 1996, while its sequel debuted on PC roughly a decade ago.

"We are thinking of improving the game by adding elements of networking in the sequel, such as sales score rankings and sending employees to a friend's company," Kairosoft said of the planned iPhone port. "The next iPhone App will be a CMS [construction and management simulation] game like SimCity, where you touch to scroll, zoom in/out, etc." Most importantly, Kairosoft would "like to release English versions" of Game Dev Story 2 and all its numerous, adorable little titles on iOS. Bring on that "Cruise Great Trip" story!

[Pictured: Game Dev Story 2 (PC); source: Kairosoft]

The only game that needs a safe word.

#playstationnetwork Kotaku's reviews editor Michael McWhertor is the guest panelist on this week's episode of The Tester 2. Surely he will get rid of Big Fazeek for us, won't he? More »

Disney Epic Mickey has received no small amount of praise for receiving the kind of TLC rarely visited upon third-party Wii titles -- but did that attention actually translate over to, you know, becoming a good game? Or was that TLC simply wasted upon a mediocre platformer? More importantly, why do we find ourselves suddenly overwhelmed by a powerful urge to listen to "Waterfalls" on repeat?

You've heard our take on Junction Point's paint-splattered vision of Disney's timeless mascot; now let's see what the rest of the peanut gallery has to say:

• GamesRadar (9/10): "It's a life-affirming tribute to both forgotten characters and game genres well worth remembering, with an all new added twist. And contrary to how it looks, there's a startling amount of maturity and replayability wrapped within this family-friendly package."
• IGN (8/10): "Ultimately, the positive elements of Epic Mickey do manage to make this worth a shot. Going in with the proper level of expectation should manage to keep some of the WiiMote throwing to a minimum... just keep that wrist strap tight."
• CVG (7.5/10): "Disney Epic Mickey, with its freeform nature and deep exploration, has plenty of appeal - and completists and adventure fans may even adore it. But its rough edges ultimately dampen its potential. If only it had been given an extra lick of paint..."
• Game Informer (7/10): "Epic Mickey goes out of its way to show gamers Walt Disney's body of work, but rarely fires on a level that turns this beloved content into exciting gameplay."
• Eurogamer (6/10): "Fundamentally, Epic Mickey misunderstands what people love about Mickey Mouse. He simply doesn't fit in this grim, post-modern dystopia, dripping with bitter-sweet nods to forgotten corners of Disney lore, nor does he need to confront his dark commercial heart to stay relevant in 2010."

#northamerica The North American PlayStation Store is the one thing lighter this week after the Thanksgiving holiday, with Dead Nation leading the short pack of newly playable and downloadable games for the PlayStation 3 and PSP. More »

It’s a minor thing, but having to press forward on the d-pad while moving is a big deal for some gamers. In Sonic 4 this slight change to how the physics were handled was a big deal to long time fans of the series, probably even more so than the color of Sonic’s eyes. [...]

#toys After successfully moving into the video game space with a line of Mega Blok Halo construction sets, Mega Brands sets its sights on a racier video game license: EA's Need for Speed. How's that going to work? More »

Not a ton to pick from this month, but there are a handful of great games on the way. Make sure you remember that both WiiWare and DSiWare are options! Fluidity, Retro City Rampage and more will be heading our way. Couple that with some classic Mario action, and I think we’re [...]

#ea John Riccitiello runs EA, the company that makes the Dead Space sci-fi horror games, so he's biased. Nevertheless, he just finished playing through Dead Space 2. I don't even have it yet. More »

Game Informer is bucking the death of print, increasing its audience over the past year by another 800,000 readers and topping out at a "paid and verified" circulation of 4,364,170, according to a new report by media monitoring service BurrellesLuce. The magazine is just a measly 100K-and-change subscribers away from surpassing National Geographic and landing in the top five of most-circulated U.S. consumer magazines -- and it's not even for old folks!

Published by GameStop Corp., a one-year Game Informer subscription is included with the mega-retailer's PowerUp Rewards Pro membership (and was previously bundled with its now defunct Edge card). So, yeah -- we're all subscribers. You're welcome, GameStop.

These are the best kills we could think of... off the top of our heads.

#uberentertainment Xbox Live Arcade hit Monday Night Combat quenches your thirst for new ways to play—without having to pay—tomorrow, December 1, when the "Spunky Cola" add-on comes to the team-based shooter with a little tower defense flavor. More »

Is the game crashing when you start it? We know why.

Dead Nation is finally out! Also, a refresh for PlayStation Plus users.

Hi Everyone – It’s time for the weekly PlayStation Store Update.

PlayStation Plus

Free Games
Vector TD – minis (Free to PlayStation Plus Subscribers, regular price $3.99)

Discounted Games
Dead Nation (20% off) (PlayStation Plus price $11.99, regular price $14.99)
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (50% off) (PlayStation Plus price $3.00, regular price $5.99)
Twisted Metal 2 (50% off) (PlayStation Plus price $3.00, regular price $5.99)
Blockids – PSone Import (50% off) (PlayStation Plus price $3.00, regular price $5.99)
Dezaemon Plus – Psone Import (50% off) (PlayStation Plus price $3.00, regular price $5.99)

Free Themes
Smoke and Mist (Free and exclusive to PlayStation Plus Subscribers)
PlayStation 15th Anniversary Dynamic Theme (Free to PlayStation Plus Subscribers, regular price $2.99)

Updates

Hot Shots Golf 2 – Sale (PS3/PSP) (now $2.99, original price $5.99) **Part of the PlayStation 15th Anniversary Sale
Uno PS3 – Sale (PS3) (now $0.99, original price $7.99)
Dynogems – Minis – Sale (PS3/PSP) (now $1.49, original price $1.99)
Tehra: Dark Warrior – Minis – Sale (PS3/PSP) (now $2.49, original price $2.99)
Tehra: Dark Warrior & DynoGems Bundle – Sale (PS3/PSP) (now $3.49, original price $3.99)
MAG Escalation Mission Pack – Sale (PS3) (now $7.99, original price $9.99)
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker – Permanent Price Drop (PSP) (now $29.99, original price $39.99)

Downloadable Games

Dead Nation ($14.99)
A war is raging over the planet which has left it in chaos and ruin. A zombie virus has rapidly spread through the human population across the globe, leaving it with one hope – you. Among the few capable of fighting back and surviving the mayhem and destruction, your mission is to take on the zombie masses and come out alive. Do you have what it takes to resist this Dead Nation?
ESRB Rated M
File size: 1.39 GB

Funky Lab Rat ($9.99)
Play the role of the funkiest of lab rats and escape from the laboratory where you are held captive using your powers. Combine agility and thinking to finish more than 80 levels and regain your freedom. Stop time and modify levels as you please thanks to the PlayStation Move motion controller or a DUALSHOCK 3 Wireless Controller.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 152 MB

PSone Import Classics

Blockids – PS one Import ($5.99)
Blockids offers a new twist on the classic arcade Breakout mechanic. You’ll be able to bounce your balls over their barriers to get more points and score special power-ups. The game allows you to play from a 3D perspective, right behind the paddle.

Please Note: This game is a direct import from Japan. Although text is limited, it is in the original Japanese language. Help can be found at www.monkeypawgames.com
File size: 80 MB

Dezaemon Plus – PS one Import ($5.99)
Ever wanted to make your own game? Here’s your chance…Dezaemon Plus! allows you to play god and create your own shooting game. Design your own sprites, level designs, boss characters, music and more! Then play or trade with friends on either the PlayStation 3 system or PSP (PlayStation Portable) system.

Please Note: This game is a direct import from Japan. Although text is limited, it is in the original Japanese language. Help can be found at www.monkeypawgames.com.
File size: 290 MB

Game Demos (free)

Funky Lab Rat Trial
In this trial version, play the role of the funkiest of lab rats which tries to escape from the laboratory where it is held captive. Use your powers combining agility and thinking to reach the exit. Stop time and modify the levels thanks to the PlayStation Move motion controller or a DUALSHOCK 3 Wireless Controller. Buy the full game to regain your freedom.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 152 MB

Add-on Game Content

ModNation Racers – Holiday Props Pack ($4.99)
Haven’t you ever dreamed of having holidays 365 days each year? Well now you can bring some high speed excitement and holiday flavor to every track you make in ModNation Racers with the Holiday Parts Pack!
Includes: Dynamic Props – Snowball Launcher and Snow Fort Jump; Track Props – Presents, Teddy Bear, Snowman, Toy Soldier, and Sleigh; Scene Props- Christmas Tree, Christmas House, Reindeer, Candy Cane, and Wreath. Dowload it and start building today!
File size: 100 KB

Hustle Kings – Trickshot Pack ($1.99)
So you’ve become the “Hustle King” and there’s no challenge left for you to master?
You’re in luck your majesty, here are 14 new trick shots to learn and master!
To use this download, you will need the full Hustle Kings game. Download the Trickshot Pack for Hustle Kings today!
File size: 478 KB

LittleBigPlanet Santa Hat and Beard Costume (free)
No Holiday outfit is complete without Sack-sized Santa Hat and Beard.
File size: 1.04 MB

LittleBigPlanet Santa Coat and Trousers Costume (free)
Try on our Sack-sized Santa Coat and Trousers and keep nice and warm this holiday.
File size: 1.04 MB

LittleBigPlanet Festive Pack ($2.99)
Get your hands on a grab-bag full of holiday themed goodies for your Pop-it tool to create your holiday themed levels.
File size: 1.04 MB

Fist of the North Star – DLC Pack 3 ($4.99)
Fight as Jagi, the twisted Hokuto fighter impersonating Kenshiro, in his original comic book costume! Battle through 2 new missions, one pits you against Jagi’s forces, and the other will test your skills against the four mighty heroes: Ryuga, Fudo, Juza and Toki.
File size: 14 MB

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light – All The Trappings Challenge Pack 1 ($3.49)
Four new challenge maps filled with hordes of undead enemies and devious traps you must maneuver and exploit to survive.
File size: 82 MB

Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom – Special Challenge Pack ($1.99)
The Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom™ Challenge Pack features three new exciting game play styles: Battle Challenge, Sneak Challenge and Puzzle Challenge. Each challenge includes four different levels of play and a unique costume for Tepeu and Majin. All costume sets come with their own abilities and powers allowing players to customize their gaming experience. Download the pack today and let the adventure begin!
File size: 87 MB

DJ Hero 2 – Tiesto Mix Pack ($7.99)
Downloadable Mix Pack featuring ‘Traffic’VS ‘Louder Than Boom’, ‘Feel It In My Bones’ (ft. Tegan & Sara), and ‘Knock You Out’ (ft. Emily Haines) VS ‘Young Lions’ by Tiesto. For all song credits, please visit www.djhero.com.
File size: 64 MB

DJ Hero 2 – Hard Edge Mix Pack ($5.99)
Downloadable Mix Pack featuring ‘Debaser’ by The Pixies VS ‘Invaders Must Die’ by The Prodigy and ‘Body Movin” by Beastie Boys VS ‘Rock ‘N Roll Is Dead’ by Lenny Kravitz. For all song credits, please visit www.djhero.com.
File size: 32 MB

Rock Band 3
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• “Saturday Night Special″ – Lynyrd Skynyrd ($1.99)
• “Sweet Home Alabama (Live)″ – Lynyrd Skynyrd ($1.99)
• “Tuesday’s Gone″ – Lynyrd Skynyrd ($1.99)
• “What’s Your Name″ – Lynyrd Skynyrd ($1.99)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd Pack 01 ($6.99) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game album: Lynyrd Skynyrd Pack 01. This pack includes “Saturday Night Special”, “Sweet Home Alabama (Live)”, “Tuesday’s Gone”, and “What’s Your Name” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
• “Hold On Loosely” – .38 Special ($1.99)

Rock Band Network

• “Bled To Be Free (The Operation)” – RX Bandits ($1.99)
• “Head Up High” – Firewind ($1.99)
• “Lionheart” – Amberian Dawn ($1.99)
• “Rx” – Wounded Soul ($0.99)
• “The Great Salt Lake” – Band of Horses ($1.99)

File size: 23 – 64 MB (singles), 164 MB (track pack)

Avatars

Devil May Cry 4 Avatars (x4) ($0.49)
File size: 100 – 106 KB

Mega Man Legends 2 – Data (Injured) Avatar ($0.49)
File size: 100 KB

Rival Schools Avatars (x5) ($0.49)
File size: 100 KB

Top Gun Avatars (x2) ($0.49)
File size: 144 – 149 KB

Game Videos (free)

The Tester Season 2 – Episode 5
File size: 960 MB (SD), 1337 MB (HD)

Dead Nation – Story Trailer
File size: 58 MB (HD)

LittleBigPlanet 2 – Sackbots Featurette
File size: 92 MB (HD)

PS3 Themes

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam Theme (free)
File size: 3.38 MB

Full Metal Alchemist Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
File size: 10 MB

Blue Toad Murder Files Advent Calendar Dynamic Theme ($1.99)
File size: 26 MB

PlayStation 15th Anniversary Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
File size: 3.96 MB

Sari Theme ($1.99)
File size: 18 MB

Streets Theme ($1.99)
File size: 18 MB

Gold Tiger MP5 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
File size: 3.03 MB

PlayStation Store for PSP

Downloadable Games (also available from PS3 Storefront)

Game Demos (also available from PS3 Storefront) (free)

No Heroes Allowed! – PSP Demo (free)
No Heroes Allowed! is the third installment to the tongue-in-cheek humored “What did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord?!” strategy game franchise. This hilarious dungeon builder pits you as the “God of Destruction”, wielding various powered pick-axes to craft the ultimate dungeon in order to protect the evil overlord Badman from the pesky do-gooder heroes. Download the demo for No Heroes Allowed! today!
ESRB Rated E10+
File size: 30 MB

Add-on Game Content (also available from PS3 Storefront)

LittleBigPlanet PSP – Yuletide Sack Costume (free)
Celebrate the season with this free costume from the Yuletide Sack Pack! NOTE: Manual Update required
File size: 1.31 MB

LittleBigPlanet PSP – Yuletide Sack Pack ($2.99)
Celebrate the season with the these awesome costumes in the Yuletide Sack Pack! NOTE: Manual Update required
File size: 1.41 MB

Game Videos (free)

The Tester Season 2 – Episode 5
File size: 214 MB