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CultureA Look Behind TV’s Most Relatable Gaming Story In Ages
Writing an episode of a TV show that revolves around video games can be a tricky endeavor. It’s all too easy for showrunners to gravitate towards common tropes such as being sucked into a digital world or becoming overly obsessed with a flashy new game. Stories like these have been overused in the decades since…
By Ben Bertoli -
Iran’s Growing Nintendo Scene Pins Hopes On Smash Ultimate
In the early hours of March 9th, 2018, Amir Badvipour, a university student and admin of the fan-run group Nintendo Iran, watched a new Nintendo Direct on his laptop. His closest gaming friends, all locals of Tehran, Iran, had stayed up to watch as well. With each new reveal and game update they shot messages…
By Ben Bertoli -
Twelve More Of The Best Gaming Episodes In Cartoons
Cartoons and video games are a match made in heaven. Well, maybe not when the cartoon is actually based on a video game. Single shot animated stories in cartoons always seem to capture the quirky and obsessive nature of gaming in the most meaningful and hilarious light. This piece originally appeared 2/19/18. It’s been nearly…
By Ben Bertoli -
Finally Appreciating Pokémon Snap
Video game fans can be an entitled bunch. When they latch onto a popular series or genre it isn’t long before they begin demanding the next iteration meet certain criteria and levels of excellence. But game companies don’t always give fans what they want, and many times the most invested players can have a difficult…
By Ben Bertoli -
CultureThe Magic Behind 1994’s Super Mario Mac & Cheese Commercial
With the Sega Genesis edging out Super Nintendo sales in the heated 16-bit console wars of the mid ‘90s, Nintendo decided it was time to unveil their groundbreaking secret project. Of course I’m speaking about Rare’s pseudo-3D Donkey Kong Country. But the same year that brought the barrel-tossing ape back into the spotlight also featured…
By Ben Bertoli -
The Warped Expectations Surrounding Video Game Classics
It’s easy to pass over a great game. Not everybody has the time, money, or means to play every critically acclaimed title, and as the years go by, games considered to be “the best” can fall by the wayside. By the time I was old enough to afford my own consoles, I was stuck in…
By Ben Bertoli -
Splatoon 2‘s Octo Expansion Gets Surprisingly Dark
Hidden under Splatoon 2‘s fresh gear and multiplayer madness is an outrageous backstory. Nintendo has done a fantastic job of releasing free content for the games’ online offerings, but their newest DLC is all about the single player struggle and adding some ridiculous plot twists to the colorful franchise. The original Splatoon used its hidden…
By Ben Bertoli -
Culture
How To Start Speedrunning Video Games
With the time-shattering feats and game-breaking exploits of Games Done Quick upon us, some video game players might be wondering how they can start their journey in the mesmerizing world of speedrunning. Here’s some advice for those first few steps. This post originally appeared 7/18/17. We’re bumping it today for SGDQ. Pick the right game…
By Ben Bertoli -
The Ups And Downs Of Mario Sports Games
Mario may be known for his background as a plumber, or his recent adventure as a body-snatching fashionista, but over the years he’s also become one of gaming’s most popular athletes. With Mario’s newest tennis iteration launching later this year for the Nintendo Switch, it’s the perfect time to look back on the many games…
By Ben Bertoli -
Culture
The Week In Games: Time To Get Funky
As we inch ever closer to the summer months, there are bound to be a week or two that don’t offer much in the way of new games. This is one of them. At least we can get our hands on some new old Donkey Kong. The Wii U may not have been the last…
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That Time LEGO Launched An Anime-Inspired Universe
LEGO has released some unexpected and outlandish themes over the years, and Exo-Force is certainly a standout in both regards. As the late ‘90s gave way to the early ‘00s legendary toy manufacturer LEGO found themselves in financial trouble. While they had seen great success in the past with their interlocking bricks, the amount of…
By Ben Bertoli -
Every Kong, Ranked
It’s time to settle which of Nintendo’s simian superstars is truly top banana. With Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze coming to Switch next week, it seems like a great time to rank every Kong who ever graced a TV screen or handheld device. Ok, not actually every Kong. There were a few qualifying credentials for…
By Ben Bertoli -
Culture
Sunday Comics: I Shouldn’t Have Done That
Well, hey there! It’s time for Kotaku’s Sunday Comics, your weekly roundup of the best webcomics. The images enlarge if you click on the magnifying glass icon. Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich. Published April 23. Read more of Awkward Zombie Corpse Run by Alex Di Stasi. Published April 26. Read more of Corpse Run. Dedicated…
By Ben Bertoli -
The Game Boy’s Most Valuable Games
Back before the days of glasses-free 3D and touch screens, there was a Nintendo handheld that conquered the globe. The Game Boy was introduced to the world in 1989 and the battery-powered brick quickly grew to become one of Nintendo’s greatest successes. Throughout its lifespan and various iterations no other handheld system came close to…
By Ben Bertoli -
Craig of the Creek Is Refreshingly Real
For the past decade there have been various animated hits that have brought viewers into sprawling fantasy and sci-fi worlds, introducing them to overly absurd characters and storylines. Craig of the Creek bucks this trend with some heartfelt, down-to-earth adventures. Growing up in the ‘90s I was exposed to loads of classic cartoon offerings. There…
By Ben Bertoli -
We’re Back, Baby!
Hot diggity daffodil! Ben, Narelle, and Peter have returned to run Kotaku for another weekend. We are all definitely qualified for this job and confident that nothing at all will go worng. Let’s see now. What do we have for you fine folks over the next two days… There’s some lovely retrospectives from Peter, interesting…
Ben Bertoli & Narelle Ho Sang & Peter Tieryas -
Culture
What’s Your Favorite Terrible Game?
Sometimes even the worst games can bring us great joy. Over the past two decades audiences have become enamored with the ever growing list of movies so bad they’re good. Standouts like The Room and Miami Connection have led the charge with cult followings and a resurgence of late night showings decades after their initial…
By Ben Bertoli -
EarthBound Finally Gets The Bizarre Cookbook It Deserves
Who’s hungry for some Magic Cake or a Mach Pizza? EarthBound, released as Mother 2 in Japan, is a Super Nintendo RPG well-known for its silly enemies and quirky take on American culture. As main character Ness and his crew of unlikely friends make their way through cities, deserts, and dungeons they fend off baddies…
By Ben Bertoli -
Culture
The Week In Games: That Face Says It All
2018 is here! A year set to bring us long awaited AAA titles and beautiful indie gems. Though… not this week. Winter is a notoriously harsh time for the world of gaming, and January is usually the low point of this chilly lull. But fear not! This January is giving us some exciting entries in…
By Ben Bertoli -
Purple Coins Are Super Mario Odyssey‘s Best Collectible
By balancing scarcity and value, Mario’s newest platforming hit finally brings second-tier collectibles into the limelight. There are plenty of classic gaming icons associated with everyone’s favorite pudgy plumber. Mushrooms, stars, turtle shells, and more come to mind when picturing Mario and the magical world he inhabits. And though many different Mario items and collectibles…
By Ben Bertoli
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