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  People Who Like Science and Other Thinky Pursuits

  It can be a challenge to buy a gift for your brainy, science-obsessed friend. What kind of games might he or she like? The science brains among us can be so intimidating, partly because it’s always scary buying things for smart people, but partly because who knows what those science people even like? Do they…

  By Kirk Hamilton Published December 6, 2011
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  Gorgeous Indie Platformer Pid Warps Gravity In Cute, Retro Fashion

  You’ve gotta love a game that makes a sly reference to 2010 indie darling Limbo. But, further perusal shows that Pid‘s not going to be like PlayDead’s hit game. It’s got color! Energy! Localized gravity fountains! The retro-styled release happens on a remote alien planet where you’ll need to jump, solve and float your way…

  By Evan Narcisse Published December 6, 2011
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  An Older Guy Who Prefers Crosswords to Video Games

  It’s not that they’re no fun, or have something against games, but we all know someone who seems to prefer the most analog means of interactive entertainment—a good old pencil and paper—over all of the modern media. Here are some gift ideas that will both cater to that preference and maybe nudge him to try…

  By Owen Good Published December 6, 2011
• Reviews

  Mario Kart 7: The Kotaku Review

  There’s a spot on the couch where Mario Kart 7 sits, a well-worn seat where the pillows and cushions have been arranged just so. Over the years, a multitude of previous Mario Kart games have all occupied that spot, and so Mario Kart 7 knows just how to hold itself, just how to sit, just…

  By Kirk Hamilton Published December 6, 2011
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  Where is my Heart is a Disorienting, Confusing and Beautiful Platformer

  Where is my Heart is an addictive platformer recently released on the Playstation Network. In this adorable PSP mini, you play as three little monsters trying to collect hearts and escape levels. Visually, the game is stunning, each level is made up of jumbled panels for you to navigate. Peaceful, charming and mind boggling, Where…

  By Chris Carolan Published December 6, 2011
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  Oh Come on American, Let the Famous Television Actor Have His Words With Friends

  Accompanied by the hash tag #nowonderamericaairisbankrupt, 30 Rock star and certified Baldwin Alec voiced his displeasure with American Airlines’ strict no fun policy. [Twitter]

  By Mike Fahey Published December 6, 2011
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  Chocolate Invaders

  Pixelated Chocolate | Handmade from bean to bar in New York by two Kotaku readers and brilliant chocolatiers. Available at Chocolate Invaders Vietnam Makes Its Call of Duty It was France’s “dirty war”, an unpopular struggle in Vietnam against the French authority governing the colonies of French Indochina. The eight-year First Indochina War ended in…

  By Brian Crecente Published December 6, 2011
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  A Final Warning to Cheaters

  MMORPG EverQuest, which launched in 1999, is plagued with cheaters. Sony Online Entertainment is fed up. So you better watch out, cheaters! “Cheating has become a serious concern to our EQ player base this past year,” wrote EverQuest Community Manager Piestro on the game’s official forums. “Exploits and hacks strike at the very heart of…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published December 6, 2011
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  Wear Your Xbox Live Avatar on Your Chest, Water Bottle, or Coffee Mug

  Do it yourself clothing and crap company CafePress has teamed up with Microsoft to give Xbox Live users the ability to print and purchase stuff starring their own personalized avatar. Let’s go Voltron force! At least that’s what would be on my chest if I went ahead and ordered the snazzy t-shirt on the left…

  By Mike Fahey Published December 6, 2011
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  Dear Esther, You Look Gorgeous

  You’re going to hear a lot about Dear Esther early next year. You may have heard about it already, if you’d caught wind of the original 2008 PC mod that presented a ghost story in lightly-interactive first-person. You’ll hear of it again in late January or early February, when the dramatically improved version is released…

  By Stephen Totilo Published December 6, 2011
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  Wife of Rovio Exec Wears Angry Birds Dress to Finnish State Gala

  Angry Birds don’t just make good games, they’re also great for formal dress, it seems. Teija Vesterbacka showed up at the Finnish Presidential Palace this evening to celebrate the country’s independence in this lovely off-the shoulder, red and Angry Bird ball gown. We assume she’s wearing the dress not just out of a love for…

  By Brian Crecente Published December 6, 2011
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  SOL: Exodus Closed Beta Contest Winners Demonstrate the Soul of a Space Fighter

  Over the Thanksgiving break we asked fans of space sims to prove their passion for a shot at one of 25 spots in the closed beta test for upcoming PC star fighter SOL: Exodus. Time to see who made the grade! SOL: Exodus is a (currently) single-player space shooter crafted by developers at Seamless Interactive…

  By Mike Fahey Published December 6, 2011
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  He’s Level 9 In Skyrim. He Hasn’t Killed Anything.

  YouTube user WestSideLuigi is playing Skyrim as a pacifist. He’s at level eight and has zero kills. “This is what I do with wolves: calm them, turn them into peaceful little puppies.” He’s playing as Felix the Cat (or Felix the Peaceful Monk, it’s not clear). He refuses to go on any quests that require…

  By Stephen Totilo Published December 6, 2011
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  The Daily Show Proposes Other Pokemon Dialogue For Former GOP Presidential Candidate Herman Cain

  Herman Cain delivered one of American politics’ most bizarre WTF moments when he quoted the Pokemon movie during the press conference where he suspended his bid for the Republican presidential nomination. Host Jon Stewart and the writers at The Daily Show take that moment and make it more WTF-er by offering up a few other…

  By Evan Narcisse Published December 6, 2011
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  Suddenly Diablo‘s Town Portal Scrolls Don’t Seem Like Such a Good Idea

  This was bound to happen eventually. Now Dorkly isn’t saying that Town Portal scrolls aren’t an incredibly convenient way to get out of hell and sell off your extra stuff. It”s just that eventually the forces of evil are going to get curious about that glowing blue circle floating down the hall and send someone…

  By Mike Fahey Published December 6, 2011
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  Let’s Admire This Month’s Most Insane Video Game Trailer

  As a method for telling me how the video game Time Ducks plays, the Time Ducks trailer is a failure. In all other ways, it is a success. Time Ducks is a real game (available on iTunes). I cannot yet tell you if it is as good as its trailer. UPDATE: Yes, yes, good friends,…

  By Stephen Totilo Published December 6, 2011
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  Resistance 3’s Brutality DLC Brings Co-Op Survival and Heavy Metal Soundtrack by Mastodon to PS3 Today

  Starting today, you’ll be able to rampage your way through one of the PS3’s best first-person shooters with a friend as Resistance 3 adds the all-new Brutality DLC pack. The add-on introduces a co-operative mode where two players face down wave after wave of Chimera aliens. For $3.99, you’ll also get a special Mick Cutler…

  By Evan Narcisse Published December 6, 2011
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  Fortune Street‘s Review Scores Are All Over the Board

  Fans have been clamoring for the popular Japanese financial board game series Itadaki Street to make it to North America since the original was released back in 1991. Fortune Street for the Wii scratches that itch bloody. Featuring charming characters from the Mario and Dragon Quest series, Fortune Street seems like the perfect family party…

  By Mike Fahey Published December 6, 2011
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  Study: Board Games Started as a Pastime for the Elite

  Competitive board games started as a pastime for the elite, spreading to Europe during Roman conquest, according to a new study published in Antiquity Board games likely originated in Egypt around 3500 B.C., spreading around the Mediterranean before reaching the Roman Empire. It was Rome that brought games, along with literacy and wine, to the…

  By Brian Crecente Published December 6, 2011
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  Home Invasion Robbery Happens During Xbox Live Match

  At 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, two criminals kicked in the door of an unidentified Pittsburgh man’s home while he was playing an Xbox 360 game online. They then pistol-whipped the homeowner and threatened a woman who was also in the house at gunpoint. However, the victim was able to alert the person he was playing…

  By Evan Narcisse Published December 6, 2011