• Uncategorized

  Activision “Disappointed” By Infinity Ward Founders’ “Meritless” Lawsuit

  The world’s biggest video game publisher doesn’t take allegations of “Orwellian” investigations and unfair dismissals in silence. Activision has responded to the lawsuit filed by Jason West and Vince Zampella, the ousted former heads of Modern Warfare 2-maker Infinity Ward. “Activision is disappointed that Mr. Zampella and Mr. West have chosen to file a lawsuit,…

  By Stephen Totilo Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  Bad Company 2 Devs Have Nothing But Love For The Modding Community

  The PC version of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 might not support mods, but developer DICE has nothing but love for the modding community. Producer Gordon Van Dyke talked modding and modders in yesterday’s Kotaku Talk Radio podcast The decision to leave modding support out of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 seemed strange, especially with DICE showing…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  Shaun White Takes On Tony Hawk

  Ubisoft and two-time Olympic gold medal snowboarder Shaun White kick the Tony Hawk franchise while its down with the announcement of Shaun White Skateboarding. There’s not much in the official game announcement other than the fact that it’s being developed by Ubisoft Montreal and due to be released this holiday season, leading me to believe…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  Ex-Infinity Ward Heads Claim “Orwellian” Moves By Activision

  The lawsuit filed against Activision by two ex-Infinity Ward leads alleges that the publisher of its Modern Warfare games carried out an “Orwellian,” “pre-ordained” investigation designed to “manufacture a basis to fire” them in order to avoid paying them bonuses. That suit, filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court on March 3, was filed by…

  By Michael McWhertor Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  The Rock Band Network Goes Live With 100 Plus New Tracks

  In January, Harmonix launched the tools needed for artists to publish their songs on the Rock Band Network. Today, the Rock Band Network Store opens to the public, with more than 100 new songs for fans to purchase and play. The Rock Band Network Store is now online, with new track from artists ranging from…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  Two Shots Of Crysis 2

  First two stills from EA and Crytek’s 2010 shooter, Crysis 2. My gratitude to any commenters who can locate the New York City locales shown here. A star if you take a photo that matches either shot (sans guns/soldiers/violence).

  By Stephen Totilo Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  Ousted Infinity Ward Founders’ Lawsuit Against Activision (The Court Documents)

  Read the 16-page complaint filed by the founders of Modern Warfare 2 development studio Infinity Ward against Activision, the company that ousted them on Monday. Jason West and Vince Zampella, dismissed by Activision for “insubordination” sued. Lots of details here.

  By Stephen Totilo Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  The Newest Kotaku Podcast Is Oscar Mike On iTunes, Zune & More

  Battlefield: Bad Company 2 producer Gordon Van Dyke joined our illustrious hosts, Brian Crecente and Stephen Totilo, in yesterday’s episode of Kotaku Talk Radio to talk about DICE’s latest video game… and, oh, so much more The good news, should you have missed the rare opportunity to call in live and speak with Mr. Van…

  By Michael McWhertor Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  Mirror’s Edge On iPhone Doing The Canabalt

  I got a quick look at a pair of EA iPhone games yesterday, one that gave just about the best first impression of EA’s spring line-up. That’s the Canabalt-ish return of Mirror’s Edge. Signed documents prevent me from sharing the control intricacies of Mirror’s Edge or even much of a description of the game, but…

  By Stephen Totilo Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  Aion Patch 1.9: Changing Perceptions And Pleasing The Players

  NCsoft details Aion’s version 1.9 patch today, an update dedicated to making the player experience more joy and less grind. We spoke to lead producer Chris Hager about changing the way subscribers play and perceive the popular MMO. Aion patch 1.9 is still a long way out, but NCsoft wants to make sure players know…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  EA Cuts Deal To Publish Shank, Deathspank

  Electronic Arts today announced a deal with the developers of Shank and Deathspank to bring the downloadable games to multiple platforms. The publishing deals are part of agreements that Klei and Hothead Games recently signed with EA Partners. While no specific release dates have yet been announced, Shank will be coming to the PC, PS3…

  By Brian Crecente Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Got something to say about video games in 16,000 words or less? Kotaku’s the place for you. Comment about video games right here. Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ

  By Stephen Totilo Published March 4, 2010
• 

  Uncategorized

  My 10 Years With The PlayStation 2

  On March 4, 2000, Sony unleashed the successor to their wildly successful PlayStation on an unsuspecting world. Ten years later I’ve still got PlayStation 2 games on preorder. And to think I didn’t even care until 2002. In 1999, I was still new to the internet video game press business, but that was okay, as…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  But Do I Hate Japan?

  To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Hump Day Before the talk about hate… Do you know why there was no heavy rain today? No, I’m not talking about the PS3 game…nor about where you are per se. Sorry! When I woke up this morning, I found that Mini Bash had made a teru teru bozu (which…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  Happy Birthday PS2!

  Ten years ago today, the PlayStation 2 launched in Japan. That makes the PS2 ten years old. After launching worldwide, the console has gone on to sell over 140 million units globally, making it the best selling home console. Ten years in, the console is still alive and kicking. There are still video games being…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  Ubisoft Sinks DRM Piracy Claims

  Publisher Ubisoft has fired back about rumors that games like Silent Hunter 5 have already been cracked by pirates. As Kotaku posted previously, new anti-piracy measure, which will also be employed in the upcoming PC version of Assassin’s Creed II, requires that users maintain a constant internet connection in order to play their games. There…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  Rockstar’s Agent “Still In Development”

  Remember Agent? Rockstar’s espionage title that we know almost nothing about? Well, publisher Take-Two says it’s…still in development. Yes, despite nobody having really heard or seen much of anything to do with the game since its announcement last year, Take-Two CEO Ben Feder was asked about the status of the title earlier today, and replied…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  New Tomb Raider Game Drops Tomb Raider Name

  Not surprisingly, Square Enix announced today that developer Crystal Dynamics is at work on a new Tomb Raider game. Except, this one isn’t called Tomb Raider, the famous words nowhere to be found in the game’s title. Instead, the game is called “Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light”. Strange to forgo such a recognised…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  Don’t Throw Up, Xbox Japan Man!

  The guys from “Xbox Mission Department” have returned and are securing titles for the Xbox 360. The guy with the Xbox 360 logo for a noggin is named Sanrokumaru, or literally three-six-o. He speaks only through the Xbox 360’s “X” noise. In one of the ads below, there is a teaser for the next Xbox…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 4, 2010
• Uncategorized

  Get A Good Look At Those Mass Effect 2 Figures

  While they were first revealed in January, courtesy of a blurry magazine scan, that was no way to get a good look at DC Direct’s line of Mass Effect 2 figures. This is. The first line will feature four characters: Commander Shepard (male), Tali, Thane and Grunt. Shepard is a little…off, not just because my…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 4, 2010