Two Turntables And A Planetary Scanner

Mass Effect 2’s soundtrack is pretty great, but you know what makes it better? Fan-made Hip-hop tracks devoted entirely to that most badass of pursuits: scanning a planet for minerals. This is “Those Minerals”, by Kabuto the Python, available for free on community music site Tindeck. Depending on your tastes, the rapping may be a…

With FirstPlay, Europe Gets Paid PSN Programming

In North America, PS3 owners have Qore, a paid PSN program. In Europe, there’s now FirstPlay. Available through the PlayStation Network, FirstPlay features HD reviews and previews as well as exclusive downloadable content. The program is from Sony Computer Europe and publishing group Future, the folks behind the Official PlayStation Magazine. “As PlayStation 3 moves…

This iDOLM@STER Cake Is NSFW

Namco’s pop simulator franchise THE iDOLM@STER has spawned arcade games, home console games, manga, anime, portable console games and at least one not-safe-for-work birthday cake. That is iDOLM@STER character Chihaya Kisaragi. In the games, she is 15 years-old. Somebody made this! 自作した『アイドルマスター』如月千早の誕生日ケーキがなんかスゴイ [オレ的ゲーム速報＠刃]

Final Fantasy XIII’s Xbox-Only NBA Commercial

That Final Fantasy sponsorship of the NBA All-Star weekend came with some strings attached, it seems; namely, that there’d be ads running depicting the game as available on the Xbox 360, with nary a PS3 logo in sight. Reader Christian points us towards this Microsoft-sponsored clip that ran during ESPN’s broadcast, complete with Leona Lewis…

According To Some Kotaku Reader, Gaming’s Seth MacFarlane Is…

Seth MacFarlane created animated television programs The Family Guy and American Dad! If you were to pick one game designer who is the Seth MacFarlane of the gaming industry, you’d pick… BioWare’s Christina Norman gets her 1,111 and points out that 1,111 is not a prime number. Street fighter player Alex Valle got man flowers.…

Plants vs. Zombies Has Sprouted on The iPhone

Tower defense game Plants vs. Zombies was slated for the iPhone this January, but then got delayed to February. It’s February now, and the game is out. The game is packed with 50 levels in Adventure mode and includes 26 different kinds of zombies. The port features 13 Plants vs. Zombie achievements for the iPhone/iPod…

Ice In Their Veins

To: Luke From: Owen I had some real mixed emotions watching the Winter Olympics this weekend. Of course, the death of the Georgian slider on Friday is a tragedy that shatters a lot of enjoyment of a very exciting sport. And I was outraged at the manner in which competition authorities blamed it all on…

Xbox Live Player Catches Suspected School Shooter [Updated]

Several Canadian news outlets report that a gamer in British Columbia thwarted a school shooting by alerting authorities after hearing a failing Texas high school student discuss his plans and targets over Xbox Live. Microsoft’s enforcement division also was involved. The Vancouver Sun says the unidentified gamer, of Port Alberni, B.C., was in an unspecified…

The Economy’s Been Hard on Mario, Too

So bad that, apparently, Mario is pawning money for money. As seen in Eastern Maryland by reader Aaron S.

AIAS Awards to be Streamed Thursday; TV to Broadcast Highlights

Friendly programming note, The Independent Film Channel will stream, live and in its entirety, the 13th annual Interactive Achievement Awards on Thursday, over its website beginning at 10 p.m. U.S. Eastern/7 p.m. Pacific. The show will be broadcast on IFC a week from Friday – Feb. 26 – in a condensed half-hour highlight special, also…

Week in Games: Catch a Predator

This week sees the return of Aliens vs. Predator 10 years later, back to the PC and also on Xbox 360 and PS3. Other headliners include another round of SOCOM on the PSP, plus Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce. This week’s count: six for PC and DS, five for Wii and Xbox 360, two for PS3 and…

Kotaku’s Top Five List of Top 10 Lists

Each week throws off several new video game lists ranging from the humorous to the trivial. What’s better? A list of those. Here’s a roundup of the rundowns out there. •Top 10 Movies That Would Make Horrible Games [Planet Xbox 360] Just because they said “Road House” and they are obviously wrong, I am going…

Fondle a Human Spine in Aliens vs. Predator Multiplayer

According to this latest trailer from Rebellion and Sega, you’ll also jam a wrench down an alien’s throat. Here’s two minutes-plus of PS3 multiplayer from a Predator’s often-cloaked point of view, and trust me, it is age-gated for a reason. Aliens vs. Predator is out on Tuesday.

This was Love Week on Kotaku

Today is Valentine’s Day, and this past week Kotaku went wookin’ pa nub in all the video game places. Below are special links to all our Love Week stories, covering love in all its forms, from lust to matrimony.

Why the Game is the Thing, Even for Uncharted 2

Many have praised Uncharted 2: Among Thieves for its story and cinematics almost to the exclusion of its gameplay. But the latter is chiefly why it was one of 2009’s finest games, argues one writer. Brice Morrison, who writes The Game Prodigy, looks at Uncharted 2 and finds a triumph of action-oriented gameplay that gives…

Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: Conversation Hearts Edition

Happy Valentine’s Day, dear readers. We have a sweet ‘Shop Contest candidate for you – dear old NECCO Conversation Hearts, a staple of the holiday which I’m sure you’ll pervert with your own crude sayings. At least, that’s the intent. NECCO, the maker of these things, says it threw out all of the Sweethearts sayings…

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Square Enix Probing Altered FFXIII Comparison Shots [Update]

Sonia Im, Square Enix’s North American spokeswoman has said the company is investigating a batch of suspicious screenshots purporting to compare Final Fantasy XIII on the PS3 and Xbox 360, yet are apparently the same image with different control overlays. Update: Square Enix has released this official statement on the matter: Unfortunately we did mistakenly…

Sunday Comics

Penny Arcade published Feb. 8 PvPonline published Feb. 8 ActionTrip published Feb. 8 EXTRALIFE published Feb. 10 GU Comics published Feb. 12 Dotgif published Feb. 8 Ctrl+Alt+Del published Feb. 9 Dueling Analogs published Feb. 8 Nerf NOW published Feb. 12 Rooster Teeth published Feb. 11 Monday Night Crew published Feb. 12 Virtual Shackles published Feb.…