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  We Shall Mourn The Following Xbox Live Originals

  Microsoft’s decision tonight to end online play for all original Xbox consoles and games marks the end of an era in console gaming. Let’s take a minute to remember those titles who tonight gave their lives. Being the first successful platform for online console gaming (sorry, Dreamcast), the Xbox was home to many good games…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 5, 2010
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  No More Heroes, But Yes More Cherries And Mangos

  These “erotic portraits” of Sylvia Christel are part of a Japanese pre-order bonus for upcoming title No More Heroes: Paradise. Because sitting on a toilet eating fruit is erotic. Or something. The game uses toilets as save points, and the game itself was conceived while No More Heroes designer Goichi Suda was on the can.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 5, 2010
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  Facebook Gets A Proper 3D Shooter

  While most (but not all) multiplayer games on Facebook at the moment are crude, simple affairs, one developer is looking to release a full-fledged 3D shooter onto the social networking platform. 3G Studios, which has worked on games like SWAT: Target Liberty on PSP and…the Jillian Michaels game on the Wii, is currently developing Brave…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 5, 2010
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  NSFW: Absurd Queen’s Blade Curves In Figure Form

  Namco Bandai PSP game Queen’s Blade Spiral Chaos features more than fighting. It features enormous boobs. And so does this Queen’s Blade figure. Going on sale March 1 for ¥2,900 (US$32), curvy character Cattleya is the latest entry in the “Revoltech” poseable Queen’s Blade figurines. The 1/12 scale Cattleya comes with battle damage clothes, one…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 5, 2010
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  Report: Xbox Live Arcade Raking In The Cash

  According to a report from Forecasting and Analysing Digital Entertainment (FADE), Xbox Live Arcade is becoming quite the healthy source of income for Microsoft. Based on FADE’s estimates, during 2009 the service racked up $103.4 million in revenue, an increase of 34% over 2008’s figures. This may have been helped by a rise in the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 5, 2010
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  Want The Heavy Rain Demo Right Now? Here’s How… [Update]

  Upcoming psychological thriller Heavy Rain won’t be out until February 23. The game’s demo is not scheduled until February 11. Today is February 5. So what, let’s get the demo. Sony has launched a website called “Precinct 52”, an alternate reality game of sort. This ARG asks players to submit four pieces of evidence. For…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 5, 2010
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  Microsoft: No More Original Xbox Games Over Xbox Live

  Microsoft announced tonight that online play for original Xbox consoles and titles – including those played on an Xbox 360 – over its Xbox Live service will soon be discontinued. The axe will fall on April 15, and will bring an end to years of online play for games like Halo 2 and…whatever other original…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 5, 2010
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  Cat Head Girl Gets Her Own Comic

  That’s rude. Shoko Nakagawa is more than a nerd heroine who puts her cats’ heads in her mouth. She also sniffs their butts. Where to start? Shoko Nakagawa is a singer and Japanese celebrity, who hosts kiddy show Pokémon Sunday, among a bajillion other things. She voiced the new Pocket Monster character Giza Mimi Pichu…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 5, 2010
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  BioShock 2 Gets Cuddly…Sort Of…

  Isn’t he just adorable? Collectible company NECA will later this month be releasing these plush toys based on BioShock 2‘s “Big Daddy”. Well, not the Big Daddy himself. They’re based on the hand-made toys cobbled together by the game’s Little Sisters. They stand around 7″ tall, will sell for around $25, and from the looks…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 5, 2010
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  Final Fantasy VII Remake Looking Less Likely?

  Square Enix designer Tetsuya Nomura doesn’t believe a Final Fantasy VII remake will happen “for some time”. He isn’t alone. Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase is equally pessmistic about the prospects of a Final Fantasy VII remake. The reason? “This issue is related to whether a Final Fantasy 7 remake will happen or not,”…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 5, 2010
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  Yakuza 3’s PAL Collector’s Edition Is Also Its Regular Edition

  Most high profile games these days have a regular edition and a collector’s edition. Yakuza 3, however – at least in PAL territories – will only have a collector’s edition. Making it regular! Sega announced today that only one version of the game is to released in Europe and Australasia, with that version given a…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 5, 2010
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  Sony Cools “Arc” Name Motion Controller Talk

  In an investor’s call, THQ president and CEO Brian Farrell referred to the still unofficially named, PlayStation Eye-powered controller, as the “Arc”. Not so fast, says Sony. According to Sony, “We haven’t announced the name of our upcoming Motion Controller. Arc was a rumored code name for the product.” The rumored Arc name backs up…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 5, 2010
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  Commander Shepard’s Toughest Choice Yet

  As seen on Kotaku, by user darkroomdemons (Note: full version, complete with spoiler, after the jump)

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 5, 2010
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  Why There Hasn’t Been A Truly Great Star Trek Game

  There have been some good Star Trek games over the years, yes. But you know what? There hasn’t been a really great one. And I think I know why. Before we go any further, let me get this off my chest: I don’t like Star Trek. I find it cheap, I find it boring. There’s…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 5, 2010
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  In Just Cause 2, You Can Ride A Flying Propane Tank

  Can’t say that Just Cause 2‘s brand of open world gun and explosions gameplay is the sort of thing that immediately appeals to me, but hook-shotting your way onto a helicopter or flying propane tank is undeniably appealing. Credit to Avalanche Studios for what seems to be some seriously impressive tech in the sequel to…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 4, 2010
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  Kotaku Off Topic: Amazing Spider-Man #239

  Attention, fellow Kotaku Off Topic readers. This particular post is about to get nerdy. So let’s get off-topic and let’s dork out for a while. I was just reflecting on portions of my comic book past, one that involved a whole hell of a lot of Amazing Spider-Man comic books, starting with that particular issue…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 4, 2010
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  PSP Still The Platform To Beat In Japan (Or Is It?!)

  Sony’s PlayStation Portable sits atop this week’s Japanese Hardware Chart once again, thanks to… well, actually that’s a good question. Kingdom Hearts, maybe? Valkyria Chronicles? You’d think the Nintendo DS would be the system performing best. Looking at Dragon Quest VI sales, the DS platform’s sales this week—spread across three iterations, mind you—feel like they…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 4, 2010
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  Better Scores: Musical Selections For Your Next Game Video

  It happens far too often. Some kind tipster submits a fascinating video game montage clip our way, full of impressive dexterity. Head to YouTube, click on the video, and the Drowning Pool starts playing. We’ve had enough. No offense, but we’re sick of hearing “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor,” tired of godspeed you black…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 4, 2010
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  Betting on the Super Bowl in Zelda Rupees

  Because it’s so taboo to acknowledge that people gamble on sports with real currency, newspaper touts often use “units,” “simoleons,” “sirignanos” or “guineas.” For the Super Bowl, Matt Sussman, a writer and friend of sister site Deadspin, is using rupees. Some of Suss’s wagers, on actual money lines for actual prop bets. Much more at…

  By Owen Good Published February 4, 2010
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  High Voltage’s The Grinder Is No Longer Wii Exclusive

  The developers behind The Conduit and the recently re-announced Tournament of Legends will break their Wii exclusivity streak with The Grinder, High Voltage Software‘s zombie, vampire and werewolf shooter. The Grinder is also coming to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Now that it’s multi-platform, everyone can enjoy it. But there’s going to be a…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 4, 2010