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  If It’s In the Name, It’s In the Game

  Two weeks ago, startled by hearing my tiny high school’s unique nickname announced in NCAA Football 10, I vowed to track down those who put us in the game. I found them, and found out why “The Buckin’ Elks” of Elkin, N.C. High (pictured) – population 4,000, graduating class of around 70 – joined hundreds…

  By Owen Good Published January 16, 2010
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  A First Look at NBA Jam for the Wii

  EA Sports gave an exclusive first look at NBA Jam to Nintendo Power, and judging by a scan that’s circled the earth about three times now, a zany visual style should accompany its boom-shakalaka gameplay. That image above was first circulated by Go Nintendo. As you can see, it looks like the players will have…

  By Owen Good Published January 16, 2010
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  Gamers-for-Haiti Efforts Gather Momentum [Update]

  Today only, 100 percent of the proceeds from purchases in PopCap’s store – they make Bejeweled and Peggle – will go toward Haiti quake relief. This post is our official open thread on ways to contribute to the recovery. To recap: • On Wednesday and Thursday, Bungie is encouraging Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST…

  By Owen Good Published January 16, 2010
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  Weekend Coupons: Card Sharks

  So yesterday, Walmart slashed prices on Xbox Live subscription cards, and Amazon followed suit. Then everyone started offering $50 gift cards for Elite console purchases. This is madness! This is Weekend Coupons! Hardware • Walmart is selling a 12-month Xbox Live subscription card for $30 – that’s $20 off. Offer is good for the Internet…

  By Owen Good Published January 16, 2010
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  Steam Account Sells for $1,000 on eBay

  Here’s a story amusing not so much for the games that were sold or their price, but the fact the seller managed to, essentially, resell used Steam games. Like 139 of them, for $1,000. (With free shipping, too!) Seller dave311freak estimated his collection’s value at $2,700 and said he wanted at least $500 for the…

  By Owen Good Published January 16, 2010
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  Kotaku Originals: Tonight’s Listings

  Previously, on a very special Kotaku: Totilo speaks to Irrational Games about a change of identity. Nintendo is pleased by news of 2009’s hardware, and displeased by rumors of 2010’s. And a Kotaku editor dies! 900 times! (In VVVVVV). Top Stories Ken Levine Explains Irrational Switch, “Underwater Horse” Connection NPD: New Super Mario Bros. Wii…

  By Owen Good Published January 16, 2010
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  Weekend Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Poor George will have to console himself with the fact that not everyone gets a mattress sale on their birthday. Well, Abe gets one too. Some housekeeping changes, before we get to the whatever-ya-wanna-talk-about. We’ve altered our publishing schedule on Saturday and Sunday, which means we’ve altered the times for our standing features and items.…

  By Owen Good Published January 16, 2010
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  Heavy Rain’s Special Edition Short On Wet Tank Tops

  Heavy Rain’s Europe-only Special Edition, first announced last month, has now been shown off by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. It comes in a fancy gatefold cover, treated to make the textured raindrops appear “real”, includes a promo code for the game’s DLC, some cute (and bloody) little origami and a big fold-out covered in notes,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 16, 2010
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  Do You Want To Game In 3D?

  Here’s how it works: We ask a question, you answer it. Simple and no strings attached! This isn’t some marketing survey or whatever. It’s an emotional investment in you. Yes, we’re interested in knowing you, Kotaku reader person. You probably know oodles about us – more than you even want to, we’re sure. But, hey,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 16, 2010
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  By 2011, You Will Be Sick Of Nolan North

  Don’t know who Nolan North is? Play Uncharted. Or Prince of Persia. Or Halo Wars, Lost Planet, or Assassin’s Creed. He’s without a doubt the most recognisable voice actor in video games today, and in 2010, he will be busy. In an interview with Gamepro, North says 2010 “is gonna be a busy year”, with…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 16, 2010
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  The Billion-Dollar Video Game vs The Billion-Dollar Movie

  James Cameron’s Avatar has brought in over $1 billion at the box office. Activision’s Modern Warfare 2 has done likewise. Let’s see how a blockbuster film and a blockbuster video game compare. As you can see, when it comes to profit – the only number that really matters – the two are relatively close, the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 16, 2010
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  Kotaku Off Topic: Bonus Round

  Earlier today, I hauled it over to MTV’s Santa Monica offices to tape an episode of GameTrailers’ Bonus Round, joining Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter and Shacknews’ Garnett Lee for a rousing debate about the games of 2010. That means I’ve had plenty of game related talk today, thank you very much. So let’s talk…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 15, 2010
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  Bungie Seeks Halo Heroes for Haiti

  Bungie’s mobilizing the Halo community to join the Haiti recovery effort. On Wednesday, the studio encourages players to wear a special emblem supporting Haiti relief and pledges to donate up to $77,000 depending on how many participate. For every 1,000 players who don the emblem on Wednesday or Thursday next week, in either Halo 3…

  By Owen Good Published January 15, 2010
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  Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days: Eyes-On With The Best Worst Camera Ever

  Kane & Lynch’s raw and grimy aesthetic extends to something rarely expected in IO Interactive’s sequel—the camera. In a game full of unlikable and unattractive characters, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days’ damaged goods visuals fit right in. After sitting in on a hands-off demonstration of two of Kane & Lynch 2’s levels at Square…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 15, 2010
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  How Much You Bet These Guys Aren’t Talking About Hitting at All?

  I don’t speak Spanish (pardon my grammar; I don’t speak no Spanish) but I halfway think that Seattle’s Felix Hernandez and the Angels’ Kendry Morales aren’t saying what’s in the subtitles. Or maybe I just wish it was that way. Also, way to tip off that you’re sitting on the fastball, Kendry. See if you…

  By Owen Good Published January 15, 2010
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  Quantum Theory Gears Up For March Release On PS3, 360

  Tecmo’s third-person shooter Quantum Theory has a release date (okay, window) for North American Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners looking for, well, I guess something new to play. The newly multiplatform “TPS” follows the Gears of War gameplay and aesthetic closely, adding in an AI-controlled co-op partner and an organic shapeshifting tower as the…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 15, 2010
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  Original Aliens vs. Predator Coming to Steam

  Rebellion’s original Aliens vs. Predator for PC, from 1999, will be released via Steam for “very cheap,” sometime before the updated version releases on Feb. 16, Rebellion’s CEO says. Update: It’s already available, and it’s $4.99. “It shows its age a little bit, but it is frightening and it is difficult,” Rebellion boss Jason Kingsley…

  By Owen Good Published January 15, 2010
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  Nintendo DS Outsells Game Boy Advance In The U.S.

  Nintendo had a very happy holiday in the United States, shattering sales records by selling more than 7 million hardware units in December 2009 between the Wii and Nintendo DS. But Nintendo has a few more records to brag about. The company announced that lifetime U.S. sales for the Wii have surpassed 27.2 million units.…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 15, 2010
• Reviews

  VVVVVV Micro-review: AAAAAAH!!!

  Gravity flipping intergalactic platformer and death by spike simulator VVVVVV has already resulted in heavy casualties at Kotaku. My first playthrough of the game ended with my character dying more than 900 times. Such is the torment of VVVVVV, an old-school platformer from developer Terry Cavanagh featuring simple controls and a smartly explored mechanic. Unlike…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 15, 2010
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  Catan Seems Likely for North American PS3 Release

  The ESRB shows a new listing for a PS3 adaptation of Settlers of Catan, the popular resource-allocation strategy board game. A version of this game by the same developer was released in Japan back in 2008. Game Republic developed the Japanese version of Catan; it’s listed as the studio for the new version rated by…

  By Owen Good Published January 15, 2010