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  Blur’s Store-Exclusive Preorder Benefits

  Bizarre Creation’s combat racer Blur is speeding to store shelves this November, and which store you buy it from determines what bonus gear you drive off with. As usual, GameStop winds up with the best incentive to preorder the game, with a “Multiplayer Advantage Booster Kit” that gives players “unparalleled multiplayer benefits.” Those benefits include…

  By Mike Fahey Published August 5, 2009
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  Want Star Trek Online Beta Access? Play Champions

  Star Trek fans might want to consider becoming Champions Online fans as well, with Cryptic offering guaranteed Star Trek Online closed beta access to players who purchase long-term subscriptions to the superhero MMO. Fight aliens in Champions Online, and you can be an alien in Star Trek Online, but Cryptic wants a commitment. Gamers who…

  By Mike Fahey Published August 5, 2009
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  Kotaku Talk Radio: Another Podcast Experiment

  We’ve long played with the concept of podcasts for Kotaku, doing late-night chats over drinks and food and trying various video formats, but we’ve never really landed on one I’ve liked. That’s because I’ve never been a fan of podcasts myself. They feel a bit too canned, too introspective for my tastes. This week we’re…

  By Brian Crecente Published August 5, 2009
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Let us discuss video games. Well, let’s have you discuss them. Comment away! Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ.

  By Stephen Totilo Published August 5, 2009
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  Two Words: Cancer Sucks.

  To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Kotaku NYC, For A Day A relative discovered she has cancer — put a real damper on the day, week, month, year, etc. It’s a relative of Mrs. Bashcraft’s. Just found out today, when she dropped by. We hadn’t seen her in a while, and she’d known since last month.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 5, 2009
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  Zangief Statue Won’t Win Any Beauty Pageants

  The latest in PopCultureShock’s line of Street Fighter statues is this Zangief piece, which is as angry, crazy and hairy as you’d expect/hope it to be. Oh, and also as expensive. Like other pieces sold by premium collectible firm Sideshow, this isn’t cheap. Unless, that is, you find $375 cheap. Which we don’t. If you…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 5, 2009
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  Xbox 360 Pro Being Phased Out Pretty Soon?

  The staple Xbox 360 – the Xbox 360 Pro – looks set to march straight off retail shelves and into the history books, if new console packaging is anything to go by. First hinted at by Ars Technica’s ever-reliable mole in June, then further hinted at by new 360 packshot renders later that month, photos…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 5, 2009
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  Crytek Threatens To Leave Germany

  With titles like Far Cry and Crysis, developer Crytek is one of the biggest studios in Germany. That may change, though, because German interior ministers aim to outlaw the production of violent games. If this proposal passes, Crytek will be forced to leave its native Germany. Sixteen interior ministers met in early June to form…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 5, 2009
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  EA Unveils FIFA 10 Box Art, Release Date

  Many Americans care deeply about who appears on the front cover of Madden. Many Europeans, on the other hand, do not. They instead care about who ends up on the front cover of FIFA. And this year, for the first time in a little while, there are new people! For the past few years now,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 5, 2009
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  Once Again, $300 Twin Stick Controller Redesigned

  Japanese peripheral maker Hori has revamped its Xbox 360 dual joysticks. Again. Last month, Hori showed the tweaked US$300 plus sticks with re-modeled the grip and layout. The sticks were designed so players could play SEGA’s Xbox LIVE Arcade game Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram. Above is the latest and final redesign, which looks even closer…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 5, 2009
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  French Game Mag Needs An English Version

  When it’s not perched too high upon its high horse, Britain’s Edge magazine is a good read. How many other mags do we read? Uh…none. We would, however, read Amusement. If we could. Sadly, the French magazine is available only in French (the cheek of them!). And we don’t do French. But preview pages of…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 5, 2009
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  Final Fantasy XIV Jobs, Races Revealed

  Upcoming Final Fantasy XIV is Square Enix’s latest stab at the MMO genre since previous title Final Fantasy XI. FFXIV will have races similar to the races in FFXI, but with different names. It is a new game, you see! According to these FFXIV scans, the brand spankin’ new race names are Hyuran (human in…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 5, 2009
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  Time Donkey Bears Witness

  Braid creator Jonathan Blow is making a new game. It’s called “The Witness”, and it launched with a splash page that some think is wonderful, others think is a bit much. Enter Flashbang Studios – of Velociraptor Safari and Minotaur China Shop fame – who have teased their own upcoming title, “Time Donkey“, by…taking the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 5, 2009
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  Koei Makes Subsidiary In Vietnam

  Best know for the hack-and-slash Dynasty Warriors, Koei is setting up a Koei branch in Hanoi, Vietnam. According to Koei, the sudden jump in development costs has lead the company to look for ways to be profitable. Enter this Vietnamese studio with aims to optimize efficiency and productivity for Koei — all at lower costs.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 5, 2009
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  PC Sales Charts: Funny What A Sale Can Do For Sales

  Here’s a very good reason why Valve now base their Steam sales charts on revenue rather than sales: last week’s Relic sale, which saw Dawn of War, Dawn of War II and Company of Heroes going for a song. Because even with this handicap, Dawn of War II still managed to top the Steam charts…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 5, 2009
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  Chun-Li Figure Kicks Too High

  Sculpted by artisan Masanori Tanaka, this 1/8 scale Chun-Li was spotted at the Summer Wonder Festival 2009 — high kick and all! And this Cammy was created by artist HogaLee. Hey, another Cammy statue! ジェットストリーム「ストリートファイターIV アレンジコスチューム 春麗/キャミィ」の作例サンプル [moeyo.com]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 5, 2009
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  Robot Chicken Does Castlevania

  If you’re going to make fun of Castlevania, you can focus on one of two things: tiny shorts or whips. This clip from a recent Robot Chicken episode has made its call. [via Go Nintendo]

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 5, 2009
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  Guess Who’s Singing For Koei Wii Game? Gackt, That’s Who.

  Japanese musician Gackt has inked a deal to do the ending song for upcoming hack-and-slash Wii title Samurai Warriors 3 from developer Koei. Gackt’s music will also appear in TV ads for the game. The singer appeared in NHK drama Fuurin Kazan and says he hopes to tap his experience playing a character during the…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 5, 2009
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  Steam Down For Maintenance On Thursday

  PC gamers whose very existence depends upon the availability of Valve’s Steam service take note: it’ll be down for maintenance for an estimated three hours (“at the most”) on Thursday. The downtime will kick off at 6pm Pacific, and will affect pretty much everything and anything Steam-related, including in-game matchmaking & lobbies, buying from the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 5, 2009
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  Five Classic Erotic Games Coming To UMD

  Those who missed them the first time around when they hit the PC can now play five classic erotic games on the PSP. The Wheel Country, LOVERS, Little Niece, Hypnotism 2 and Ways to Have Sweet Sex With A Childhood Friend are all coming to the UMD format. The titles will be out this fall.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 5, 2009