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  Empire: Total War Dated (With Bonus System Specs & Screenshots)

  Sega have given us a new release date for the previously-delayed Empire: Total War. And some new screenshots. And, perhaps most useful of all, some system requirements to go with them. Originally delayed from February to “March 2009”, the game will now be out in the US on March 4. Interestingly, it’s going to use…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 28, 2009
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  Sqaure Enix’s Magic Youthful Character Formula

  Square Enix has a formula and has it down pat. That’s not to say all Square Enix RPGs are the same — they’re not. However, they do share similarities in character design. Here’s why. Yusuke Naora, who worked on The Last Remnant, explains, “The format of the RPG lends itself well to having a teenage…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 28, 2009
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  360 Avatar Update Only Sings When It’s Winning

  There’s a whole swathe of new clothing options for your 360 avatar today. Thing is, unless you’re European, and a European football fan at that, they won’t be of much use to you. Eighteen shirts were added today, to make up what Microsoft are calling the “European National Football Teams” collection. If Europeans/football fans were…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 27, 2009
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  Noel Gallagher Once Again Talks Arse Goblin Humping

  Previously, Noel Gallagher said Guitar Hero was better “than somebody getting their fucking head chopped off with a samurai sword while getting fucked by a goblin up the arse with a laser.” Eloquent! In an interview this year with Total Guitar magazine, the elder Gallagher brother echoed similar sentiments, stating, “It’s better than two goblins…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 27, 2009
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  Fable II, Banjo Kazooie Sales Are Chalk & Cheese

  Microsoft released three first-party games towards the end of 2008. Gears of War 2, we know, is a smashing success. But what of the other two games, Fable II and Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts? Sales data released by the NPD Group today reveals that the games’ experience on store shelves couldn’t have been more…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 27, 2009
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  There Is A New Street Fighter Movie Trailer

  For the Japanese market. And it is awful. How awful? Watch it for yourselves. And you’d better watch it. Angry baby-face Chun Li commands it.

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 27, 2009
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  DreamBox Tricks Kids Into Learning Math

  I have to hand it to this little web start-up company: it’s a gutsy strategy to deceive schoolchildren with a game called “DreamBox Learning K-2 Math.” I’d have thought Math Blaster was subtler edutainment. DreamBox Learning launches its new site today, featuring an Amazon.com-ish interface for teachers to navigate its math programs games. A monthly…

  By AJ Glasser Published January 27, 2009
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  Toribash, The Turn-Based, 3D Ragdoll Fighter Coming To WiiWare

  When Toribash eventually lands on Nintendo’s WiiWare service, it may take whatever cake is reserved for “most oddball strategic 3D ragdoll fighter.” We’re pretty sure there’s cake dedicated for such a thing. If you’re not familiar with Toribash, the above clip may not exactly make apparent what it is. But it is a tactical fighting…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 27, 2009
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  Screens Of Pandemic’s Cancelled Batman Game

  Pardon what’s amounting to graverobbing on this, but David over on Kotaku AU has dug up some screenshots of Pandemic’s cancelled Dark Knight game, again from the portfolio of a former developer. 3D artist Michael Pryor was a former employee at Pandemic Brisbane, where he was working on an “unreleased title” that we now know…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 27, 2009
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  Voice acting in video games

  Voice acting in video games makes for popular feature fodder – check out these two articles on vocal talent behind video games if you don’t believe me. First up is “Characters you never knew had the same voiceover” from GamesRadar. Charlie Barrat lays out 21 examples of voice actors doubling up dubbing duties. Most of…

  By AJ Glasser Published January 27, 2009
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  Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II Multiplayer Beta, Now For Everyone!

  You get Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II multiplayer beta access! And you get Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II multiplayer beta access! And you get Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II multiplayer beta access! And you get Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II multiplayer beta access! And.. ahem, sorry. Got a little carried away…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 27, 2009
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  Kate Winslet, Golden Globe Winner, Finds Wii Sports Boxing Hilarious

  Celebrities! They’re just like us! With the exception of the fact that they’re still regularly playing Wii Sports boxing, that is. Take Kate Winslet, for example, Wii Sports aficionado and winner of two Golden Globes. Winslet, wearing Narciso Rodriguez, tells E! that she was actually playing some Wii Sports tennis when she learned of her…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 27, 2009
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  Analyst: Xbox Live A ‘Gold Mine’ For Netflix

  Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter, who knows everything there is to know about video games, sees nothing but good things for the Xbox-Netflix partnership, one that could translate to another million Netflix subscribers this year. Pachter and his Wedbush Morgan crew of prophets thinks, in writing, that Netflix “subscriber growth will continue at super-normal levels…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 27, 2009
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  Oh, The Games We Play

  To: Ash From: Crecente Re: Hooray For Hermit Shopping You think your indoor clothes shopping spree is bad? My wife bought me shirts that are reversible for Christmas. That’s right, I’m allowed to wear them two days in a row! Man, I’ve picked the absolute worst time to get completely addicted to Fallout 3. I…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 27, 2009
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  Michigan Man Accused Of Raping Boy He Met Via Xbox Live

  Nineteen-year-old Codey R. Hawks has been arrested on rape and sexual imposition charges in Parma, Ohio, accused of raping a 12-year-old boy. The two are reported to have met through Xbox Live. NewsNet5 of Cleveland is reporting that Hawks “repeatedly raped” the underage victim after traveling from Michigan to Ohio. Parma police said that Hawks…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 27, 2009
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  Aksys Announces Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus, Blacks Out From Lack Of Oxygen

  Not to be outdone by Atlus’ overly wordy game announcement, Aksys Games has officially divulged its plans today to bring Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus stateside for the Wii, PlayStation 2 and PSP. The long-running Arc System Works 2D fighter series will welcome GGXXACP to the fold on these shores in Spring of 2009.…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 27, 2009
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  Rumor Gamecock Founder Looking to Jump From Developer to Mag Publisher

  Gamecock founder Mike Wilson has been in talks with the owner of eBay-listed gaming magazine Hardcore Gamer about a potential purchase, Wilson confirmed to Kotaku today. An unconfirmed rumor also names Wilson as possibly the person behind the last-minute offer to buy Hardcore Gamer. The New York Times quotes mag owner Tim Lindquist as saying…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 27, 2009
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  Nexon Shutters Vancouver Development Studio

  Thanks to numerous tips, Kotaku has now confirmed with staff at Nexon America that the company’s Vancouver-based development studio has shuttered its doors today, leaving upwards of 90 employees looking for jobs. We’ve just gotten off the phone with the helpful, friendly receptionist at the Vancouver Nexon America development studio, who informed us that all…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 27, 2009
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  Rumor: Raiden Fighter Aces Coming Stateside For Xbox 360

  North Americans may be getting a triple-shot of Raiden style shmupping, positive word delivered via multiple retail listings for the still Japan-only top-down shooter Raiden Fighter Aces. One of the casualties of region-locked Xbox 360 software, Raiden Fighter Aces was released in Japan last March, bringing the decade-old Raiden Fighters, Raiden Fighters 2: Operation Hell…

  By Michael McWhertor Published January 27, 2009
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  Play Assteroidz! Shoot Bullets From David Lee Roth’s Crotch

  Assteroidz! is the perfect blend of David Lee Roth high-kicks and screams with Asteroids. Yes, perfect! The only downside is that to play this bizarre game you have to be comfortable with guiding around a spread-eagle DLR while blowing away asteroids, Van Halen logos and former band members with shot fired from the singer’s crotch.…

  By Brian Crecente Published January 27, 2009