Kotaku Australia

Sunday Supplement: “a game about nothing, signifying nothing”

David Wildgoose — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:00:13 +1100

Welcome to your Sunday reservoir of interesting writing about video games. Grab your reading jacket, a cup of coffee and get ready to exercise the brain.

EDGE: Brütal Legend: A Love Story
Chris Dahlen examines Double Fine’s deft characterisation of Ophelia as the emotional fulcrum of Brütal Legend.

Fidgit: Tim Schafer on the finer points of nudity, heavy metal, and Brütal Legend
Tom Chick chats in-depth with Tim Schafer. ‘Nuff said.

Flash of Steel: Decade Feature: 2000 – Sacrifice
Troy Goodfellow revisits the strange and uncomfortable strategy of Shiny’s excellent Sacrifice.

GameCritics: Sans ethics and damn fun? Sega’s Madworld and House of the Dead Overkill
Matthew Kaplan debates whether the “stupefying satisfaction” of a dumb action game can be as valuable as one that is worthy and enlightens.

Vorpal Bunny Ranch: Raydians: Persons of Color
Denis Farr reveals a parable of race relations at the heart of bright and breezy de Blob.

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

David Wildgoose — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:00:47 +1100

It’s just about getting to that time of year where I start looking back at all the games I missed out on playing. And then I start trying to catch up. This weekend is catching up time. (more…)

AU Diary: Get Some Gay Tony

David Wildgoose — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:39 +1100

I have a download code here for the Ballad of Gay Tony, the second Liberty City episode for GTA IV. If you’d like to win it, read on. (more…)

Australia Gets New Xbox 360 Bundle

David Wildgoose — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:21 +1100

Microsoft have let us know that there’s a new official bundle hitting retail right now. They’re packing in copies of Pure and LEGO Batman with the Xbox 360 Elite, just in time for Christmas. (more…)

Reader Review: Torchlight

David Wildgoose — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:00:51 +1100

Do you have what it takes to get a review published right here on Kotaku? Simon does, as he points and clicks like it’s 1998. (more…)

Bioware: What We’ve Learned From Bethesda, And What Makes Us Unique

David Wildgoose — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:03 +1100

The paths of Bioware and Bethesda have followed a similar trajectory. From PC specialists to huge recent success on console, the two studios represent the top tier of western RPG development. I asked Bioware’s Greg Zeschuk to identify the unique strengths of both Bioware and Bethesda. (more…)

Australia Defies Global Industry Downturn, Grows 8% in 2009

David Wildgoose — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:47 +1100

While the rest of the world struggles through economic gloom, the videogames industry in Australia in 2009 is on track to outperform last year’s record results. (more…)

Tell Us Dammit

David Wildgoose — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:30:48 +1100

Dammit, we want you to tell us stuff! Stuff like your favourite game of this decade. (more…)

LunchTimeWaster: Jetpac Retooled

David Wildgoose — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:55 +1100

Some old school, side-scrolling shooty action for you this Friday lunchtime. It only requires pressing two keys, so you can even play while you eat! (more…)

Exclusive Interview With Australia’s First Gamer Rights Political Party

David Wildgoose — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:18 +1100

Established in the wake of the controversial banning – and subsequent censorship – of Left 4 Dead 2, the Gamers 4 Croydon party plans to run against South Australian Attorney-General and R18+ videogame opponent Michael Atkinson in next year’s state election. I caught up with party founder David Doe to discuss those plans. (more…)

How Katsuhiro Harada Achieved Game Balance In Tekken 6

Elly Hart — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:00:17 +1100

Building new characters into an existing story doesn’t happen without considering game balance. So how did Katsuhiro Harada bring it all together in Tekken 6? (more…)

Remember This?

David Wildgoose — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:30:33 +1100

Can you guess this old game from just one screenshot? (more…)

Gamer Party To Run Against Atkinson At Next Election

David Wildgoose — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:50 +1100

At the next election, South Australian Attorney-General and R18+ videogame opponent Michael Atkinson may be challenged by a political party championing the rights of adult gamers and an overhaul to Australia’s classification system. And they need your help. (more…)

Talk Amongst Yourselves

David Wildgoose — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:30:34 +1100

This is where Kotaku readers go to talk about the stuff we’re not already posting about. Think of it as the official unofficial Kotaku community forum. (more…)

Reader Review: DJ Hero

David Wildgoose — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:36 +1100

Do you have what it takes to get a review published right here on Kotaku? Ben does, as he fills his entire house with plastic peripherals. (more…)

Aussie Charts: Can Gay Tony Top Forza?

David Wildgoose — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:00:55 +1100

Surely a new Grand Theft Auto would be capable of knocking a racing sim off the top of the charts? (more…)

Bargain Hunter: How Much For This Wii Bundle?

David Wildgoose — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:00:41 +1100

The new JB Hi-Fi catalogue is promoting a Wii console bundle absolutely stuffed to the gills with games. However, they’re not promoting the price; instead advising to check in store. (more…)

Remember This?

David Wildgoose — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:30:01 +1100

Can you guess this old game from just one screenshot? (more…)

Reader Review: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

David Wildgoose — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:48 +1100

Do you have what it takes to get a review published right here on Kotaku? Andrew does, as he cracks wise with the half-tuck. (more…)

Bargain Hunter: Modern Price Warfare

David Wildgoose — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:21 +1100

Quick one this. In the new Kmart catalogue, they’re advertising Modern Warfare 2 for $79 across all three platforms. That’s the cheapest I’ve seen it for. (more…)

Now You Can Actually See Your Dwarves

David Wildgoose — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:00:41 +1100

The Dwarf Fortress Visualizer, as seen on TIGSource. (more…)

LunchTimeWaster: Makin’ Monsters

David Wildgoose — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:15 +1100

I bookmarked this game last week. If I had any sense of timing I’d have realised how appropriate it would’ve been to post on Halloween. Oh well, we’re near enough. (more…)

Ask Me Stuff

David Wildgoose — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:00:58 +1100

Every Wednesday I ask you to Ask Me Stuff. If you have a burning question about the games industry, leave it in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer it this afternoon. (more…)

Harada Explains: Why Tekken Is Different From Other Fighting Games

Elly Hart — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:00:05 +1100

It may be at the top of the fighting game genre now, but the Tekken series wasn’t always popular. Katsuhiro Harada (aka Mr. Tekken) explains how Tekken fought its way to the top, and what makes it unique. (more…)

Remember This?

David Wildgoose — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:30:28 +1100

Can you guess this old game from just one screenshot? (more…)