Kotaku

This Is About As Sexy As Ultima Gets [Minimum Risky]

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Origin's classic Ultima series was many things, but sexy, it was not. It was anti-sexy. Which is what makes this sexy "Ladies of Ultima" calendar all the surprising. And...sexy.

It's not actually called "Ladies of Ultima", as EA obviously own the rights to the brand. So it's called "Mystik" instead. But it does depict characters and events from the series, and even has the blessing of Ultima's creator, Richard Garriott.

We've posted a selection of shots here, but to see all of them, as well as read up on just who/what they're depicting, visit the calendar's site below.

Mystick [Enrico Ricciardi, via GameSetWatch]

Borderlands Sequel A "No-Brainer" [Gearbox]

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:00:00 -0700

So, Borderlands turned out to be a successful little title for Gearbox. And we all know what that means in this business, don't we kids? That's right....ssseeeeeeeqquuueeellssss.

Speaking with VG247, Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford said "Everyone here loves the franchise, and it seems like the public is really coming back with praise and love. So yeah, if everything makes sense, Borderlands 2 seems like a no-brainer to me".

Hardly an official announcement, but then, it's hardly surprising, either. Game sells -> game is popular -> game gets sequel isn't exactly a revolutionary turn of events.

Interview: Gearbox on Borderlands 2, Pitchford's Valve remarks and tons more [VG247]

Modern Warfare 2 Sells 1.2 Million, In One Day, In One Country [Mw2]

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:00:00 -0700

This should give you an idea of what to expect during next month's NPD figures: it's been announced that in the first 24 hours on sale, Modern Warfare 2 sold 1.2 million units in the United Kingdom.

Seeing as almost any other game on the planet would take 1.2 million as a great worldwide figure, for a month, for Modern Warfare 2 to have managed it in a single country over a 24 hour period speaks volumes as to how much cash is flowing into Activision HQ right now.

Gran Turismo Series Might Get Bikes [Gran Turismo]

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:00:00 -0700

Project Gotham did it. Burnout did it. So if Gran Turismo creator Kasunori Yamauchi is toying with the idea of putting motorcycles into Gran Turismo, you can't say it's without precedent.

In an interview with IGN, the Polyphony Digital boss was asked about the possibility of bikes making their way into the game, to which he responded "If that's what users really want in the game, I think that's a possibility. Or we could consider making a Tourist Trophy 2 as well."

Might be best sticking to TT2. GT5 is late enough as it is.

Q&A With Gran Turismo's Kazunori Yamauchi [IGN]

Wii-Bowling Drug Cops Get Off Lite [Ruh Roh]

Owen Good — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:40:00 -0700

A-member them law enforcement perfesshunals down in Florida who killed time on a raid by bowling up big scores on a drug kingpin's Wii? Well, 11 of them got sanctioned for their conduct, but not too hard, now.

All of them, whose names aren't being published because they were working undercover, got nastygrams and retraining. Nobody lost their job, which probably is fair. It was embarrassing as hell to the Polk County (Fla.) Drug Task Force but, despite the pleading of the kingpin's lawyer-mans, their conduct did not invalidate the search.

Caught in the blast: six detectives, a deputy, and four sergeants. The detectives got "a letter of retraining" (i.e.: Don't do that again, dammit) and "two hours of retraining." The supervising sergeants got a "letter of guidance" (i.e. Please, dammit, don't do that again) and "four hours of retraining." Retraining? Like what, how to put better spin on the Wiimote?

The Lakeland Ledger has the full story at the link.

Polk Officers Disciplined in Wii Bowling Incident [Lakeland, Fla. Ledger]

Rumor: Here's Some Possible New PSPgo Colors [PSP]

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:20:00 -0700

According to a report on Destructoid, Sony may be looking at adding a little spice to the PSPgo's lineup via the addition of the some new colour options for the handheld.

The above chart was apparently sent out to consumers by a market research company in the UK. While it's hardly an official statement from Sony, it does at least give us an idea of the shades they're contemplating for the inevitable releases down the line of PSPgo consoles in more exciting colours than "white" or "black".

I'm quite partial to the "Bright Yellow" one, myself.

Check out these proposed PSPgo colors [Destructoid]

Extremely Rare Atari Cartridge Sells for $5,000 [EBay]

Owen Good — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:00:00 -0700

A sealed-in-the-box copy of "The Music Machine" - rated "Unbelievably Rare" by Atari Age - just went for $5,250 on eBay. The game, sold only in religious bookstores, is prized by collectors.

"The Music Machine" was based on a line of other products, including albums - back when they were, in fact, albums. The seller indicated his elderly mother owned a Christian bookstore, and, while going through her things, came across the game. It puts a real twist on the cliché of your mom chucking out a rare baseball card or comic book you later find out is worth thousands. I

If the guy is taking care of his mom, and it sounds like it, then it sounds like the dough will be put to good use. Or he could be spending it all on hookers and cocaine, who am I to make judgments of people I've never met? C'mon, I'm trying to be a nice guy here.

Sealed Atari Game Sells for Over $5,000 [Hot Blooded Gaming]

PlayStation Home To Show All New FF XIII Trailer Friday [Final Fantasy XIII]

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:20:00 -0700

Obviously, something Final Fantasy XIII is going down this Friday because even PlayStation Home is getting some love from Square Enix in the form of a "special, never-before-seen" video for the epically developed role-playing game.

Since we're expecting an announcement from Square Enix on the FFXIII front this Friday anyway—and expecting a North American release date—that's not a surprise. What would be a surprise is if Home is the only place to see this video. That's not Square Enix's style.

After all the announcement of Final Fantasy XIII's presence in Home is wedged between details on Fullmetal Alchemist episode screenings and a sneak peek of Steven Seagal's Lawman reality show, also taking up screen real estate in Sony's virtual hang space.

But if you find yourself in one of Home's 10-screen theaters this Friday, don't be surprised if Lightning strikes.

This Week in PlayStation Home: Assassin's Creed, Final Fantasy XIII, Fullmetal Alchemist and A&E's Lawman [PlayStation.blog]

Read the Bible on Your Xbox 360 [BibleStudy]

Owen Good — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:00:00 -0700

If four-hour gaming sessions of killing, stealing, coveting thy neighbor's ox or donkey, and breaking every other Commandment leaves you feeling distant from the Lord, a Bible application is coming to Xbox Live's Indie Games channel.

B&H Publishing Group has put together "Bible Navigator X" for the Xbox 360. Unlike the Gideons, they're not giving it out for free. It'll run you 400 points. Yeah? Well, the God I believe in isn't short of Microsoft Points, mister ...

According to Media Bistro, Aaron Linne, B&H's executive director of digital marketing, said:

The Xbox isn't just secular entertainment anymore. We can use technology that other people developed to study Scriptures through a new medium. Some people are just more comfortable with a controller in their hands than a book.

The version used is the Holman Christian Standard Bible. I'm not sure how that one differs, but then, I was raised in a part of the country where there literally are bumper stickers that say "If It's Not King James, It's Not Real Bible." So if you drive that truck I saw on I-40 in Burke County, this probably won't appeal to you.

Who's reviewing this? Totilo talked about "XBLA Chasers" and this qualifies, so I volunteer him!

The Bible on Your Xbox [Media Bistro via Destructoid]

Meet Final Fantasy XIV's Gladiator & Pugilist [Square Enix]

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:40:00 -0700

Final Fantasy XI stalwarts hotly anticipating starting the grind all over again in Square Enix's newest MMO, Final Fantasy XIV, have two more character class updates to pore over, the Gladiator and Pugilist.

The former specializes in swords and shields, specializing in close combat. The latter prefers to engage in even closer combat, using hand-to-hand fighting techniques complemented by cestus and claws, adding a little long distance with expertise in throwing implements like the chakram. Extended descriptions of what these two classes bring to the mix are available right here.

The FF XIV official site also has details on some of the MMO's weapons, all of which players can get their hands on sometime in 2010, after Square Enix gets Final Fantasy XIII out the door.

So, How Different Does Modern Warfare Wii Look? [Side-by-Side]

AJ Glasser — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:20:00 -0700

Want to know how serious the graphical disparity is between Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex on the Wii and the PlayStation 3 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare? Check this out.

Digital Foundry has a side-by-side video comparison up that starts to walk you through the opening boat mission with Soap. At time of press, the video craps out around 20 seconds in. But that's plenty of time to get a feel for the differences.

Seriously — pitting Wii graphics in any game against graphics in a PS3 game is like pistol whipping a blind kid. And if that doesn't make you sad, consider the fact that Modern Warfare Reflex hit shelves for the Wii the same day Modern Warfare 2 came out for other home consoles. Talk about a day late and a buck short.

DigitalFoundry- Modern Warfare Wii vs. PlayStation 3 [Eurogamer via Joystiq]

New Zune Game Revue, Coming Right At You [Impressions]

Mike Fahey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:00:00 -0700

A batch of new, free, 3D games have shown up on the Zune Marketplace for the new Zune HD. How do titles like Audiosurf and Project Gotham Racing fare on Microsoft's handheld?

A total of five new titles appeared in the Zune Marketplace recently, each taking advantage of the HD version of Microsoft's handheld's increased 3D capability, touch screen controls, and accelerometer functions. Let's take them for a spin, shall we?

Audiosurf Tilt
The Zune HD version of the exceptional Steam PC game, Audiosurf transforms the music on your Zune into a rollercoaster obstacle course, challenging you to gather points on the track by tilting your Zune back and forth, avoiding obstacles. It's a rather simplified version of the original game, with no special modes. Just collect dots, and spend them on new track decorations. It does, however, come with a song visualizer that should be a bit hit with folks who hook their HD to the television set.

Checkers
Checkers is Chess for those who'd rather not think too much, and the game fares as well as you'd expect it to on the Zune HD. Multiple difficulty settings for playing against the AI should provide a challenge for anyone with a Zune HD who wants to play a board game. Touch screen controls handle nicely. I can't really complain.

Lucky Lanes Bowling
A simple little bowling game with a lot of personality. Crazy characters bowl down even crazier lanes, tracing the path of the ball with your finger and then letting fly. You can unlock new characters and lanes as you play, or challenge friends in Wi-Fi mode. It's small, cute, and free. Works for me.

Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition
It's no PGR4, but it gets the job done. The Zune HD version of Project Gotham Racing showcases the Ferrari, with 12 different models to choose from and 33 events to play through in career mode. The game runs quickly and smoothly, with the tilt function of the Zune HD used to steer and on-screen buttons for breaking and accelerating. Like PRG, the player earns Kudos for how well they drive, using them to unlock new cars along the way. Certainly a capable little racer, and the price (free) is hard to beat. If you've friends who own Zune HDs, you can even play multiplayer. Check out a bad video of it in action below.

Vans SK8: Pool Service
Tilt to move and touch to trick, Vans SK8: Pool Service is pretty much the same thing as the iPhone version. If skating around a pool is your idea of a good time, then this is for you. Otherwise, it's a nice example of how the Zune HD can do just about anything the iPhone can do, only slightly smaller.

All in all this is a fine crop of titles that show, if anything, that the Zune HD has the ability to take on the iPhone from a gaming standpoint. What it doesn't have is the popularity. Will it ever achieve the level of love the iPhone has received? Doubtful, but Microsoft is putting on a good show.

For That Guy I Met In Japan Who Only Reads Kotaku Day/Night Notes... [Note]

Stephen Totilo — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:40:26 -0700

To: Mr. Ashcraft
From: Mr. Totilo
Re: {Insert Night Note Here}

Sir,

The esteemed Brian Crecente was indisposed today and left the duty of writing the Day Note to me. I intended to reply to your previous missive with great cheer but was flummoxed by its lack of verbs. And yet, maybe it contained a great message that I could just not see. It reminded me of a time when I purchased a box from a game store. Upon this box was the label "Great game inside." I never opened it, though I think Schrodinger's cat may have been inside.

That said, I just made that last anecdote up.

What you missed last night (because a man's got to sleep)
You Came, You Saw, You Critiqued
Mario Bros. 3 Better Than Galaxy, And Other Discussions In Today's Podcast
Infinity Ward: Modern Warfare 2 PS3 Online Problems Server (Not Patch) Related
They Made The Wii Bowling Ball, And They're Not Done Yet
Kotaku Game Club: Modern Warfare 2 Discussion Begins.. NOW (Levels 1-3)
MW2 PS3 Combat Wireless Headset Review: Pain in Your Ear
Brütal Legend Forges Unholy Union With Mishka For Brutally Metal Tees
Write a Walk-Through, Maybe Win Stuff

Report: Xbox Live Bannings Upwards Of 1 Million [Microsoft]

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:20:12 -0700

Microsoft's ban hammer may have whacked as many as one million Xbox 360 owners following a new wave of cracking down on modified consoles.

That figure comes from InformationWeek who reports on the bans that effectively lock out consoles, not just Xbox Live gamertags, from playing games online.

Microsoft spokesperson Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb warned Xbox 360 owners of the banning plan earlier this month, saying that Microsoft was "actively banning consoles from Xbox LIVE that have been modified to play pirated games."

"Our commitment to combat piracy and support safer and more secure gameplay for the more than 20 million members of our Xbox LIVE community remains a top priority," read a statement issued by the company at the time. "All consumers should know that piracy is illegal, and that modifying their Xbox 360 console to play pirated discs, violates the Xbox LIVE terms of use, will void their warranty and result in a ban from Xbox LIVE.

"The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive from manufacturers, retailers, and the third parties that support them."

These bannings, which were preceded by similar actions alongside the release of Halo 3 ODST, hit prior to the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

When reached for comment, a Microsoft spokesperson issued the following statement.

"While we don't comment on specific numbers, we have taken action against consoles that have been modified and were used to play pirated game discs. In line with our commitment to combat piracy, and support safer and more secure gameplay for the more than 20 million members of our Xbox LIVE community, we are banning these modded consoles from Xbox LIVE."

1 Million Xbox Live Players Banned [IW]

This Week In Video Game Comics [Comics]

Stephen Totilo — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:00:43 -0700

Guess which video-game themed comic is among the releases today. Really. You'll never figure it out!

Click the thumbnails for more information about each of this week's new comics. All hit comics shops in the U.S. today.

Resident Evil #3 Written by Ricardo Sanchez. Drawn by Jheremy Raapack and Al Barrionuevo.

Summary Via Publisher Wildstorm:
Videogame industry writer Ricardo Sanchez brings the bio-weapons of Resident Evil to the jungles of South America! Follow two agents as they unravel the connections between a Space Station, a telepathic G-Virus and Geisel Industries.

Modern Warfare 2 #1 Written by David Lapham. Drawn by Kevin West.

Summary Via Publisher Wildstorm:
In anticipation of the sequel to the groundbreaking game, WildStorm brings you a no-holds-barred, brutal tale of the mysterious Task Force 141 soldier known as "Ghost." Learning the motivation behind his mask and moniker is the tip of the iceberg in a story spanning the globe from the United Kingdom to war-torn Afghanistan to the drug war in Mexico. Believe us, this will be talked about for years to come! Award-winning creator David Lapham (YOUNG LIARS, Stray Bullets) is joined by artist Kevin West in a shattering 6-issue tour-de-force epic!

Street Fighter IV #4 Written by Ken Siu-Chong. Drawn by Joe Ng.

Summary Via Publisher Udon Entertainment:
Street Fighter IV #4, the final chapter of our four-issue SFIV miniseries, goes on sale November 11th! This issue features the epic matchup Seth VS Akuma, plus appearances by Sakura, Dan, C.Viper, Abel, El Fuerte, and more! Also, the issue will feature the first in-story appearance of one of the all-new characters for Super Street Fighter IV(heck, they game won't even be out until Spring 2010!). So don't miss it!

The Nintendo DSi LL In Pleasant Four Player Action [Clips]

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:40:00 -0700

Nintendo's new DSi model—dubbed the DSi LL in Japan, DSi XL elsewhere—is huge. How huge? Nintendo of Japan's new DSi LL promo video helps to illustrate just how huge, offering an attractive Japanese family to show scale.

There's not much to this recently released Japanese language clip, but it does show the Nintendo DSi LL in the proposed four-player compatibility mode, allowing for one player and three spectators, pleasantly appealing to those young, old, with preference for large or small stylus, whatever. If you prefer your portable platforms large and your plastic brown, this might be ad that convinces you to import a Japanese Nintendo DSi LL.

With the biggie sized platform due to hit Japan next week, we're sure to get impressions soon. I'm looking at you, Ashcraft!

Mythic "Committed" To Its Games Amid EA Layoffs [Ea]

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:20:00 -0700

With Electronic Arts cutting back in a major way, fans of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, Ultima Online and Dark Age of Camelot are justifiably concerned about rumored layoffs at Mythic Entertainment, development home to those online multiplayer games.

In a soothing letter to the community, Jeff Hickman, executive producer at Mythic, says that despite the turmoil at EA, Mythic will "remain committed to providing you with the best possible gaming experiences and customer support both now and in the future."

"At Mythic, we remain committed to our games and the passionate people who play them – we're going to continue to deliver the content and service that keeps you playing," Hickman writes. "We want to assure our community that we will maintain the same high level of customer support you've come to expect and continue to improve our games with an exciting schedule of patches, live events and new content."

With cuts at Mythic rumored to be deep, we genuinely hope that the developer is supported by its publisher to remain committed to the fanbase of all three titles. And that the bleeding stops soon, lest everyone be forced to play Pet Society.

Jeff Hickman - Executive Producer's Letter [Warhammer Herald via Joystiq]

You Came, You Saw, You Critiqued [Feedback]

Stephen Totilo — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:00:50 -0700

Last week I mentioned that Kotaku readers in New York City would have the opportunity to go to a local game development studio, play a new game and tell the developers what you thought. Some of you did that.

I didn't give you all enough time. Only a couple of hours' notice. And it was the night the Yankees would win the World Series, a feat that tends to distract New Yorkers. But I did mention free pizza and free beer.

I spoke to Muse Games creative director Austin Lane today to find out how it went, and to discover if he'd recovered from whatever you may have done to him a week earlier.

As a refresher. the event was one of Muse Games' monthly game nights, and the company's new browser game, Guns of Icarus, was available for people to play — as were Wii games, Street Fighter IV and some tabletop games.

Lane told me that about 100 people showed up, including a young guy who showed up with the 45-year-old man he was teaching English (the man would tell Lane the game was funny; the teacher would correct him and say he meant "fun"). Also attending was a woman who Lane said made sexual moans whenever she threw punches in Wii Sports boxing. Most gratifying for him, a group of girls showed up early, and one of them became hooked on the game. She'd never played a shooter before, she said, but stayed on Guns long after her friends wandered away.

Ah, but none of those fine people was from Kotaku.

"A few Kotaku people came and they were pretty normal and enjoyed the game," Lane said. But not all, it seems. "This one kid came over and said, 'Oh, I saw the Kotaku post. Yeah, so I'm here to give you my feedback."

Lane grabbed a pen and jotted a few things down, a little sheepishly, it sounds, because the game is complete and he isn't sure he can incorporate the feedback.

"The two things i wrote down is he wanted to see my more motion in our sky effects," Lane said. "Our sky box doesn't change enough, and he's right about that.... And he said our rain effect is not particularly believable."

Lane said he'd love to make those changes but time constraints prevent him and his small team. That said, he was able to show some other attendees the results of some of their feedback, including an option to let players move with the WASD keys instead of just the arrow keys.

The game has been played about 8000 times online in the last week — it's free here — and the full version is selling "better than expected," according to Lane.

Game Nights at Muse happen the first Wednesday of the month. Thanks, for not wrecking the place, Kotaku.

Spain's Plumbers Honor Mario For 28 Years Of Plumbing Accomplishments [What]

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:40:52 -0700

Plumber and princess recovery specialist Mario has secured the year's most coveted game award, a silver medal from ASEFOSAM, Spain's professional plumbers association. How convenient, given this weekend's release of New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

We're not trying to accuse ASEFOSAM of glomming on to Mario's highly anticipate Wii release, but to honor Mario for his contributions to the field of plumbing is bordering on suspect. But we shan't take away from the Italian one's accolades, we'll just thank Noel for the heads up... while fully investigating this suspiciously timed award!

Mario Bros, socio de honor [ElPais.com]

Mario Bros. 3 Better Than Galaxy, And Other Discussions In Today's Podcast [Podcast]

Stephen Totilo — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:20:33 -0700

Our latest podcast is ready for you to download. Details below. Listen and hear a caller provides the possibly incorrect answer to "What is the best Mario game ever?" McWhertor explains the Demon's Souls review situation. And more.

Co-host Brian Crecente (or, in this case, guest-host Michael McWhertor) and I take your calls every Wednesday at 11am Mountain Time, 1pm Eastern. If you missed us this time, call in next week!

Music: Unicorn Kid

Kotaku Talk Radio: It's-A Mario! [Blog Talk Radio]
Kotaku Talk Radio: It's-A Mario! [iTunes]

iPhone Bejeweled 2 Gets Free Blitz Update [IPhone]

Mike Fahey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0700

What's the only thing more addictive than Bejeweled 2 on the iPhone? How about Bejeweled 2 with links to the Facebook version? A free updates from PopCap gives iPhone players just that.

Bejeweled Blitz is the Facebook version of PopCap's popular jewel-twisting puzzle game, which gives players a minute to rack up the highest score humanly possible in order to brag to their friends. Now PopCap brings that functionality to the iPhone version of the game, allowing players to try and beat their Facebook friends anywhere in the ~~bathroom~~ world.

"Ultimately, social gaming is about being able to play games with and against your friends, and the new Blitz update for Bejeweled 2 on iPhone lets you play against your friends anywhere," explained John Vechey, co-founder and director of PopCap's social gaming initiative. "This is a natural next stage in our multi-platform and social strategies. Blending the Facebook and iPhone Bejeweled communities should prove very compelling for players."

For those of you who've never played Bejeweled, it's basically Puzzle Quest without the RPG elements. Captain Backwards Description strikes again!

Infinity Ward: Modern Warfare 2 PS3 Online Problems Server (Not Patch) Related [Playstation 3]

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:40:00 -0700

Having problems getting online to play Modern Warfare 2, PlayStation 3 owners? You're not the only one. The game is experiencing connectivity issues, but they're not related to the software patch issued earlier today, says Infinity Ward.

Robert Bowling, the developer's creative strategist, says that server capacity is to blame, not the recent patch that shipped to address PS3 trophy and matchmaking bugs.

"It's a server overload not a bug in the code," Bowling wrote on his Twitter account, saying that a patch won't fix immediate multiplayer problems. "They're working to have servers back up ASAP." And by they, Bowling is referring to the third-party providers that host PlayStation 3 multiplayer traffic.

"Xbox Live servers are maintained and ran by Microsoft," Bowling explains. "PSN servers are ran and maintained by 3rd party companies hired to do so." He says that Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer "will be available as soon as Demonware gets the servers back online ASAP."

In the meantime, keep us up to date on your experience with the online portions of the game.

They Made The Wii Bowling Ball, And They're Not Done Yet [Feature]

Stephen Totilo — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:20:35 -0700

I sat in a blue room on Monday, surrounded by what some hardcore gamers might call artifacts of absurdity.

On walls around me hung a Wii bowling ball controller attachment, a Wii pool cue, Wii pom poms, and more.

Who makes this stuff? Two amiable Orthodox Jewish brothers — black pants, white shirts, beards, and an offer to their guest of some kosher pastries — sat across from me, cheerful about what they've built and the amazing gizmos surrounding us.

I was at the second floor offices of CTA Digital, a block from where Brooklyn, New York touches the East River, in a short, aged office building, up an elevator painted with an old yellow floor ad for Domino sugar. I was in the spotless show room where Leo and Sol Markowitz's line of sometimes-ridiculous, sometimes-useful — and apparently hot-selling — attachments for the Wii and other electronics line the walls. (See their offerings online, then imagine that a lot of that is hanging on the walls of one room that's also big enough for a couple of couches and a big-screen TV.)

The brothers Markowitz are some of the guys who saw in the Wii not just a gamer revolution but a chance to make money selling people things to attach to their Wii remote.

And 200,000 units of their Wii bowling ball controller sold worldwide later, they say, they were pleased to be surrounded by the plastic products of that opportunity.

"We smelled it right away," Leo told me, recalling his first sensations of the Wii's imminent success.

The Wii peripheral market is big and, despite other industry slumps, growing. Of the 58.4 million gaming peripherals sold so far this year in the United States, the NPD group reports that 18.4 million of those are for the Wii. That's up a million from the same date last year.

So even though Sol, an avowed Kotaku reader, playfully cut his brother off early in our meeting about Wii add-ons to remind him that "real gamers don't like the Wii," enough people do like these attachments. They like the tennis rackets and the baseball bats, the imitation light sabers and shotguns. Maybe not the pom-poms — a weak seller — but people like buying Wii peripherals and business is no joke at all. It's good.

CTA has more than 30 employees, a warehouse in upstate New York and design and development teams in Asia. Maybe most importantly, Leo noted, "We have five people who think of things to make 24-7."

They think of things like... the bowling ball. "Why wouldn't you buy it?" Leo said to me, when I ask him what the point is. I argued that people had been Wii-bowling with no ball-shaped shell around their controller just fine.

It makes the game fun for plenty of people, Sol said. "It makes it more exciting." He knows that "real gamers" won't care as much.

This bowling ball was a dream project, a year in the making and spurred by research that showed them that Wii Sports bowling is the most popular activity on Nintendo's console.

"We all knew that whoever comes out with bowling, it's going to be huge," Leo recalled.

Those CTA engineers got to work, trying to craft a bowling ball something-or-other that could fit around a Wii Remote. They didn't want people to chuck a bowling ball controller through their TV, so they tried to design a bowling ball shell that wouldn't function if you didn't wear the shell's wrist strap. Couldn't get it to work right, Sol said. They settled on a design that has two wrist straps and is sealed with a sticker that must be broken in order to first encase a Wii remote in it. You rip that, you assume the risks.

The bowling ball's good, though it's holes are positioned only for right-handed bowlers. An ambidextrous design hadn't worked. But have no fear, fellow southpaws. "We probably will get into the left-handed business," Leo told me.

I met with the Markowitz men and a helpful colleague for over an hour. Leo repeatedly bounded from his seat on a couch across from me to grab secret prototype after secret prototype of CTA gaming add-ons that will make the bowling ball seem pedestrian. They're secret still, but they're wild.

CTA's been in this business for 16 years, Sol explained. They started with cell-phone add-ons, then moved on to iPod attachments. Now they do gaming add-ons too, like PlayStation 3 chat pads, Xbox 360 cooling devices and iPhone steering wheels. The Wii's been the big one for them lately, and gaming's up to a quarter of their business, though they won't say how much money CTA makes. They sell their attachments worldwide, to electronics stores that once ignored them or shunned gaming.

They say that even Bed Bath & Beyond is on board now. The brothers recalled that the retailer — not exactly a gaming powerhouse — consented last Christmas season to trying to sell 30,000 of CTA's Wii add-ons, simple things like controller charge stations, and sold almost all of them. The retailer asked for more — asked for the top sellers, even. So, the brothers told Kotaku, CTA has sold Beth Bath & Beyond Wii Sports kits to sell and even a Wii controller shotgun. No word if it's sold next to shower curtains.

Leo showed me a smart one: A belt and holster designed to hold a Wii Remote for users of Wii Fit. He rightly pointed out that the game requires players to use the Remote to start their exercising but then forces them to either put it down or needlessly hold it as they work out on the Wii Balance Board. The holster holds the Remote, freeing the user's hands. And it swivels, letting someone point the Remote to navigate menus without having to un-holster it. That seemed to address a Wii Fit user interface issue.

I asked the brothers if they saw themselves as being in the problem-solving business, the fun business or — gesturing to the Wii Music Kit that lets you embed the Wii remote into shells shaped like a violin, a trumpet, a dog paw — the novelty business.

"We see what the problem is [with a game] and figure out what we can make for it," Leo began.

"We are in the fun business," Sol cut in.

Leo laughed. "We're in the business to sell and make money."

CTA's bowling ball controller may make the company stand out, but they are not the only creators of imaginative Wii add-ons. Mad Catz makes controller shells shaped like Ubisoft's Rabbids characters. Nyko director of marketing Chris Arbogast told Kotaku that one of his company's most creative Wii add-ons was going to be their Party Station: "a combination charging station / beverage container / chip bowl." It's not coming out. "Although it generated a lot of buzz and consumer response, it was not cost effective to produce and was tabled."

Arbogast noted that some of the more imaginative controllers, while fun or aesthetically pleasing don't fit his company's strategy. "We decided on particular accessories that allowed us to incorporate new technology or offer features that were not previously available, like button relocation on our Action Pak pistol grip or rumble in our Kama." Their next big product is their new Charge Base IC.

CTA is well aware that some of this wilder stuff doesn't work. The Wii Music kit has been a slow seller, not helped by relatively slow sales of the Wii Music.

The brothers seem undeterred. They say that their new Wii Sports Resort kit, which includes a bow-and-arrow add-on, a Jet-Ski-style handlebar and even a frisbee shell, is selling great.

And don't worry, those of you who might feel you're too cool for these kinds of attachments. Leo and Sol are making some products for you in mind too. Just wait. Brooklyn's keeping busy.

Kotaku Game Club: Modern Warfare 2 Discussion Begins.. NOW (Levels 1-3) [Modern Warfare 2]

Stephen Totilo — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:00:15 -0700

You've read the rumors. It's happening now. Join in the chat below and for the next hour, let's talk about the first three levels of Modern Warfare 2's campaign. I've got some conversation-starters for us...

1) What did you think of the training level? Did it train you? How did it set the scene of the game for you?

2) The game's first big action comes in the second level, Team Player. You're fighting in war-torn Afghanistan, yet most of us playing have not fought in war-torn Afghanistan. What did it feel like to "be there"?

3) Cliffhanger is the first full-sized level and brings back the Hollywood-style set-piece / thrill-ride style of Infinity Ward's most-loved games. Do you like your war games this fantastical?

Ok... GO! (We're doing this for an hour)

NOTE - The next Game Club meeting will be on Friday, same time as this one, 2pm Kotaku Time, 4pm ET. We'll be covering levels 4-6.

Rumor: PS3 Adding Facebook, New Gamercard Options & More [Firmware Watch]

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:40:24 -0700

The PlayStation 3 may follow in the Xbox 360 and Nintendo DSi's footsteps, adding Facebook integration to the console's Cross Media Bar, according to reportedly leaked images from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

Images of PlayStation 3 dashboard screens spotted by ScrawlFX highlight a few possible additions coming in future firmware updates. Also rumored to be included is a new photo viewing option and additional gamercard customization options — OK, the option to change the color on your gamercard, which isn't all that exciting.

Those images of the PS3 XMB were reportedly taken directly from the UK version of PlayStation.com, lending some serious credibility to their authenticity. They have since been removed.

We're following up with Sony to see when we can expect Facebook on the PS3.

Rumor: Facebook, Gamercard colors in next PS3 FW update [Update: Real] [ScrawlFX - thanks, Lino!]

This Is Activision's New James Bond [Activision]

Mike Fahey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:20:00 -0700

There's a new James Bond game coming out next year, but current movie Bond Daniel Craig won't be participating. Instead, we get this guy.

That's Adam Croasdell, who plays Walford's Dr Al Jenkins, will also be playing 007 in next year's Activision published, Bizarre Creations developed Bond game. The actor revealed his participation in the game during a recent interview with BBC Asian Network.

"Oddly enough I have just played James Bond in the new James Bond video game - how weird is that? I don't know what the future holds, but I'm always into varying up what comes my way, trying new things."

It makes sense. With Activision planning on serializing the Bond franchise, it was unlikely that Daniel Craig would be available for regular dialogue recording on top of his busy film career. Croasdell is more than happy to step in.

"I think video games and the making of that type of technology, being in a funny one-piece suit and being shot with 60 cameras, I think that's sort of the future. Andy Serkis did it in The Hobbit, and there's a new film Avatar which is James Cameron - it's all that sort of motion capture. I think it's the future, so I was fascinated to see how that would happen.

EastEnders doc plays Bond in game [UK Press Association via Joystiq]

MW2 PS3 Combat Wireless Headset Review: Pain in Your Ear [Review]

Brian Crecente — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0700

I've reviewed the night vision goggles and Mad Catz 360 accessories for Modern Warfare 2. But what about the Playstation 3 peripherals?

I spent yesterday and today taking the Playstation 3 Combat Wireless headset for a spin. It looks nice, and with few official Playstation headsets to choose from, there's certainly a gap to fill. But is this the one for your in-game chat needs?

Loved
Look: The diminutive Bluetooth headset is lightweight and features a subtle design that hints at Modern Warfare 2 support without screaming that you're all about the military shooter. I'd be OK using this headset out and about with my cell phone without worrying about people thinking that I was a bit too gaming-minded.

Hated
Pain in My Ear: After about 20 minutes of gameplay, the in-ear headset started feeling really uncomfortable. Admittedly, I'm not a huge fan of these sort of headsets, but I was surprised how quickly this particular one went from unnoticeable to down-right painful.

Clicks and Pops: Not sure what was going on, but during my time with the headset I kept hearing little clicks and pops. Nothing super loud and when people were talking it went away. But it was a little annoying to hear during the often-silent battles fought online in Uncharted 2.

The Bluetooth headset is quite nice looking and, according to those I chatted with, the 2.0 technology sounded pretty good too. But the combination of the occasional noises and the uncomfortable feel means I won't be using this headset for my nights of gaming.

What I came away with after hours spent using the headset is a much greater appreciation for the Throat Communicator that Mad Catz is selling for the Xbox 360. Comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, that's the sort of headset I'd love to make my peripheral of choice for the Playstation 3. I realize there are some issues in trying to come up with a working system for the Throat Communicator on the PS3, but I'd like to think Mad Catz can over come them. Until then, I'll be without a voice on this console.

Modern Warfare 2 Combat Wireless Headset was developed and produced by Mad Catz for the Playstation 3 on Nov. 10. Retails for $39.99 USD. A headset was given to us by Mad Catz for reviewing purposes. Played several games for several hours with the headset.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

Brütal Legend Forges Unholy Union With Mishka For Brutally Metal Tees [Fashion]

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:40:00 -0700

Hell rides in from the East. And it does so on black t-shirts, as Double Fine Productions, creators of metal epic Brütal Legend, summoning the powers of Brooklyn-based label Mishka NYC to deliver a pair of epically brutal tees.

The Mishka NYC × Brütal Legend collaboration not only gives metalheads an opportunity to proudly display their love of all things Tim Schafer on their torsos, it draws upon real thrash and metal credibility.

The above "Headbanger" tee features the gory result of Ironheade's headbanging foot soldiers thrashing concert-going wimps in a design crafted by artist James Callahan, known for his work with bands like Municipal Waste. The second, featuring a Brütal Legend Zaulia riding a Fire Beast, is all 70s metal fantasy, sex and hellfire, courtesy of Daniel Mumford, known for his work with Black Dahlia Murder.

Keep watch for opportunities—right here on Kotaku, for example—to get your hands on these tees. They won't be for sale, folks, so watch this space and the official Brutal Legend Twitter for updates.

Right now, however, if you've not already invested in a copy of Brutal Legend, Mishka's Bloglin is giving away a quartet of copies, two for the PlayStation 3, two for the Xbox 360. We're not sure if Mishka's inbox is ready for it, but if you e-mail brutal@mishkanyc.com, with either Xbox or PS3 in the subject line, you may score a copy by November 20th. Good luck!

Infinity Ward: Modern Warfare PS3 Fixes Going Live [PS3]

Stephen Totilo — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:10:19 -0700

Kotaku has fielded many complaints from PlayStation 3 users that their version of Modern Warfare 2 has been ridden with bugs. Trophies weren't registering. Friends couldn't be invited. Word from Infinity Ward is that a new patch corrects some problems.

From the Twitter feed of IW creative strategist Robert Bowling:

PS3 Status: Patch successful. Trophy Unlocks on PS3 now available in Single Player & Spec Ops. Adding more servers to meet MP demand.

We've got requests in to IW and Activision for more details about bugs PS3 gamers have been reporting. Let us know if the latest patch fixes things.

Star Trek Online: The System Requirements [System Requirements]

Mike Fahey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0700

You have until February 2nd to make sure your PC is tough enough to run Cryptic's Star Trek Online. What kind of system will that take?

Star Trek Online is Cryptic's massively multiplayer stab at the Star Trek franchise, but it won't take a system from 400 years in the future to run it. A PC with 1GB of RAM, an Intel Core 2 Duo of 1.8Ghz or higher, and a NVIDIA GeForce 7950 or ATI Radeon X1800 or better should do nicely. Those are pretty modest, all things considered. Hell, my toaster requires 2GB of RAM to burn a piece of bread, so this is downright child's play.

Of course, if you want the game to look good you'll have to step up from System Requirements to Recommended Specs, in which case you'll want a faster Core 2 Duo, enough RAM to power my toaster, and a beefier video card, but I'm sure you'll make due.

Check out the full specs below, and be sure to read AJ's preview to see how she felt about the game's mix of ground-based and ship combat.

System Requirements

OS: Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista / Windows 7 (32 or 64-bit)
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 Ghz or AMD Athlon X2 3800+
Memory: 1GB RAM
Video: NVIDIA GeForce 7950 / ATI Radeon X1800 / Intel HD Graphics
Sound: DirectX 9.0c Compatible Soundcard
DirectX: Version 9.0c or Higher
HDD: 8GB Free Disk Space
Network: Internet Broadband Connection Required
Disc: 6X DVD-ROM
Recommended System Configuration

OS: Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista / Windows 7 (32 or 64-bit)
CPU: Intel E8400 Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon X2 5600+
Memory: 2GB RAM+
Video: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 / ATI Radeon HD 3850+
Sound: DirectX 9.0c Compatible Soundcard
DirectX: Version 9.0c or Higher
HDD: 8GB Free Disk Space
Network: Internet Broadband Connection Required
Disc: 6X DVD-ROM

Come Back To Conan For The Secret World Beta Access [Beta Watch]

Mike Fahey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:40:00 -0700

Looking for early access to Funcom's intriguining new current-day MMO The Secret World? Is it worth three months of Age of Conan to you?

Funcom wants you back in Age of Conan, and they want you back bad. As of today, they are offering a free two weeks of Age of Conan to returning players, with some rather special incentives for those who pony up cash for a renewed subscription. One month nets you a free week's worth of game time, which I suppose is nice, but not nearly as nice as the three months incentive. Re-subscribe to Age of Conan for 90 days and you get a beta slot in The Secret World, which is looking much more interesting than many MMO games out today, including Age of Conan.

But wait, there's more! Subscribe for six months and you get all of that, plus a 10% experience boosting helmet, and a year will get you the beta spot, the helmet, and the upcoming Age of Conan expansion, Rise of the Godslayer, completely free! All of this, plus double XP for everyone in the month of November.

A deperate move by a desperate company, or an outpouring of love for the fans that they've lost? Is beta access to The Secret World worth $40 or so? You be the judge.

Assassin's Creed II Ad: The Eyes Of Death [Clips]

Mike Fahey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:20:00 -0700

Take a look at the "Eyes" television advert for Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed II, but don't be surprised to find it looking right back at you.

This "Eyes" ad, created by advertising group Cutwater with help from Anonymous Content, shows off the eyes of death - the eyes of Ezio's victims - before shifting over to some gameplay footage for those unmoved by those icy orbs. The ad becomes a bit more chilling when you realize that there's a clock somewhere striking 22 o'clock. Go ahead, count.

Assassin's Creed II | Eyes [Brainstorm #9]

Kotaku Talk Radio Programming Alert: Who Cares About Super Mario? [Podcast]

Stephen Totilo — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:55:12 -0700

Kotaku's podcast will be recording/streaming live imminently. Super Mario will either be filling in for an on-assignment Crecente. Or the plumber will be our main topic. Listen to find out. Or call in live. Details below:

Call in using your phone or Skype to (347) 857-3782, starting at 11am Kotaku time, 1 pm eastern.

Listen to the show here.

MotoGP 09/10 Has The Best Career Mode Ever [Screens]

Mike Fahey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:40:00 -0700

Not only will MotoGP 09/10 feature all the racers, tracks, and teams from the 2009 season, the game also features what Capcom is calling the most "comprehensive Career Mode of any previous MotoGP title."

What comprises the most comprehensive career mode ever? Players will be responsible for hiring engineers, managers, and press officers in order to progress in their career, winning races and making a name for themselves on the road to the MotoGP World Championship. Your team will research upgrades for your bike while you are racing, earning reputation points that make you more attractive to new sponsors and prospective team members.

On top of all of that, I hear you'll be racing about on a motorbike a great deal. MotoGP 09/10 is due for release next March.

Guild Wars 2 Coming In 2011 [Release Window]

Mike Fahey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:20:00 -0700

Teased in 2007 and finally revealed earlier this year, Guild Wars 2 still has a long road ahead of it, with NCsoft revealing that the game won't be out until sometime in 2011.

We've been following Guild Wars 2 since the first stirrings back in 2007, through the scrapped beta and onwards to this year's big reveal. According to NCsoft West CEO Jaeho Lee, speaking recently during a post-earnings report conference call, we'll be following it for quite a long time coming.

"I believe there will be a certain public event in the year 2010, so at this point it could be at least a closed beta test for [Guild Wars 2 and Korea-oriented martial-arms MMOG Blade & Soul]," he said. "The commercialization will be expected at this point probably sometime in the year 2011."

The dates coincide with a story from earlier this year suggesting a 2010-2011 release for the eagerly anticipated follow-up to the company's free MMO.

That's quite a long time to wait, but it beats getting no Guild Wars 2 at all, right?

Guild Wars 2 due in 2011 [GameSpot]

Party at the Mushroom Kingdom, New York [Event]

Brian Crecente — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Don't forget: One of Nintendo's biggest game launches this year will be turning the Nintendo World Store into Mushroom Kingdom this weekend.

This Saturday, Nov. 14, Nintendo will be be bringing interactive gaming stations, costumed characters, trivia, prize giveaways and live tournaments to their New York store to celebrate the release of Wii must-have New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The event will also include a Super Mario Bros. museum filled with "memorabilia pulled from Nintendo's archives that chronicles Mario's history and cultural impact over nearly 25 years."

Are you going to be there? It runs from 3 to 7 p.m. We will, maybe even Totilo will be wearing bells.

What about New Super Mario Bros. Wii? Planning on picking it up? Is it time for Wii owners to start lining streets and counting days?

Let us know.

It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Pizza Delivery Boy [Game Announce]

Mike Fahey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:40:00 -0700

When a string of successful pizza restaurants starts to go under, only on boy can step in and save the day - Pizza Delivery Boy. Guess which platform Majesco's latest is an exclusive on?

If you guessed the Nintendo Wii, we aren't even going to give you credit, because it's pretty much a no brainer. Developed by Attractive Games LTD, Pizza Delivery Boy has the player delivering pizza to survive, unlocking faster vehicles and extra cash along the way through side missions like street racing and baking competitions. Players use the Wii remote as a combination all-in-one cooking utensil / driving wheel. It sounds a bit like Cooking Mama meets Paperboy, which translates quite nicely into the sexy fan fiction I've been writing.

Pizza Delivery Boy is slated for a winter 2010 release. Finally a game that pizza delivery personnel can sit around playing, bitching about the lack of realism.

Darkstalkers Return...To Comics [Comic Books]

Mike Fahey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:20:00 -0700

UDON Entertainment can take a hint. After the tremendous response to the recently release Darkstalkers Tribute art book, the publisher is bringing Capcom's monster fighters back to comic book stands this January.

At least one company realizes how much fans of the Darkstalkers series are aching for more. A new Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors three-issue limited series kicks off in the beginning of 2010, featuring the continuing tales of Morrigan, Pyron, Donovan, and Demitri as they battle for control of the world. Expect appearances by comic newcomers Q-Bee, Anakaris, Sasquatch, Huitzil, and more throughout the course of the three books.

The series feature three connecting covers from series artist Alvin Lee, which can be seen above, as well as variant covers for each issue from Emily Warren featuring the lovely ladies and female-things of Darkstalkers. The book proper is written by Ken Siu-Chong, with artwork from UDON's Joe Vriens and Eric Vedder.

Now if only Capcom would follow UDON's lead...

Wordspit's Joystick Madness Delivers Music To SF Fan's Ears [Clips]

Brian Crecente — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Wordspit's video of Joystick Madness features plenty of references to fighter game culture. It's also, as Capcom's Chris Kramer points out, packed with sampled Street Fighter sound effects.

Thumbs up or thumbs down?

Wordspit hadoukens backpackers ear's with Joystick Madness (The Music Video) [Capcom-Unity]

Ratchet & Clank Toys Hit Next Month! [Screengrab]

Brian Crecente — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:40:00 -0700

As seen on Insomniac Game's official Twitter, release date included.