Well, it's not so much a Brigade, as it is an...office. The US Army have decided that rather than trying to modify existing commercial games like Full Spectrum Warrior (whose hidden Army mode was a complete arse-kicker) for use as training programs, they may as well try building their own. So they've established the Training and Doctrine Command Project Office for Gaming, which will be looking at the best (ie cheapest) way to turn today's soldiers into tomorrow's killing machines. They're currently working on two projects: one to sex up their simulation program's graphics, the other to set up a simulation "level editor", which would allow officers to build their own training scenarios without the need of costly, pesky civilian contractors. Both sound just wonderful, with the "level editor" expected to be ready to enter service by around, oh, 2015.

Army Sets Up New Office of Videogames [Wired] [Image]

Your crying, wailing and gnashing of teeth (especially the gnashing) has gotten to Turok developers Propaganda Games. Convinced now enough of you may actually play the game's multiplayer aspect for them to bother mucking about with it, they've said that their previous plans to include an achievement which rewarded team-killing may have been a bit silly. Propoganda VP Josh Holmes:

We've read some of the concerns that were described online, and maybe we underestimated the length to which so-called 'achievement whores' will go to [in order to] get their achievements.

Turok dev to scrap team kill achievement [CVG]

We're still giving away a copy of Godzilla Unleashed (on PS2, DS or Wii, up to you). You're still going to have to earn it. How do I earn it, we hear you ask? Simple. Pretend you're Godzilla. Do things Godzilla would do. Like Kotakuite Kiriphii has here, terrorising the Mushroom Kingdom like it was nobody's business. Just make sure you hold up a sign while you're doing it. And make sure that sign says KOTAKU. Then make sure you take a photo of all that, because just telling us you did it won't cut it. Once you've got all that sorted, email it off to kotakucontestATgmailDOTcom.

You've got until midnight EST on December 19. Get cracking.
Godzilla Unleashed [Official Site]

Microsoft have just released the XNA Game Studio 2.0. Which is supposedly a big improvement on the previous version, which for all its good intentions hasn't really set the user-generated content scene alight like MS were probably hoping it would. The newer, bigger, meaner XNA adds a bunch of new features to the service, chief amongst them the ability to craft cross-platform (ie 360-PC) multiplayer games. It'll also allow developers to code matchmaking into their multiplayer titles. Those with piqued interests, more info can be found below.

[XNA Creators Club]

Xbox Australia are crowing about some sales figures they've seen fit to disclose. First up, console sales: the 360 has, since launching down here in March 2006, sold over 300,000 consoles, though that's including New Zealand in order to bump the number up to a nice round figure in time for Christmas. They also this week sold the 500,000th "accessory" (again including New Zealand), and say the most popular is the 360's wireless controller, followed by the 360 wheel and, for some godforsaken reason, the wireless network adapter. Consider these facts, and yourself? Armed.

Ramon enjoys modding Wiis. Indeed, we've featured some of his work before. This here is his latest enterprise: a Rockstar-inspired Wii, complete with the requisite colour scheme and illuminated company logo. Not as intricate as his previous works, perhaps, but definitely classier.

Coolest Custom Wii Ever [Thatgirlsite]

Nyko's wireless nunchuk? Clever, but pointless. Which leads us poignantly to this, Nyko's Charge Base 2 for the PS3. Which looks great, but is also pointless. Designed for those who just can't bear the thought of turning their PS3 on to charge their pads, it plugs into the wall, can charge two controllers at once and looks like something you could use to detonate military-grade explosives with. The dual-charging is mildly convenient, we suppose, but for $US 30? When the PS3 runs as quiet as a church mouse and you've probably got dozens of mini USB cords lying around the house? No, thanks.

WHO WANTS NUMBERS? Gaf poster JoshuaJSlone has done us all a favour and jumped headfirst into the Wii's lifetime Japanese sales data, coming up with all kinds of neat figures, charts and comparisons. Neatest: the Wii has already overtaken the Gamecube's lifetime sales. Poor Gamecube. Slightly less neat: he's charted the Wii's sales against the other major consoles, showing that only the GBA and DS, with its mysterious money-printing ways, can hope to stand against the might of affordability, waggle and Wii Sports.

Wii Sales Data [via GoNintendo]

Tony Hilliam, CEO of Brisbane-based developer Auran, has issued a statement regarding Auran's closure earlier today.

In it, Hilliam confirms that all Auran staff were today let go, and that staff will be paid their entitlements, supporting our anonymous source.

He then goes on to reiterate the recent changes to Fury, including the Age of the Chosen content update and the new free-to-play mode, and his belief that the game will eventually become "successful".

As you can see, this new statement stands in stark contrast to Hilliam's comments from last week, where he reassured us that things were fine.

Hilliam also mentioned to Kotaku AU that ex-employees will be compensated under GEERS (General Employee Entitlement and Redundancy Scheme).

Full statement after the jump.

Mistwalker, home of The Gooch, Artoon, who Mistwalker worked with on Blue Dragon and Naoto Ohshima, creator of Sonic the Hedgehog, have announced they're teaming up for a DS dungeon-crawler called Away. The game centres around a village whose inhabitants have been kidnapped, and are being held underground in vast dungeons. And you, well, you've got to get them out. Sounds boring. There a catch, a twist, a new take on anything? Seems there is! Every few seconds parts of the dungeon will reorient themselves and move around in real-time, and will crush you if you get caught. Also, any villagers you free return to the surface; the more you rescue, the bigger the village gets, causing "new events to unfold". Famitsu are saying the game's about 85% done, and should be out in Japan in February.

Mistwalker, Artoon Unveil New Project: Away [Famitsu, via 1UP] [Image]

Last week, Professor Layton and his mystery solving skills stole Wii Fit's thunder, forcing it to settle for a number two debut. This week, however, Wii Fit reigns supreme atop its bloody Japanese throne, gazing down upon Professor Layton and Pandora's Box, Lost Odyssey and a trio of Mario games. While Mistwalker's latest latest RPG didn't have a first week showing on par with Blue Dragon, it did pretty well. Unfortunately for Suda 51 and the rest of the gang at Grasshopper Manufacture, seems sales of No More Heroes were, indeed, rather piss poor, as the game failed to crack the top thirty.

There's no question Ready at Dawn have been one of the PSP's most decorated champions. First Daxter, now God of War...they're good kids. But after so many years spent toiling on Sony's portable, it seems their "other" job (ie porting Okami to the Wii) has given the studio a taste for home consoles. A taste they're finding sweet, and irresistible. RaD's wonderfully-named Ru Weerasuriya:

This team is ready to move onto something pretty big, and we've be planning it for quite a while, and this team needs to show what they're capable of doing on next-gen or current-gen, which ever word you want to call it.

Ready at Dawn Considering Non-Handheld Project [1UP]

To: Luke
From: McWhertor
Re: G.T.T. (Gone To Texas)

Luke! Obviously, you know that Ashcraft is either in the air or packing his Paul Smith scarves for a trip to Texas to hang with the family for a festive holiday. And Crecente, well, I think he's already three sheets to the wind as I've received a few text messages while he's at the Funde Razer. They read "As West" and "Fuck Sa weet" so I think he's in his cups. That just leaves you and me. We can hang out in Campfire all night and talk about He-Man, music that has guitars in it and sneakers.

Or I can go hang out with my girlfriend and eat Thai food. You'll know when I've made my decision. Here's some stuff you didn't miss, as you have eyes like a hawk, but other folks might've.

MotorStorm Update Addresses Loading, Demands For Music
PR Firms Sues Star Trek Online Developers
Yahtzee Licks Balls, Reviews Guitar Hero III
Speaking of Guitar Hero III.... >:(
Oh, And Poison Has A Penis (In Japan)

Is Nintendo's roller-coaster ride into the commercial stratosphere reaching its apex? Some people are beginning to think so. Nintendo shares have been on the up for years now, but in recent months have stalled, prompting investors to wonder whether their current market domination is as good as its going to get. Fund manager Yoshihisa Okamoto:

People's perception of the PS3 is improving from an underdog to something better, and part of the money that used to flow into Nintendo shares is now going to the Sony stock.

Nintendo shares stall after bull-run, Xmas eyed [Reuters] [Image]

The Kotaku calendar indicates that we should be up to our eyeballs in "Best of 2007" lists by the start of next week. Fortunately, instead of focusing on the top ten games of the year based on some vague merit—that's typically just a list of the year's most hyped, biggest name titles—Next-Gen opted to focus on innovation. Don't worry, some of the bigger software is included, such as Mass Effect and Call of Duty 4, but a few titles that wouldn't normally make the cut are included.

Hoo-boy. Activision, this just isn't your day. Not content with pissing a whole bunch of people off over the PS3 version of Rock Band, it's now being reported that the company is being sued over their bungling of Guitar Hero III's sound output on the Wii. A class-action suit filed in San Diego "seeks actual damages, individual restitution, equitable relief, civil penalties, costs and expenses of litigation, including attorney's fees, and all further relief available" over the game's mono-only output, citing the fact the game box promises Dolby Pro Logic II support, which it doesn't deliver. That's one long and expensive Christmas wish list for law firm KamberEdelson, LLC. They also claim that Activision is "continuing to engage in deceptive practices" by leaving the game on the shelf when they know full well what's promised on the box isn't what's inside it.

Activision Sued For Guitar Hero Sound Problems [Game|Life]

Fulfilling your life long dream of playing Pac-Man on the Game Boy Advance using nothing but your feet is within your grasp. Thanks to the folks at Instructables, who provide a step-by-step tutorial on how to hack together such a contraption, fat kids everywhere will be able to combine their two favourite things: eating (dots) and shedding pounds by frantic shuffling. They call this a "win-win".

How to modify your DDR pad to play with your Gameboy Advance [Instructables via Wonderland]

Penny Arcade's Tycho writes in today's update that last night's Child's Play Charity Dinner Auction raked in a cool $US 225,000 worth of donations. That impressive figure can be added to the $US 600,000 already contributed through previous contributions, making the one million dollar benchmark from the previous year's haul that much closer in sight. He writes that both Bungie and Valve brought their charitable A-games, with the Halo developer adding a "a USNC issue ordnance bag that contained literally every piece of Halo 3 merchandise ever created" to the auction pot. Also given to a lucky bidder, a set of Recon Armor from the game, items reserved for Bungie's inner circle.

Valve staffers made sure they weren't one-upped by Bungie, adding a tour of the Valve offices to the already sweet list of auctionable items. Way to give away money, diners. You did good.

The Dinner [Penny-Arcade]

Warhawk's upcoming expansion pack, Operation Omega Dawn, is just about good to go, Sony announcing that it'll be available in both the North American and European PS Stores next Thursday. Which is December 20. Americans can expect to pay $US 8 for the five new maps and new vehicle (KT-424 dropship), Brits will be paying £4 and while not part of the announcement, Europeans are probably looking at around €6.

Warhawk expansion dated [Eurogamer]

Here's an idea you still have time to steal. Nick and Will of the Gnatline podcast created their very own lighted Triforce, fashioned from "fairy lights", ran it up to the top of a fifty foot tree and took pics to prove it happened. The results (and making of) are the subject of massive gallery at their site. It's totally the tops.

The Triforce Tree [GnatOnline via MAKE]

A post over at blog Doolwind sends word that Auran Developments has closed its doors, and is currently in the process of liquidating.

From the post:

Just spoke to some ex-colleagues of mine from Auran. Auran Developments (who hires the dev team) has just gone into liquidation and has shut up shop. The guys don’t get paid this week, they don’t get their holidays paid out, and they don’t get redundancy packages.

It was then revealed this week that Fury is to become completely free to play, as of the Age of the Chosen update.

I actually heard this news from a source a couple of days ago, but after being reassured by Hilliam that the rumour was "categorically false" decided not to run it.

More news as we get it.

Update 1: According to an anonymous source, Doolwind's statement that ex-Auran staff will not receive entitlements is incorrect. The source says that when the liquidation has been sorted out, staff will be compensated.

Update 2: Tony Hilliam, former CEO of Auran, has made an official statement regarding the closure.

Auran Is Dead [Doolwind, thanks Alistair]

Watch live video from kotaku on Justin.tv

I hope to livestream from the Funde Razor party tonight here in Denver. Couple of problems with that though. First, I had to write this post a good eight hours before it was set to go live. Second I have no idea if I get cell reception inside the Walnut Room. Third I really can't double check once things get going. So if there's just a big blank screen up there, sorry. Otherwise hit the jump and feel free to comment about the Funde Razor shenanigans.

PlayStation 2 and Wii owners will have the opportunity to get their hands dirty with some dungeon crawling in Baroque, courtesy of Atlus, early next year. The role-playing game was originally released for the Sega Saturn in Japan way back in 1998 with a PlayStation port following a year later. Then, the Baroque marketing machine kicked in, spawned a manga series, a shooting game, a typing game and, this year, a PlayStation 2 remake. Developer Spike will be bringing the RPG stateside to the PS2 and Wii in February via Atlus. Expect plenty of fancy outfits, fabulous anime hairstyles and dreary dungeons packed with monsters to dispatch.

The official site is now live and features a trailer alongside plenty of background info for those who sound intrigued by the prospect. Apologies for the headline. I couldn't help myself.

Baroque [Atlus]

We all know Midway isn't doing so well. A couple of bad games (okay, maybe a lot), accusations of insider trading (oh dear) and the closing of several studios (RIP Ratbag) have left the company in a bit of a spot.

It also doesn't help that its stock has gone from a healthy $US 22 in mid-2005 to the anorexic $US 4 price it wallows in now.

A couple of days ago Pandemic coder Tony Albrecht made a post on his blog, Seven Degrees of Freedom, detailing how Midway ended up in the position it's in. It's mostly to do with the company's CEO, David F. Zucker and his stock market dealings.

Albrecht does an excellent job of breaking Zucker's story down into neat, digestible facts:

Every available day (excluding weekends and Xmas and New Years) Zucker would buy 50,000 shares at a discounted price (about half the going rate) and then sell them immediately. You can see the full details here and the graph above gives you an idea of the amounts involved - black is earnings, and red is expenditures. All in all, Mr Zucker ended up with about $8.5Million in his pocket.

The official site for Uwe Boll's film adaptation of hack and slash game Dungeon Siege features a truly epic trailer for the flick, which should be fresh on the minds of anyone who saw the poster that made star Leelee Sobieski all frowny. Fortunately, the trailer for the movie, dubbed In The Name Of The King, is nothing but smiles. It features Ray Liotta as a king who can turn a regular library into a deadly book tornado and a team of forest ninja who will fight trolls or whatever. Also featured? Armies. Vast armies of phoned in performances.

Boll may not win any awards for his Hollywood translation of the PC game, but Jason Statham deserves some sort of official recognition for his ability to deliver the line "Tomorrow, we gouge evil from its shell!" with a straight face.

In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale

Over the last five months, a couple of UNSW students put together a short clip in dedication of Sega's Dreamcast.

While rumours of a second coming of the console amounted to zilch, there's nothing stopping us from recalling fond memories of the hardware.

Or, as these students have done, putting 3D robot representations of the Playstation and Dreamcast into a video and having them duke it out.

[Thanks Yudi!]

Guitar Hero? Dance Dance Revolution? SingStar? Rock Band? There sure are a lot of rhythm action games on the market at the moment. And you know what? Fuck 'em. They're all too girly. You pussies need to man up and start playing Action Circle.
[Funny or Die, thanks Kdawg!]

You may have seen last night's GameVideos-created comparison video, showing the differences between the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Half-Life 2 in The Orange Box, which some (me) might say were measured under... questionable circumstances. Today, the head-to-head battle continues, as this Portal-centric edition illustrates how owners of the PS3 version will be waiting... and waiting for their next attempts after suffering defeat in the Aperture Sciences labs.