Sony announced yesterday the impending release of Shiki-Tei, a new downloadable title for the the PlayStation 3. Basic gist? You get a garden. You grow plants in the garden. Animals hang out in your garden. You can take pictures of your garden. Sort of like Viva Pinata, sans the Pinatas. And that's about it. Won't pull the Unreal Tournament III crowd away from their murderous pastime, but it should prove a nice, relaxing option for the more sedate users amongst the PS3's userbase. At least in Japan, since that's the only place it's being released at the moment. It's due on June 26 for ¥1600, which is around $US 15.

You know it, you love it, Tell Us Dammit. No, rather TELL US DAMMIT. Yep! Time to learn about each other. How it works: We ask a question, you answer it. Simple and no strings attached! This isn't some marketing survey or whatever. It's an emotional investment in you. Yes, we're interesting in knowing you, Kotaku reader person. You probably know fucktons about us -- more than you even want to, we're sure. But, hey, we'd like to know about you. That way you won't be some faceless blob -- and we might feel a tinge of guilt when we ban your arse. Or not, because really we're incapable of human emotion. Sadness.

Question
What is the longest you have gone without gaming?

The most recent Soul Calibur IV trailer seems to indicate that besides Star Wars characters and enormous boobs, the game also has destructible body armour. Meaning? That it appears throttling opponents hard enough causes armour to fly off. Wonder if it will be possible to knock Vader's helmet off or if this is just going to your typical disrobe-female-fighters kinda thing. Honestly, we're pulling for naked Yoda.

Pic and video after the jump.

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Some leaked footage from a location test is no proper way to say hi to a "new" Street Fighter IV character, so make sure you give a big warm hello to Rufus and his nice, clean, in-game screenshots. I love Rufus. Not necessarily for his looks, but for his moves, which going by the screens have names like "Spectacle Romance", "Space Opera Symphony" and "Messiah Kick". Brilliant.

The Worst of Ubidays 08
Comment by: CelticsFansSuicideWatch
Nominated by: Nirolak

Hey now you heard them.

These games cost a lot of money to get people to buy. Hundreds of people went to college for 4, or even more, years to obtain the skills necessary to convince a 10 year old girl that she wants a technologically advanced diary and a simulation of a baby care. if you were legally allowed to only use a baby for competition.

This is someone's life, and they most likely have a drinking problem because of it.

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Electronic Arts vice president and general manger of international publishing Gerhard Florin will no longer hold that role, the company revealed through an SEC filing today.

Instead, EA says Florin will work on "various of the Company's global strategic and transformative initiatives." The move appears to shift his focus from day-to-day publishing operations to longer-term strategies around North America and European markets.

The Wii is set to break console sales records in 2008, says analyst group DFC Intelligence - but the PlayStation 3 will beat the Wii's software sales by 2012.

Worldwide console sales can pass the $US 180 million benchmark by 2011 even in an economic slowdown, said the analyst group, since high gas prices encourage people to entertain themselves at home. While the report sees Wii as the likely overall install base leader, it is critical of Microsoft, stating that "for the 80 percent-plus of game consumers that do not play FPS games, the Xbox 360 is not the system of choice."

The sales performance of the PlayStation 3 has been less than stellar, but Sony has survived. The Xbox 360 was unable to take advantage of Sony's struggles to build the type of large lead needed to maintain a long-term advantage. The PS3 survived the onslaught of AAA Xbox 360 titles that hit the market from late 2006 through 2007.

Halo 3 had great sales, but it did very little to enhance the Xbox 360's overall position in the marketplace.

Full report and more stats than you can shake a Wii remote at:

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To: Ash
From: Crecente
Re: Rowan Is Funny

But his movies aren't... seriously.

Just received your manuscript in the mail. Looks pretty damn cool. I'll read it over the weekend and get to writing on Monday. Man, I really need to get off my arse and get to work on the book idea I have.

"He had destroyed his talent by not using it, by betrayals of himself and what he believed in, by drinking so much that he blunted the edge of his perceptions, by laziness, by sloth, and by snobbery, by pride and by prejudice, by hook and by crook."

It haunts me.

What you missed:
Raving Prince, Assassin and Fischer Rabbids
Picture Yourself In Fable 2
Fingers On With Guitar Hero: On Tour
Intelligence Group Mistakes Fallout 3 Screens For Terrorist Propaganda
Wii Fit Review: An Identity Crisis
SITE Refutes Fallout 3 Goof, Is Not "Red-Faced"
Rumor: Reviewers Can't Talk About MGS4 Cutscenes, Install?

Thinning The Herd: Good Idea, Bad Idea?

Will Microsoft's recently-announced efforts to improve Xbox Live Arcade quality levels by culling underperforming titles bolster the service, or ultimately harm it?

Objectively, one of Live's biggest obstacles is the sheer density of its offering and wildly variant quality levels - it's hard to tell what there even is to play, let alone if what you're checking out will be a worthy experience, despite the numerous demos. With that in mind, a standard methodology for trimming the fat might help the cream rise to the top, right?

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Ubisoft's voice-command real-time strategy game EndWay is getting a private beta this summer. A site set up for those invited into the beta says that it will take place for three weeks in June and July and only be in English.

The three gig download will feature three maps for 1v1 and 2v2 matches, but no offline play.

I hope they launch a public beta as well. As with most new ideas, the concept of voice-command mixing with real-time strategy isn't easy to wrap your head around without trying it first hand.

As I mentioned in my preview of the game earlier this year, it seems to work quite well and despite the reduced unit types, I think there's enough depth in the game to keep things interesting.

EndWar [Via Joystiq]

Reviewers often have restrictions about what they can and can't talk about in reviews - in my experience, these have been restricted to plot details, which have an embargo date a little bit later than the general review does. But MTV Multiplayer's Stephen Totilo has apparently heard from some gaming media sources who said that when it comes to Metal Gear Solid 4, particular details are off-limits.

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If you thought The King of Kong was story of a desperate man out to protect his record, wait until you get a load of K2: The King, The Kong, and the Ugly, a G4 original production.

Sure it's a bit stupid, childish, hokey, and inane. Most of the time it isn't even particularly funny. What strikes me is how terrifying the thought of being chased around by Billy Mitchell with futuristic weapons actually is. I would be terrified, but practical, cutting off my own hands so the record could never come to pass. When a maniacal gaming hot sauce maker is ready to gun you down you have to think on your toes, people.

Intelligence contractor SITE is firing back at the Telegraph, after the UK publication ran an article claiming that the contractor mistook Fallout 3 images for pictures generated by terrorists.

SITE released a statement to clarify its position, stating that it never claimed the images were produced by terrorists, although it didn't admit to knowing from the start that they were video game images. Said the contractor:

SITE reported to its subscribers that extremists posted the image to a password-protected forum affiliated with al-Qaeda. This is entirely accurate. Moreover, this information was part of a report describing the general atmosphere in this forum with regard to extremists' discussions on weapons of mass destruction, making its context all the more important. This report in its entirety is also completely accurate.

It also doesn't like that the Telegraph called it "red faced," either, and says the publication never actually read the report, and nor does it subscribe to its services. Hit the jump for the contractor's full statement:

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I am not a fan of football. Not in real life, not really in video games. But Tecmo Bowl, I don't know, there's something about the blend of video game nostalgia and bitsy football graphics that makes me want to play the game... even without Bo Jackson. If you're like me, hit the jump for three more videos showing of bits of gameplay. It looks so, well, so like Tecmo Bowl, but that just makes me want to play it all the more.

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Following in the trailblazing footsteps of titles like Nintendogs and Brain Age, Wii Fit is another brainchild of Shigeru Miyamoto. The game was inspired by the practice of weighing oneself daily and, according to its creator, is more about self-awareness than it is about weight loss. The game that comes packed with a Balance Board peripheral doesn't worry about plot or graphics or even new concepts in play, instead it focuses intently on motivating gamers to get on that board.

Wii Fit is in many ways the next step in Wii Sports, a title that boils gaming down to it's most rudimentary elements of interaction and fun. But can even Miyamoto make tracking your BMI and doing Yoga interesting?

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SOE is now accepting registration monies for their 2008 SOE Fan Faire, being held August 14th through the 17th at the Las Vegas Hilton in beautiful downtown...you know. $US 89 gets you an All-Access pass, which secures you a sneak-peek at "three monumental new games in development". Interesting.

The pass also gets you into the Free Realms beta test, a beta for an upcoming EQ2 expansion, gifts, in-game items, and the chance to listen to John Smedley talk for a bit.

Of course if you'd rather miss out on all the All-Access goodness you can pick up a day pass for $US 39, which just seems like a giant waste of time and money. Head over to http://www.soefanfaire.com/ and mention my name when you register to receive the awkward joy of having my name on your attendee badge. I've been doing it for years, and look where it's gotten me!

Help me please. I am not sure if I am supposed to be excited by EliteXC fighter and American Gladiator Gina Carano, dressed up to portray deadly Soviet commando Natasha (because they only have one girl's name in the Soviet Union) in Command & Conquer Red Alert 3.

On the one hand, she really is doing amazing things to that tight shorts and tiny jacket ensemble, and the gun adds a certain something. She is rather pretty and well-spoken for someone who beats up other people for a living.

On the other hand, she beats up other people for a living and could probably kill me with an errant thought, or hell, even on accident, like some terrifying all grown-up Elmira from Tiny Toons, hugging and squeezing me until I die.

Phew, nevermind. Invoking Tiny Toons always cancels out any excitement...well, unless we're talking mink.

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By now I'm sure most of you are familiar with the seemingly odd transition of Guitar Hero from consoles to handhelds, namely the DS. When Guitar Hero: On Tour was announced a few months ago it left many of us scratching our heads wondering how they would pull it off. Even with the addition of pictures of the add-on peripheral it was still hard to imagine exactly what it would be like trying to play. I finally got my chance to check it out for myself a few days ago and despite former misgivings I actually found it quite fun.

The first thing I took a look at upon arriving was the "guitar grip" peripheral. It was a pretty sturdy little piece of a equipment that fits snugly into the GBA slot of the DS. The clear plastic cover is removable and the logo can be pulled out so you can customise the look of it. The strap is likewise customisable, no doubt providing plenty of opportunity for merchandising. As you may know, there are only four buttons in this iteration of the game and while some players may find this disconcerting, there is actually a good reason for it. With the DS literally strapped to your hand, it would make it impossible for you to be able to slide your hand to reach the fifth button. Then of course there is the space issue. After looking at it close up, it seems the addition of the fifth button would make it a bit crowded.

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LucasArts and Day 1 Studios is getting ready to release their terraforming shooter Fracture this fall, and they're rolled out the newly updated website for the game to help get the hype train started right! Along with the standard videos, screenshots, and developer blogs, the site is launching a brand new community-oriented Wiki site that will allow fans to interact and access exclusive content meant just for those who care enough to hang about and their friends in the gaming press.

You can visit the newly updated site at http://www.fracturegame.com, and be sure to tune into GameTrailers TV tonight on Spike for the premiere of the new Fracture trailer. Hype machine away!

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There is no way in hell I will every buy a copy of 2K Sports' Don King Presents: Prizefighter. I hate Don King, I'm not all that fond of boxing, and...wait, did you say Bootsy Collins? Awww dammit. That's right, Bootsy Collins is doing an original song for the upcoming fighting game, and when you add in songs by Parliament, James Brown, George Clinton, and Tower of Power, you've got an oddly funk-hungry Fahey on the verge of shelling out $US 60 based on the game's soundtrack alone.

Then of course I remember iTunes, but it was damn close there for a minute.

Joining Bootsy and the crew are some bands of the less funky persuasion, such as Run DMC, Suicidal Tendencies (though Infectious Grooves was pretty damn funky), Blue Oyster Cult, and Iggy Pop, so there really is something for everyone to remember to download from iTunes. Hit the jump for more info while I dig up a gift card I have lying around.

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Do you want to be in pictures? How about portraits? Lionhead is looking for photo submissions for Fable 2 Art Models, that is models who will appear in the portrats adorning the more well-to-do homes in the land of Albion. How can you get in on that action? Read on!

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It's nice to see some more of the characters that are appearing in Atari's relaunch of Alone In The Dark. Up until now I swear that every bit of media I've seen was either showcasing the physics or just showing me scary things shrouded in darkness. Now it looks and feels a bit more like an adventure game to me.

Not a 1920-ish Alone in the Dark adventure, but an adventure game nonetheless. Check out the gallery below and see if the picture of Edward hanging halfway off a building ledge is as unintentionally hilarious to you as it was to me.

Ubisoft handed out packs of these four Raving Rabbids at this year's Ubidays. I'm not a huge schwag fan myself, but these managed to melt even my cold heart. And yes, we're sorry Ubisoft, turns out Sam Fischer did make an appearance at your show.

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Now to be honest, the latest game sales charts out of Europe show Funcom's PC MMO Age of Conan beating out Grand Theft Auto IV in only two of three countries charted, the odd country out is Spain, which - no offence to our Spanish readers - is the European country I forget exists nine times out of ten. Face it, you guys are quiet over there. You and Portugal, just kicking back on the beach, playing Wii Play and Mario Kart.

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It's finally time for you to get some hands-on time with Ryu Hayabusa in Ninja Gaiden II for the Xbox 360...if you live in Japan. Tecmo has released an 857 MB demo for download via Japanese Xbox Live Marketplace. Said demo is due to be released throughout all regions, but as of right now there is no ETA on when that's going to happen.

And for all of you heading to your Xbox 360 to log in to your Japanese account, make sure you upgraded that baby to Gold first...Silver users will have to wait a few days before they can start the download...as I just discovered minutes ago. Stupid Silver account, making me look bad.

We'll let you know as soon as this becomes available to the western world.

Demo: NINJA GAIDEN 2 (Japan Only) [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]