@nathanjarvis: Thank You!

@100tacks: wrong picture. This is the right picture (hopefully)

That one looks a little suspect. Especially those memory cards. Why isn't is Pro Stick Duo? And those uneven lines throughout. But, Lines and resolutions can look altered when you take a picture of a picture, and it is very close to the announcement date. The cut off text in the bottom corner is the only compelling…

@Batman: I think the same stigma about effeminate Japanese characters can be stated in reverse about macho American characters. On either side, it can be hard to relate to.

@Jackie O'Callahan: I agree. I don't think Japan culture as a whole has anything like a G.I. Joe...

@Archaotic: I kind of like the wasted away look of the ps3 guy, instead of the washed up wrestler look of the 360 guy. It seems more plausible to me given the circumstance. But then again, I don't mind Japanese character design.

@nathanjarvis: Good point! That picture is horrifying. However, he does look a little like Kratos with that scowl.

@Archaotic: haha this is the image I was looking for, but I didn't realize that America likes playing as the exact same tan and crew-cut guy. Maybe its an American military stereotype that westerners like, sort of like G.I. Joe.

It's kind of superficial, but the males in a lot of JRPG looks decidedly feminine. Americans, especially American men, favor macho leading men. There is no ambiguity with John Marston, Marcus Fenix, or Ezio Auditore. But to western eyes, all of those stylized JRPG characters either look like women or Justin…

@pandafresh: Maybe "a box office bust"?

This was fun! Can we have a weekly Kotaku puzzle?

I think the guitar hero one is easily better than Activision's last few attempts

@rebeldevil: it hasn't been Gamestop's for long. Ign and Gamestop are BFFs now too.

@ninjablade: Where did you get those very large Bioshock and Splinter Cell posters?

@dxrebirth: Like trying to pick a favorite child, I cannot decide which one I love more.

I could give predictions and layout how much I would pay for the things they announced, but really, I'm just gonna buy it. I've had three wiis, four Ds's and I'm just gonna buy whatever it is. I'm not proud of it, it's just true.

I also pre-ordered it for the bookends. The Mortal Kombat CE also comes with bookends, but they won't get me twice!

I have a gaming loft with a couch almost exactly like Crecente's, a50", mini-fridge, a "big one" lovesac (giant bean bag thing), and media shelves... lots of media shelves.

@dxrebirth: I like the happy bullet next to Mozzarella-chan.

Kudos to the format for discussing game of the year amongst authors! I like seeing the process, and not just decreeing GOTY on Jan 1st and moving on.