It's OK, everyone. Developers drink coffee too! While filming a vox pop piece in Seattle on the closure of 600 Starbucks stores across the US, local news channel KING5 inadvertently got the scoop on not only where Valve get their coffee, but who's allowed out for coffee runs and even what everyone drinks. As you can see, Gabe Newell does not fuck around, clutching what looks like a Venti Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino. A mysterious "other guy" keeps things straight with a Grande Espresso Macchiato, while Doug Lombardi - who is surprised, but not shocked at the closures - doubles up on beverages, while lying on camera that it's for a "co-worker" to make him feel better about his cheeky afternoon "seconds".

Starbucks closing hundreds of stores [KING5, thanks Ryan!]

George Romero Clueless About Dead Rising?

Back in late February, we brought word of a Dead Rising lawsuit. Capcom was being sued over the game by the MKR Group, which holds the rights to George Romerso's Dawn of the Dead film. MKR claimed that Dead Rising was essentially an unlicensed adaptation of the Romero film. Over the weekend, George Romero appeared at the Chicago Horror Convention, and Kotaku reader Tyler was on hand to get his copy of Dead Rising autographed by the famed horror director. According to Tyler:

I went to a horror movie convention here in Chicago on Sunday because George Romero was due to show up for autograph signing and I was hoping he would grace my copy of Dead Rising with his signature (not expecting that he would at all). Lo and behold he actually did, and on top of that, he was not even aware of Dead Rising...i had to explain to him what it was and he was happy to sign it. Makes me wonder if he is even aware of the legal battles Capcom has had to endure.

Makes us wonder, too. If you can't read what Romero wrote, it is: "Tyler Stay Scared George Romero."

Meeting Kojima (Only Signing Sleeves, No Pics Allowed)

So the Metal Gear Solid World Tour has kicked off! And how was it? Kotaku reader Ninjax blogs:

Whilst I was waiting, I readied my Metal Gear Solid collection to get signed.

I went up on the platform where it was my turn to get my sleeve signed. I get my collection out, only to be told by some random HMV employee who was supervising the signing that I'm only allowed to get the sleeve signed. I didn't know how to take it. So I just took out my sleeve, got it signed and shook Hideo Kojima, Yoji Shinkawa and Yumi Kikuchi (Raging Raven) hands. Which kind of made it better.

I wanted to take a quick picture of me with Hideo Kojima, so I shook Hideo's hand whilst my brother who came with me took a picture. For some reason, the man supervising the singing on the platform tried to stop my brother taking the picture, saying that no pictures allowed. But luckily my brother managed to take the picture before he could stop him.So now I couldn't take a picture of my brother and Hideo, which could be the first and last time they meet.

Very disappointing. I traveled such a long way, carried a very heavy bag of MGS games for nothing? It could be the last time I meet the man, and I've already gone through a long process of waiting, might as well sign all the games and let me at least take a decent picture.

Signatures after the jump.

Reader Vincent took one for the team. He not only met Uwe Boll, but also saw the early sneak Postal screening. In the same night. Reader Vincent sounds like a total masochist! According to reader Vincent, the movie is a "decent homage" to the game and "decently funny." Writes reader Vincent:

It's mostly an immature and dumb flick, but definitely Boll's best so far (not that that's saying much) and he should probably stick to making funny movies. Boll is a humble guy and I actually felt kinda bad for him, he mentioned being one o the most hated guys in the video game world and seemed kinda depressed saying it. I felt bad, but then I remembered he made House of the Dead /and/ Alone in the Dark /and /Bloodrayne /and /Dungeon Siege and then I didn't feel bad anymore.

Toshihiro Nagoshi? Dirty Pants.

Peeing Next to Bill Gates

You know what I'll tell you. I will look like I'm full of shit if I tell you... I went to the bathroom, and the person next to me was Bill Gates. So, I had more than eye contact. Well, no contact. No, no, there wasn't any contact, right. But, you know, it's kind of a weird situation. You're kinda like, 'I know this guy.' There was no bodyguard or nothing there... That's a true story.

Caught roaming the South Hall at this weekend's E For All expo, former Sonic Team head honcho Yuji Naka spent a good portion of his time cruising the Into The Pixel exhibition, looking for something to occupy his time. If you take a look at Naka's badge, you'll see he's there as a regular Joe, not attending under the name of his development company PROPE, nor as a guest of one of the exhibitors. So, what exactly was Naka doing there? He wouldn't say, unfortunately, and kept mum on what PROPE's plans were, simply opting to enjoy the show.

Wonder if he got in some time with Sonic in Super Smash Bros. Brawl? He orbited the Nintendo booth during my eagle-eyed stalking, but never dove in. He may disapprove.

Castlevania Producer Whips It Out At Signing

Hideo, Igarashi, Doak Gather

We were hesitant to post this, but we can now reveal that we have indeed secured Sony Worldwide Studios bald boss man Phil Harrison's minty fresh chewing gum and have it in our possession. This shot, confirmation of the gum's retrieval from a clean ashtray at our makeshift workspace at SCEE's press conference, was taken just moments after Phil deftly dropped it between our empties. We've already sent the sample to Kotaku Labs to root out traces of Phil's DNA. We plan on creating an army of miniature well-spoken, high-level Sony executives to do our bidding—i.e. updating our PLAYSTATION 3 firmware every few weeks and tending to the collected dust on its piano black finish.

If we have any spares or irregular Phil clones, we're willing to accept offers. Serious inquiries only.

...as i walked in the door Uwe Boll was standing right there. So i had to go over and say hi, i grabbed the attached pic of myself and him and made sure to thank him for pissing off videogame fans everywhere. He mubbled something in German and i heard a few shit and fucks coming out his mouth. ...he is quite a nice guy. I picked up his autograph and walked into the theatre.

Meet Uwe Boll So We Don't Have To

Inafune Up Close

I asked Inafune-san a question,
so I'll quote myself and him verbatim:

Uwe Boll is not a figment of your imagination or a piece of undigested pork. He is very real. If his shoddy motion pictures are not proof enough, then listen to Kotakuite Dane:

On Thursday at the comic-con my brother and I wear walking to the hospitality suite in the nearby Marriott hotel when I noticed an older man in an expensive suit standing next to some black car. I found him to seem strangely out of place, and thought "hey, it's a guy-in-a-suit"(In a slightly pejorative fashion). After I passed the man I hear someone come up to the vehicle; feeling curious, I turned to look,only to see everyone's least favorite director of videogame-to-movie adoptions, Uwe Boll. He expressed relief to the old man, whom I assume was his chauffeur, and quickly entered the car. I pulled out my camera to take a picture, however it takes about five seconds for the camera to start up, and by that time Uwe was already in the car with the door closed. While such a picture would be of little value, I suppose I figured it would have been nice to have a picture to go with this email.

All The Stars At Activision's Conference

Two Lost Planet Signings. Yes, TWO!

Kotaku Stalku: I Finally Touch Mizuguchi

Kotaku Stalku: LocoRoco Creator Caught Drawing On Walls