Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon
- Meet the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025: Quake, GoldenEye 007, Defender, and Tamagotchi
- The BAFTA Games Awards Polled the Public and Shenmue is “The Most Influential Video Game of All Time”
- 2024 GOTY Scoreboard: Astro Bot, Balatro, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, More
- The Strong Museum of Play Acquires Prototypes and Development Documents from Volition’s 30-Year History
- Minecraft’s Volume Alpha Soundtrack Has Been Added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry
Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Research Library
- It’s beginning to feel like gaming isn’t for everyone – Digital Trends (2025)
- 22 years later, modders are keeping SimCity 4 alive – The Verge (2025)
- The B-movies of Paul W.S. Anderson double as acts of devotion to his muse, Milla Jovovich – The AV Club (2025)
- Breakout, Ripoff, Genre: How Fiction Outgrows Originality – Uncanny Magazine (2025)
- ‘I Could Make “Fart Fart Boobie Fart: The Game” and Maybe It Would Eventually Get Taken Down’ – Devs Reveal Why the Consoles Are Drowning in ‘Eslop’ – IGN (2025)
Warp Zoned Archives
Monthly Archives: February 2018
Owlboy, Dragon Quest Builders, Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology, more coming to Nintendo eShop this week
It’s Thursday, and Nintendo has offered up yet another hefty eShop update for the Switch.
This coming Tuesday, February 13, Switch owners will be able to download Owlboy, a side-scrolling platformer from D-Pad Studio. The Longest Five Minutes, a new RPG from NIS America, will also be available on the same day.
Both of those games rely on retro aesthetics to pull in players, and Square Enix will use a similar trick in its next game for the Switch. Dragon Quest Builders, a Minecraft-like experience based on the first game in the RPG series, will be available to download for the Switch beginning tomorrow. In addition to the main game, Dragon Quest Builders on the Switch will also include a variety of exclusive content.
Finally, 3DS owners will be able to download Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology early next week. Atlus originally released Radiant Historia for the DS in 2011, and Perfect Chronology is a re-release that includes new story content, upgraded graphics, and “new ways to experience the adventure.”
You can learn more about all of this week’s additions to the Nintendo eShop after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, Switch, Wii U
Tagged Dragon Quest Builders, Owlboy, Radiant Historia
Behind-the-scenes video confirms June 5 launch date for Vampyr
Focus Home Interactive and Dontnod are hoping that players will want to sink their teeth into Vampyr this Spring. In an attempt to sway prospective fans to their side, the publisher and developer have spent the past four weeks uploading a series of behind-the-scenes videos that offer a closer look at the game’s creation.
In today’s video, “Stories from the Dark,” the two companies confirmed that Vampyr will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on June 5:
In Episode IV: Stories from the Dark, Dontnod explain what makes videogames unique compared to other storytelling mediums, as well as their signature approach to narrative. As Narrative Director Stephane Beauverger explains, the player is often occupied with Vampyr’s intricate gameplay systems. Because of this, the exploration, investigations, citizen encounters, combat, and hard-hitting choices are all fundamentally intertwined with the game’s narrative. Game Director Philippe Moreau elaborates, saying that the relationship between a player and their character, as well as the direct feeling of control, is unique to games and something he has worked to make special in Vampyr.
In doing so, Dontnod likens it to theatre, creating a close relationship between actor and spectator that’s more effective and powerful than any film or TV show. Total immersion is the goal, and this episode also highlights how the studio has used motion capture to make the cast of Vampyr that much more human. Subtleties of facial animation can be recreated and combined with the fantastic music, characters, and creatures of the game to produce a living, breathing 1918 London. It’s then up to you who survives it.
Previous episodes in the video series can be found on YouTube.
Dragon’s Crown Pro will be released for PS4 on May 15
Atlus has announced that Dragon’s Crown Pro will make the jump to the PS4 on May 15.
The publisher will add a number of enhancements and upgrades to Dragon’s Crown Pro for its PS4 debut, including 4K visuals, a newly recorded soundtrack, English and Japanese audio options, and more. You can get a glimpse at some of these improvements in the brand new “Co-Op Trailer” embedded above.
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged Dragon's Crown
Mercenary Kings, Little Triangle, Samsara, more added to Xbox Store
The midweek Xbox Games Store update is ready for your perusal, and two Xbox Play Anywhere titles are now available to download…
But first up, Tribute Games has re-released their side-scrolling shooter, Mercenary Kings, for the Xbox One in an expanded and updated Reloaded Edition. In addition to several “minor improvements,” the developer has added a bevy of never-before-seen characters, missions, and weapons to the game.
Also available to download today are Little Triangle, a new party game from Dreamoji, and Samsara, a side-scrolling puzzle platformer from Marker Limited. Both games are part of the Xbox Play Anywhere program and can be downloaded to both the Xbox One and PC with a single purchase.
You can learn more about the rest of today’s additions to the Xbox Games Store after the break. (more…)
NetherRealm unveils the radical first trailer for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Injustice 2
NetherRealm Studios has delivered the radical news that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be added to Injustice 2 later this month.
Injustice 2 owners who also purchased the Ultimate Edition or Fighter Pack #3 will be able to download the Turtles on February 13. Everyone else will be able to purchase them as a standalone download on February 20 for $9.99. Why the higher price? Well, as expected, players will be able to choose which Turtle they take into battle by equipping different pieces of Gear before the fight. So you’re technically getting four new characters for the price of one.
Each Turtle will be able to use their signature weapon (katanas for Leonardo, a bo staff for Donatello, nunchuks for Michelangelo, and sai for Raphael), but all four characters will also have unique move sets, character powers, and special moves. In online modes where specific Gear loadouts aren’t available, players will be able to pick the Turtle they wish to use from the character select screen.
Each character’s unique attack style is on full display in the new Injustice 2 trailer that was released earlier this morning. As you might have guessed, Raphael gets up close and personal with his sai, Donatello attacks from a distance with his bo, Michelangelo pulls out his skateboard for extra damage, and Leonardo is the most agile of the four.
NetherRealm will offer a closer look at the Turtles during the next Watchtower stream on their Twitch channel. Be sure to tune in today at 4:00 PM (Eastern Time).
And be on the lookout for a bodacious Mortal Kombat reference at the end of the trailer.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Injustice 2
Sega will release Puyo Puyo Tetris for PC on February 27
Puyo Puyo Tetris, an ultra-colorful crossover puzzle game from Sega, launched on the PS4 and Switch last year. Yesterday, the publisher announced that it’ll be available to download through Steam later this month:
Puyo Puyo Tetris is the latest PC conversion from Sega and boasts PC exclusive enhanced features including scalable resolutions, fully customisable controls, and mouse-driven menus. As an added bonus and for the first time in the West, players of the new PC version have the option to enjoy the game’s original Japanese voiceovers.
A new trailer for Puyo Puyo Tetris has been embedded above, and players who pre-order the game before it’s February 27th launch date will receive a 10% discount and a pack of exclusive wallpapers and avatars.
Posted in News, PC
Tagged Puyo Puyo Tetris
Overwatch’s “Year of the Dog” event begins tomorrow
Blizzard will kick off Overwatch‘s latest limited-time event, “Year of the Dog,” on February 8. And Game Director Jeff Kaplan revealed a few details about it during the developer’s most recent Developer Update video.
The “Year of the Dog” event will include a brand new map located in Thailand (known as “Ayutthaya”), as well as gameplay updates to Capture the Flag, a special Competitive Capture the Flag mode, and six new Legendary Skins:
Overwatch’s Lunar New Year celebration returns February 8! Join game director Jeff Kaplan as he talks about what to expect from this year’s festivities—including a new Capture the Flag competitive mode, new Capture the Flag map, over 50 new seasonal items, and more.
You can learn more about “Year of the Dog” by viewing Blizzard’s most recent Developer Update video, and it’s been embedded above.
Shadow of the Colossus, Seven Deadly Sins, Under Night In-Birth: Exe Late[st], more coming to PS Store this week
It’s time for another PlayStation Store update, and you might say that this one is colossal-sizrd…
Sony and Bluepoint previously remastered Shadow of the Colossus in 2011, and now they’re returning to Wander’s world for a “built from the ground up” remake on the PS4 that includes completely redone visuals and a brand new control scheme.
Also available to download for the PS4 this week is The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia, an RPG from Bandai Namco based on The Seven Deadly Sins anime.
And finally, Aksys Games will launch the newest version of the Under Night In-Birth series, Under Night In-Birth: Exe Late[st], for the PS3, PS4, and Vita.
You can learn more about the rest of this week’s additions to the PlayStation Store after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PS3, PS4, Vita
Tagged Shadow of the Colossus