Author: Andrew Rainnie

In addition to being Warp Zoned's UK Correspondent, Andrew Rainnie is a screenwriter and filmmaker. You can email him at andrew AT warpzoned DOT com or you can, if you're inclined, visit his personal website.

Nights, Sonic Adventure 2 coming to PSN/XBLA in first week of October

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Andrew Rainnie

Sega has announced a release date for the next two “Sega Heritage” HD re-releases on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. Both Nights Into Dreams and Sonic Adventure 2 will be available during the first week of October, with PlayStation players getting the titles slightly earlier than their Xbox brethren on Tuesday, October 2nd. The two games will be added to the XBLA release on Friday, October 5th, three days later. Both games will be available for $9.99 or £6.49 in England or €7.99 in Europe or 800 Microsoft Points on the XBLA.

The two titles will come with a heap of extras. Nights Into Dreams will come complete with the festive add-on, Christmas Nights. Sadly, Sonic Adventures 2’s Battle Mode is paid DLC (for an additional $3.00 / 240 Microsoft Points) and will feature the extra content that came with the GameCube version of the game, including Chao Karate.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 starts scoring on September 25

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Andrew Rainnie

Get your studs on, because Konami’s FIFA rival Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 is coming to the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC on September 25th. The company hopes to hand players an unparalleled level of control over the on-pitch action, making sure every pass, tackle and shot is performed as the gamer intends. As well as the UEFA Champions League, which has appeared in past games, for the first time a Pro Evolution Soccer game will feature all twenty teams from Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A.

As well as the teams, the players will be controlled by what Konami has dubbed ProActive AI, meaning players will not just look like their real-life counterparts, but also behave like them, from how they run and tackle, to which foot they favour when they shoot.

Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Why Akaneiro: Demon Hunters, what a big trailer you have…

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Andrew Rainnie

The first trailer for the Spicy Horse-developed A ctionRPG, Akaneiro: Demon Hunters, has hit the web, and boy is it a beauty. Continuing the theme of dark fairy tales set by Spicy Horse’s owner, American McGee, the game reworks the Red Riding Hood story, transporting it to feudal Japan. The main character, known as the Red Hunter, must protect their village from the Yokai, demons inspired by Japanese myth and folklore.

The free-to-play browser based game will allow you to grow and develop your own character, as well as offering a randomized item system meaning there is an endless variety of loot to collect, buy or trade.

To sign up for the closed Beta, please visit the official website.

Posted in News, PC |

Capcom has no plans to bring EX Troopers to North America or Europe

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Andrew Rainnie

Capcom’s Lost Planet spin-off for the 3DS, EX Troopers, is scheduled for release in the company’s native Japan on November 22nd. However, according to Capcom USA Senior Vice President Christian Svensson, there are so far no plans afoot to release the game in western territories. It is worth noting that he was commenting on current plans, and did not rule out a release in the future, offering fans of the series a sliver of hope. It seems an odd move, given that Capcom trademarked the title for both the US and European markets back in 2011.

The new game marks a conscious shift away from the gritty graphics of the main franchise, offering cel-shaded, manga-style artwork as it pits the players as Bren Turner, a young recruit at an EDN III Academy, who must battle the alien Akrid and Snow Pirates alike.

[Source: Joystiq]

Posted in News | Tagged ,

Nintendo announces Fall 2012 dates for Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses Tour

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Andrew Rainnie

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was the first game in the series to receive a full orchestral score, but Nintendo’s Symphony of the Goddesses concert series recounts the storylines of four previous games: Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess and A Link to the Past. Nintendo has announced a new slate of stops for the tour, which will be conducted by Eímear Noone with arrangements by music director Chad Seiter.

The newly announced dates are as follows:

  • September 15: Toronto; Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
  • September 22: Minneapolis; Orpheum Theatre
  • October 12: Dallas; AT&T Performing Arts Center
  • October 18: Boston; Wang Theatre
  • October 25: Chicago; The Chicago Theatre
  • November 3: San Antonio; The Majestic Theatre
  • November 6: Calgary, Alberta; Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
  • November 28: New York; The Theater at Madison Square Garden
  • December 8: West Palm Beach, Fla.; Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
  • December 9: Miami; Adrienne Arsht Center
  • December 14: San Jose, Calif.; San Jose Civic

In addition to the concerts, the Nintendo World store in New York City’s Rockerfeller Plaza is hosting a series of events on Friday September 14th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Eastern Time). Fans will be able to take part in an ocarina workshop and have their photo taken with Link cosplay model Li Kovacs. The first people through the door will also receive a free goodie bag full of Symphony of the Goddesses merchandise, so get their early!

Posted in Etcetera, News |

505 Games to publish next two titles from Starbreeze Studios

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Andrew Rainnie

In an example of European partnership, Italian outfit 505 Games, best known for releasing the likes of Naughty Bear and MiCoach, will be publishing the next two titles from Swedish developer Starbreeze Studios. Following up their remake of Syndicate, the developer is currently working on action-adventure game P13 in collaboration with filmmaker and fellow Swede Josef Fares, whose most recent film was the Swedish comedy Farsan.

While it may seem an odd fit, Starbreeze’s CEO Mikael Nermark stated, “When we started to plan the next steps for Starbreeze we wanted to find a partner, not just a traditional publisher, and 505 Games fit that criteria. We feel that this collaboration can grow into a long-term partnership.”

In addition to P13, Starbreeze and 505 Games will produce and publish Payday 2, a sequel to Payday: The Heist, currently in development at Starbreeze’s Overkill Studios. Both games are due to be released as downloadable titles sometime in 2013.

Posted in News | Tagged ,

Killzone Trilogy coming to PS3 in October… no one surprised

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Andrew Rainnie

In a move that should surprise no-one, Sony has announced that the Killzone Trilogy will join the HD collection lineup on October 23rd. The Killzone Trilogy will feature all three games, including the original Killzone, now in HD and with full Trophy support. The collection also comes locked and loaded with three multiplayer maps for both Killzone 2 and Killzone 3.

While the front cover artwork suggests the trilogy is Move and 3D compatible, it is more than likely this only applies to the third entry, which already had those features (and is dangerously close to false advertising).

Sony also confirmed (via the PlayStation Blog) the games will be available separately on the PlayStation Network (including the never-before-released Killzone HD), but there were no other details about when that’ll happen or what the pricing of the individual games will look like.

Posted in News, PS3 | Tagged , ,

Wii U version of Ghost Recon Online is “on hold”

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Andrew Rainnie

Despite Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemont praising the Wii U numerous times this year, and with the company developing the very promising ZombiU as well as bringing Assassin’s Creed III to Nintendo’s new console, it seems work has stalled on the Wii U version of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online. The official line from the game’s producer, Theo Sanders, is that the team wants to focus all of their energy on the PC version before work begins on any console version. His full statement can be read here:

“As of right now, the entire Ghost Recon team is focused on the PC version only. The Wii U version is on hold. If in the future we have an opportunity to address it again, we’ll make future announcements. But as of right now we’re focused completely on the PC version. It’s not a reaction to anything specific happening to Wii U. It was a really fun, cool platform to develop for. But you realise once you launch an online service that it’s an all-consuming effort, so we really wanted to have all hands on deck. It was the same dev team working on both SKUs, and we really wanted to focus on doing the PC version right.

It’s hard to say how the future will go for Ghost Recon Online. I think in the future, as different platforms evolve towards service models and towards being really online-driven, community-driven platforms, then we’ll definitely be looking at what our options are… I think it’s one of the strengths of the PC platform and I believe it’s something that all console manufacturers understand to be a strength of the PC platform, and will definitely be looking for interesting and innovative ways to bring their own experiences to.”

Despite the meek promise that the company may return to the project in the future, reading between the lines suggests something else is afoot, especially given all the references to online play in the PC market. It sounds as if Ubisoft is going to wait until after the launch of the Wii U to see if Nintendo’s new online system attracts the numbers deemed necessary to move forward with a free-to-play game.

With Nintendo due to make a major Wii U announcement next week, hopefully with more specific details on the system’s price and its launch date, lets hope it attracts more positive word of mouth than their E3 showing this year.

[Source: Video Gamer]

Posted in News, PC, Wii U | Tagged