Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Silent Hill, Dragon Quest, Skyrim, and More Announced as Finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Has Another Big Night and Wins “Game of the Year” at the 2025-2026 DICE Awards
- 2025 GOTY Scoreboard: In Progress
- The Game Awards: All the Winners from 2003 to Today
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Racks Up Nine Wins, Including “Game of the Year”, at the 2025 Game Awards
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- We Pitched a Museum a 1993 Game Hint Line (And They Actually Said Yes) – Yarn Spinner (2026)
- The History Of The Word “Metroidvania” And How It Spread – A Critical Hit (2025)
- Creator of Hit Game Shovel Knight Is at a ‘Make or Break’ Moment – Bloomberg (2025)
- Shadow of the Colossus: An oral history – Design Room (2025)
- In 2005, games started rewiring our brains – The AV Club (2025)
Author: Andrew Rainnie
Wii U might be delayed in Europe… but GamePad covers confirmed
Some good news and some bad news about the impending launch of Nintendo’s Wii successor has leaked out. We’ll start with the good news first.
A listing on Amazon UK for a “Nintendo Licensed Controller Faceplate (Wii U)” confirms that the console’s controller will likely get a fancy cover. Given the amount of mobile phone and tablet customisable covers that exist, it makes sense that Nintendo would seek to exploit this trend and open up another cash revenue. Amazon has pegged it at £14.99 (just over $23), which matches prices for gel skins for tablets.
The bad news, if true, is a much more disappointing rumor, courtesy of CVG. They are reporting that due to the manufacturing of the Wii U GamePad, the European release date of the Wii U may be pushed into early December in order to make sure there is enough supply for the North American release before the lucrative Thanksgiving holiday. While it sounds like gloomy news for Europe, the Wii U is still expected this side of Christmas 2012, whereas only two months ago that date was rumoured to be slipping into 2013.
The Good, the Bad, and the Pig-Faced or… What if The Legend of Zelda were a western?
There have been many fan projects depicting an alternative version of Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda franchise, though my favourite among them is Echoes of the Future, a Fallout-esque dystopian future style rendered by artist Sean Ng AKA Dogbomber. But now a group of filmmakers have done one better.
A Fistful of Rupees is a three-part webseries that mashes up the familiar concepts of the Zelda games with the traits of a western film, with surprisingly good results. The three parts are directed by The Country Club (Nathan Kitada and Aaron T. Umetani) and are named after the pieces of the Triforce: “The Wisdom” (embedded above), “The Power,” and “The Courage.” The series focuses on a lone Link seeking to avenge the death of his friend at the hands of Colonel Ganon, while seeking a treasure in the Gerudo Desert.
While there is little doubt that Zelda Wii U is already well into development, if Nintendo were seeking inspiration for future titles, this could certainly be an interesting, perhaps more adult, direction. Red Dead Zelda anyone?
First details on Rambo: The Video Game
The character of John Rambo, adapted from David Morell’s novel First Blood and immortalised on the silver screen by Sylvester Stallone in numerous outings, has long been absent from video games. Despite a string of early releases on the NES and Sega Genesis, as well as the old home computer systems such as the Atari ST, ZX Spectrum, and Commadore 64, the character has never reconnected with consoles. Even when the last film, simply titled Rambo, was released in 2008, its only accompaniment was Rambo Arcade, a light gun game from Sega.
Until now.
As Sly prepares to unleash The Expendables 2 on the world, Reef Entertainment has announced the first details for Rambo: The Video Game, which is currently in development by Polish outfit Teyon. The game will be based on the first three film entries: First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part II and Rambo III. The “first person shooter with a fixed perspective” will see the one-man-army enter bloody shootouts, conduct stealth kills or generally cause destructive mayhem. Craig Lewis, Commercial Director for Reef Entertainment, sought to reassure fans of the cult classic that they would do it justice:
“For Rambo: The Video Game we are concentrating on authenticity to the films, variety of action and explosive gameplay sequences. By matching classic fixed-perspective play to a contemporary game engine we believe we can deliver a game that matches the pace and action set-piece diversity of the films.”
No release date has been given, but more information about the title, coming to PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, will be released during Gamescom in Cologne later this month.
The Force is free with this one… Star Wars: The Old Republic goes Free-To-Play this Fall
After months of rumours and a dwindling subscriber base, BioWare has finally announced that their MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic, is rolling out a Free-To-Play option this Fall.
Jeff Hickman, the game’s Executive Producer, took to the SW:TOR blog to explain how the team had arrived at this decision:
“Since launch, our team has spent a lot of time trying to find new ways to be able to bring the Star Wars: The Old Republic experience to as many potential players as possible. We quickly became aware that our subscription only model was a major barrier for a lot people who wanted to become part of The Old Republic universe. In fact, many players who have left the game said they would happily come back if they could play without the commitment of a monthly fee.We feel that flexibility and choice in playing our game is important for all current and future players. For that reason, we began the exploration of expanding the game to include a Free-to-Play option.”
But what does it all mean? Essentially, anyone who is a current subscriber can switch to the Free-to-Play option when it rolls out this fall. However, the option does limit a number of the games features. For example, Free-To-Play members will have restrictions on character customization, and certain species will not be available. There will be an as yet unspecified cap on the number of Space Missions you can embark on, as well as limited access to the Warzones and Flashpoints and no access whatsoever to Operations. Current subscribers will also be showered with gifts in the form of Cartel Coins, while Free-To-Play gamers will have to whip out the old credit card should they wish to make in game purchases. A complete comparison between the Free-To-Play option and a monthly subscription can be found at the game’s official website.
So what do you think readers? Is this a move for the good of the galaxy, or a step towards the Dark Side?
Posted in News, PC
Tagged Star Wars: The Old Republic
FIFA 13 announced for Wii U, first details revealed
Not only has EA Sports’ heavyweight soccer title, FIFA Soccer 13, been announced for Nintendo’s upcoming console, but it seems that it will not simply be a port of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions. Rather, EA Sports are looking to utilize the Wii U GamePad’s touchscreen in a variety of ways.
Players will be able to carry out numerous actions via the touchscreen, including tackling, passing and shooting. With tackling and defensive options, you will be able to quickly and fluidly assign men to mark attacking players. When the shoe is on the other foot, you can press the shoulder button or L3 to bring up the goals on the touchscreen when you are in a shooting position. You can then place your shot with pinpoint accuracy. This mode is also used when taking penalties or free kicks; the player will essentially inhabit the footballer and see through his POV, and can use the GamePad to look around to see where his players are in a similar style to Nintendo’s Panorama demo at this years E3 Expo.
Off the field, players will be able to check and analyse player ratings, be it for the whole team or one individual player. Ratings which can be changed can now be done with the simple touch of a finger. When playing as the manager, the GamePad will also allow users to give half-time pep talks to their embittered team if need be.
FIFA Soccer 13 will be available sometime during the Wii U’s “launch window.”
[Source: Official Nintendo Magazine]
Posted in News, Wii U
Tagged FIFA Soccer 13
Kickstart This! Premiere Edition
The phenomenon that is Kickstarter has changed the way we look at game development. In the first ever edition of “Kickstart This!” (we hope to make it a regular feature), we delve deeper into five projects that are being financed by gamers like you.” We will try and focus on those we feel offer an innovative or exciting project in the hope that one or two may fiddle your fancy enough for you to give generously to the projects. (more…)
Quantum Conundrum to receive two DLC packs before Summer’s end
Square Enix has announced that Airtight Games’ Quantum Conundrum will be receiving a double dose of DLC by the end of Summer. The first pack, entitled “Desmond’s Debacle,” will explore an entirely new wing of the Quadwrangle mansion with the former butler and “Chief Button Collector” himself. It will launch on Steam on July 31, and two weeks later on the PSN and Xbox Live.
A month later, players will be able to invest in “IKA-aramba!,” with a mission to rescue the titular IKE (Interdimensional Kinetic Entity). In this DLC, players will have to “leap seemingly endless chasms while traveling through a newly discovered wing of Quadwrangle Manor.” How many undiscovered wings does this mansion have? The second pack hits Steam on August 28 and, once again, two weeks later on the PSN and Xbox Live.
Both packs will be available for the rather reasonable price of $2.99 (or 240 Microsoft Points) for PS3 players, Xbox 360 owners, and Steam users.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Quantum Conundrum
Borderlands 2 has a 58-hour campaign… and development has been completed
Gearbox is certainly giving gamers value for money with the much anticipated sequel to their cel-shaded FPS, Borderlands. In a genre known for its stingy single player campaigns as developers focus on multiplayer, it is heartening to hear what Steve Gibson, Gearbox’s VP of Marketing, had to say about Borderlands 2‘s 58-hour campaign:
“What we like to think about it is, Borderlands is a hobby. Some guide guys just did a playthrough of Borderlands 2 and they reported back to us that it takes 58 hours to play through the campaign – and that’s just one playthrough with one character. So the depth with which people can get into that… Yeah we look at it as a hobby, and that isn’t even counting the new Badass Points system and how that’ll affect every character you do. We want it to feel like you get more for your money, we’re happy for people to pay their money once and feel that they get ongoing value.”
The Badass system Gibson refers to Achievement-esque tokens that the player will receive for performing certain tasks or feats. These can then be cashed in to improve character stats across the board, so if you start the game with a new character class, your Badass ranking will carry over.
Considering the original game took 30-40 hours to complete depending on how many side-quests you chose to do, it looks as if Gearbox has cooked us up quite the psycho stormbrew. The company has announced that the game has been sent for certification, which means it is fully finished, locked, and loaded. The team is now hard at work on post-launch content, including the new playable character, The Mecromancer. The new female cyborg character DLC will be released 60 to 90 days after the game launches, and will be free to members of the Borderlands Premiere Club i.e. those who place a pre-order of the game.
[Source: GamerZines, Gearboxity]
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Borderlands 2