Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- BAFTA Games Awards: All the Winners from 2003 to Today
- Clair Obscur Completes the Sweep by Winning “Best Game” at 2025-2026 BAFTA Games Awards
- Boss Fight Books to Get a New Look for Richard Moss’s “Age of Empires”
- GDC Awards: All the Winners from 1996 to Today
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wins “Game of the Year” at 2025-2026 GDC 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: John Scalzo
Weekly Warp-Up: The Single-Stick Edition
No, that’s not a typo. Welcome to the Weekly Warp-Up, your weekly wrap-up of the biggest and the best articles posted at Warp Zoned this week…
Do you miss the hustle and bustle of E3? Even though gaming’s biggest showcase was only a few weeks ago. I guess Nintendo does as they just held another Nintendo Direct presentation, dropping a few bombshells that would have made more sense to come out of Los Angeles.
The biggest story from the presentation was the announcement of the 3DS XL. Scheduled for an August 19 release and sporting screens that are 90% larger than the current 3DS, the 3DS XL is definitely a unique beast.
If the idea of the 3DS XL doesn’t appeal to your (and the general Internet consensus is that the system makes no sense), there’s always the other Nintendo Direct announcements including Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask‘s US release (in November) and the first English-language trailer for Pokemon Black 2/Pokemon White 2.
And there was also the news that Namco Bandai will be developing Super Smash Bros. 4. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s pretty E3-worthy.
Hit the jump for more news that wasn’t quite E3-worthy from last week. (more…)
Posted in News
New Releases: Amazing Spider-Man, Spec Ops The Line, Record of Agarest War 2, More
Spider-Man, Spider-Man. Does whatever a spider can. Spins a web, any size. Catches thieves, just like flies. You’ll see him next in The Amazing Spider-Man.
That’s right, the wallcrawler will make his glorious return to video games this week with the 3DS, DS, PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 adaptation of the soon-to-be hit movie. Look out! Here comes the Spider-Man.
Also available this is 2K’s military shooter, Spec Ops: The Line (PC, PS3, Xbox 360) and Aksys Games’ wild RPG, Record of Agarest War 2 (PS3).
Do you want more new games? Hit the jump for a complete list of this week’s releases. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, DS, News, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
Tagged Spec Ops: The Line, The Amazing Spider-Man
BioWare reveals Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut will be available to download on June 26
It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for, BioWare has announced that the Mass Effect 3 “Extended Cut” will be available to download for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on June 26. The free download is roughly 1.9 GB in size and, according to BioWare, it has been stuffed to the gills with new ending scenes that will expand on the fates of characters you’ve gotten to know across the three Mass Effect games. The developer is even encouraging players to play through the game again, just to see how their choices have been expanded upon in the ending with the Extended Cut.
That might be pushing it, but Executive Producer Casey Hudson and Lead Writer Mac Walters recently sat down with BioWare Community Manager Jessica Merizan to discuss the Extended Cut, and they make a pretty good case for why the Extended Cut will satisfy fans.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Mass Effect 3
This is the first Pokemon Black 2/White 2 trailer in English
Are you a Pokemaniac? Then prepare yourself for the first English language teaser trailer for Pokemon Black 2/Pokemon White 2. Both games will be available this Fall for the DS.
Of course, if you can read Japanese (and don’t mind importing), Pokemon Black 2 and Pokemon White 2 will be available in Japan this weekend.
Posted in DS, News
Tagged Pokemon Black 2/White 2
Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask coming to US in November
Nintendo has announced that the first Professor Layton game for the 3DS, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, will finally make its way to North America in November. The publisher has also confirmed that the puzzle-solving fun won’t end there, promising to add one downloadable puzzle to the 3DS eShop every day for a year after the game’s release.
You can check out a teaser trailer for Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask above.
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask
Nintendo launching 3DS XL (with only one analog stick) on August 19
Nintendo’s latest Nintendo Direct presentation has just ended and Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime has just given us our first look at the 3DS’ first hardware revision. In an absolutely shocking twist, the handheld’s new form still only has one analog stick!
But enough of what it doesn’t have, what is does have is actually kind of impressive. The screens are 90% larger than the ones on the original 3DS and the handheld will be bundled with a 4GB SD card. It’ll also feature increased battery life (6-10 hours) and a choice of two colors: red or blue. The 3DS XL will be released on August 19 and will retail for $199.99. Yup, definitely impressive…
But the lack of a second analog stick still just baffles me. And can you imagine this beast with it’s own Circle Pad Pro attachment? Something tells me Nintendo has given up on the idea of a twin-stick handheld.
Namco Bandai developing Super Smash Bros. 4
Nintendo will hold their next Nintendo Direct address at midnight tonight, but first, they put on a similar show for Japanese audiences and revealed a bit more about Super Smash Bros. 4.
First announced during last year’s E3 Expo, Super Smash Bros. 4 is in the works for the Wii U and 3DS… but not at Nintendo. Company President Satoru Iwata revealed that Namco Bandai has been recruited to develop the game, which will be produced by Masaya Kobayashi, who was formerly head of the Ridge Racer team. But don’t worry, series creator Masahiro Sakurai is also onboard as the Director of Super Smash Bros. 4.
Development on Super Smash Bros. 4 is still likely in the early stages, so it may be a while before we learn more.
Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U
Tagged Super Smash Bros. For 3DS, Super Smash Bros. For Wii U
Retail release for thatgamecompany collection confirmed
Are you a fan of thatgamecompany’s Flow, Flower, and Journey? Or have you never had a chance to experience the company’s work? Whatever the case may be, you’ll soon have the chance to purchase a special Collector’s Edition containing all three games:
@AuburnRDM Yes, the #JourneyPS3 Collector’s Edition is a thing, and it includes #flOwPS3 and #FlowerPS3, but we can’t say anything more.
— thatgamecompany (@thatgamecompany) June 21, 2012
The Play-Asia page in the tweet lists an August 2012 release date for the thatgamecompany collection, so it looks like we won’t have to wait too long to see just how special it is.