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
Steam Box confirmed? Valve hiring engineers to work on new “platform hardware”
A few weeks back, there were rumblings that Valve was in the process of creating a PC/console hybrid that the media affectionately dubbed the “Steam Box.” Valve co-founder Gabe Newell brushed the rumors aside, telling The PA Report, “It’s definitely not the first thought that crosses our mind; we’d rather hardware people that are good at manufacturing and distributing hardware do that.” But in the same interview, he also told PA Reporter Ben Kuchera, “[I]f we have to sell hardware we will.”
However, with the latest addition to the company’s Job Listings page, “have to” may shifted to “want to.” It seems that Valve is looking for an Electronics Engineer who will…
Work with the hardware team to conceive, design, evaluate, and produce new types of input, output, and platform hardware
Sure sounds like a “Steam Box” to me.
Nintendo Europe lets a Pandora’s Tower launch trailer out of the box
First there was Xenoblade Chronicles, an action RPG from Monolith Soft. Then there was The Last Story, an RPG from Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. And today, if you live in Europe, there’s Pandora’s Tower, possibly the last Nintendo-published game on the Wii.
The three games have become a rallying point for Operation Rainfall, a grassroots effort to convince Nintendo to release the previously Japanese-only titles in the US. The group has already succeeded with Xenoblade Chronicles (which was released last week) and The Last Story (a Summer release is planned), but there’s still been no word on Pandora’s Tower. With the game now available on European store shelves, perhaps that’ll change.
I, for one, am definitely pulling for a North American release for Pandora’s Tower. Just check out the trailer above with its operatic score, British voices, and Japanese aesthetic. Pandora’s Tower could be a hack and slash for the ages.
Posted in News, Wii
Tagged Pandora's Tower
Crysis 3 to be unveiled on April 16
Developers at Crytek have made mention of their plan for a “Crysis trilogy” on more than one occasion. So hearing that the header image of Crysis 3 above was leaked by EA’s Origin store isn’t exactly a shocker.
What is surprising is that EA confirmed the rumor by telling Game Informer: “The best kept secret in shooters just can’t be contained. Stay tuned for more information on April 16.”
So check back Monday when we’ll learn more about Crysis 3.
Mass Effect 3 tops NPD bestseller report for March 2012
Whether you loved Mass Effect 3‘s ending or you hated it, one thing’s for certain, BioWare made a ton of money selling you the game. In what should be a surprise to no one, Mass Effect 3 took the top spot in The NPD Group’s report of the bestselling games in March 2012.
Even though March was a bit of a slow month for new releases, the remainder of the top ten is populated almost totally by games released in the last four weeks including Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (#2), MLB 12: The Show (#3), SSX (#5), Street Fighter X Tekken (#6), Mario Party 9 (#7), Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations (#9), and Major League Baseball 2K12 (#10).
Whew!
Hit the break to see the full top ten, including the pair of holdovers from the February 2012 report. (more…)
Posted in DS, News, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Vita, Wii, Xbox 360
Tagged Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Major League Baseball 2K12, Mario Party 9, Mass Effect 3, MLB 12: The Show, NBA 2K12, NPD, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, SSX, Street Fighter X Tekken
April’s Modern Warfare 3 maps now available on CoD Elite
In case you’re still in a PAX East-induced coma, you might like to know that Activision and developer Infinity Ward have deployed the Call of Duty Elite content drops for April. Available only for CoD Elite Premium subscribers on the Xbox 360, two new multiplayer maps await those who download the latest Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 content:
“Sanctuary”
Suspended in the air one thousand feet up, you’ll battle more than altitude in the towering sandstone monasteries of Central Greece. Formed over millions of years, this sanctuary’s natural rock pillars have repelled invading armies and withstood the ravages of time but now they’ll face your deployment. Test your skills—and the ancient monks’ craftsmanship—with your arsenal of SMG’s, assault rifles and shotguns. Just remember: don’t look down.
“Foundation”
Journey into the heart of South Korea for a decommissioned concrete factory where the cement flows and bullets fly. After decades of constructing roads and buildings, the towering facility is now a perfectly-constructed combat zone for sniping and run-and-gun rules of engagement. Don’t stand in awe of the towering concrete crusher at the center of the factory unless you want to see your kill ratio meet the same fate.
Both maps will be available to non-Elite subscribers on the Xbox 360, as well as PC and PS3 players, soon.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Nintendo Download: Ketzal’s Corridors, Anne’s Doll Studio
Nintendo is adding only two games to their various download services today, which is quite possibly a first for the company. Perhaps the creation of WiiWare and DSiWare games is coming to an end?
But any future speculation hasn’t stopped today’s addition, which include the Tetris-like puzzler Ketzal’s Corridors (3DS eShop) and paper doll simulator Anne’s Doll Studio: Tokyo Collection. Yes, you read that correctly.
More info on both of these games can be found after the break. (more…)
Bethesda adding Kinect support to Skyrim
In a few weeks, yelling “Fus Ro Dah!” as you play The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim won’t just result in snickers from your housemates. If you’re gaming on an Xbox 360 and you’ve got a Kinect sensor, that Dragon Shout (and over 200 more commands) will be recognized by the game.
Kinect support will be added through a free title update that’ll be available later this month. Bethesda plans to release the full list of voice commands soon, but for now, here’s how they’re going to integrate your Kinect sensor into the world of Skyrim:
Adding a new dimension to Skyrim’s gameplay, the Kinect for Xbox 360 integration offers Voice Commands throughout the game including Dragon Shouts, Hotkey Equipping, Follower Commands, and all Menus (Items, Magic, Map, Barter, Container, Favorites, and Skills). With Voice Commands, quickly create and load saves during gameplay and access menus and inventories. Skyrim’s Kinect for Xbox 360 Support also adds new functionality including special map functions, additional hotkey options, and the ability to sort inventory items by name, weight, and value.
Hopefully they’ll also add in a command that kills your character instantly if you say “Then I took an arrow to the knee.”
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Lollipop Chainsaw Hands-On Preview: Gimme An F! Gimme A U! Gimme An N!
Lollipop Chainsaw was definitely the hottest game at this weekend’s PAX East expo. Between the lengthy line to play a demo, the awesome foam chainsaws available at the booth, and a cosplaying cheerleader that showed so much skin she was removed from the show floor, everyone was trying to sit in the back of WB’s bus. But what about the demo? (more…)
Posted in Previews, PS3, Top Story, Xbox 360
Tagged Lollipop Chainsaw, PAX East 2012