Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Jordan Minor’s “Boss Fight Books: Super Mario Galaxy” is Now Available for Pre-Order
- Angry Birds, Dragon Quest, FIFA Soccer, and Silent Hill are the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
- 2025 GOTY Scoreboard: In Progress
- 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
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- With Grand Theft Auto 6 poised to take over the world, I reached out to Jack Thompson and it did not go well – PC Gamer (2026)
- Vib-Ribbon: An oral history – Design Room (2026)
- How a Second-Grade Teacher Revived a Beloved Video Game – The New York Times (2026)
- Spore: An oral history – Design Room (2026)
- Diablo IV PC Cooled With Real Human Blood Is Still Going Strong Two Years Later, Says Guy Who Won It – Aftermath (2026)
Author: John Scalzo
Zynga acquires Draw Something developer
Zynga, the ubiquitous juggernaut behind FarmVille, CityVille, Words With Friends, and a lot of other Facebook timewasters has acquired OMGPop, the developer behind the newest iOS sensation, Draw Something.
“The OMGPop team has created a game that’s fun, expressive and engenders real social interaction,” said Mark Pincus, founder and CEO of Zynga. “Draw Something has captured the imagination of millions of people around the world. We love the way they’ve worked playful and relevant culture into their games from Devo to Daft Punk, from Lin to Beckham. We’re honored to have the opportunity to partner with and support such an innovative team of creative inventors.”
Just how big is the Draw Something phenomenon? The game has been downloaded 35 million times (to be fair, it is free) and players have created over one billion drawings in the last week alone. So, that big.
Or in other words, if OMGPop CEO Dan Porter is ever asked to draw “fat stacks of cash,” he just draws a picture of himself.
Posted in Mobile, News
Tagged Draw Something
BioWare co-founder comments on Mass Effect 3 backlash, hints at new ending DLC
Developers at BioWare can’t stop talking about Mass Effect 3 and the fan backlash concerning the ending. They preface each new comment with some variation of “we’ll talk about it later” and then they proceed to talk about it right now in that diplomatic PR-speak that artists and entertainers use when they’ve screwed up: “I’m sorry, the team was great, I’m sorry, everybody else seems to like it, I’m sorry…”
The latest person to join the backlash bandwagon is BioWare co-founder Dr. Ray Muzyka, who took to the BioWare Blog to praise the development team, crow about the very positive critical response, and to again admit that answers to fan complaints are coming in “a timely way.”
But Muzyka also spoke about BioWare’s post-release plans for Mass Effect 3 including “a number of game content initiatives that will help answer the questions [of the ending], providing more clarity for those seeking further closure to their journey.” While he didn’t come right out and say it, it seems likely that a “new ending” DLC pack is in the works as these content initiatives will join several additional Mass Effect 3 expansions the team was already developing. The developer promised that more information about these content initiatives will be revealed in April.
The BioWare General Manager also confirmed that the Mass Effect franchise will continue with “new full games” in the series. So let’s hope the launch of Mass Effect 4 (or whatever it’s called) goes much smoother.
Muzyka closed by thanking fans for their feedback and, once again, tried to assure them “we are listening.”
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Mass Effect 3, Mass Effect: Andromeda
Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers are #1 seeds in Madden NFL 13 cover bracket
The votes from the “play-in round” have been tabulated and the 32-man Madden NFL 13 cover bracket is now live at ESPN’s SportsNation site.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers were seeded by EA Sports in the number one slots. New England Patriots Tight End Rob Gronkowski and Victor Cruz of the New York Giants are nipping at their heels as the number twos.
By scheduling the “play-in round” before the beginning of free agency, several teams won’t be represented in the final bracket while others have multiple players in the tournament. Brandon Lloyd was selected as the player from the St. Louis Rams, but he’ll don a Patriots jersey this Fall and Tim Tebow was traded to the New York Jets just minutes before the bracket was unveiled.
You can check out the complete bracket after the break and remember to vote in Round One of the Madden NFL 13 Cover Vote, which runs from today until March 28. (more…)
XBLA Today: Sine Mora, Rayman 3 HD
Wednesday is here and Microsoft has updated the Xbox Live Arcade with two new titles today.
The first is a side-scrolling, steampunk, shoot ’em up from Suda 51 titled Sine Mora. It’s available to download for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15):
Sine Mora is a horizontal shoot’em up that provides a unique take on challenge, where time is the ultimate factor. Mixing classic shooter sensibilities with contemporary presentation, SINE MORA is a gorgeous shmup that offers a Story Mode that weaves an over-the-top tale and an Arcade Mode that provides deep, satisfying gameplay to challenge fans of the genre. With many ways to manipulate time, Sine Mora features over 60 weapon combinations to complete each beautifully-crafted stage that form fits to the player’s skills with scaling difficulty. Soundtrack composed by Akira Yamaoka and featuring boss designs by Mahiro Maeda.
Also available this week is a classic platformer remade in HD for the XBLA, Rayman 3 HD. It’s available to download for 800 Microsoft Points ($10):
Embark on a fantastic and humorous journey with Rayman and Globox to save the Crossroad of Dreams. Masterfully enhanced with eye-popping High Definition visuals and sounds, Rayman 3 HD is the definitive version of the Rayman classic Rayman 3: Hoodlum’s Havoc, and a must-play for all Rayman fans and platform adventure game enthusiasts.
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged Rayman 3 HD, Sine Mora
First Walking Dead trailer, pricing details shamble into focus
After months of teasing, Telltale Games is finally ready to satisfy the hunger of gamers everywhere looking for details about The Walking Dead. The first episode of the five-part series will be available for the PC, Mac, iOS, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade. PSN, XBLA, and iPod/iPad owners will be able to purchase it for $5 (or the Microsoft-approved equivalent) while PC/Mac players will have to pre-purchase the entire series for $24.99.
However, those that pre-order the PC game before it’s release will receive a 10% discount and be entered into a contest to become a character in the game. According to Telltale, “they will be modeled as a human survivor before being killed and then returned to life as a ravenous zombie.” Kick ass!
In addition to a release window, pricing information, and the first trailer, Telltale has also released a story synopsis:
An untold story following convicted criminal Lee Everett; a man given a second chance at life in a world gone to hell. With danger around every corner, protecting an orphaned girl named Clementine may offer him redemption in a world of true horror.
Dan Connors, Telltale’s co-founder and CEO is understandably excited: “This trailer really shows off how our artists have managed to take the 2D art style of the comic books and create a 3D world allowing fans to truly interact with Robert Kirkman’s world for the very first time. We hope that fans will like what they see and be excited by the chance to join the cast of the game; we promise they’ll die horribly!”
That better be a promise, Mr. Connors!
GAME Group enters administration; “no equity” left in company
Looks like it really is Game Over for British retailer GAME.
The chain’s parent company, The GAME Group, announced this morning that it was removing itself from the London Stock Exchange because “there is no equity value left in the Group.” Things went from bad to worse a few hours later when the company announced that it would also be entering administration (the British equivalent of bankruptcy).
The GAME Group operates over 1,200 stores throughout Europe and almost 100 in Australia. Their troubles began when they could no long afford to stock those stores with the latest releases like The Last Story, SSX, Mass Effect 3, and more.
Hopefully this ends well for GAME’s many employees and gamers all across Europe.
Posted in News
PSN Today: Rayman 3 HD, Sumioni: Demon Arts, more
Tuesday is ticking to a close and Sony has updated the PlayStation Store with a quartet of new games. There’s the inky Vita adventure Sumioni: Demon Arts; Tecmo Koei’s demon brawler, Warriors Orochi 3; an HD remake of a classic platformer, Rayman 3 HD; and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, THQ’s action spinoff of the tabletop game.
Details (and pricing) for all of these titles can be found right here with a full list of new game add-ons at the PlayStation Blog.
PSN Games
Warriors Orochi 3 ($49.99)
Years after the battle against Orochi, the Serpent King, the heroes of the Three Kingdoms and Warring States face a new threat. A terrible and colossal monster casts its shadow across the land and defeats most of the brave warriors.
Rayman 3 HD ($9.99)
Embark on a fantastic and humorous journey with Rayman and Globox to save the Crossroad of Dreams.
PS3 Full Games
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine ($39.99)
Step fearlessly into the heart of combat as Captain Titus of the Ultramarines, unleashing visible violent death against the enemies of mankind in the first 3rd person action shooter set in the dark future of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
PS Vita Games
Sumioni: Demon Arts ($19.99)
Take control of Agura, a Sumioni, or “Inkdemon”, who’s been called upon to white out a blot of evil upon feudal Japan. Guide him through 2D side-scrolling levels and unleash his powers by drawing brush strokes on the touchscreen.
Posted in News, PS3, Vita
Tagged Rayman 3 HD, Warhammer 40000: Space Marine
BioWare cancels Dragon Age II expansion, asks for fan feedback on franchise’s future
Dragon Age II was released more than a year ago and while many players were disappointed in the new direction the series took, the adventures of Hawke still had plenty of fans. However, it looks it wasn’t enough as Executive Producer Mark Darrah has confirmed (via Twitter) that an expansion for the game, titled Dragon Age II: Exalted March, was recently canceled.
Afterwords, Darrah ventured into the BioWare Forums (a scary place nowadays) and revealed a little more about the future of the franchise. According to the developer, Dragon Age II won’t be completely forgotten as BioWare will try to complete Hawke’s tale in a future game.
He also confirmed that the Dragon Age team will be listening very closely to fan feedback and incorporating it into Dragon Age III:
We’ll be attending a number of conventions and gatherings, including PAX East in April. The most valuable thing we can get out of those meetings is to hear from you on those same topics – what does Dragon Age mean to you, and where would you like to see it go? We’re excited to hear what you have to say!
Interesting. Was this the plan all along or did the Mass Effect 3 backlash rewrite BioWare’s entire culture?
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Dragon Age II, Dragon Age: Inquisition