Author: John Scalzo

John Scalzo is Warp Zoned's Editor-In-Chief and resident retro gaming expert. You can email him at john AT warpzoned DOT com.

The House of the Dead 4 lurches onto PSN on April 17

Posted on March 15, 2012 by John Scalzo

The House of the Dead 4 is the only game in the light gun series that has never been released for a home console. But thanks to a recent PlayStation Blog post, we know that won’t be the case for much longer.

Sega will add The House of the Dead 4 to the PlayStation Store on April 17, but PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to download a demo on April 10. This demo will be Plus-exclusive until April 24.

Speaking of PlayStation Plus subscribers, they’ll be able to purchase House of the Dead 4 at a 30% discount. Since the game’s already been priced at $9.99 for regular PSN users, that’s quite a deal. And that’s still not all, the game will also include additional levels from The House of the Dead 4 Special.

All this, and PlayStation Move support as well.

Posted in News, PS3 | Tagged

The Amazing Spider-Man battles Iguana in new trailer

Posted on March 15, 2012 by John Scalzo

Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever… Activision makes him do. Hmm, that doesn’t quite work. But no matter, true believers! We have a new trailer featuring The Amazing Spider-Man.

This Summer’s movie of the same name will feature Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) wooing Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), booing Captain George Stacy (Denis Leary), and battling The Lizard (Rhys Ifans). And in the trailer above, we get our first look at The Iguana, a mutated iguana that, according to Marvel lore, was created when Dr. Curt Connors first transformed himself into The Lizard.

The Iguana? Seriously? Apparently, he has the same powers as The Lizard, but he can also hypnotize people. Man, the 70s were a weird time for comics weren’t they?

But no matter! The Amazing Spider-Man will be available for the 3DS, DS, PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 on June 26. Excelsior! And such.

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Microsoft: Xbox 720 will not be announced at E3 2012

Posted on March 15, 2012 by John Scalzo

If you were hoping for an Xbox 720/Xbox Next announcement at this year’s E3 Expo, you can forget it. Microsoft has confirmed (to Game Informer) that the successor console to the Xbox 360 will not be making an appearance at this June’s industry showcase.

Ryan James, Group PR Manager for Microsoft Studios, said, “While we appreciate all the interest in our long-range plans for the future, we can confirm that there will be no talk of new Xbox hardware at E3 or anytime soon. For us, 2012 is all about Xbox 360—and it’s the best year ever for Xbox 360. The console is coming off its biggest year ever—a year in which Xbox outsold all other consoles worldwide.”

Sony made a similar pronouncement in January, so it looks like the Wii U will be the only next generation console at E3 2012.

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged

Game Gear titles come to the 3DS eShop in this week’s Nintendo Download

Posted on March 15, 2012 by John Scalzo

The 3DS Virtual Console has absorbed another classic system as a trio of Game Gear games were added to the 3DS eShop today. Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble, Shinobi, and Dragon Crystal can all be downloaded today!

Joining them are the DSiWare title Pirates Assault and the Wii Virtual Console release of Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa’s Revenge.

Finally this week, the first installment of the Kid Icarus 3D Anime, “Thanatos Rising,” is available to download to your 3DS.

More information on all of these titles can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, Wii |

Diablo III has a release date: May 15

Posted on March 15, 2012 by John Scalzo

According to Blizzard, the end is nigh! Diablo III will be available in stores and online on May 15, 2012.

“After many years of hard work by our development team and months of beta testing by hundreds of thousands of dedicated players around the world, we’re now in the homestretch,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We look forward to putting the final polish on Diablo III over the next two months and delivering the ultimate action-RPG experience to gamers worldwide starting on May 15.”

And if you absolutely can’t wait, Blizzard has begun offering digital pre-orders through the Blizzard.com website.

Posted in News, PC | Tagged

Console versions of Risen 2 drop anchor in May

Posted on March 14, 2012 by John Scalzo

Deep Silver has announced that the console version of Risen 2: Dark Waters has set sail for the muddy waters of May.

Previously scheduled for an April 24 release, Risen 2 for the PS3 and Xbox 360 will now be available on May 22. The release date of the PC version was unchanged and remains April 27.

I hope somebody was forced to walk the plank for this! Arrrrr!

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

XBLA Today: Defenders of Ardania, Shoot Many Robots

Posted on March 14, 2012 by John Scalzo

Two Xbox Live Aracde games vie for your downloadable dollar today. The first, which is priced at 1200 Microsoft Points ($15), is the tower defense game Defenders of Ardania:

Defenders of Ardania is a next generation tower defense game set in the fantasy world of Majesty, where you can take control over both the defending- and the attacking sides. The game is set in the fantasy world of Majesty with 3 different playable races, each with their own, distinguishable locations, towers, and units. Its innovative new game concept adds a RTS element and takes the popular genre to a new level. Multiplayer offers three different game modes with the players assuming either the defensive or the offensive sides – or both!

The second game in this week’s update is a very descriptively titled shooter game, Shoot Many Robots, which is available for 800 Microsoft Points ($10):

Shoot Many Robots is a 4-player co-op run-n’-gun action game starring robot slayer and gun aficionado, P. Walter Tugnut. From a gun that shoots garden gnome missiles to a tutu that boosts speed and damage, there are hundreds of crazy guns and gear to unlock that boost Walter’s stats – not to mention, make him look pretty. You and three friends can team up to exterminate a zillion robots while progressing through tons of missions, facing uncomfortably epic bosses, and leveling up along the way.

Shoot Many Robots was also added to the PlayStation Store yesterday.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Here’s your Lollipop Chainsaw voice cast

Posted on March 14, 2012 by John Scalzo

Writer/Consultant James Gunn (Dawn of the Dead, Slither) has assembled an impressive voice cast for Lollipop Chainsaw‘s western release. In addition to pulling in some familiar names with geeky cred, Gunn even called in a familial favor for the game’s villainous center.

That’s right, in a move that will be sure to get fans of “The Gilmore Girls” playing Lollipop Chainsaw, James Gunn has hired his brother, Sean Gunn (who starred in GG as Kurt), to play Swan the necromancer (called it). His “Gilmore Girls” co-star, Gregg Henry, is also along for the ride as Juliet’s Father.

So who’ll be playing Juliet Starling, the blonde and perky cheerleader that’s trying to stop this zombie uprising? That’ll be Tara Strong, who most recently provided the voice of Harley Quinn in Batman: Arkham City.

Rounding out the cast will be:

  • Linda Cardelleni (star of “Freaks and Geeks” and Velma from the Scooby-Doo movies) as a fellow demonhunter, Cordelia.
  • will play her sister Rosalind.
  • Michael Rosenbaum (Lex from “Smallville”) will play Juliet’s boyfriend Nick, a disembodied head.
  • Jimmy Urine, from the band Mindless Self Indulgence, will voice the “deranged” Zed.
  • Finally, Shawnee Smith (of the Saw films and “The Stand”) and Michael Rooker (who starred in Slither) will voice two additional characters.

Lollipop Chainsaw will be available for the PS3 and Xbox 360 on June 12.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged