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.

XBLA Today: I Am Alive

Posted on March 7, 2012 by John Scalzo

The Xbox Live Arcade House Party has come to a close for another year as Microsoft added the final game, I Am Alive, to the XBLA today. Ubisoft’s I Am Alive has gone through a troubled development cycle that saw multiple delays and it’s eventual downsizing from a disc-based game to an XBLA release.

Will this change of venue do it good? Or will it be a disaster similar to “The Event” it depicts…

One year after a worldwide cataclysmic event has wiped out most of human civilization, a man struggles for survival. Faced with an insecure, decaying, and hazardous world, he scours a desolated city, searching for his long lost wife and daughter. Survive the suffocating, murky streets covered in dust. Climb the teetering remains of the last standing skyscrapers to reach breathable air and find untouched resources. Explore the crumbling ruins of a once-thriving metropolis. And discover a changed human condition, punctuated by distrustful survivors, dangerous armed gangs, and victims in need.

I Am Alive will be available to download for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15). And don’t forget, if you’ve purchased all four House Party titles, you’ll receive a rebate of 800 Microsoft Points ($10).

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

PSN Update: Journey for PS Plus users, MotorStorm RC, lots more

Posted on March 7, 2012 by John Scalzo

Sony unleashed another packed PlayStation Store update yesterday, but the biggest prize is reserved for PlayStation Plus subscribers. If you plunked down the extra cash to become an elite PS3 owner, you’ll receive early access to thatgamecompany’s Journey. Sweet!

Us mere mortals merely have to choose between the adorable RC cars of MotorStorm RC (PSN and Vita versions); Zipper’s Vita debut, Unit 13; the baseball sim, MLB 12: The Show; and a whole lot more.

Hit the jump for a full rundown of this week’s new releases and be sure to visit the PlayStation Blog for details on this week’s game add-ons.

And don’t forget, MotorStorm RC for the Vita is a free download for a limited time. Double sweet! (more…)

Posted in News, PS3, PSP, Vita | Tagged ,

Sony awards 2012 PSN Gamers’ Choice Awards

Posted on March 6, 2012 by John Scalzo

The votes are in and Sony has announced the winners of the 2012 PSN Gamers’ Choice Awards. Unlike all those hoity-toity award shows with their red carpets and fancy clothes, the PSN Gamers’ Choice Awards has something even better. All of the winners are 30% off on the PlayStation Store this week (and PlayStation Plus subscribers get 50% off the original price).

So, with our introductions completed, on to the winners…

Best PSN Exclusive
InFamous: Festival of Blood

Best PSN Game
Resident Evil 4

Best PSN Game Playable Online
Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition

Best PS3 Full Game
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

Best PlayStation Move Game
Dungeon Hunter: Alliance

Best 3D Game
God of War: Origins Collection

Best PlayStation Classic
Chrono Trigger

Best Mini Game
Angry Birds

Best PSP Game
Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy

PlayStation Community Award (Best Indie)
Limbo

Posted in News, PS3, PSP | Tagged , , , , , ,

Dead or Alive 5 kicks high this September

Posted on March 6, 2012 by John Scalzo

Tecmo Koei has informed Joystiq that Dead or Alive 5 will be released this September. The fifth entry in the series will be the first in the series to launch on two systems simultaneously (the PS3 and Xbox 360, naturally), along with the first game in the series without input from series creator Tomonobu Itagaki.

But you’ll actually be kicking high sooner than you realize as Tecmo Koei is adding a Dead or Alive 5 demo to the Xbox Live Marketplace (and very likely, the PlayStation Network too) on March 19. A demo will also be included with copies of Ninja Gaiden 3, which will be available in stores on March 20.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Madden NFL 13 Cover Nominees: NFC North

Posted on March 6, 2012 by John Scalzo

Are you ready for some football? How about a long and drawn out fan vote to decide who will appear on the cover of Madden NFL 13? Well, EA Sports has you covered on both.

And we’ve reached the end. With this batch of nominees, the Madden-maker has revealed every division’s nominees for the game’s cover. The 64-player tournament will initially include two players from each team. Beginning March 7, fans can head over to the ESPN SportsNation Facebook Page to decide who will represent each team in the final 32-player bracket.

Today’s nominees come from the NFC North:

Chicago Bears
Jay Cutler or Matt Forte

Detroit Lions
Calvin Johnson or Matthew Stafford

Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers or Clay Matthews

Minnesota Vikings
Jared Allen or Percy Harvin

It looks like EA saved the best for last as the NFC North nominees may be, on the average, the best eight chosen. Especially when that list includes players like Aaron Rodgers (one of the best quarterbacks in the league), Calvin Johnson (one of the best wide receivers in the league), and Matt Forte (one of the best running backs in the league).

So that’s it. We’re done. Get ready to vote on the play-in matches tomorrow and be sure to review all the other nominees. The Madden Curse is hungry!

Posted in News, PS3, Vita, Wii, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Ridge Racer Unbounded is bound for a delay

Posted on March 6, 2012 by John Scalzo

Ridge Racer Unbounded was originally scheduled to be released today. But if you visited your local game store this morning, you know that’s not entirely accurate anymore.

According to Namco Bandai, that’s because the game has been delayed until “later in 2012.” The publisher fell back on the typical “additional development time” reason for the delay saying “[we want] to pack the disc with features that will truly make the game sing.” Typical, sure, but they did manage to say it in a really unique way, didn’t they?

Namco Bandai also said that a new release date for Ridge Racer Unbounded (along with pre-order incentives and a full list of features) will be announced “shortly.”

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

Lollipop Chainsaw reaches the center of store shelves on June 12

Posted on March 6, 2012 by John Scalzo

Just how many licks would it take to get to the center of a zombie? The world may never know. (And… eww… gross).

But what we do know is that WB Games has set a June 12 release for the Grasshopper Manufacture-developed Lollipop Chainsaw. The sunny and sparkly action game will be coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 and it’s sure to make this one of the hottest Summers on record.

[Source: Joystiq]

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

Mass Effect 3 launch trailer gets you ready for tomorrow

Posted on March 5, 2012 by John Scalzo

Have you already begun lining up at GameStop for their Mass Effect 3 midnight launch? If not, be sure to check out the official launch trailer above to get you even more pumped for the return of Shepard and crew.

Mass Effect 3 will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 in t-minus seven hours, 30 minutes. Are you ready?

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