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
Zelda Producer: Gameplay comes first, where a game fits in timeline is a coincidence
You didn’t think the arguments over the Legend of Zelda’s official timeline were over did you?
After revealing the official timeline to the English-speaking world, GlitterBerri has continued to translate Hyrule Historia on a page-by-page basis. Through her (and her team’s) work, she has discovered that the official timeline is not quite the pre-planned story bible that some fans hoped it would be.
Instead, on page 238, series producer Eiji Aonuma falls back on the traditional Nintendo party line. He confirms that the gameplay hook of a Zelda game is created first and where it fits within the timeline is actually just a coincidence:
Chapter 2, “The Full History of Hyrule,” arranges the series in chronological order so it’s easier to understand, but from the very beginning, Zelda games have been developed with the top priority of focusing on the game mechanics rather than the story. For example, in Ocarina of Time, the first installment of the series I was involved in, the main theme was how to create a game with pleasant controls in a 3D world. Or in the DS game, Phantom Hourglass, the focus was having comfortable stylus controls. Finally, in the most recent game, Skyward Sword, we focused on an easy way to swing the sword using the Wii motion plus.
Thinking of that way of developing the games, it may be correct to say that the story is an appendix to that. I even think that setting Skyward Sword as the “first story,” was merely a coincidence.
So the bottom line is that “The Official Zelda Timeline” is nothing more than an after-the-fact creation used to make Hyrule Historia more enticing to fans. And that’s fine. The timeline as stated still fits together rather elegantly.
But I have to admit, knowing that there was never a plan does put a bit of a damper on the timeline. Especially since Skyward Sword had been billed as the “first story” in the Zelda series since it was announced.
Posted in News
Tagged DS, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, NES, Nintendo 64, Super NES, The Legend of Zelda, Wii
Game Informer reveals new Firaxis-developed XCOM RTS
When 2K Games announced that the next X-COM game would be a first person shooter developed by 2K Marin, the “WTF?” uttered by the franchise’s fans could be heard around the world. But it looks like 2K was listening as the publisher has given Game Informer the first look at XCOM: Enemy Unknown, a real-time strategy game developed by Firaxis.
“It’s been a dream of ours to recreate X-COM with our unique creative vision. We’re huge fans of the original game and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to re-envision a game that is as beloved as X-COM,” said Steve Martin, president of Firaxis Games. “We were careful to keep XCOM: Enemy Unknown true to the elements that made X-COM such a revered game while delivering an entirely new story and gameplay experience for both die-hard X-COM fans and newcomers to the franchise.”
XCOM: Enemy Unknown will appear on the cover of the magazine’s February 2012 issue, and the anti-alien invasion RTS will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 this Fall. As if the game’s strategic bent weren’t enough, Firaxis has also promised that Enemy Unknown will feature “destructible tactical environments, the interaction between the real-time strategic view and the turn-based combat, how the XCOM organization improves its capabilities as the war rages on, and much more.”
The XCOM first person shooter is still scheduled to ship sometime this year (or early in 2013).
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged XCOM: Enemy Unknown
The Batmobile lost its wheel… Gotham City Impostors goes away into February
The Joker got away and sprayed seltzer in the eyes of everyone that was getting ready to buy Gotham City Impostors next week as WB Games announced it has been delayed. The PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 game will now be released in February.
No reason was given for the delay, but an online beta for game is currently ongoing. Perhaps the testers found some problem that Oracle has to fix.
No word on if Robin laid an egg or not.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Gotham City Impostors
House of the Dead 3 and 4 coming to PSN
Sega’s The House of the Dead 4 has never received a console port. So most fans of the series have never had a chance to play it (even though, chronologically, it takes place before the third game in the series). That’ll all change this Spring as Sega plans to release the fourth House of the Dead game exclusively on the PlayStation Network. But first, Sega plans to bring The House of the Dead 3 to the PSN on February 7!
Both games will include a high definition graphical upgrade, Trophies, and PlayStation Move support. Though I’d expect nothing less from this pair of remakes.
Even though it was originally released in 2005, House of the Dead 4’s previous arcade exclusivity basically makes it a new game in the series for most gamers. After the awesomeness of Overkill, I can’t wait.
Posted in News, PS3
Tagged The House of the Dead 4, The House of the Dead III
Nintendo Download: January 5, 2012
Welcome to another week of Nintendo downloads of games you’ve never heard of. Well, that’s not entirely true. The completely free Swapnote application for your 3DS is a pretty cool little instant messaging system. Scribbling on the 3DS with a stylus sure beats trying to coax a text message out of my cell phone!
Here’s what else Nintendo has made available to download this week:
Samurai Sword Destiny (3DS eShop) – Encounter deadly ambushes, invade enemy castle rooftops and square off against seemingly indomitable opponents to find your missing brother.
Quick Fill Q (DSiWare) – Q is a spherical creature who rolls on without stopping. Players must use swift thinking and precise controls to fill holes that are in his way so Q can keep on rolling.
3 Heroes – Crystal Soul (DSiWare) – As the Crystal Champion, you must protect the kingdom of Crystennia by defeating monsters and collecting various kinds of natural energy released by them.
Zombii Attack (WiiWare) – In an infected metropolitan city over-flowing with hungry zombies, you must stay alive armed with a only a giant slingshot and ammo such as anvils, tires, experimental highly-explosive z-bombs and even the undead themselves.
Let’s put on a show! Supergiant performs two songs from Bastion live!
Bastion has been racking up a ton of Game of the Year awards (including our own “This Game Rocks!” Award) for its excellent soundtrack, amazing voice work, and classic gameplay.
So, to celebrate, composer Darren Korb and vocalist Ashley Barrett got together over the holidays to put on an impromptu live performance of “Build That Wall (Zia’s Theme)” and “Setting Sail, Coming Home” at Supergiant’s super-headquarters.
It’s pretty awesome and my virtual lighter has definitely been raised for two talented musicians.
BioWare details Mass Effect 3 pre-order bonuses
Are you planning to pre-order Mass Effect 3? Of course you are, which is good, as BioWare is planning to offer a trio of cool pre-order bonuses for the game.
Regardless of which retailer you place your pre-order with, you’ll receive access to the M55 Argus Assault Rifle. You can check it out in the video above as it delivers “rapid-fire bursts to even the odds.” Pre-order purchasers who use EA’s Orign Store will be able to strap on an AT-12 Raider Shotgun, a gun with “superior firepower.”
Finally, GameStop shoppers will receive access to a complete set of N7 Warfare Gear. The N7 Defender Armor will allow your Commander Shepard to shrug off enemy fire with its “amplified shields” while the “high caliber fire” of the N7 Valkyrie Assault Rifle will prevent any further attacks. To see the N7 Warfare Gear in action, get out another trailer after the break.
Mass Effect 3 will be available in stores for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on March 6. (more…)
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Mass Effect 3
Microsoft Flight goes free to fly this Spring
Microsoft is bringing back their Flight Simulator series in a big way this Spring when Microsoft Flight takes to the skies as a “Free-To-Play” title. And even though the game isn’t being positioned as a big blockbuster like Halo 4 or Gears of War 3, Microsoft Flight is still being stuffed full of interesting extras.
Players will be able to fly over Hawaii’s Big Island in a “highly rendered and accurate” cockpit view or the simpler external view as they “complete a variety of exciting missions, test their skills in flying challenges, or find hidden aerocaches on the island.”
“Many people dream of flying, but few have the chance to experience the fun of exploring the world from above. Microsoft Flight provides players the opportunity to explore that curiosity and interest,” said Joshua Howard, Executive Producer of Microsoft Flight. “Aviation can be incredibly technical, but we’ve taken great care to build an experience that makes taking to the skies thrilling and accessible for everyone.”
By using the free-play model, Microsoft Flight will taxi two planes into player’s hangars after the game is released: the Icon A5, the “jet ski for the skies” (which doesn’t enter production until late 2012), and the legendary Boeing Stearman, which is exclusive to Games For Windows Live users.
And speaking of GFWL, users of Microsoft’s online service will receive additional supplementary missions, access to Achievements, and an Online Pilot Profile for free. As with every “Free-To-Play” game, additional new aircraft, regions and customization options will be available for purchase to all players.
If all this sounds like a pretend pilot’s dream come true, sign up for a chance to enter the closed beta today!
Posted in News, PC
Tagged Microsoft Flight