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
Hideo Kojima to reveal plans for Metal Gear Solid 5 in OPM UK
You didn’t really think Solid Snake’s involvement with the Metal Gear Solid series would come to an end did you?
A few weeks ago, Hideo Kojima spent an entire day with Official PlayStation Magazine UK editor Joel Gregory. During that time, the developer talked at length about the future, including his plans for Metal Gear Solid 5 and the super-secret Project Ogre (which is supposed to not be connected to the Metal Gear Solid saga at all). More Metal Gear musings emerged during the interview such as Kojima’s feelings about the series as a whole, his desire (and failure) to kill Solid Snake off, and his “open and frank opinions” on Metal Gear Solid: Rising.
Official PlayStation Magazine UK’s interview with Hideo Kojima will appear in issue #65, which will be available on newsstands everywhere on November 29.
Mass Effect 3: N7 Edition is a collector’s dream
Are you a massive Mass Effect fan? If so, then listen closely, because BioWare wants to tell you all Mass Effect 3‘s “N7 Collector’s Edition.”
Retailing for $79.99 and available on the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, the N7 Collector’s Edition includes a treasure trove of goodies that fans have been requesting for a long time. I refer, of course, to the commemorative tin case with artwork featuring the official female character model for Commander Shepard. Oh, and MaleShep is on there too… if that’s your thing.
What else can you expect to find in the N7 Collector’s Edition? Behold…
- Premium metal case featuring commemorative artwork of Commander Shepard.
- 70-page hardbound art book featuring hundreds of unique and gorgeous illustrations from the BioWare development team.
- Limited edition Mass Effect comic by Dark Horse Comics, complete with unique cover artwork.
- Join the ranks of the N7 with the premium fabric N7 patch.
- Exclusive 4×6 lithographic print featuring a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork.
- A full collection of in-game content that can’t be found anywhere else!
- N7 Arsenal Pack – Bring the firepower with the N7 Sniper Rifle, Shotgun, SMG, and Pistol.
- Robotic Dog – A faithful sidekick to keep you company on board the Normandy.
- Squadmate Alternate Outfit Pack – New appearances for your favorite squad members.
- N7 Hoodie – For Commander Shepard’s casual days on board the Normandy.
- Relive all the greatest moments of Mass Effect 3 with the digital soundtrack.
- Xbox Live Normandy prop for your Avatar. (Available on Xbox 360 version only.)
- Display your initiation in the N7 ranks with a collection of forum and social badges, avatars, and perks.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Mass Effect 3
Torchlight II suffers a slight delay to ensure it’s “awesome”
Travis Baldree, the President of Torchlight developer Runic Games, has announced that his company’s next project, Torchlight II, won’t make it out in 2011 as previously promised. Baldree wouldn’t commit to a new release date, but he did say, “The amount of time we need to take it the rest of the way is relatively small.” So I think it’s safe to assume that Torchlight II will make it out sometime in the first half of 2012.
In his quest to make Torchlight II “awesome… all the way through,” Baldree doesn’t feel too bad about delaying the game as he (rather correctly) reasons that everyone is already playing all of this Fall’s biggest reasons:
We feel pretty safe in saying that if you enjoyed Torchlight at all, this sequel is superior in every respect. Right now our job is to ensure that the quality level is consistent all the way to the end.
Besides, you’re all playing Skyrim right now anyway, aren’t you? Or Battlefield 3? Or Uncharted 3? Or Saints Row 3? Or Arkham City? Or Skyward Sword? Or Minecraft? Or Modern Warfare 3? Or Dark Souls? Or Assassin’s Creed Revelations?
You definitely can’t say he’s wrong. But he forgot Halo Anniversary.
Posted in News, PC
Tagged Torchlight II
Latest PS4, Xbox 720 rumors point to 2012 release
This is getting ridiculous.
Edge Magazine has finagled a few new next-generation rumors and they’re reporting that the Xbox 720 (or whatever it’s eventually called) will be released in late 2012 alongside the Wii U. Ubisoft Montreal is said to be working on their next project using Xbox 720 “target boxes” (PCs that closely align with the specs of the next Xbox) with preliminary devkits said to arrive any day now.
Another Edge source, corroborating an earlier set of rumors, has told the magazine that an internal Sony studio has begun development on its first PlayStation 4 game.
It’s safe to say that no one is quite sure when the next generation of game consoles will launch. Earlier rumors pointed towards a 2013 release for the PS3 and Xbox 360 successors, but each new rumor seems to point to a different release date. And Nintendo’s plan to launch the Wii U in 2012 surely has Microsoft and Sony mulling all their options, so a 2012 release isn’t an entirely crazy idea.
I have no idea when the next generation is going to begin. But it sounds like your average developer doesn’t know either.
CoD Modern Warfare 3 sets another record: $775 million/12.5 million copies in 5 days
Brace yourself, Activision has a new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 sales record to announce.
In its first five days of availability, Modern Warfare 3 has generated $775 million in sales worldwide. For those scoring at home, that works out to more than 12.5 million copies. That surpasses the previous record of $650 million, set a year ago by Call of Duty: Black Ops.
“As I have said all year, we have been singluarly focused on making a spectacular game for our fans, and nothing else. Our incredible teams at Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games have done just that,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO, Activision Publishing. “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 continues to thrill core gaming enthusiasts as well as draw new people into the medium, which is not an easy balancing act. But it takes more than a great game. I would also like to thank our incredible team for the pulling off the launch of the year, as well as our retail partners around the world. But most of all, I want to thank our fans. They are our toughest critics, and our biggest supporters, and none of this would be possible without them.”
In addition to another sales record, Modern Warfare 3 has also set a new standard for simultaneous players on both the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. According to Microsoft, 1.4 million were playing Modern Warfare 3 at the same time on November 8. The total number of simultaneous PS3 players was not released by Sony.
Check back with Warp Zoned one year from today, where I plan to copy-and-paste this article, replacing every instance of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” with “Call of Duty 9.”
Kirby’s Adventure (in 3D!) added to 3DS eShop
It’s Thursday and Nintendo has, once again, updated their trio of download services. This week’s batch of new games is lead by Kirby’s Adventure. The NES favorite (and Kirby’s first adventure in color and his first on a console) has been given a “3D Classics” makeover for its inclusion on the 3DS eShop today.
Another Legend of Zelda Symphony piece is available for the 3DS’s video service along with these other games:
Escape Trick: Convenience Store (DSiWare) – When our main character tries to leave the convenience store where he works, he finds that the door won’t open and the store looks somehow different. Who would lock him in here? Can he get out of this place?
Play & Learn Chinese (DSiWare) – Play & Learn Chinese is the fast, fun, and friendly way to learn to speak Chinese!
Pinocchio’s Puzzle (WiiWare) – Solve increasingly difficult puzzles as you progress through the classic tale of Pinocchio. In addition to developing sensory skills and hand-eye coordination, you’ll enjoy an endearing and enchanting story told puzzle by puzzle.
More information on all of these games can be found within the Nintendo Download weekly newsletter.
PETA sics a blood-soaked tanooki on Super Mario 3D Land
Did you know that the people of Japan skin tanookis (the little dog-like raccoons that are the basis for Super Mario 3D Land‘s Tanooki Suit) alive to make coats out of their fur? According to PETA, it’s true, and the animal activist organization has created another video game parody to bring this practice to light.
Super Tanooki Skin 2D stars the titular Tanooki as he chases Mario through a blood-soaked Mushroom Kingdom to get his fur back. It’s actually a pretty slick little Flash game, it’s just too bad that no one at PETA seems to know their Mario trivia.
Mario obtains his Tanooki Suit in Super Mario 3D Land by touching a Super Leaf, a magic feather. So no tanookis were harmed during the making of this game because there’s no “suit,” it’s all just magic. Mario, quite literally, turns into a Tanooki, a trickster god common in Japanese folklore.
So leave Mario alone!
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged Super Mario 3D Land
XBLA Today: Xotic
Xotic is the only Xbox Live Arcade release this week. The game is a high score-focused first person shooter, a gametype that casued developer WXP Games to state “there’s never been a game like this before.” Truth in advertising or puffery of the highest order? We’ll let you be the judge:
Think you know shooters? Think again. Xotic is a completely new hybrid; rack up massive point chains, play on 23 levels, and compete globally. Create transparent aerial landing platforms while going for some arcade-style point pick-ups. Use power-ups to boost your abilities. And fire up eight upgradeable weapons to combat the minions of the Orb. All while roaming beautiful but mysterious environments. You’ll see stuff you’ve never seen before, because there’s never been a game like this before.
Xotic is available to download for 800 Microsoft Points ($10).