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: Rock of Ages, MK Kollection, The Baconing, Ugly Americans

Posted on August 31, 2011 by John Scalzo

This week’s additions to the Xbox Live Arcade are an almost mirror image of yesterday’s PlayStation Store update.

The Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection, The Baconing and Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon all make the jump to the XBLA today. Also available is Atlus’s Rock of Ages, a tower defense game with a twist:

A rock-solid combination of rock-rolling action, deep strategy, and captivating art and music from different ages of history, this is a game of crush or be crushed! Two castles stand opposed; one is yours, the other is your enemy’s. They’re a jerk and their castle sucks, so you’re going to try to smash it using an enormous boulder. Even as they build up their defenses, you’re ready to roll over them in order to raze that unsightly tower. But beware! There’s a giant boulder headed your way, too.

The Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection, Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon and Rock of Ages are all available to download for 800 Microsoft Points ($10). The Baconing has been priced slightly higher at 1200 Microsoft Points ($15).

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

The dinos get bitey in new Jurassic Park trailer

Posted on August 31, 2011 by John Scalzo

The dinosaurs featured in the latest Jurassic Park trailer are hungry. Like, really hungry. Thankfully, nobody pulled a Gennaro and stopped to take a leak.

Are you prepared to run for your life from a raptor or stand still as a T. Rex breathes down your neck? We’ll all get to find out together when Telltale releases Jurassic Park for the Mac, PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on November 15.

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

The “Undead Spokesman” for Rise of Nightmares is gangster

Posted on August 31, 2011 by John Scalzo

“No dancing. No steering wheels. No perky aerobics instructors. And you don’t need friends or loved ones to play”

Sega’s Rise of Nightmares is definitely not aiming for the typical Kinect crowd with that kind of proclamation from their “Undead Spokesman.” See what else the well-spoken zombie has to say as he introduces a nice, clean cut couple to the joys of meleeing a demon ballerina with a boot to the face.

The only way Rise of Nightmares could get more awesome is if it was revealed to be a secret Evil Dead game.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Radiant Silvergun flies onto XBLA on September 14

Posted on August 31, 2011 by John Scalzo

Andriasang passes along word that Treasure’s Radiant Silvergun will be available to download from the Xbox Live Arcade on September 14. It’s currently unknown if this release date applies only to Japan or the whole wide world.

The shooter was originally released in arcades and on the Sega Saturn in 1998, but neither were never released outside of Japan. As such, the game is a highly sought after collector’s item. That’ll change after it becomes available for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15) on the XBLA.

Radiant Silvergun on the XBLA will include updated graphics, two-player online co-op and a special “Ikaruga Mode” for those who have also downloaded Silvergun’s spiritual sequel.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

MK Arcade Kollection, The Baconing, God of War Origins demo added to PS Store

Posted on August 30, 2011 by John Scalzo

Sony’s PSN Play promotion continues with The Baconing ($14.99), the latest installment in the DeathSpank saga. But Hothead’s hero has been pushed aside a bit by another game available today, the Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection ($9.99). Kompiling Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 together for the first time, the Kollection is a dream for arcade rats from the 90s.

These two titles aren’t the only new additions to the PlayStation Store this week. Not by a long shot. Those looking for a new PSN game can also check out one of these five new releases:

  • 4 Elements HD ($9.99) – A match-3 puzzler.
  • Ugly Americans: Apocalypseageddon ($9.99) – A twin-stick shooter featuring the stars of the Comedy Central show.
  • Shock Troopers ($8.99) – A run-and-gun shooter that originally appeared on the NeoGeo.
  • World Heroes ($8.99) – A NeoGeo fighter where you can pit Rasputin against Joan of Arc or have a Hulk Hogan ripoff battle a Bruce Lee ripoff. No Abraham Lincoln?
  • Elevator Action Deluxe ($9.99) – A newly reimagined version of the classic spy caper. Also includes the original Elevator Action.

Finally, PSN Plus users will receive early access to a demo of God of War: Origins Collection.

On the portable side of things, PSP owners will have a chance to download a quartet of new games including their own version of World Heroes and Shock Troopers as well as Madden NFL 12 and the wild Atlus RPG Cladun X2.

More details on all of this week’s new releases and game add-ons can be found at the PlayStation.Blog.

Posted in News, PS3, PSP | Tagged , ,

Gearbox: “Soon, we’ll talk about the next Duke Nukem”

Posted on August 30, 2011 by John Scalzo

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford used his company’s panel at PAX Prime to stand defiant against all the naysayers that thought Duke Nukem Forever was better left as vaporware. He admits the game isn’t great, but he hopes that at least some of us had fun with it.

Pitchford also reiterated that the developer isn’t done with Duke. The world’s greatest hero will return someday and while Pitchford wasn’t ready to talk about it yet, he did say that an announcement of a fully gearbox-developed Duke game will be happening soon.

“And then soon… I know that you guys figured out that, when Gearbox acquired the franchise, we didn’t do it just to make sure we could all play Duke Forever, but because we wanted to make our own Duke game. Soon, we’ll talk about that, but not today. [the crowd cheers]”

So with Brothers in Arms: Furious 4, Borderlands 2 and a new Duke Nukem game (possibly the rumored Duke Nukem Begins) it sounds like Gearbox has a lot of balls in the air… let’s hope none of them turn blue.

[Source: Kotaku]

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Zelda: Skyward Sword limited edition includes gold Wiimote, soundtrack CD

Posted on August 29, 2011 by John Scalzo

Nintendo first announced a special limited edition of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword at E3. Today, they’ve unveiled the gold Wii Remote Plus that’ll be bundled with the game as well as a special soundtrack CD featuring music from the 25th Anniversary Symphony concert. But if you’d rather not spend the $69.99 required to get the limited edition, Nintendo plans to include the soundtrack CD with every copy of Skyward Sword. You’d better move fast, though, as the CD will only be included with the “initial production” of the game.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will be released on November 20. Oh, and Nintendo wants everyone to know the gold Wii Remote Plus will simply be golden in color and will not contain any actual precious metals. Thanks Nintendo!

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Just Dance with Scorpion, Smoke, Sub-Zero and Reptile at PAX

Posted on August 29, 2011 by John Scalzo

Ubisoft brought Just Dance 3 to this weekend’s PAX Prime and in between giving gamers the chance to try out the new Kinect-powered Xbox 360 version, a quartet of ninjas from the Mortal Kombat universe stopped by to shake their groove things to “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” by KISS. OK, it was just a bunch of guys cosplaying as Scorpion, Smoke, Sub-Zero and Reptile. Still pretty awesome though.

Just Dance 3 will be released for the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 on October 11. Ninja costumes not included.

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