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.

Complete list of all Redbox games; nationwide rentals begin today

Posted on June 17, 2011 by John Scalzo

The time has arrived, video game rentals are now available at Redbox machines across the country. Beginning today, gamers will be able to rent a variety of PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 titles for $2 a day. After 30 days (and $60 in total rental fees), the game will be yours to keep.

Users can visit Redbox.com/games to browse a list of games available at their local kiosks as well as reserve a game for pickup right from the website. The initial inventory includes 38 different titles which run the gamut from family friendly shovelware to the latest hardcore games, such as Duke Nukem Forever, Infamous 2 and Red Faction: Armageddon. Multi-disc games will not be available at Redbox kiosks, so the PS3 version of L.A. Noire made the cut while the Xbox 360 version did not.

You can view the complete list of games available to rent from Redbox after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 |

Sega exec hints at HD Sonic on Wii U

Posted on June 16, 2011 by John Scalzo

A week ago, Sega’s Executive Vice President of Marketing told GameSpot that Sonic Generations wouldn’t be coming to the Wii U. This was surely disappointing news for many Sonic fans.

Thankfully, Mike Hayes, the President of Sega West has some good news to balance it out. Talking to GamesIndustry.biz, he revealed that the company plans to bring a high definition Sonic game to the Wii U, possibly in time for the system’s launch:

“That controller is absolutely brilliant and we have to think of innovative ways to use it. We’re doing high definition Sonics, we’re doing obviously Aliens: Colonial Marines, so you can bring them across, and that’s relatively low cost, which is good news.”

So it’s not Sonic Generations, but it’s HD and it’ll be ready for release in about a year… maybe. Figuring out what’s going on with the Wii U is hard.

Posted in News, Wii U |

Activision unveils Annihilation map pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops

Posted on June 16, 2011 by John Scalzo

Confirming everything from yesterday’s leak, Activision has announced that the third map pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops will be available to download from the Xbox Live Marketplace on June 28. As always, the pack will be priced at 1200 Microsoft Points ($15).

The CoD: Black Ops Annihilation Map Pack will consist of four multiplayer maps (Hangar 18, Drive-In, Silo and Hazard) and a new “Zombies experience” known as Shangri-La.

“Shangri-La [is] an exotic and mysterious map filled with deadly traps, dark secrets and innovative gameplay that will challenge even the most daring zombie hunters,” said Treyarch Studio Head, Mark Lamia.

If you plan on picking up the map pack, you might also want to know Activision plans to pair it with a Double XP Weekend beginning Friday, July 1.

The Annihilation Map Pack will also be released for the PC and PS3 at a later date.

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

Nintendo Download: Donkey Kong ’94, Mega Man V

Posted on June 16, 2011 by John Scalzo

Nintendo has pushed out the first Thursday update of their weekly Nintendo Download with another Game Boy re-release, a mega Virtual Console update and a bevy of DSiWare titles.

Donkey Kong was originally released on the Game Boy back in 1994 and was the first major sequel to the arcade classic. It’s available this week on the 3DS eShop. Also this week, the Wii’s Virtual Console continues its dash through the Mega Man catalog with the addition of Mega Man V.

Five other games were added to the various download services today and you can read more about them at Nintendo’s official site:

All DSiWare games are also available on the 3DS eShop.

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, Wii |

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon credits go 8-bit

Posted on June 16, 2011 by John Scalzo

It’s Video Game Week on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” and the geeky television host has given his opening credits a demake that pays homage to the classic “cut scenes” found in 8-bit mainstays like the Mega Man series and Ninja Gaiden.

I admit, I was one of the people who groaned when Fallon was given Conan O’Brien’s chair, but the man has proven himself to be a good host and a great ambassador for gaming. Way to go Jimmy and have fun during the rest of Video Game Week, which has featured some of 2011’s biggest titles, including Gears of War 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Posted in Etcetera, News |

Official Batman: Arkham City box art released

Posted on June 15, 2011 by John Scalzo

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has unveiled the official box art for Batman: Arkham City. Continuing the whitewashed aesthetic that has been the game’s trademark since it was announced, the cover shows Batman ready to dispense some Gotham City justice on some poor soul’s face. And he’s got the bloody knuckles to prove it. If you want a closer look at the box art, just click on the image to your left.

Batman: Arkham City will be released for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on October 18. A Wii U version is also in the works.

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

EDF: Insect Armageddon goes gold, gets new trailer

Posted on June 15, 2011 by John Scalzo

D3 Publisher has passed along the news that Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon has finished development and “gone gold” for the PS3 and Xbox 360. The sequel to one of the greatest games of this generation will be available in stores on July 5. Best of all, Insect Armageddon has been priced at a wallet-friendly $39.95.

Prepare yourself for the biggest bug hunt of the Summer with the latest trailer for the game, which you can view above.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Devil’s Third delayed to 2013, Wii U release likely

Posted on June 14, 2011 by John Scalzo

Even though his game wasn’t playable during last week’s E3 Expo, Tomonobu Itagaki is still hard at work on his first post-Team Ninja game, Devil’s Third. Published by THQ, the game was originally targeting a 2012 release date, but Itagaki revealed that early 2013 is a much more realistic release date.

The developer also stated that his team at Valhalla Game Studios and THQ wants to bring the PS3 and Xbox 360 title to the Wii U as well. Nothing is ready to be announced yet, but the two companies are “actively looking into it.” Itagaki said that he’s very excited about the possibilities the Wii U can offer.

Finally, the developer confirmed we’ll learn more about Devil’s Third at the Tokyo Game Show in September.

[Source: Andriasang]

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