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.

NIS America will release RPG Maker Fes for the 3DS this Summer

Posted on February 19, 2017 by John Scalzo

3DS owners will get the chance to create their own RPGs when NIS America brings RPG Maker Fes to the handheld this Summer.

RPG Maker Fes doesn’t require any programming skills, and players will be able to create a unique game with an original plot and characters, a cutomized battle system, and much more.

Dedicated RPG makers will also be able to share their creations through the RPG Maker Player app, which will be available to download through the 3DS eShop. Best of all, according to a post on the NIS America Blog, “The RPG Maker Player app allows anybody who has downloaded the app to play other player’s RPGs, absolutely free.”

A short teaser trailer for RPG Maker Fes has been embedded above.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged

Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is finished; Coming to Switch in March and other platforms in April

Posted on February 19, 2017 by John Scalzo

Yacht Club Games has announced (via Twitter) that they’ve completed development on Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment, the latest expansion to their NES-inspired platformer, Shovel Knight. The developer expects to launch Specter of Torment first for the Nintendo Switch in March. It’ll later be available as a free update on all other platforms (3DS, PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One) in April.

The Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove compilation (as well as the Shovel of Hope and Plague of Shadows standalone campaigns) should also be available for the Switch in March, with additional platforms to follow a month later.

Specter Knight’s campaign will actually take place before the events of Shovel Knight, and will depict how The Enchantress was able to recruit the evil Order of No Quarter. If you’re interested in learning how it all went down, Yacht Club Games will be attending this year’s PAX East expo to give fans a taste of Specter of Torment before it launches. The Boston-based convention kicks off on March 10.

Posted in 3DS, Mobile, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One | Tagged , ,

NIS America announces release dates for Danganronpa V3, Disgaea 5 Complete, more

Posted on February 18, 2017 by John Scalzo

NIS America announced release dates for a huge batch of upcoming games last night, including their Nintendo Switch debut (Disgaea 5 Complete) and a highly-anticipated sequel on the PS4 and Vita (Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony).

Ready? Here we go…

  • Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (PS4, PS Vita)
    • North America: September 26, 2017
    • Europe: September 29, 2017
  • Disgaea 5 Complete (Nintendo Switch)
    • North America: May 23, 2017
    • Europe: May 26, 2017
  • Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness (Steam)
    • Worldwide: April 24, 2017
  • Cladun Returns: This Is Sengoku! (PS Vita, Steam)
    • North America: June 6, 2017
    • Europe: June 9, 2017
  • Operation Babel: New Tokyo Legacy (Steam)
    • Worldwide: May 16, 2017
  • Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy (Steam)
    • Worldwide: March, 27, 2017

These release date announcements were made during NIS America’s “2017 Press Event” livestream last night. However, if you missed the big show, you can watch a replay on the publisher’s Twitch channel right now.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Switch, Vita | Tagged , ,

Culdcept Revolt will be released for 3DS in Summer 2017

Posted on February 18, 2017 by John Scalzo

NIS America made dozens of announcements last night during a special livestream that fully unveiled their 2017 release schedule. Fans of the Culdcept franchise, their Monopoly/Magic: The Gathering hybrid, should be very pleased with confirmation of a Summer 2017 launch for Culdcept Revolt for the 3DS.

Like previous games in the series, Culdcept Revolt will include a story-based Quest Mode where players battle other Cepters (wizards who can wield magical cards as weapons) and attempt to save the Princess/the kingdom/the world. Developer Omiya Soft will also include local and online multiplayer battling in the game.

Culdcept Revolt will be released for the 3DS this Summer, and its debut trailer can be viewed above.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged

The Video Game Canon – Space Invaders

Posted on February 17, 2017 by John Scalzo

Dig deeper into the Video Game Canon with a look at the simple, yet addicting, tricks that Taito used to create Space Invaders. Here’s a teaser…

“Drop down, increase speed, and reverse direction!”

Somehow, the writers of Futurama found a way to sum up the essence of Space Invaders (in 2002’s “Anthology of Interest II”) with a single succinct sentence. And yet, in the days and years after its release in 1978, the game was considered something of a phenomenon. Even today, an oft-repeated urban legend claims that obsessive Space Invaders fans caused a shortage of the 100 yen coin in Japan.

Obviously, dropping a coin into an arcade slot will keep it in circulation, so it would have been impossible for Space Invaders to be the cause of any shortage. Though one thing those obsessive fans did do was raise the profile of the game’s titular aliens so that now they’re something of a mascot for all video games.

But it all started with, “Drop down, increase speed, and reverse direction!” Which as a formula was later refined and improved upon by Namco when they created Galaxian and Galaga.

Visit VideoGameCanon.com to continue reading this article and to explore the complete Top 1000.

Posted in Features, Retro, Top Story, Video Game Canon | Tagged

Xbox Store Today: Halo Wars 2 Ultimate Edition, Typoman, Vertical Drop Heroes HD

Posted on February 17, 2017 by John Scalzo

The Halo franchise returns as Halo Wars 2: Ultimate Edition is now available to download for the Xbox One. This special edition of the real-time strategy game includes the base game, a Halo Wars 2 Season Pass, and access to Halo Wars: Definitive Edition. Play five days early and get a head start on the single-player Campaign, online multiplayer battles, and the card-based Blitz Mode.

If you’re looking for something a little slower paced, the 2D puzzle platformer Typoman might be just your speed. Also now available to download for the Xbox One, Typoman asks players to struggle through “a dark and hostile world.” Thankfully, they’ll have a cache of letters available to create solutions to the puzzles blocking their way.

Finally today, Vertical Drop Heroes HD has also been released for the Xbox One. The “procedural platformer RPG hybrid with roguelike elements” drops players into a world of randomly generated stages and asks them to survive for as long as they can.

You can learn more about all of these games after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged ,

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands Open Beta begins on February 23

Posted on February 17, 2017 by John Scalzo

Players itching to try out Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands will get their chance beginning next week, as Ubisoft has confirmed an Open Beta for the game will be available on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The Open Beta will begin on Thursday, February 23, and players will get all weekend to battle the cartels:

Learning how to use all of the tools in your arsenal is key for taking on the Santa Blanca. First and foremost, use your fellow Ghosts. Whether you’re playing in co-op with up to three other players or going solo with cooperative AI, the other Ghosts can provide valuable distractions and cover fire when things start to heat up. And don’t forget transportation – jeeps, helicopters, APCs, and a large assortment of other vehicles can all become part of your strategy when infiltrating a Santa Blanca base (or escaping from it).

Your environment can also be used to your advantage in Ghost Recon: Wildlands. Itacua is a lush region with plenty of vegetation to hide you from enemy view when scouting for enemies. Meanwhile, the cover of night or a strong storm may be what keeps you from being spotted around Montuyoc’s lakes and sparse terrain.

If you’re concerned your PC won’t be able to handle Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands, then you should head over to the UbiBlog and have a look at the game’s Recommended and Minimum System Requirements.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands will be released on March 7. (more…)

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Bethesda will bring Quake Champions, Prey, Elder Scrolls Legends, and ESO Morrowind to PAX East 2017

Posted on February 17, 2017 by John Scalzo

This year’s PAX East expo is just three weeks away, and Bethesda has announced they’ll have four games available on the show floor for attendees to try out including The Elder Scrolls: Legends, The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind, Prey, and Quake Champions:

The Elder Scrolls: Legends
PAX-goers will be able to test their mettle on the go in The Elder Scrolls: Legends, offered for hands-on play on iPad. The free-to-play strategy card game based on the award-winning Elder Scrolls series launches onto Apple’s tablet later this Spring.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind
The recently announced new Chapter in The Elder Scrolls Online will be available for the first time for hands-on play, showcasing the game’s new 4v4v4, small-scale PvP mode, Battlegrounds. Attendees will be among the first in the world to try their hands at The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind fast-paced new mode, and will even get a first crack at flexing the powers of the new Warden class.

Prey
Join the team from Arkane Studios for an inside peak at Prey’s exciting sci-fi action gameplay live from the Bethesda Booth stage each day of PAX. Plus, be sure to check the other interactive experiences featured in the booth to prepare for the alien invasion when Prey launches worldwide on May 5, 2017.

Quake Champions
This wait is over – PAX East will be the first opportunity for fans to play Quake Champions, id Software’s latest entry in the Quake franchise, the granddaddy of all eSports shooters. Attendees will test their reflexes – and rocket jumping skills – in fast and frantic 5v5 Team Deathmatch battles. PAX-goers will also be able to sign-up for the game’s exclusive Closed Beta test, coming soon in 2017.

The 2017 PAX East expo will kick off March 10 and take over the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center all weekend.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged , , ,