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.

Xbox Store Today: Killer Instinct Season 3, RBI Baseball 16, Resident Evil 6, more

Posted on March 30, 2016 by John Scalzo

Ready? Fight!

Microsoft has launched the first batch of Killer Instinct Season 3 content on the Xbox One and PC today. That includes four new characters (Rash, Arbiter, Kim Wu, and Tusk) and an updated visual look. Four more characters are in the works (the vampiric Mira in April, Gargos in May, and a pair of brand new characters in June and July), as well as the mysterious “Shadow Lords” Story Mode.

Also available to download this week for the Xbox One is RBI Baseball 16, MLB Advanced Media’s latest retro-styled baseball sim. This year’s edition includes a number of new animations, along with a “revamped defensive AI” and an “improved batting system.” There’s no peanuts or Crackerjack, but Xbox One owners will also get the chance to try out Resident Evil 6, which was re-released in a remastered edition this week by Capcom.

Finally this week, Telltale Games will bring Minecraft: Story Mode to a temporary end with the game’s fifth episode, while The Walking Dead: Michonne reaches its midpoint with Episode 2. Both games are available to download through the Xbox Games Store for the Xbox One and Xbox 360.

More information on all of these games (and a few other new releases) can be found after the break. (more…)

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

Here’s a 14-second teaser trailer for Gun Media’s Friday the 13th: The Game

Posted on March 30, 2016 by John Scalzo

Gun Media will release Friday the 13th: The Game this October, and the developer recently unveiled a brand new teaser trailer for the game. Clocking in at 14 seconds, the teaser depicts a possible victim of Jason’s rampage cowering in a room while the machete-wielding maniac breaks down the door.

Friday the 13th: The Game is in development for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

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

Rocket League’s Basketball Mode will be available this April

Posted on March 30, 2016 by John Scalzo

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Psyonix has revealed that Rocket League‘s upcoming Basketball Mode will be known as “Dunk House.” The developer also confirmed on Twitter that it’ll be available sometime this April as a free update:

As of right now, the release window and that pretty awesome GIF are all we know about Rocket League’s “Dunk House.” But I can’t wait to hear more.

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

MLB The Show 16, RBI Baseball 16, Resident Evil 6, more added to PS Store

Posted on March 30, 2016 by John Scalzo

The smell of peanuts and Crackerjack are in the air… Opening Day 2016 is less than a week away. As we wait for that first “Play Ball!” of the season, Sony and MLB Advanced Media added a pair of baseball sims to the PlayStation Store this week.

Developed by Sony San Diego, MLB The Show 16 returns for another year on the PS4 and PS3, and promises to include “more gameplay improvements, new game modes, and a greater ability to personalize your baseball experience.” Meanwhile, MLB Advanced Media’s RBI Baseball 16 brings its retro-styled gameplay to the PS4, with the developer promising to include a “revamped defensive AI” and an “improved batting system.”

MLB The Show 16 and RBI Baseball 16 will be joined by more than a dozen other new games on the PlayStation Store this week including a Resident Evil 6 re-release on the PS4, Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution 2 Plus on the Vita, and the side-scrolling shooter No Time To Explain on the PS4.

Finally this week, Telltale is pulling double duty with the release of Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 5 and The Walking Dead: Michonne Episode 2 on the PS4 and PS3.

More information on all of these games (and the rest of this week’s new releases) can be found after the break. And a complete rundown of this week’s new game add-ons and discounts can be found over at the PlayStation Blog. (more…)

Posted in News, PS3, PS4, Vita | Tagged , , , , , ,

The Coalition is bringing a playable demo of Gears of War 4 and “some special surprises” to PAX East 2016

Posted on March 29, 2016 by John Scalzo

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PAX East 2016 is a little over three weeks away, and The Coalition has announced their plan to host a pair of Gears of War 4 presentations as part of the east coast’s largest gaming convention.

First, the developer will host the Gears eSports ESL Pro League Season 2 Finals on Saturday, April 23. Fans who can’t make it to Boston are encouraged to watch along at home through the Gears of War Twitch Channel. They’ll get a chance to see the best Gears teams in the country compete for the championship, and they’ll witness the debut of a brand new competitive game mode for Gears of War 4.

Then, on Sunday, April 24, The Coalition will take over the Albatross Theater at 10:30 AM (Eastern Time) for a multiplayer-focused panel known as “Out of the Shadows: Inside Gears of War Multiplayer.” The panel will feature a “deeper dive” into Gears 4’s multiplayer along with “some special surprises.” Like the ESL Pro League Finals, the “Out of the Shadows” panel will be streamed live on the Gears of War Twitch Channel.

Finally, a playable demo of Gears of War 4’s multiplayer Versus mode will be available at the Xbox booth all weekend long.

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged ,

Nintendo’s Miitomo app will be available on March 31

Posted on March 29, 2016 by John Scalzo

Nintendo has announced that their communication app, Miitomo, will be available to download exclusively for iOS and Android devices beginning this Thursday, March 31. Miitomo is Nintendo’s first smartphone app, and it’s already been downloaded more than a million time in Japan, where it was released this weekend. Players will be able to use the app to create “conversation starters” with their friends using Miis:

Once their Mii is ready, users can add friends who already have the app in person, or by linking the app with their existing Facebook or Twitter accounts. After that step is complete, it’s time to answer some questions! Miitomo creates conversations and turns discussions into a form of play by prompting users to answer all kinds of fun questions. How would you define your fashion style? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? If you were given ten grand to spend in one day, what would you do? The answers get shared among friends, sparking interesting conversations – part of the fun is discovering unexpected facts about your friends. When users hear how their friends responded to questions, they can give answers a “heart” or a written or picture comment.

Miitomo’s release will coincide with the North American launch of Nintendo’s brand new Nintendo Account service and the My Nintendo rewards program. Players can even get a head start on the My Nintendo program and receive bonus Platinum Points if they pre-register for Miitomo at Miitomo.com. Alternately, Nintendo fans can just pre-register for a Nintendo Account at Accounts.Nintendo.com to also receive the Platinum Points:

Aiming to be much more than a standard rewards program, My Nintendo is a comprehensive service that rewards users for interacting with Nintendo products and services in a variety of ways. Miitomo users who link the app to their Nintendo Account will be able to take advantage of My Nintendo to enhance their experience. Platinum Points can be earned by interacting with Nintendo apps and services, including Miitomo. Gold Points are earned when purchasing digital versions of games from Nintendo.com or Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Both Platinum and Gold Points can be redeemed for rewards like games, download content, in-app items and eShop discount coupons.

Finally, Nintendo will relaunch the eShop this Thursday on Nintendo.com with enhanced search options for the more than 2,000 titles available through the digital storefront.

Posted in Mobile, News |

Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch reaches its funding goal on Fig

Posted on March 29, 2016 by John Scalzo

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Here’s some good news for fans of Kevin Smith… side-scrolling brawler Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch has reached its funding goal on Fig. With a little over two days remaining, backers and investors have pledged more than $400,000 towards its development.

If you’ve been keeping tabs on the campaign, you might have seen that the berserkers at Interabang Entertainment have plans to add several other View Askewniverse characteds to the game. First, Brian O’Halloran and Jeff Anderson have been called in to voice Dante (who isn’t even supposed to be here today) and Randal from Clerks once again. Also, the developer also revealed that Cock Knocker (who was originally played by Mark Hamill in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back) will appear in Chronic Blunt Punch as a playable character.

With the crowdfunding campaign complete, Interabang Entertainment hopes to release Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One in February 2018.

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

Here are the finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016

Posted on March 29, 2016 by John Scalzo

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The Strong Museum has announced the finalists competing for a spot in the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016.

The Legend of Zelda, Minecraft, The Oregon Trail, Pokemon Red and Blue, The Sims, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Space Invaders were all nominated last year, but ultimately weren’t selected by the Hall of Fame’s international committee. They’ll get another shot in 2016, alongside Elite, Final Fantasy, John Madden Football, Nurburgring, Sid Meier’s Civilization, Street Figher II, and Tomb Raider.

Any and all of these titles would be worthy of enshrinement in the World Video Game Hall of Fame, but only a handful of titles will make the final cut when the inductees are announced on May 5 at 10:30 AM (Eastern Time).

If you’re unfamiliar with any of these classic games, a quick rundown of all 15 titles (provided by The Strong) is available after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, Mobile, News, PC, PS2, PS3, PS4, Retro, Vita, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged , , , , ,