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.

GoW3 Remastered, Vanishing of Ethan Carter, Rory McIlroy PGA, more added to PS Store

Posted on July 15, 2015 by John Scalzo

It’s a big day for the PlayStation Store as some of this Summer’s biggest releases are now available to download on the PS3, PS4, PS Vita, and the PSP (yes, really).

Let’s start with the PS4 first as its now home to a remastered version Kratos’s final assault on the Pantheon of Gods (God of War III Remastered), the first PGA Tour game not to star Tiger Woods in more than a decade (Rory McIlroy PGA Tour), a moody first-person mystery (The Vanishing of Ethan Carter), and a surprise remake of a pair of PS3-era open world games from Activision (Prototype: Biohazard Bundle).

On the PS3, Godzilla will roar to life on the video game stage and do battle with other kaiju in Bandai Namco’s latest adaptation of the radioactive beast. The game is also available on the PS4.

Meanwhile, the Vita welcomes Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess, an updated and enhanced version of Deception IV: Blood Ties. Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess is also available for the PS4 and PS3.

Finally, the PSP comes back to life with Angus Hates Aliens, a tactical shooter starring a redneck shooting aliens. Angus Hates Aliens is also playable on the Vita.

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

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

Here’s the video game deals for Amazon Prime Day 2015

Posted on July 15, 2015 by John Scalzo

amazonlogo

UPDATE (8:15 PM): We’re in the final stretch of Amazon’s Prime Day 2015 festivities and another PS4 bundle is available to purchase. More deals will surely go live before midnight, but here’s what Prime members can pick up at a steep discount right now…

UPDATE (7:10 PM): Prime Day 2015 is beginning to wind down (and some people aren’t entirely happy about what’s been offered), but Amazon is still posting new deals…

UPDATE (3:55 PM): Are you in the market for a 3DS? If you act fast, you can grab one as part of Amazon’s latest update to the Prime Day 2015 page. There’s a few other new deals of note too…

Previous Prime Day deals, many still available by joining a waitlist, can be found after the break. (more…)

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

Konami removes Hideo Kojima’s name from the cover of Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain

Posted on July 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

metalgearsolidvthephantompain-header

As the secret war between Konami and Hideo Kojima continues to rage, the publisher has taken another public shot at the developer with the release of the final cover design of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. In an attempt to distance Kojima from the title, Konami has officially removed the developer’s name from the game’s packaging. This includes an above-the-title text credit (“A Hideo Kojima Game”) and the Kojima Productions logo. A previous version of the Phantom Pain cover included both. The original cover and the updated version can both be found after the break.

Though Kojima publicly states he is “100% involved” with The Phantom Pain’s development, this redesign of the game’s cover is more proof of the strained relationship between the developer and the publisher. It could even be said that the removal of Kojima’s name is a personal attack on the developer as he’s been given a text credit on the cover of every Metal Gear Solid game since 2001’s Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will be released for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on September 1. Two weeks later, the game will also be released for the PC. While still unconfirmed, Kojima is expected to leave Konami after the completion of The Phantom Pain.

Last year, Kojima announced an intent to resurrect the Silent Hill franchise in collaboration with director Guillermo Del Toro and actor Norman Reedus. That game, Silent Hills, was canceled by Konami back in April. (more…)

Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged

Deep Silver confirms Yager is no longer developing Dead Island 2

Posted on July 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

deadisland2-header

Earlier this year, Deep Silver delayed Dead Island 2 after they said that development on the game wasn’t meeting up with their expectations. Today, the publisher issued a short statement confirming that Yager will no longer be the developer behind Dead Island 2:

With Dead Island 2, Deep Silver has always been dedicated to delivering the sequel that Dead Island fans deserve. After careful consideration, today we announce the decision to part ways with development partner Yager.

Development on Dead Island 2 will continue, and Deep Silver plans to announce further details about the game “at a later stage.” It’s unknown if this developer shuffle will further push back the game’s release date (currently penciled in for 2016), but it will likely be a while before we get the chance to play Dead Island 2.

The original Dead Island and its sequel, Dead Island: Riptide, were developed by Techland. After Deep Silver and Techland parted ways, the Polish developer teamed up with WB Games to release Dying Light, another first-person zombie game, earlier this year.

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

Fans petition Nintendo to create an Amiibo figure of Satoru Iwata

Posted on July 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

20110426-3ds_iwataSatoru Iwata’s death has greatly affected the game industry, with heartfelt tributes and tearful eulogies appearing in every corner of the Internet. Nintendo’s President and CEO lost his battle with cancer a few days ago, and now fans are asking the consolemaker to honor him with an Amiibo figure.

The Change.org petition has nearly 15,000 signatures as of this writing. The creator of the petition included this note in support of his goal:

“On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.” – Iwata-san

Satoru Iwata’s importance to modern gamers is more than words could ever describe. After helping to create some of Nintendo’s biggest fanchises such as Pokemon, Earthbound and Super Smash Bros., Mr. Iwata’s legacy influences and inspires anyone who has ever picked up a Wiimote or 3DS stylus.

Mr. Iwata’s business knowledge and work ethic as Nintendo’s CEO will always be remembered. Being responsible for Nintendo’s most profitable times and taking responsibility for Nintendo’s financially turbulent times, Mr. Iwata has made several tough decisions based on a simple tenet: “Is this Nintendo?”

These are just a few reasons why we should honor Satoru Iwata with his very own amiibo. Even if the amiibo itself lacks in-game functionality, it serves as a small reminder of Iwata’s legacy and accomplishments.

Enough cannot be written about how important Satoru Iwata was to the game industry. Personally, I think an Amiibo figure would be a wonderful tribute to the man and I hope Nintendo seriously considers it.

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U |

Songs from Paramore, Disturbed, Foster the People, more added to Guitar Hero Live

Posted on July 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

guitarherolive-header

Activision has announced ten more songs that will be included in this Fall’s Guitar Hero Live, bringing the total number of announced songs to 84. This time around, players can look forward to tracks from Paramore, Disturbed, Foster the People, and more. Here’s the latest tracklist update:

  • Asking Alexandria – “The Final Episode”
  • Cypress Hill (Featuring Tom Morello) – “Rise Up”
  • Disturbed – “Down With the Sickness”
  • Foster the People – “Coming of Age”
  • The Mowgli’s – “San Francisco”
  • OneRepublic – “Counting Stars”
  • Paramore – “Now”
  • TV On the Radio – “Lazerray”
  • The Vines – “Metal Zone”
  • Wolf Alice – “Moaning Lisa Smile”

Guitar Hero Live will be released for the PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and mobile devices on October 20.

Posted in Mobile, News, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged

N++ will be released for the PS4 on July 28

Posted on July 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

We’ve all been waiting patiently for the return of the N series and its gold-stealing ninja protagonist. Today, Metanet Software confirmed that N++ will be available for the PS4 beginning on July 28.

They also confirmed a few other facts about N++’s development process in the trailer embedded above. For example, the game requires 166,092 lines of code, which took two and a half years to write. N++ also includes 2,360 “unique handcrafted levels” which contain 63,335 pieces of gold. And according to the PlayStation Blog, N++’s first big update “will effectively double the size of the game.”

Be sure to watch the trailer above for more N++ facts and start celebrating that the game is only two weeks away.

Posted in News, PS4 | Tagged

Trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops III Zombies pre-order bonus map “The Giant” released

Posted on July 13, 2015 by John Scalzo

Are you a big fan of the twists and turns found in Treyarch’s Zombies Mode? If so, you’ll want to check out the trailer for “The Giant,” a bonus map available to all players who pre-order one of the Call of Duty: Black Ops III collector’s editions:

Zombies returns in all of its undead glory with “The Giant,” a Nazi research facility featuring the weapon upgrading Pack-A-Punch Machine. Re-live the chaos of Treyarch’s classic “Der Riese” Zombies map, picking up the Zombies story with Dempsey, Nikolai, Richtofen, and Takeo where Origins left off.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III will be released for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on November 6, though the collector’s editions are limited to the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. If history is any guide, “The Giant” will also be released as standalone DLC at some point in the future.

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