Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Clair Obscur Completes the Sweep by Winning “Best Game” at 2025-2026 BAFTA Games Awards
- Boss Fight Books Gets a New Look for Richard Moss’s “Age of Empires”
- GDC Awards: All the Winners from 1996 to Today
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wins “Game of the Year” at 2025-2026 GDC Awards
- Silent Hill, Dragon Quest, Skyrim, and More Announced as Finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- We Pitched a Museum a 1993 Game Hint Line (And They Actually Said Yes) – Yarn Spinner (2026)
- The History Of The Word “Metroidvania” And How It Spread – A Critical Hit (2025)
- Creator of Hit Game Shovel Knight Is at a ‘Make or Break’ Moment – Bloomberg (2025)
- Shadow of the Colossus: An oral history – Design Room (2025)
- In 2005, games started rewiring our brains – The AV Club (2025)
Author: John Scalzo
Killer Instinct: Season 2 premieres on October 15
Microsoft has announced that Killer Instinct‘s second season will begin on October 15. On that date, new fighters Maya and TJ Combo will go on sale for $4.99 each. Six more characters will follow at a rate of one new fighter per month. But a pair of package deals will also be available to get all eight characters (and other goodies) at a discounted rate.
The “Ultra Edition” will be priced at $39.99 and it’ll include:
- All eight Season 2 fighters
- Select fighter costumes and accessory packs
- Content Early Access to characters and customization items before anyone else
- Killer Instinct 2 Classic – A perfect port of the arcade game with full multiplayer support for intense fighting over Xbox Live
Microsoft will open up pre-orders for Killer Instinct: Season 2 beginning on September 23. Gamers who pre-buy the “Ultra Edition” will instantly be able to download TJ Combo and Killer Instinct 2 Classic.
Meanwhile, the “Combo Breaker” pack will be half the price ($19.99), but it’ll only include access to the eight fighters from Season 2. Still, it’s a pretty significant discount.
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Killer Instinct
2K has unveiled the Pharrell-curated NBA 2K15 soundtrack
Pharrell Williams has completed his curation of the NBA 2K15 and 2K Games announced the final tracklist on their Facebook page today. As you’d expect, there’s plenty of Pharrell to be found on the soundtrack. The “Happy” singer has three songs on the soundtrack as well as a featured credit on another. There’s also appearances by Lorde (“Team” ), Lauryn Hill (“Doo Wop (That Thing)”), Snoop Dogg (“Drop It Like It’s Hot”), and Depeche Mode (“Personal Jesus”).
I’ve got to admit, I wasn’t expecting “Personal Jesus.” Here’s the full soundtrack:
- A Tribe Called Quest – “Scenario”
- Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force – “Planet Rock”
- Basement Jaxx – “Hot ’n Cold”
- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – “River Styx”
- Busta Rhymes – “Dangerous”
- Clipse – “Grindin'”
- Death from Above 1979 – “Romantic Rights”
- Depeche Mode – “Personal Jesus”
- Junior – “Mama Used to Say”
- Lauryn Hill – “Doo Wop (That Thing)”
- Lorde – “Team”
- Major Lazer (featuring Pharrell Williams) – “Aerosol Can”
- Missy Elliott – “On & On”
- No Doubt – “Spiderwebs”
- OneRepublic – “Love Runs Out”
- Pharrell Williams – “Hunter”
- Pharrell Williams – “Can I Have It Like That”
- Pharrell Williams – “How Does It Feel?”
- Public Enemy – “Shut ‘Em Down (Pete Rock Remix)”
- Ratatat – “Seventeen Years”
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Suck My Kiss”
- Santigold – “Creator”
- Snoop Dogg – “Drop It Like It’s Hot”
- Strafe – “Set It Off”
- The Black Keys – “Everlasting Light”
- The Rapture – “House of Jealous Lovers”
- The Strokes – “Under Cover of Darkness”
2K has created a Spotify playlist if you’d like to listen to the soundtrack right now. Or you can wait until October 7 when NBA 2K15 is released for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
Sierra returns with Geometry Wars 3 and King’s Quest
We knew that Activision had plans to revive the Sierra publishing label as their indie games arm, but I don’t think anybody quite expected this. As part of their announcement revealing Sierra’s return, the publisher confirmed that Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions and a King’s Quest remake are in the works.
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions will be available this Fall and its currently in development at Lucid Games, which is a team comprised mostly of former employees of Bizarre Creations. If you remember, Bizarre Creations was the original developer behind the first two Geometry Wars games:
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions is an exciting new evolution of the fast-paced, frenetic Geometry Wars gameplay fans love, and will introduce full 3D action and both cooperative and competitive multiplayer for the first time in the franchise. In addition to a full single-player campaign with 50 unique challenges and over 10 battle modes – five of which are brand new to the series – Geometry Wars3: Dimensions features dynamic and persistent progression, offering players a consistently new experience each time they play.
As for King’s Quest, it will be developed by The Odd Gentlemen (The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom) for a 2015 release:
King’s Quest is a fully reimagined version of the fan-favorite Sierra game fit for both the old and new generation of King’s Quest players. Huge fans of the original King’s Quest series, The Odd Gentlemen are crafting a charming new adventure with an awe-inspiring art style, engaging puzzles, and a wondrous interactive narrative brimming with humor. In the new story, King Graham – revered as the greatest adventurer to ever live – shares his life’s adventures with his curious granddaughter, Gwendolyn. It is through these tales that Gwendolyn discovers the true greatness of her grandfather.
It’s unknown exactly where Geometry Wars 3 or King’s Quest will land, but Pete Wallace, the Studio Head at Lucid Games, said that their game will launch on “more platforms than ever before.” And with Sierra’s plan to release games through Xbox Live, the PlayStation Store, and Steam, that could be a lot of platforms.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions, King's Quest
Final Gamescom 2014 teaser from Sony promises to “Reinvent Horror” on PS4
Sony’s Gamescom 2014 presentation begins in just a few short hours, 1:00 PM (Eastern Time) to be exact, but a final teaser trailer has confirmed one of their big announcements: Until Dawn.
Originally announced at Gamescom 2012, Until Dawn is a first-person adventure game inspired by 80s horror films, especially those of the “cabin in the woods” variety. And this new teaser features a faceless killer slicing and dicing someone while framed within the window of a cabin. Because this is a teaser, the words “Until Dawn” are never said, but the cabin imagery and the “Horror Reinvented” tagline point pretty strongly towards the return of Supermassive’s ode to 80s horror.
Oh, and apparently its moving to the PS4 as well. Groovy.
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Until Dawn
Volition’s next project will be revealed at PAX Prime 2014
Volition will kick off this year’s PAX Prime convention with a “Quiz Show Hour” celebrating the Saints Row franchise. Once the questions are done, developers from Volition will give attendees a sneak peek at their next project:
Quiz Show Hour With Volition – Project Reveal & Prizes
Sandworm Theatre | Friday 8/29 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
The developers behind the Saints Row franchise invite you to participate in a quiz show hour with Natalie Lander, the voice of Kinzie! At the end of the panel, we’ll show you exclusive gameplay, art, and details for an upcoming project from Volition.
Right now, we don’t have much of an idea of what Volition is up to. Their collaboration with Guillermo Del Toro, Insane, was canceled by THQ in 2012. And as for the possibility of Saints Row 5, comedian Jay Mohr said he was doing voicework for the game back in December, but Volition never followed it up with any kind of formal announcement.
But wouldn’t it be wild if it turns out to be a new Descent game?
Posted in News
Tagged PAX Prime 2014
Focus your eye laser on Kano’s Mortal Kombat X debut trailer
Ed Boon’s big Mortal Kombat X reveal for this week’s Gamescom convention got released a tad early, giving us our first look at an older (but still badass) Kano.
Like every character in Mortal Kombat X, Kano will be available in three variations. The “Cutthroat” variation will feature powered-up attacks and knife combos while the “Cybernetic” variation mixes things up with multiple eye laser and grenade attacks. The most unique of Kano’s three variations is clearly the “Commando” variation, which features close-range grappling attacks that bring out the wrestler in the gangster.
Longtime fans are no doubt thrilled that Kano is making a comeback in Mortal Kombat X and his inevitable Story Mode confrontation with Cassie Cage will surely bring the fireworks. Mortal Kombat will be available for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One in 2015.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Mortal Kombat X
NextGen Pants launches Kickstarter campaign to complete Tetropolis development
Tetropolis was one of our favorite games on display at this year’s PAX East convention. The Metroidvania-style puzzle platformer puts players in the minos of a pair of deformed tetrominos as they attempt to escape the obstacles laid out before them. It’s an interesting new take on the genre and I’m looking forward to the rest of its progress.
However, developer NextGen Pants announced today that they’re need of a bit more money to complete Tetropolis and they have launched a Kickstarter campaign in their quest to complete its development. The team is seeking $50,000 to finish the game and hopefully eager backers won’t be as elusive as one of those line pieces.
In addition to the previously announced PC edition of Tetropolis, the game is in development for Mac and Linux. An Ouya version is also in the works and NextGen Pants is participating in their FreeTheGames Fund, which will provide matching funds up to $250,000.
If all goes well, Tetropolis will be available sometime next Summer. In the meantime, be sure to check out the demo available through the Kickstarter page.
Square Enix teams up with Dontnod for Life Is Strange
Developer Dontnod has partnered with Square Enix to publish their next project, an episodic game known as Life Is Strange. The downloadable game is Dontnod’s first title for next-generation consoles and will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One, as well as the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
Dontnod has given Life Is Strange a hand-drawn look and will ask players to weigh “choice and consequence” throughout the story, as they employ the main character’s ability to rewind time:
The game takes place in the fictional town of Arcadia Bay, Oregon, where senior student Max Caulfield returns after a five year absence. Reunited with her former friend Chloe, the pair will attempt to uncover the uncomfortable truth behind the mysterious disappearance of fellow student Rachel Amber.
In addition to solving Rachel’s disappearance, the developer said that Max’s powers may allow her to “change the course of history.” Say it with me… “This is heavy, Doc!”
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Life Is Strange