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.

New Releases: Ouya, Deadpool, Company of Heroes 2, More

Posted on June 23, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Finally, some variety in the new release schedule!

In fact, there’s so much variety available this week that we’re getting a new console: the Android-powered, Kickster-funded Ouya Console. If you’d prefer to stick with games on platforms you already own, this week also sees the release of the first game starring the “Merc With the Mouth,” Deadpool (PC, PS3, Xbox 360).

A trio of niche titles round out this week’s major new releases including the Sega-published PC strategy game Company of Heroes 2 (it used to be part of THQ’s stable), minigame collection Game & Wario (Wii U), and the insane crossover Project X Zone (3DS).

More new release can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, Mobile, News, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , ,

Halo “Reclaimer Trilogy” is now considered a “Saga” by Microsoft

Posted on June 21, 2013 by John Scalzo

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During PAX Prime 2011, Creative Director Josh Holmes referred to Halo 4 as the start of the “Reclaimer Trilogy,” mapping out the Master Chief’s future in the then-upcoming game and two further adventures: Halo 5 (due in 2014 for the Xbox One and officially known as “The Next Halo Game”) and Halo 6. According to a Microsoft representative (speaking to GameSpot), “trilogy” is no longer the correct word for the next two games in the Halo franchise:

“While we originally said trilogy, we’ve actually expanded this to more of a saga, so we don’t want to limit the Reclaimer story within a trilogy.”

Will the “Reclaimer Saga” include more than three AAA console shooters? Or is Microsoft counting things like the recently announced Halo: Spartan Assault for mobile devices as part of the saga? The Microsoft representative didn’t clarify, but I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more about Halo 5 (and Halo: The Television Series, which may also be part of the saga) in the coming months.

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged

Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z announced

Posted on June 21, 2013 by John Scalzo

Are you ready for another Dragon Ball Z game? Well, good news! Namco Bandai plans to release Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z for the PS3, Xbox 360, and Vita soon.

Are you a team player with the crazy skills and cool composure needed to triumph in massive cooperative battles? If this sounds like you, then Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z has just what you need, with revolutionary team battling for up to 4 players together in cooperative play against a host of fearsome opponents or in a giant 8-player battle royale. Found his weak point? Push your advantage and take him down together in a flurry of fur!

Namco Bandai didn’t announce how soon “soon” is, but I’m going to take a wild guess and say that Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z will probably be available by the end of the year.

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

NBA Live 14 will be exclusive to PS4, Xbox One

Posted on June 21, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Executive Producer Sean O’Brien wants you to know that NBA Live 14 will be different. Different from the two previous games in the series that were canceled due to quality issues. And different from 2K’s NBA 2K series.

How different will it be? NBA Live 14 won’t be released for the PS3 or Xbox 360 and will instead be exclusive to next-generation platforms, specifically the PS4 and Xbox One.

“There has been a lot of talk the last few years about how great NBA Live was going to be. The “talking” is over. The vision is a simple one: To create a great basketball game exclusively for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4,” O’Brien said.

You can read the rest of his manifesto at EASports.com.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Here’s an Injustice: Gods Among Us gameplay trailer starring General Zod

Posted on June 21, 2013 by John Scalzo

Kneel before… you know what, you don’t need to kneel, just watch the first gameplay trailer of General Zod in Injustice: Gods Among Us. The Kryptonian criminal will be available to download from the Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Store on July 2 for $5 (400 Microsoft Points).

Also available next month is a new Superman skin based on Henry Cavill’s portrayal of the Man of Steel in… well, Man of Steel. The skin will also be downloadable from the XBLM and the PS Store and it’ll set you back $1 (or 80 Microsoft Points).

There’s still no word on if NetherRealm Studios plans to release the Superman skin based on The Flaming C to the public. Here it is on Conan in case you missed it the first time around.

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

Miyamoto has “no good ideas” for a new F-Zero game

Posted on June 21, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Nintendo trotted out new entries in a ton of your favorite franchises at this year’s E3 Expo. But one oft-neglected series didn’t make an appearance at the big show and likely won’t for a long time: F-Zero. Speaking to IGN, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto revealed that the company currently has no idea where to take the series:

“I certainly understand that people want a new F-Zero game,” Miyamoto said. “I think where I struggle is that I don’t really have a good idea for what’s new that we could bring to F-Zero that would really turn it into a great game again. Certainly I can see how people looking at Mario Kart 8 could see, through the anti-gravity, a connection to F-Zero. But I don’t know, at this point, what direction we could go in with a new F-Zero.”

F-Zero GX, released for the GameCube in 2003, was the last F-Zero game released for a Nintendo console. A Game Boy Advance game, F-Zero: GP Legend, was released in 2004.

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U |

Thief is coming to PS3 and Xbox 360 too… again

Posted on June 20, 2013 by John Scalzo

Even the development of Thief has been sneaky. Originally announced in 2009 as “Thief 4” for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, Eidos Montreal began to take their time with the sequel, and it was revealed earlier this year that work on the game had moved to the PS4 and Xbox One. But now, Eidos Montreal Community Manager Adam Badke and Senior Producer Stephane Roy have confirmed that Thief will be released for the PS3 and Xbox 360.

The news comes via the latest episode of the EM Community video series and Roy talked a bit about the cross-generation challenges of Thief’s development: “No doubt we have to change it a little bit. The next-gen is just much more powerful. So we have to adapt our strategy of how to make it happen on current-gen.”

But these challenges won’t change the release date for the PS3/Xbox 360 version as the game will be released for all platforms (PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One) simultaneously. And the PS3/Xbox 360 version won’t be an outside port either as Eidos Montreal is keeping development in house.

Thief will sneak into stores sometime in 2014.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Nintendo Download: New Super Luigi U today… Project X Zone, Game & Wario next week

Posted on June 20, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Mario’s brother gets the spotlight in this week’s Nintendo Download as New Super Luigi U is now available. You must own New Super Mario Bros. U to play it, but as you can above, a standalone disc-based version will be released in August if you just want Luigi. Also available today is Bugs vs. Tanks!, the latest 3DS game from Level-5’s “Guild-02” collection. It was developed with the assistance of Kenji Inafune, the creator of Mega Man. And speaking of Mega Man, Mega Man VI was added to the 3DS eShop today.

Other new releases today include:

  • Mario Bros. (Wii U eShop)
  • Wrecking Crew (Wii U eShop)
  • Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (3DS eShop)
  • Farming Simulator 3D (3DS eShop)
  • Defenders of Oasis (3DS eShop)
  • Sonic Blast (3DS eShop)
  • Tails Adventure (3DS eShop)
  • Rhythm Core Alpha 2 (DSiWare)

A few other high-profile games will be added to Nintendo’s download services before next week’s update including the minigame compilation Game & Wario (Wii U); the Namco Bandai/Sega/Capcom crossover Project X Zone (3DS); and the latest Lego game, Lego Legends of Chima: Laval’s Journey (3DS).

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, Wii U | Tagged , ,