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
E3 2013: The Roadmap To Victory for Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony
Even with the rise of PAX Prime, PAX East, the San Diego Comic-Con, and Gamescom, the annual E3 Expo is still the game industry’s premiere showcase for “what’s next.” And every year, half the fun of the festivities is picking apart the press conferences from Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony and declaring a winner.
I admit, picking press conference winners is more than a little silly. But the three companies are locked in a vicious three-way battle for your video game dollar. Even as the total market has expanded, the opportunities for any individual company have shrunk. So anytime one can wrest control of the headlines away from the other two is a victory. But what can each consolemaker do to ensure a win? Read on and follow our E3 Roadmaps for Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony to find out. (more…)
Giancarlo Esposito narrates Bungie’s first Destiny trailer
Giancarlo Esposito (formerly of Breaking Bad, currently of Revolution, and the man who knows who Keyser Soze is) narrates “The Law of the Jungle,” the first trailer for Bungie’s sci-fi space epic, Destiny.
The trailer, which was actually directed by Jon Favreau, also promises that the first gameplay footage of the game will be revealed during Sony’s E3 Press Conference on Monday, June 10.
Destiny is currently without a release date, but is expected to be released sometime in 2014.
Grand Theft Auto V Special Edition and Collector’s Edition detailed
Do you have your wallet ready? Rockstar Games just revealed the contents of the Grand Theft Auto V Special Edition, as well as an even more fully stocked Collector’s Edition.
The Special Edition, which is priced at $79.99, includes a SteelBook case, a Blueprint Map, an in-game Special Ability Boost, the Stunt Plane Trials game mode, an Outfits and Tattoos pack, and an Additional Weapons pack.
The much more lavish Collector’s Edition, and priced to match at $149.99, includes everything you get in the Special Edition as well as a GTA5-branded Security Deposit Bag, a GTA5 baseball cap, a classic GTA character for use in the GTA Online mode, and Unique Vehicles and Garage Property pack.
Everyone who pre-orders Grand Theft Auto V, regardless of which version you pick, will receive access to the Atomic Blimp vehicle in the game.
Hit the jump for a look at the Special Edition and Collector’s Edition of Grand Theft Auto V as well as more details on all of the goodies each premium version of the game contains. (more…)
Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Grand Theft Auto V
Nintendo Download: Trio of Kirby games, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, more
Donkey Kong Country Returns makes the jump to the 3DS tomorrow as, not surprisingly, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. It’ll be available in stores and on the 3DS eShop.
But the true star of this week’s Nintendo Download is Kirby. The pink puffball stars in three new games added to the Wii U Virtual Console today: Kirby’s Dream Land 3, Kirby’s Dream Course, and Kirby Super Star. Regularly priced at $7.99 each, if you buy any two of the games before May 30, you’ll get the third free.
Let’s see… also available this week is the 3DS rhythm game Groove Heaven and Naruto: Powerful Shippuden, a side-scrolling brawler based on the popular anime.
More details about all of these games can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U
Tagged Donkey Kong Country Returns
“Historic IP” from Rare will get a new Xbox One game at E3 2013
Microsoft’s Don Mattrick opened the “Next Xbox Reveal” by saying that Tuesday’s presentation was all about introducing the world to the Xbox One. Game announcements for the next generation console, including 15 titles in development at Microsoft Studios, would come at E3.
One of those games will apparently be the rebirth of a classic franchise from Rare’s stable. Speaking to Polygon, Microsoft’s Phil Spencer said: “Fans of Rare and Rare IP I think will be pleased with what we’re going to show at E3. That historic IP that they’ve built I think can play a real important role on Xbox One.”
The GoldenEye and Donkey Kong Country developer was purchased by Microsoft in 2002, which also included most of their non-Nintendo published properties such as Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark, Killer Instinct, Battletoads, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, and Jet Force Gemini.
So which one will it be? It’s anyone’s guess, but Microsoft did famously renew the Killer Instinct trademark earlier this year.
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged E3 2013, Killer Instinct, Next Xbox Reveal
Infinity Ward confirms Call of Duty: Ghosts is coming to PS4
It’s not like it was ever in doubt, but Infinity Ward has confirmed that Call of Duty: Ghosts will be coming to the PlayStation 4 as well as the Xbox One:
Yes @smithson89 we’ll be releasing #CODGhosts on both platforms #PS3 #PS4
— Infinity Ward (@InfinityWard) May 22, 2013
In a separate tweet, Infinity Ward confirmed that development duties for Ghosts will actually be spread across two additional Activision studios. Raven Software (who helped with Black Ops and Modern Warfare 3) and Neversoft will contribute to the game in a “support” capacity.
Call of Duty: Ghosts will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on November 5. The PS4 and Xbox One edition (which stars the awesomest video game dog ever) will likely launch with the next-generation systems and the Wii U version is still, technically, unannounced.
We try to figure out the Xbox One’s used game policy
So what in the world is going on with the Xbox One and its used game policy? We’ve been following the story across multiple websites and with replies and counter-replies from multiple Microsoft sources. Who’s telling the truth? Who’s mistaken? Who’s just hoping this whole thing blows over?
We give it our best shot, but honestly, this might require a statement from Bill Gates to really sort it out… (more…)
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged Next Xbox Reveal
XBLA Today: Call of Juarez: Gunslinger
With the Xbox One out in the open, it’s easy to let your thoughts drift to the next generation and away from the Xbox 360. But then you’d be ignoring today’s addition to the Xbox Live Arcade: Call of Juarez: Gunslinger.
Developed by Techland, Gunslinger brings the series back to the wild west after 2011’s Call of Juarez: The Cartel jumped to the modern day. It can be yours for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15), pardner.
From the dust of a gold mine to the dirt of a saloon, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger is a real homage to the Wild West tales. Live the epic journey of a ruthless bounty hunter onto the trail of the West’s most notorious outlaws. Blurring the lines between man and myth, this adventure made of memorable encounters unveils the untold truth behind some of the greatest legends of the Old West.
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged Call of Juarez: Gunslinger