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
Xbox One’s “Snap Mode” allows app multitasking
A new feature of the Xbox One is Snap Mode, the ability to jump between apps instantaneously. But it’s also possible to run those apps simultaneously. Say hello to multitasking on a console. Is that something we wanted? The multitasking is operated through a sidebar and an Xbox Glass-like phone app.
Some apps available in Snap Mode include Internet Explorer, Skype, an ESPN Fantasy Sports app, and an ESPN Highlights app.
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged Next Xbox Reveal
Xbox One includes Kinect and takes over your TV
Microsoft began the process with the Xbox 360, but the Xbox One (man, this is going to be a nightmare when I’ll need to refer back to the company’s first console, the Xbox 1) is really attempting to control your living room. Calling it an “All In One Experience,” the Xbox One features a controller that looks unchanged from the Xbox 360, a new Kinect sensor that is included with the system for gaming and voice recognition, and is it’s “cloud powered,” whatever that means.
I also think it’s interesting that the first thing Microsoft did was show the system, which is the expected plastic black box.
Microsoft’s Yusuf Medhi highlighted the console’s “always on” capabilities by using a voice command to turn the system on and launch directly to the Xbox Live Dashboard (which is very similar to the Xbox 360). The Xbox One will also integrate with your TV to jump back and forth between the system and live TV. Jumping between features like gaming, live TV, a media player, and a web browser is almost instantaneous.
Medhi also hinted at a new Forza game, which he promised we’ll learn more about in the hour.
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged Next Xbox Reveal
It’s Official: Microsoft’s next console is the Xbox One
The “Next Xbox Reveal” is underway and Microsoft has confirmed that the name of their next console is the Xbox One. The console was revealed by Don Mattrick, President of Microsoft’s Interactive Division, as the “ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system” just a few minutes ago.
More details about the Xbox One will be revealed at this year’s E3 Expo, which begins on Monday, June 10. Interestingly enough, Mattrick confirmed that Microsoft will deliver new Xbox 360 announcements at this year’s show as well.
Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged E3 2013, Next Xbox Reveal
Kevin Conroy might have accidentally confirmed another Arkham game
Riddle me this! When is “the next Arkham game” not the one scheduled to be released this October? Answer… When Kevin Conroy is discussing it at the Dallas Comic Con.
During a Q&A event at the convention this past Sunday, Conroy seemingly ended weeks of speculation by announcing that he would be appearing in “the next Arkham game.” Some people were worried that he wasn’t talking about Batman: Arkham Origins, but he reassured everyone by saying, “I can talk about it now […] It’s now been announced.” So that settled it, Conroy was Batman in Arkham Origins.
But yesterday, WB Games Montreal confirmed that Roger Craig Smith would take over the role of the Caped Crusader in Arkham Origins. Fans were understandably confused.
It’s gotten even weirder thanks to a tweet posted by Conroy (since deleted, but archived by Batman News) where he clarifies that he wasn’t referring to Arkham Origins at the Dallas Comic Con, but a different Arkham game that is coming soon.
So is this what Rocksteady’s been up to since completing Arkham City? And why would Conroy say that his Arkham game has been announced when it clearly hasn’t? Someone at WB Games must have given him the go-ahead, right? Where’s The Riddler when you need him?
Posted in News
Tagged Batman: Arkham Knight
Pre-order bonuses for Watch Dogs announced
Watch Dogs will be available on November 19 for the PC, PS3, Wii U, and Xbox 360 with a PS4 version scheduled for release at the system’s launch. The game is also coming to the Xbox 720/Durango, but Ubisoft continues to stubbornly refer to it as “other next generation consoles” in their press releases. Clearly, you have plenty of options to purchase Watch Dogs this Fall.
To complicate your choice a little bit more, Ubisoft announced a pair of retailer-exclusive pre-order bonuses for Watch Dogs today:
GameStop – Palace Pack: The Palace Pack includes a single player mission, an investigation bonus, and ATM hack boost. The investigation bonus will unlock exclusive investigation opportunities inside of the network and the ATM hack boost will increase cash rewards when hacking into bank accounts. In addition to the single player Palace Pack mission, players who pre-order the game will receive an exclusive poster designed by famed comic-book artist, Alex Ross – while supplies last.
Amazon.com – Signature Shot Pack: The Signature Shot Pack comes with an exclusive single player mission that once completed, unlocks both a unique Biometric Assault Rifle and the Black Viceroy’s Outfit. The biometrics weapon has been smuggled into Chicago for the captain of the Black Viceroy’s gang. The weapon only works for the first person to imprint their palm on the handle. Players will need to breach a stronghold, steal the package and be the first to imprint the weapon and get out of The Wards alive.
Batman and The Joker might get new voice actors in Batman: Arkham Origins
Uh oh. There might be trouble brewing in Gotham City.
Just a day after Kevin Conroy told the world that he’ll provide the voice of Batman in Batman: Arkham Origins, Joystiq is reporting that WB Montreal has actually given the coveted role to Roger Craig Smith (who voiced Ezio Auditore in Assassin’s Creed II).
They’ve also confirmed that Mark Hamill won’t be reprising his role as The Joker and Troy Baker (Booker from BioShock Infinte and Joel from the upcoming The Last of Us) will step into the floppy shoes of the Clown Prince of Crime. Richard Epcar voiced The Joker in April’s Injustice: Gods Among Us.
So who to believe? It’s probably important to note that Conroy never said that he’s working on Batman: Arkham Origins, referring to it as “the next Arkham game.” Is it possible he was talking about the handheld spinoff, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate? Or maybe Origins, as a prequel story, is told in flashback. This would allow Conroy to voice the character in the present day and allow Smith to bellow “I am the night!” during gameplay.
Hopefully we’ll find out who’s really under the cowl soon.
UPDATE: The PA Report has confirmed with the developers that Roger Craig Smith will voice Batman and Troy Baker is in as The Joker. So what was Conroy talking about at the Dallas Comic Con?
FIFA Soccer 14 will make its Xbox 720/Durango debut at Next Xbox Reveal
Tomorrow’s “Next Xbox Reveal” will take place at 1:00 PM (Eastern Time) and we’re starting to learn more about what games will make an appearance. Call of Duty: Ghosts will definitely make its debut during the presentation and Lucid Games (which is made up of developers from the defunct Bizarre Creations) is expected to show off their new racing game. It’s also been rumored that Respawn Entertainment will show off their first game. But now we can add at least one more confirmed title to the list.
EA Sports has confirmed (via Facebook) that FIFA Soccer 14, their “next generation” soccer game, will corner kick its way onto the “Next Xbox Reveal” stage.
This has been today’s second announcement of an announcement.
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged FIFA 14, Next Xbox Reveal
Here’s a blurry glimpse of the PlayStation 4 console; full reveal coming at E3 2013
Shocker of shockers… it’s a black box! Also, it appears to have a racing stripe for some reason.
Sony released this short teaser of the PlayStation 4 console today and promise that we’ll get a very good look at it during their E3 Press Conference, which is set for Monday, June 10 at 6:00 PM (Pacific Time).
This has been your announcement of an announcement for the day.