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.

EA to reveal next-gen games from BioWare, DICE, Need For Speed, NBA Live at E3 2013

Posted on May 8, 2013 by John Scalzo

EAlogoFor more than a decade, Electronic Arts has greeted the launch of a new console from Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft with a huge lineup of new games. This Fall’s release of the PlayStation 4 and (presumably) the Xbox 720/Durango will be no exception.

Speaking at the company’s quarterly financial briefing yesterday, EA President Frank Gibeau announced that the publisher will release multiple games that are “breakthroughs in graphics and gameplay for some of our biggest franchises” on the PS4 and Xbox 720 this year. Gibeau specifically confirmed that Madden [NFL 25], FIFA [Soccer 14], Battlefield [4], and a new game in the Need For Speed series will be available this year.

All four of these titles will make their worldwide debut at this year’s E3 Expo along with new next-generation games from BioWare, DICE, and the EA Sports group. A smattering of “brand new games” will round out the comapny’s next-generation announcements at E3.

The 2013 E3 Expo begins on June 11.

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

EA has no plans to publish a Star Wars game this year

Posted on May 8, 2013 by John Scalzo

starwars-logo

Electronic Arts held their quarterly financial briefing yesterday and the publisher revealed that it has no plans to release a Star Wars game in 2013. EA and Disney announced the Star Wars deal on Monday, confirming suspicions that Disney would look outside their Disney Interactive label to create future Star Wars games after closing LucasArts.

Blake Jorgensen, EA’s Chief Financial Officer, announced that they won’t be releasing a Star Wars game during the company’s 2014 fiscal year (which runs from April 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014). So the absolute earliest a new Star Wars game could be released is April 2014. Jorgensen didn’t want to pin down a release date, but EA President Frank Gibeau was able to reveal that both DICE and Visceral will be using the Frostbite 3 engine to create the next chapter in the Star Wars video game saga.

While it went unsaid, this news also likely spells the end for Star Wars 1313 and Star Wars: First Assault.

Posted in News | Tagged , , ,

PSN Today: Fatal Frame II, A Trio of PSone Imports

Posted on May 7, 2013 by John Scalzo

playstationstorelogoAfter what feels like months of massive updates, the PlayStation Store is taking it a bit slow with today’s update. Unless you’re looking for PS2 Classic Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly that is. The 2003 horror title is joined by three PSone Imports, at least two of which include a little mahjong.

A full rundown of this week’s new game add-ons can be found at the PlayStation Blog and more details on all of this week’s releases can be found right here:

PS2 Classics

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly ($9.99)
Twins Mio and Mayu enter a haunted village after falling under its spell. Mio must follow Mayu with the Camera Obscura to protect her from the evil spirits.

PSone Classics

Motto Trump Shiyouyo! ($5.99)
Enjoy the new and improved Trump Shiyouo!

Zero Kara No Mahjong Mahjong Tamago-Gumi 2: Taikai E Ikou! ($5.99)
This sequel to Zero Kara no Mahjong retains all the accessibility of its predecessor but greatly refines the experience.Take lessons based on actual matches to help learn the correct mannerisms and etiquette involved in true mahjong games. Once your lessons are done, you’ll be armed with all the techniques needed to beat your friends in real life. Unleash the mahjong master deep inside you!

Zero Kara No Shogi Shogi Youchien Ayumi-Gumi! ($5.99)
This is the mahjong game for everyone who’s wanted to learn how to play but just couldn’t find the time! The “Tamahiyo” mode lets players take basic lessons and advancement tests so they can ease into the game. Once the rules are mastered, it’s time to challenge other unique players. The tournament and free modes are perfect for putting players’ skills to the test.

Posted in News, PS3 |

Check out Resident Evil Revelations’ Wii U-exclusive features in this trailer

Posted on May 7, 2013 by John Scalzo

Resident Evil Revelations is making the jump to consoles this month and the Wii U is not only getting the high definition remake, but a special version of the game that includes a variety of Wii U features. Check out the trailer above to get a look at all the ways the Wii U will be the way to play Revelations:

  • A quick way to view the map and change weapons.
  • Use the touchscreen to interact with the environment.
  • Off-TV Play
  • Miiverse support including a customized “Game Over” screen that shows messages from other players who died in the situation.

Resident Evil Revelations will be released for the Wii U on May 21. PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 editions will also be available.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged

Wolfenstein: The New Order goose steps into stores this Fall

Posted on May 7, 2013 by John Scalzo

Doom 4 is still in limbo and no one knows what’s going on with the Quake series, but id’s other big FPS franchise, Wolfenstein, will return this Fall in an all new game.

Wolfenstein: The New Order will be available for the PC, PS3, Xbox 360, and “next-generation consoles.” The game is in development at Machine Games, a relatively new studio founded in 2009 by a few former members of Starbreeze Studios.

Wolfenstein: The New Order will be set in an alternate 1960 where the Nazis won World War II. Naturally, this doesn’t sit well with American war hero B.J. Blazkowicz and he sets off for Europe to take down the Third Reich’s war machine. And I mean that quite literally, the announcement trailer above shows Blazkowicz squaring off against a never-ending wave of goose stepping mechs.

“We are excited to bring a new chapter of Wolfenstein to gamers everywhere,” said Jens Matthies, Creative Director at Machine Games. “As fans of the series, working on this game is an honor, and our team is driven to create an unforgettable action-adventure experience that will make FPS fans proud.”

According to Bethesda, additional details about the game will be released in “a series of exclusive feature stories” on GameSpot.com beginning tomorrow.

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

XBLA version of Monaco will be released on May 10

Posted on May 7, 2013 by John Scalzo

After a last minute delay, Monaco is finally ready to be released on the Xbox Live Arcade. Pocketwatch Games has squashed the bugs that were holding up the heist game’s XBLA release and we’ll all get a chance to play on Friday, May 10:

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Rumor: Former Bizarre developers will reveal a new racing game at Next Xbox Reveal

Posted on May 7, 2013 by John Scalzo

lucid-roadopensRumor has it that Lucid Games, which was founded in the wake of Bizarre Creations closing, is hard at work on Project Gotham Racing 5 for the Xbox 720/Durango. The developers themselves poured a little gasoline on that rumor over the weekend, with a cryptic Facebook message promising “an exciting update” in “mid May.”

We all know the “Next Xbox Reveal” is happening on May 21 and we all know that Microsoft loves the racing genre, so while this rumor doesn’t give us much to go on, I have a good feeling about the truthiness of it.

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged ,

PopCap will release Plants vs Zombies 2: It’s About Time in July

Posted on May 7, 2013 by John Scalzo

plantsvszombies2-logoPopCap hears your pain. They know you want a Plants vs Zombies sequel and after announcing one last Summer, they’re finally ready to give us a bit more information. And by a bit, I mean that PopCap has confirmed the game will be titled Plants vs Zombies 2: It’s About Time and that it’ll be available in July.

That’s it. We still don’t know what platforms it’ll appear on or if it’s actually that first person shooter PopCap is rumored ot be working on. Forgive us PopCap, we’re just a little impatiens to know more.

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