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.

Gearbox will show Borderlands 2’s sixth character class at PAX East

Gearbox Software has officially released the trailer for Borderlands 2‘s sixth character and confirmed the melee brawler will make his debut at this year’s PAX East convention.

The reveal will happen during this year’s Gearbox Software panel, which is scheduled for Sunday, March 24 at 12:30 PM. The developer will also talk about the upcoming level cap increase in Borderlands 2 and more “huge exclusives and massive surprises.”

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Nintendo Download: Lego City Undercover, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, more

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This week’s Nintendo Download should really be referred to as “next week’s Nintendo Download” as most of the new addition to the 3DS/Wii U’s download services won’t be available until March 19.

That’s when Lego City Undercover and Need For Speed: Most Wanted U will make their Wii U debut. That’s also when Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and The Croods: Prehistoric Party! will be released for the Wii U and the 3DS. Next week will also see the release of the next Wii U Virtual Console game, Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream, on Wednesday, March 20.

So what’s available today? On the 3DS eShop, there’s Mega Man III, Rayman Origins, and Reel Fishing 3D Paradise; and on the DSiWare Shop there’s Forgotten Legions and Goony.

More details about this week’s new games and next week’s releases can be found after the break. (more…)

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Nuketown 2025 goes free as CoD: Black Ops II adds customization packs on Xbox 360

codblop2-customThe Xbox 360 version of Call of Duty: Black Ops II is getting more personalized as Treyarch has added several customization packs to the game’s downloadable offerings.

  • Personalization Packs will let players loadout with a themed weapon camo, reticle, and Calling Card.
  • The Extra Slots Pack gives players more media storage capacity.
  • Flags of the World Calling Cards adds flags to your Calling Card choices.

If you’d prefer not to spend any money, the Treyarch team has also made the “Nuketown 2025” map free for all Xbox 360 players. The map was previously only available to those who pre-ordered the game or purchased the Care Package edition. The “Nuketown Zombies” map is also available for all, but it’ll set you back 400 Microsoft Points ($5).

More details on all of the new DLC can be found after the break. (more…)

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Disc version of Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition set for April 30 release

minecraftxbox360-retailboxNow this is an unexpected surprise.

Microsoft has announced that a retail disc version of Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition will be released on April 30. The game will carry the same $19.99 price as the Xbox Live Arcade version and will work with the same Skin Packs and Title Updates as its downloadable brother.

The disc version will include all of the content from the eight Title Updates released for the game so far as well as the upcoming ninth Title Update, which will contain The End, the Ender Dragon, and a variety of other additions and tweaks.

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Play as the Empress’s assassin in Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall DLC

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Bethesda and Arkane Studios have just announced “The Knife of Dunwall,” the second downloadable expansion for Dishonored. Available on April 16, The Knife of Dunwall allows players to control Daud, the assassin who murdered the Empress at the start of the game:

After assassinating the Empress, and forever changing the fate of Dunwall, you embark on a search for redemption. The Outsider reveals the key to your atonement, but who—or what—is Delilah? Accompanied by the Whalers, your loyal band of mercenary assassins, your search will take you through never-before-seen districts of Dunwall as you face off against new and terrible foes. Employ a unique arsenal of new weapons and powers that enhance Dishonored’s dynamic combat, mobility and stealth systems. In the struggle to hang onto the last shred of your humanity, the choices you make will ultimately determine your fate.

Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall has been priced at $9.99 (1200 Microsoft Points) and will be available to download from Steam, the PlayStation Store, or the Xbox Live Marketplace.

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XBLA Today: Darkstalkers Resurrection, Kinect Sports Gems: Wave 3

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Four games are new to the Xbox Live Arcade today… though three of them are part of the Kinect Sports Gems series of mini-games.

The week’s big new release is Darkstalkers Resurrection, which compiles the second and third games from Capcom’s monster fighter into a single package that’s being sold for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15). As is typical of Capcom’s re-releases, it contains all the high definition bells and whistles and online play modes you’d expect:

Darkstalkers Resurrection updates to two games for the price of one – Night Warriors: Darkstalkers Revenge and Darkstalkers 3. These feature classic gameplay and unique characters as well as a host of new features, including a variety of HD visual modes, online play with 8-player lobbies, YouTube replay sharing, improved challenge modes, dynamic awards, and unlockable extras. Embrace the dark!

The third wave of Kinect Sports Gems includes 10 Frame Bowling, Ping Pong, and the pun-tastic Penalty Saver (a soccer shootout game). Fitting for a mini-game, each one is available for the mini-price of 240 Microsoft Points ($3) apiece.

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Princeton Review names University of Utah the best undergrad game design program for 2013

universityofutah-logoThe Princeton Review has released the latest update to “Top Schools to Study Video Game Design,” their annual list of the best colleges for game design in the country. After dominating the undergrad list for three straight years, the University of Southern California has been dethroned by the University of Utah. However, USC still holds the top spot on the list of graduate programs.

The Princeton Review studied and ranked 50 different game design programs for this year’s report focusing on “the school curriculum, faculty, facilities, and infrastructure, plus career services, student scholarships, and financial aid.” The rankings can be found after the break and the complete report, which includes profiles of the schools, can be found at PrincetonReview.com. (more…)

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Payday 2 coming to PC, PS3, Xbox 360 this Summer

payday2-dudePayday: The Heist skipped the Xbox 360 during its 2011 getaway, but the sequel won’t make the same choice. Payday 2 is taking the cannoli and the gun and will be released on the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 this Summer. The game is once again being developed by Overkill Software and the decision to bring it to the Xbox 360 came from new publisher 505 Games.

Payday 2 promises to be a much bigger game than its predecessor with more heists than ever before and multi-tiered objectives that can change due to a variety of scenarios. Hmm, maybe there is honor among thieves.

[Source: CVG]

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