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.

3D Mario for Wii U, Mario Kart Wii U announced; will be playable at E3

mario-saluteNintendo’s latest Nintendo Direct presentation has just come to a close and company President Satoru Iwata made a ton of exciting. But none is more exciting (or least surprising) than the news that a “New 3D Mario Action Game” and Mario Kart Wii U are in development for the Wii U. Both games will make their debut at this year’s E3 Expo where they’ll be available in playable form.

No release dates were announced, but with playable E3 demos on the horizon, it can’t be long now.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged , ,

XBLA Today: The Cave

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Ron Gilbert collaboration with Double Fine Productions, The Cave, is today’s lone addition to the Xbox Live Arcade. Priced at 1200 Microsoft Points ($15), the adventure game promises plenty of the zany fun that Gilbert is known for:

The Cave is a new adventure game from Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion creator Ron Gilbert, and Double Fine Productions, the award-winning studio behind Psychonauts and Brütal Legend. Assemble your team of three from seven unlikely adventurers, each with their own unique personalities and stories, then descend into the mysterious depths to explore locations including a subterranean amusement park and a medieval castle, not to mention a fully armed and ready-to-launch nuclear tipped ICBM. The Cave awaits.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Ni No Kuni, The Cave, Just Dance 4, Dust 514, Disgaea 2, more added to PS Store

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It’s another big week for Sony’s PlayStation Store this week.

This week’s big new release is Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, Level-5’s collaboration with Studio Ghibli that has locked JRPG aficionados into a frenzy. And speaking of collaborations, adventure game The Cave marks the first team-up of Ron Gilbert and Double Fine Productions.

What else, what else… Today is the first day of the Dust 514 open beta and the PS2 Classic Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories has been added to the store to go with last week’s addition of the first game. Finally, Ubisoft has added a download version of Just Dance 4 to the PlayStation Store.

Hit the jump for more information on this week’s new releases (including Ninja Gaiden Sigma and a new PSP game) and check out the PlayStation Blog for an overview of this week’s new game add-ons. (more…)

Posted in News, PS3, PSP, Vita | Tagged , , ,

Apply for Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls Online beta now

Are you itching to get your hands on The Elder Scrolls Online? Well, you’re in luck. Today, Bethesda opened registration for the game’s beta test at ElderScrollsOnline.com.

“We’re really excited to get the game into players’ hands,” said Matt Firor, game director of The Elder Scrolls Online. “We receive invaluable feedback through the beta process, and that helps us ensure that the game will be one of the best online gaming experiences ever offered — one worthy of The Elder Scrolls franchise.”

The Elder Scrolls Online is scheduled to be released this year exclusively for the PC. The start date and duration of the beta test will be announced at a later date. Good luck to everyone who applies for a spot in the beta.

Posted in News, PC | Tagged

XSEED registers Killer Is Dead domain

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Have you checked out the first Japanese trailer for Killer Is Dead yet? Suda 51’s next game won’t disappoint his hardcore fans as it looks as ridiculously cracked as all of his previous efforts. And now we know which publisher plans to bring it to America.

XSEED Games has purchased the URL killerisdead-game.com, and while it isn’t confirmation that they’ve chosen to publish the game, it is a pretty big hint.

Killer Is Dead will be released this Summer in Japan. XSEED will presumably announce a US release date (and their official involvement as the game’s publisher) soon.

[Source: Kotaku]

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Resident Evil Revelations makes the jump to consoles and PC in May 2013

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Capcom has announced plans to resurrect Resident Evil Revelations on the PC, PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U this May. The game, which was originally released for a the 3DS a year ago, will be available as a disc-based release on the Xbox 360 and Wii U and as a digital download on the PC and PS3 on May 21. A downloadable version will be added to the Xbox Live Marketpace and Wii U eShop at a later date.

The console/PC version of Revelations will feature plenty of enhancements and additions over the 3DS version including high definition graphics as well as “enhanced lighting effects and an immersive sound experience.” Additional content is also being prepared for the May release including “a terrifying new enemy,” an extra difficulty mode, and improvements to Raid Mode (along with the ability to play as Hunk).

Resident Evil Revelations has been priced at $49.99 and a special pre-order program will begin at ResidentEvil.net on January 24.

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

Starbreeze announces Storm, a co-op sci-fi FPS

storm-starbreezeStarbreeze Studios (the team behind last year’s Syndicate reboot and the Chronicles of Riddick games) has very quietly announced their next project: Storm.

Described as a co-op (co-operative) sci-fi (science fiction) FPS (first person shooter), Starbreeze refers to the game as “our future.” The developer didn’t reveal any platform information or a release window, but they did upload the very snazzy logo to your left.

And don’t forget, they’ve still got Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons set for the Spring.

Posted in News |

Zeboyd has released the first screenshot from Penny Arcade’s Rain-Slick 4

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Zeboyd Games and Penny Arcade’s On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 4 have a hatred for headlines. It’s not easy fitting that behemoth of a title into a headline and I’ve just about given up trying. But the developers at Zeboyd also love 16-bit RPGs, as you can see above in the first screenshot from Rain-Slick 4. If this screenshot is anything to go on, the fourth (and final) episode of the RPG series has been inspired by Sqaure’s classic Super NES RPG, Secret of Mana.

According to Zeboyd, a more in-depth reveal of Penny Arcade’s On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 4 will be posted this week on IGN.

Posted in News, PC, Xbox 360 | Tagged