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.

Metal Gear Solid movie to be produced by Avi Arad

Posted on August 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

Hideo Kojima has always wanted to go Hollywood and it looks like he’ll finally get his chance as the acclaimed developer, film producer Avi Arad, and Columbia Pictures have announced an agreement to produce a movie based on the Metal Gear Solid series.

No other details about the film (such as a possible director, screenwriter, or casting preferences) were revealed.

[Source: Siliconera]

Posted in Etcetera, News |

Nintendo Download: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy demo, more

Posted on August 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

A demo for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is today’s big addition to the various Nintendo Download services. But if you’ve been tapping out Final Fantasy-style songs with your stylus for months, here’s what else the 3DS eShop and DSiWare Shop have to offer:

SpeedX 3D (3DS eShop) – SpeedX 3D is a stunning tunnel racer that tests players’ skill and transports them into a trance, filled with great electronic music and hypnotic graphics.

Toki Tori (3DS eShop) – In this Game Boy Color classic from 2001, you must keep a small, yellow chicken safe by avoiding monsters and traps while working out how to collect all the eggs in each level before time runs out.

Outdoors Unleashed: Africa 3D (3DS eShop) – Head into the deepest reaches of Africa, armed with your wits, your skills, and an array of high-powered weapons and accessories!

Escape the Virus: Shoot’em Up (DSiWare) – Escape the Virus, an action puzzle series, is back with totally new game-play modes.

Posted in 3DS, DS, News | Tagged

Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes announced

Posted on August 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

It doesn’t have a “5” tacked onto its title, but Hideo Kojima has just announced the fifth major Metal Gear Solid game at a special 25th anniversary event in Japan. Officially known as Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes, the game will star a younger Solid Snake in an open-world game.

A short demo accompanied the announcement, showing Snake “avoiding searchlights, riding a jeep, and calling a helicopter in for evacuation.” All of this was also said to take place in the rain, a first for the series.

Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes is powered by Kojima Productions’ new Fox Engine, but it’s believed that the game will ship for current generation platforms (the PS3 and/or the Xbox 360) in addition to a possible PC version. However, that release date is obviously a closely guarded secret for now.

[Source: Siliconera]

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Two new LocoCycle trailers reveal gameplay, voice talent

Posted on August 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

We only got a glimpse of Twisted Pixel’s LocoCycle before Microsoft moved on to the next game, but now the wacky developer is ready to reveal a bit more about their game. The titular LocoCycle is actually named I.R.I.S., a sentient secret agent motorcycle with a built-in machine gun that also knows kung fu.

Yeah, it’s that kind of game.

You can check out the first gameplay trailer above and you can listen to voice actors Lisa Foiles (as I.R.I.S.) and Robert Patrick (as her pursuer, the evil motorcycle S.P.I.K.E.) do their thing after the break.

LocoCycle is still on track for a 2013 release, exclusively on the Xbox Live Arcade. (more…)

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

XBLA Today: Rock Band Blitz, Walking Dead Episode 3

Posted on August 29, 2012 by John Scalzo

Microsoft has updated the Xbox Live Arcade with this week’s new additions and they include The Walking Dead: Episode 3 – Long Road Ahead:

Episode three of a five-part game series set in Robert Kirkman’s award-winning universe. Treachery within the group leads to a devastating series of events in the most emotionally turbulent episode to date! Will the tough choices you made in episodes one and two come back to haunt you or prove to be worthwhile decisions?

…And Harmonix’s controller-based rhythm game Rock Band Blitz:

Rock Band Blitz brings the excitement of a full band into your hands, transforming classic Rock Band gameplay into an addictive single player controller-based experience – no instruments needed! Compete with your friends on over 20 amazing new tracks, which are also instantly playable in Rock Band 3. Or add your own favorite music: Rock Band Blitz is compatible with the 3,500+ songs in the Rock Band library. With an endless combination of power-ups, instrument multipliers and more, Rock Band Blitz makes every song a replayable rock explosion!

The Walking Dead: Episode 3 has been priced at 400 Microsoft Points ($5) while Rock Band Blitz can be yours for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15).

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

Animal Crossing 3DS will be out in Japan this November

Posted on August 29, 2012 by John Scalzo

Animal Crossing 3DS has been a big secret for so long that I can hardly believe it’ll be out in Japan this year. But believe it I do after Nintendo announced a November 8 release date for the game during their most recent Nintendo Direct presentation. A North American release date has yet to be announced, but presumably the game will cross the Pacific sometime next year.

In the meantime, you can check out the new gameplay trailer above. Also feel free to think of creative ways to use the new “share clothing designs with QR Codes” feature. A forehead tattoo would probably be going too far.

[Source: Kotaku]

Posted in News | Tagged ,

Nintendo announces final Professor Layton game for Japan

Posted on August 29, 2012 by John Scalzo

Nintendo streamed another one of their Nintendo Direct presentations this morning and the big news out of Japan is that the company will publish the “final” Layton game next year. The game will be known as Professor Layton and the Legacy of Super Civilization A in Japan and likely something else when it makes its way to America (no North American date was announced).

Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino introduced the teaser trailer above and (if you can understand Japanese) I’m sure it’s a hoot.

Don’t fret Layton fans, an American release date will surely be announced soon and while this is the final game starring Layton, it may not be the last game in the series.

[Source: Joystiq, Kotaku]

Posted in News | Tagged ,

Madden NFL 13, Walking Dead Episode 3, Rock Band Blitz, more added to PS Store

Posted on August 29, 2012 by John Scalzo

As has been their custom all Summer long, Sony dumped another massive amount of games onto the PlayStation Store yesterday.

This week, PS3 gamers can download digital versions of Madden NFL 13 and Record of Agarest War Zero. Several previously bundled HD remakes can also now be had separately from the store including Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD, Ratchet & Clank, Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, and Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal.

Wait, we’re not done yet! Also available this week is Harmonix’s controller-based rhythm game Rock Band Blitz, The Walking Dead: Episode 3 – “Long Road Ahead” from Telltale Games, Activision’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD, and the PlayStation Move party game Lights, Camera, Party.

Sony also added a lone PS2 Classic to the store yesterday, Double Fine’s psychotic platformer, Psychonauts.

Finally, Vita owners will also get a chance to download Madden NFL 13 and the PSone Classics on Vita patch is now live, but it’s not exactly perfect. Vita support has officially been added to just thirteen PSone games.

A complete list of this week’s new game add-ons can be found at the PlayStation Blog and more information on all of these new games can be found after the break. (more…)

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