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.

It’s raining coins in this new New Super Mario Bros. 2 trailer

Posted on July 13, 2012 by John Scalzo

Even though every New Super Mario Bros. 2 trailer is just a variation on the same theme (“Mario collects a ton of coins and then makes the streets paved with gold”), each one manages to plaster a giant smile on my face. Such is the power of Mario and lure of massive amounts of loot. Go Mario! Collect those coins!

New Super Mario Bros. 2 will be available for the 3DS on August 19.

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Rockstar releases two new Grand Theft Auto V screenshots

Posted on July 13, 2012 by John Scalzo

Rockstar Games was very apologetic in the latest edition of their Asked & Answered mailbag. The publisher wants to release more information about Grand Theft Auto V, but they’ve been unable to for some reason. And because of that, they’re very sorry. But the folks running the regular column on RockstarGames.com were able to score two new screenshots of sunny San Andreas that you can check out in a gallery after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition 1.7.3 update coming tonight

Posted on July 13, 2012 by John Scalzo

We’re on the verge of another major update for Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition. How on the verge? How about tonight at 10 PM (Eastern Time)!

Tonight’s title update will bring the game up to version 1.7.3, which will add Pistons, Shears, stackable fences, the Character Skin Selector, and more to your Minecraft experience.

Hit the jump for a complete list of everything that’s been changed or added in this the update. (more…)

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Rockstar: “Stay tuned” for a Red Dead Redemption 2 announcement

Posted on July 12, 2012 by John Scalzo

Well this is a surprise. And a darn tootin’ great one at that, if I do say so myself. In the latest edition of their Asked & Answered mailbag, Rockstar Games has very strongly hinted at an impending Red Dead Redemption 2 announcement:

All I wanna know is is there goin to be a new Red Dead game any time soon?” – via Facebook

“Will there ever be a sequel or prequel to #RDR I am Red Dead mad!!” – @liquidh20stevew (via Twitter)

Rockstar: Awesome, we love Red Dead too – and are thrilled that so many of you loved John Marston’s tale and are excited for more epic Western action. As we mentioned in our last set of Asked & Answereds to similar questions about the future of other game franchises like Bully and L.A. Noire, we don’t always rush to make sequels but that does not mean that we won’t get to them eventually. Stay tuned for further announcements about the future of the Red Dead series.

It should be noted that Rockstar was careful to say that any announcement would relate to “the future of the Red Dead series;” they never actually used the words “Red Dead Redemption 2.” But since it’s unlikely that more Red Dead Redemption DLC is in the works, I think now’s a fine time to speculate about a sequel. Especially with next-gen consoles on the horizon.

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Lego Batman 2 rises to the top of the June 2012 bestsellers list

Posted on July 12, 2012 by John Scalzo

With editions on seven different platforms, Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes rose to the top of The NPD Group’s monthly list of bestselling games. The remainder of the list was split between new releases, May holdovers, and Fall 2011 games that are still popular.

There were only a handful of new games available in June with Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (#2), Pokemon Conquest (#7), and The Amazing Spider-Man (#10) all earning spots in the top ten. Grasshopper’s Lollipop Chainsaw didn’t make the cut, continuing Suda 51’s lack of success at the register.

An astounding four games from Fall 2011 continue to sell strongly enough to make the top ten: NBA 2K12 (#5), Batman: Arkham City (#6, boosted by the newly released Game of the Year Edition), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (#8), and Battlefield 3 (#9). I’m sure it helps that all were among the best-reviewed games of last year.

As a whole, game and hardware sales are down 29% from June 2011, according to Joystiq.

A complete list of last month’s best-selling games can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Vita, Wii, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Nintendo’s 8-Bit Summer continues with Kirby’s Pinball Land, Sword of Hope II

Posted on July 12, 2012 by John Scalzo

Nintendo’s 8-Bit Summer continues with the addition of two Game Boy classics to the 3DS eShop: Kirby’s Pinball Land and The Sword of Hope II.

Johnny Kung Fu, a brawler where players take on The Mr. Wang Gang, and Sweet Memories Blackjack, a blackjack sim that pits players against Japanese schoolgirls, were also added to the 3DS eShop. This week’s “Game of the Weekend” also comes from the 3DS eShop. WayForward’s Mighty Switch Force! is on sale for $2.99 all weekend long.

This week’s Nintendo Download includes four other games, including Frogger: Hyper Arcade Edition, and you can read all about them after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, Wii | Tagged

In the jungle, a new Borderlands 2 trailer revealed tonight

Posted on July 12, 2012 by John Scalzo

In the jungle… the mighty jungle… I love Gearbox tonight. Wimoweh! Wimoweh! Wimoweh! Wimoweh! Wimoweh!

Yup, the little ditty that made The Lion King such a hit with the kiddies (Elton who?) has turned up in the latest trailer for Borderlands 2. Naturally, there’s plenty of mayhem and monsters and guns, lots of guns! Check it out, you won’t be disappointed.

Borderlands 2 will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on September 18.

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

Cyborg, Nightwing join the cast of Injustice: Gods Among Us

Posted on July 11, 2012 by John Scalzo

NetherRealm slowly dripfed gamers the complete character roster to the Mortal Kombat reboot and it looks like they plan to do the same thing with their next game, Injustice: Gods Among Us. A playable demo of the game available during Comic-Con’s preview night revealed that Cyborg and Nightwing will be joining the game.

So Cyborg is Jax and Nightwing is Jade, right?

[Source: Kotaku]

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