Author: Nicole Kline

Nicole Kline is Warp Zoned's Senior Editor. She first began preparing for the job by climbing a milk crate to play Centipede in an arcade. You can find her on PSN under the name toitle or you can email her at nicole AT warpzoned DOT com.

Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir announced for the 3DS

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Nicole Kline

Nintendo of America has announced that they’ll be releasing Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir in North America on Friday, April 13. This handheld horror game incorporates all of the tricks of the 3DS, including the camera functionality and, of course, the augmented reality. The game “introduces a mysterious girl named Maya who has been hiding in the shadows of an old house. Players must help Maya break free from a terrifying curse by aiding her escape from the clutches of a malevolent woman in black. By using the 3DS system’s built-in camera, players can view Maya in their own surroundings as the game’s eerie events unfold.”

Sound creepy? Add in there the “diary of faces,” the 16-page AR book, which can bring everything from movies reliving moments from the past to enemies coming alive and attacking. Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales and Marketing, said “Everywhere [Nintendo 3DS owners] go, they’ll be able to transform their real-world surroundings into a chilling hand-held adventure.”

You can find out more about this spooky game at the website. I’m looking forward to getting the pants scared off of me on the next Friday the 13th. Come to think of it, didn’t we just have one of those? *Cue creepy music*

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged

Sony renames Ruin; It’s now Warrior’s Lair

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Nicole Kline

Sony’s Ruin, which they showcased at E3 to demonstrate the smooth transition between playing a game on the PlayStation 3 and continuing it on the go on the Vita, has been renamed Warrior’s Lair. In the Vita section of their site, Sony brags that the Diablo clone will be able to “stay connected via the PlayStation Vita, Web and PS3; quest, challenge rivals and craft everywhere you go.”

Diablo clone or not, this game looks like a great way to show off the unique qualities of the PlayStation Vita. There’s still no release date, but speculation is that it will be out sometime this year.

Posted in News | Tagged ,

Mass Effect 3 system requirements announced

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Nicole Kline

The system requirements for the PC version of Mass Effect 3 have been announced, broken down into minimum and recommended specs. Behold:

Minimum Specifications:

  • OS – Windows XP SP3/Vista SP1, Windows 7
    *Supported chipsets: NVIDIA 7900 or better; ATI X1800 or better. Please note that NVIDIA GeForce 9300, 8500, 8400, and 8300 are below minimum system requirements, as are AMD/ATI Radeon HD3200, HD3300, and HD4350. Updates to your video and sound card drivers may be required.
  • CPU – 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (equivalent AMD CPU)
  • RAM – 1GB for XP / 2GB RAM for Vista/Windows 7
  • Disc Drive – 1x speed
  • Hard Drive – 2.5 GB of free space
  • Video – 256 MB* (with Pixel Shader 3.0 support)
  • Sound – DirectX 9.0c compatible
  • DirectX – DirectX 9.0c August 2009 (included)

Recommended Specifications:

  • OS – Windows XP SP3/Vista SP1, Windows 7
  • CPU – 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (equivalent AMD CPU)
  • RAM – 2GB for XP / 4GB RAM for Vista/Windows 7
  • Disc Drive – 1x speed
  • Hard Drive – 2.5 GB of free space
  • Video – AMD/ATI Radeon HD 4850 512 MB or greater, NVidia GeForce 9800 GT 512 MB or greater
  • Sound – DirectX 9.0c compatible

What are you going to have to upgrade to get this game to run on your rig?

Posted in News, PC | Tagged

Daily Scoop: January 19, 2012 – Let it not snow

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Nicole Kline

Snow is on the forecast for Philadelphia! This makes me a slightly sad panda. The only time I really enjoy snow is when I’m strapped into a snowboard on a mountain. Other than that, it’s mostly just a nuisance. Whatever! I’m going to lock myself inside and do some improper dancing.

What’s up for today? I’m glad you asked. Amazon’s Deal of the Day in video games is a $50 promotional credit when you purchase an Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect. This could pay for an Xbox Live subscription, or another controller, or that copy of Modern Warfare 3 you’re dying for. Their PC game download deal of the day is Crysis Maximum Edition for $7.49.

Again, no gamer t-shirts, but I’m smitten with this one: (more…)

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News, PC, Xbox 360 |

Daily Scoop: January 18, 2012 – Board games are fun!

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Nicole Kline

Tonight, my dashing boyfriend and I are heading to a friend’s for delicious food and board games. We’re going to play some Pandemic and try to cure the world of all of its horrible viruses! Considering I’ve only won the game a small fraction of times I’ve played it, I’m not optimistic. But it’s still fun! You should check it out.

Amazon’s got another EA PC download for today’s Deal of the Day in video games – this time it’s $6.99 for Battlefield Bad Company 2. This is a great deal on a solid game, so scoop it up! Amazon’s also got new weekly deals going in games as well. First up is 40% off Disney Universe for the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360, bringing it down to $29.99. Next is $50 off the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Collector’s Edition, bringing that down to a more reasonable $99.99. If you buy a 250 GB Xbox 360 Holiday Kinect Bundle, you can get Kinect Sports Season Two and a Fitbit Wireless Activity/Sleep Tracker for free. And in the Warehouse, you can get Halo Reach for $17.99 used. Scoopity scoops!

No gamer shirts (what did you expect after having four yesterday!) but there is a hilarious “Army of Darkness” one I’m tempted to buy… (more…)

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 |

Final Fantasy XIII-2 Hands-On Preview: What’s Old, What’s New, and What’s Fantastic

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Nicole Kline

There’s a lot to love about what Square Enix has shown us so far in Final Fantasy XIII-2. Many fans complained about the linearity of the first one, as well as the fact that there were no towns (in a Final Fantasy game? Sacrilege!). Fans didn’t like the Paradigm Shift system and thought the Eidolons were pointless. I tend to disagree with much of what’s been said – I love Paradigm Shifting, and enjoyed the story and the aesthetic of Final Fantasy XIII. Much of what made the first game strong is still there, but there are a lot of new features that may reignite faith in what some consider to be a hackneyed franchise. (more…)

Posted in Previews, PS3, Top Story, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Daily Scoop: January 17, 2012 – Long weekends keep me sane

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Nicole Kline

Well, they try to keep me sane, anyway. They mostly just prevent me from completely losing my sanity, which I think is different than being entirely sane…

Anyway! Amazon’s Deal of the Day in video games is EA’s Medal of Honor for just $6.99 on the PC. As what I consider to be one of the most underrated games of 2010, this game is an absolute must-buy at this price. GameStop‘s new deals start tomorrow, and include $30 off Assassin’s Creed: Revelations and $10 off Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3. Scoop ’em up!

I’ve got a record-breaking four video game t-shirts for you today! Rejoice, friends, rejoice! (more…)

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News |

Daily Scoop: January 13, 2012 – Friday the 13th!

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Nicole Kline

It’s Friday, friends! And it’s the 13th: traditionally a bad omen. I’ve had some ill luck to start off the day – a flash drive containing valuable data has kicked the bucket. I’m hoping someone can help me revive it. But the good news is that Don Riggs and I have claimed this day to be Dune Day! Behold us in our glory.

What’s going on in the world of deals today? Well, so far as I know, all we’ve got is Amazon’s Deal of the Day in video games, which is Turtle Beach’s Ear Force X31 Digital RF Wireless Game Audio + Xbox Live Chat. It’s on sale for $69.99 from $99.99.

Just one video game shirt today, which is dedicated to one of your favorite characters in Portal: (more…)

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News |