Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Angry Birds, Dragon Quest, FIFA Soccer, and Silent Hill are the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
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- BAFTA Games Awards: All the Winners from 2003 to Today
- Clair Obscur Completes the Sweep by Winning “Best Game” at 2025-2026 BAFTA Games Awards
- Boss Fight Books to Get a New Look for Richard Moss’s “Age of Empires”
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- How a Second-Grade Teacher Revived a Beloved Video Game – The New York Times (2026)
- Spore: An oral history – Design Room (2026)
- We Pitched a Museum a 1993 Game Hint Line (And They Actually Said Yes) – Yarn Spinner (2026)
- The History Of The Word “Metroidvania” And How It Spread – A Critical Hit (2025)
- Creator of Hit Game Shovel Knight Is at a ‘Make or Break’ Moment – Bloomberg (2025)
Most Recent: News
Latest PS4, Xbox 720 rumors point to 2012 release
This is getting ridiculous.
Edge Magazine has finagled a few new next-generation rumors and they’re reporting that the Xbox 720 (or whatever it’s eventually called) will be released in late 2012 alongside the Wii U. Ubisoft Montreal is said to be working on their next project using Xbox 720 “target boxes” (PCs that closely align with the specs of the next Xbox) with preliminary devkits said to arrive any day now.
Another Edge source, corroborating an earlier set of rumors, has told the magazine that an internal Sony studio has begun development on its first PlayStation 4 game.
It’s safe to say that no one is quite sure when the next generation of game consoles will launch. Earlier rumors pointed towards a 2013 release for the PS3 and Xbox 360 successors, but each new rumor seems to point to a different release date. And Nintendo’s plan to launch the Wii U in 2012 surely has Microsoft and Sony mulling all their options, so a 2012 release isn’t an entirely crazy idea.
I have no idea when the next generation is going to begin. But it sounds like your average developer doesn’t know either.
CoD Modern Warfare 3 sets another record: $775 million/12.5 million copies in 5 days
Brace yourself, Activision has a new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 sales record to announce.
In its first five days of availability, Modern Warfare 3 has generated $775 million in sales worldwide. For those scoring at home, that works out to more than 12.5 million copies. That surpasses the previous record of $650 million, set a year ago by Call of Duty: Black Ops.
“As I have said all year, we have been singluarly focused on making a spectacular game for our fans, and nothing else. Our incredible teams at Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games have done just that,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO, Activision Publishing. “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 continues to thrill core gaming enthusiasts as well as draw new people into the medium, which is not an easy balancing act. But it takes more than a great game. I would also like to thank our incredible team for the pulling off the launch of the year, as well as our retail partners around the world. But most of all, I want to thank our fans. They are our toughest critics, and our biggest supporters, and none of this would be possible without them.”
In addition to another sales record, Modern Warfare 3 has also set a new standard for simultaneous players on both the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. According to Microsoft, 1.4 million were playing Modern Warfare 3 at the same time on November 8. The total number of simultaneous PS3 players was not released by Sony.
Check back with Warp Zoned one year from today, where I plan to copy-and-paste this article, replacing every instance of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” with “Call of Duty 9.”
Kirby’s Adventure (in 3D!) added to 3DS eShop
It’s Thursday and Nintendo has, once again, updated their trio of download services. This week’s batch of new games is lead by Kirby’s Adventure. The NES favorite (and Kirby’s first adventure in color and his first on a console) has been given a “3D Classics” makeover for its inclusion on the 3DS eShop today.
Another Legend of Zelda Symphony piece is available for the 3DS’s video service along with these other games:
Escape Trick: Convenience Store (DSiWare) – When our main character tries to leave the convenience store where he works, he finds that the door won’t open and the store looks somehow different. Who would lock him in here? Can he get out of this place?
Play & Learn Chinese (DSiWare) – Play & Learn Chinese is the fast, fun, and friendly way to learn to speak Chinese!
Pinocchio’s Puzzle (WiiWare) – Solve increasingly difficult puzzles as you progress through the classic tale of Pinocchio. In addition to developing sensory skills and hand-eye coordination, you’ll enjoy an endearing and enchanting story told puzzle by puzzle.
More information on all of these games can be found within the Nintendo Download weekly newsletter.
Skyrim ships more than 7 million critically acclaimed copies
When I went to pick up my copy of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim at a midnight release party I got there three hours early and I was STILL 150th in line at the store here in Phoenix. By 11:30, the line was in the 400s. It was then that I knew that Skyrim had one of the biggest openings of the year, and as it turns out, I was right.
A press release from Bethesda parent company Zenimax today revealed that seven million copies of their latest Action RPG/Soul-Consuming-Fantasy-Life-Simulator have been shipped to date, equaling about $450 million in revenue. Within 48 hours of it’s release on 11/11/11, more than 50% of all the shipped copies were sold, and massive re-orders for the game through many outlets are already expected. On Steam, Valve’s computer game distribution service, it was reported that over 280,000 players were playing the game simultaneously, shattering the previous record.
In addition to the huge sales numbers, Zenimax stated the game has seen “perfect” reviews from more than 50 outlets.
“Todd Howard and his team at Bethesda Game Studios have crafted a very special game,” said Robert Altman, Chairman and CEO of Zenimax media, “Anticipation for Skyrim has surpassed any game in our company’s history, and we are pleased that sales and reviews have reflected the quality and hours of amazing gameplay it provides.”
I for one have already thrown around 40 hours into this game, and think that this praise is, indeed, warranted. Now if you will excuse me, this news post is cutting into my precious adventuring time.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Daily Scoop: November 16, 2011 – Rainy day woman
It’s Wednesday, and it’s a beautiful rainy day – not too cold, not too rainy, just a general kind of soggy day. Back in high school, my soccer coach was obsessed with Bob Dylan, and named all of our plays after his songs – and nicknamed some of us as well. I was Rainy Day Woman, so when it rains, I always think about him.
Whew! Anyway! Amazon’s Deal of the Day in video games continues on their Black Friday Deals with up to 75% off Collector’s Editions! There’s Killzone 3: Helghast Edition for $39.99, Disney Epic Mickey Collector’s Edition for $34.99, and even the Bully Scholarship Edition for $5. Some interesting stuff there on the cheap! Oh yeah, and the Duke Nukem Forever: Balls of Steel Edition for $17.99. *snicker*
There are two awesome gaming shirts today, both of which you should buy immediately if not sooner… (more…)
PETA sics a blood-soaked tanooki on Super Mario 3D Land
Did you know that the people of Japan skin tanookis (the little dog-like raccoons that are the basis for Super Mario 3D Land‘s Tanooki Suit) alive to make coats out of their fur? According to PETA, it’s true, and the animal activist organization has created another video game parody to bring this practice to light.
Super Tanooki Skin 2D stars the titular Tanooki as he chases Mario through a blood-soaked Mushroom Kingdom to get his fur back. It’s actually a pretty slick little Flash game, it’s just too bad that no one at PETA seems to know their Mario trivia.
Mario obtains his Tanooki Suit in Super Mario 3D Land by touching a Super Leaf, a magic feather. So no tanookis were harmed during the making of this game because there’s no “suit,” it’s all just magic. Mario, quite literally, turns into a Tanooki, a trickster god common in Japanese folklore.
So leave Mario alone!
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged Super Mario 3D Land
XBLA Today: Xotic
Xotic is the only Xbox Live Arcade release this week. The game is a high score-focused first person shooter, a gametype that casued developer WXP Games to state “there’s never been a game like this before.” Truth in advertising or puffery of the highest order? We’ll let you be the judge:
Think you know shooters? Think again. Xotic is a completely new hybrid; rack up massive point chains, play on 23 levels, and compete globally. Create transparent aerial landing platforms while going for some arcade-style point pick-ups. Use power-ups to boost your abilities. And fire up eight upgradeable weapons to combat the minions of the Orb. All while roaming beautiful but mysterious environments. You’ll see stuff you’ve never seen before, because there’s never been a game like this before.
Xotic is available to download for 800 Microsoft Points ($10).
Black Friday Game Deals 2011: GameStop
Black Friday is less than two weeks away (November 25, mark your calendars) and retailers have continued to release their annual Black Friday sales circulars.
If you want to fill your stocking with used games this holiday season, GameStop is the place to be on Black Friday. The retail giant is offering a special “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” promotion on any used item. This includes all games, accessories, and consoles.
GameStop also has a wide selection of deeply discounted new games including Battlefield 3, FIFA Soccer 12, Madden NFL 12, Need For Speed: The Run, Gears of War 3, and Forza Motorsport 4 for $39.99 as well as Rage for $29.99.
Hit the jump for a complete list of GameStop’s Black Friday sales. (more…)