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
- 2025 GOTY Scoreboard: In Progress
- 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
Gameloft jumps on the 3DS bandwagon
Although many 3DS customers may have heard of Asphalt 3D – a 3DS launch title, what they may not know is that Asphalt 3D was developed by Gameloft, the New York City-based developer/publisher who has already delivered a slew of games to iOS and other platforms. Gameloft is responsible for titles including Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus, and Sacred Odyssey: Rise of Ayden – iOS games that are eerily similar to the Call of Duty and Zelda franchises, respectively.
In addition to continuing development for iOS and other ventures, Gameloft recently stated that they plan to take part in developing downloadable games exclusively for Nintendo’s upcoming handheld. The 3DS’ eShop won’t launch until this summer, but Gameloft has assured that many of their titles will feature the 3DS’ StreetPass function, allowing players to compare their scores and stats with passers-by.
The first title to arrive on the 3DS’ eShop will be Let’s Golf! 2, available in the coming months. I’ve got a lurking feeling that we’ll soon see a Gameloft title featuring an overweight electrician who eats broccoli to power up, and is saving a princess from a giant alligator.
Guitar Hero III tops biggest moneymakers list
Guitar Hero may be dead (for now at least), but the franchise has certainly left its mark on the gaming world. In a report released by The NPD Group yesterday, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock was crowned the king of all video games… in terms of total sales dollars that is. The music game has brought $830.9 million into Activision’s coffers, no doubt thanks to the expensive guitar bundle you see above.
Activision can also lay claim to the number two game on the list, Call of Duty: Black Ops (even though gamers have bought more copies of CODBLOPS than any other game ever). All told, the publisher snapped up half of the spots in the top ten.
But when it comes to printing money, the only other name that comes to mind is Nintendo. The consolemaker has four games in the top ten: both versions of Wii Fit, Wii Play and Mario Kart Wii. The only non-Activision/Nintendo title in the top ten was MTV Games’ Rock Band.
Interestingly, no game on the list was released before 2007, but CNBC pointed out that the list may not be entirely accurate as Super Mario Bros. 3 sold 18 million copies back in 1990 (before The NPD Group started tracking game sales). Originally retailing for $50, the game’s $900 million dollar tally would surpass every other game on the list.
Hit the jump for the full top ten. (more…)
Capcom continues outsourcing – Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City announced
Over the last few years, Keiji Inafune vehemently demanded that Japanese game developers blindly imitate what Western developers are doing, so they can make the money. A few months ago, he left Capcom. I can’t tell if it’s because of his demands, or because all their key game directors keep leaving, but Capcom seems intent on giving away all of its classic franchises to their friends in the West.
The world was shocked, absolutely shocked, as Capcom handed the reigns of Devil May Cry over to Ninja Theory when they unveiled their hideous, regurgitation-inducing (at least to DMC fans) makeover of protagonist Dante. Now, Official Xbox Magazine has confirmed that the next title in Capcom’s premier survival horror franchise, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is underway at Slant Six Studios for the PlayStation 3 and (of course) Xbox 360. Slant Six just did a stint with PlayStation’s SOCOM franchise, working on last year’s SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3 (which was awesome) and SOCOM: Confrontation before that (which wasn’t so awesome). Stick Skills has tons of bullet points about the game on its site, and you can get even tons more from OXM. If you’re wondering what a western dev is going to do to this franchise, I believe this quote will satisfy your curiosity:
This is not a one-versus-one game where you’ve got one clip full of ammo and zombies on you. If you’ve ever thought of those times in an RE game when you thought, ‘I’d wish I had a big gun’, that’s what this game is.
There you have it. I’ll be sure to let you all know when Phoenix Wright: Space Marine is announced for the Xbox 360.
Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
Lead and Gold on Steam gets free to play weekend, patch, DLC, and massive sale
If you missed out on last year’s excellent class-based, wild west multiplayer shooter, now’s a great time to get into Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West, particularly on Steam. The game is now 75% off and you can play without paying for it as part of this free to play weekend. The new Appendoah Valley – The Crops of Wrath map makes its debut in versus. Like the PS3 version got earlier this month, the game has been patched for numerous bugs on Steam.
Final Fantasy IV: Interlude is around 15 hours, maturity returns to original FFIV
The Super Nintendo. The PlayStation. The Game Boy Advance. The Nintendo DS. Going on its fifth platform, Square Enix is still giving you reasons to buy Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection. One such reason is Final Fantasy IV: Interlude, an all new game set to connect the original IV with its WiiWare sequel, The After Years. The PlayStation Blog revealed that this new connected story will be “weighing in at 15-odd hours of new gameplay.” I’d be happy if a downloadable game gave me 15 hours, so it’s excellent for this episode to be more like a full game.
Another feature may be of more note to RPG purists: the PSBlog portrays this version of the game as its “pure, uncensored form,” specifically denoting skimpy outfits and mature references. This is actually a big deal. For example, Final Fantasy VI directly translated is almost a completely different game than American players were used to, dealing with issues of prostitution, teen pregnancy, and suicide. No word if “Spoony Bard” will return (it did), but expect a nice package when FFIV: The Complete Collection releases for PSP on April 19.
Posted in News, PSP
Tagged Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection
Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters arriving in 3D on June 7
Ryan Reynolds’ latest film is generating a lot of excitement, but you can get your own taste of the Green Lantern, even in 3D if you wish, before the film comes out on June 17. Warner Bros. Interactive announced today that Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters will release in 3D for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo 3DS on June 7, along with a Wii version in standard 2D. This will be Warner Bros. first game for the Nintendo 3DS.
The PS3 and 360 version are actually kind of interesting – no expensive 3DTV is needed. The 3D effects are compatible with any standard or high definition television, all you have to do is wear the glasses that come with the game. With all this talk of 3D being the new direction for gaming, it’s great to see developers finding alternate, cheaper ways to deliver it to us.
Resident Evil 4, Code Veronica X getting HD remakes
One day after revealing that high definition remakes of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil: Code Veronica X are coming to Japan, Capcom has announced that the classic RE adventures will be available in North America as well.
The HD remakes will be released this Fall as downloadable games on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. Pricing details weren’t announced and it’s currently unknown if they’ll include any new features beyond the HD graphical overhaul. But if the standard definition-to-high definition comparison screenshots that Capcom has released are any indication, that overhaul will make the games look better than ever. Although I have to say, I don’t remember RE4 looking that ugly on my Wii (or any of the half dozen other platforms these games have appeared on).
Hit the jump for all five comparison screens. (more…)
Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil: Code Veronica
OK Go’s “White Knuckles” goes 3D on 3DS
How can anyone not like OK Go? When the band’s not making awesome music videos with treadmills and Rube Goldberg machines, they’re working to save cute little rescue puppies.
Sensing a kindred spirit in the “we love adorable doggies” department, Nintendo has announced that the first 3DS system update (which will be available when the handheld launches on March 27) will include a 3D version of the band’s “White Knuckles” video. According to Nintendo, the recommended update will also “enhance the communication features” of the 3DS.
“We shot the ‘White Knuckles’ video in 2D and 3D at the same time, but until now, there hasn’t been much opportunity for people to see the 3D version,” said Trish Sie, the video’s Grammy-winning director. “I’m fired up for people to watch the video again with Nintendo 3DS and experience it in a whole new way. This opens up all kinds of creative opportunities.”
You can watch the video in plain old 2D above.