Most Recent: News

Ilomilo added to XBLA

Posted on January 5, 2011 by John Scalzo

Even though it’s been available to download on the Xbox Live Arcade for several weeks now with a “super secret access code,” everyone will get a chance to play Southend Interactive’s Ilomilo today. The game marks the final entry in Microsoft’s “Games For the Holidays” promotion and features some cross-game unlockables with the two other titles, A World of Keflings and Raskulls.

Ilomilo is a puzzle platformer that has used its dreamlike imagery and secret launch to gather plenty of fans in the last few months. It’s been priced at 800 Microsoft Points ($10), just like the other Games For the Holidays titles.

You can read our review of Ilomilo later this morning.

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DS, Wii set new sales records in 2010

Posted on January 4, 2011 by John Scalzo

This is not news: The DS and Wii sold a ton of systems in 2010.

This is news: The DS and Wii sold a record-setting amount of systems in 2010.

While it seems like news outlets publish this story every year and just change the date, Nintendo has announced that the DS and Wii have set several new sales records in 2010.

The DS pushed its total install base to 47 million in 2010. According to Nintendo’s internal numbers, that’s a new record for a console or handheld in the US. Congratulations to Nintendo, but Sony put out a similar press release in 2009 claiming the PS2 had sold 50 million units in the US. We may never know which one actually holds the record, but they both have a huge library of classic games, and that’s all that really matters.

The Wii also set a record in 2010, becoming the only system to sell seven million units (or more) in three straight years. Nintendo’s little white machine (which added black and red variations in 2010) has sold 34 million units in North American since its debut in 2006.

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Tune in with Q-Games on PixelJunk Radio

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

The hotly anticipated PSN title PixelJunk Shooter 2 is reportedly close to completion and the folks at Kyoto-based Q-Games have launched the inaugural episode of their podcast, PixelJunk Radio.  Ariel Angelotti, Bear Trickey, Duncan Flett, and the man himself, Dylan Cuthbert sit down over Kirin beers to discuss life in Japan, particularly the toilets.  It’s just over 11 minutes so I’d highly recommend it if you’re interested in some laid back banter among the team (about toilets).  You can follow the chatter at their YouTube channel or subscribe to it on iTunes.

The PixelJunk series has consistently been among the best downloadable games this generation, so it’ll be interesting to get insight from the team, especially as they answer fan questions.  For more on podcasts, you can expect the inaugural episode of our very own Warp Zoned Podcast to drop in the coming days, starring Ryan Littlefield, Nicole Kline, and yours truly.

You can also watch the first episode right here:

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Sonic entering his 20s

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

On June 23 of this year, Sega will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of its flagship franchise, Sonic The Hedgehog. The little blue guy first emerged on the Genesis/Mega Drive on June 23, 1991, a date which may be as important to the console wars as 1933 is to World War II historians. The series has since gone on to sell over 70 million copies worldwide, making Sonic one of the most iconic mascots in gaming. Throughout the year, Sega will be revealing details about events around the world to celebrate this milestone.

As with many gamers, the Sonic franchise evokes mixed emotions from me. Fans have been demanding a retreat from 3D style games for over a decade, and this year’s answer to them has received a divided reception. For more on that, be sure to check out Ryan Littlefield’s upcoming article here on Warp Zoned.

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Tee it up at The Masters with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12

Posted on January 4, 2011 by John Scalzo

EA Sports wants players to prepare to chase the most coveted prize in golf, The Green Jacket, as they’ve announced a special Masters edition of Tiger Woods PGA Tour is in the works.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters recreates the famed Augusta National Golf Club in a project that’s been three years in the making at EA Tiburon. Players will be able to tee it up at the virtual Augusta on March 29, a week before the pros tackle the real Augusta.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 will be available in two versions: a PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 standard edition and a PS3-exclusive Collector’s Edition that will include five additional courses. Both PS3 releases will also include PlayStation Move support.

For The Masters, EA Sports utilized a new laser scanning technology at Augusta National Golf Club to scan every hole featured in the game. According to the developer, this will ensure that “every tree, every azalea and every undulation in every green was recreated down to the smallest detail.”

Other new features players can look for when the game releases on March 29 are “Masters Moments” (Play through memorable Masters moments), “Tiger at the Masters” (see if your score can measure up to Tiger’s best performances) and an all-new Career Mode.

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Halo: Cryptum on bookstore shelves today

Posted on January 4, 2011 by John Scalzo

More than half a dozen novels have fleshed out the expanded universe of the Halo franchise since the first game in the series was released in 2001. Today, 343 Industries delves even deeper into the pre-history of Halo with the release of the first part of The Forerunner Saga.

Written by acclaimed science fiction author Greg Bear, Halo: Cryptum travels more than 100,000 years into the past:

Eons ago, the galaxy was home to many species, but chief among them were the Forerunners, who exceeded all others in both technology and knowledge. They ruled peacefully, but countered opposition with quick and brutal effectiveness. They were of the Mantle, the next stage of life in the Universe’s Living Time.

And then they vanished.

This is their story.

If you want a small taste of the story before you take a trip down to your local bookstore (or library), Tor and the Halo Waypoint have the first two chapters available for viewing.

Chapter One can be found at Tor.com while HaloWaypoint.com has Chapter Two.

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MicroBot coming to PlayStation Store tomorrow after last week’s XBLA launch

Posted on January 3, 2011 by John Scalzo

After quietly adding it to the Xbox Live Arcade last Wednesday, Electronic Arts has revealed that MicroBot, their “cure for the common arcade shooter” will be available on the PlayStation Store starting tomorrow, January 4. Developed by Naked Sky Entertainment, the PSN version of MicroBot will be priced at $10, which is equal to the 800 Microsoft Points the XBLA version is going for.

Players (either alone or as a two-player team) will dive inside the human body in MicroBot as they “travel through the bloodstream, bones, lungs and brain” to battle “malicious enemies.”

“When we set out to create MicroBot, we wanted to ensure it provided a unique gameplay experience setting it apart from other offerings in the digital download marketplace. By taking players inside a place they have rarely visited before – the human body – and giving gamers endless customization options, we made a game that lives up to that vision and, most importantly, provides an addictive gameplay experience for anyone who plays games on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network,” said Jason Haber of Electronic Arts.

You can add MicroBot to your Xbox Live Download Queue right now.

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Operation Hastings unlocked for BFBC2 Vietnam on consoles

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

Last year’s Battlefield 1943 saw a unique kind of community challenge where the final map in the DLC game would unlock on each console version once its community achieved 43 million kills.  EA and DICE implemented a similar challenge for Battlefield Bad Company 2 Vietnam, but while PC players racked up the requisite 69 million support actions in no time, console players have had the competition ended early.  To celebrate the new year, Operation Hastings is now unlocked for the 360 and PS3, before either community got a chance to do it themselves.

It makes you wonder if there’s simply a more “lone wolf” mentality when it comes to shooters on consoles, but in any case you can expect our own review of Battlefield Bad Company 2 Vietnam on Warp Zoned shortly.

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