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
- 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”
- GDC Awards: All the Winners from 1996 to Today
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- 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)
- Shadow of the Colossus: An oral history – Design Room (2025)
Most Recent: News
Sega will release Sonic Mania, a 2D Sonic game with remixed classic levels, in Spring 2017
While we already knew that Sonic Team would talk about their next Sonic game during this year’s Comic-Con convention, Sega had a surprise up their sleeve and also announced a second Sonic game set to debut in 2017.
Co-developed by Sega of America and Pagoda West, and with contributions from Christian Whitehead and Simon “Headcannon” Thomley, Sega Mania is a 2D side-scrolling Sonic game that’ll reimagine familiar levels from Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Sonic and Knuckles. But instead of going full remake, the developers will also create “completely new Zones with all-new Acts, and bosses” for Sonic Mania.
Running with its theme as a celebration of the entire Genesis era, Sonic Mania will also give players the chance to play as Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles.
“Sonic Mania was born out of our fans’ love of the classic Sonic 2D platform games,” said Takashi Iizuka, Head of Sonic Team. “This type of collaboration is a first for Sega and we hope everyone will be both surprised and delighted by this title. Sonic Mania has been a passion project for the entire team and we look forward to sharing more details about it later this year. Having the game actually playable at the event itself tonight was testament to the dedication of the team behind it.”
Sonic Mania will be released in Spring 2017 as a digital download for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One… though Comic-Con attendees will get to try it out this weekend. For the rest of us, the debut trailer embedded above will have to be enough.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Comic-Con 2016, Sonic Mania
Nintendo will publish an official NES history book this November
Are you hoping to find an NES Classic Edition under the Christmas tree this December? If so, you might also want to ask Santa for Playing With Power: Nintendo NES Classics, an official guide to the NES published by Prima Games and created in collaboration with Nintendo.
Playing With Power: Nintendo NES Classics will be released on November 18, and it’s packed with a ton of retro-tastic touches:
- Exclusive embossed slipcase holds this hardcover tome in a clever package that resembles a classic NES Game Pak!
- A fascinating retrospective on 17 NES classics… including Super Mario Bros. 3, Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda!
- Interviews and commentary from Nintendo visionaries who pioneered this era of gaming.
- A showcase of vintage advertising and priceless excerpts from Nintendo Power magazine back issues!
- Plus hand-drawn maps, character and game environment art, and much more!
Bitmap Books recently completed a Kickstarter campaign for The Unofficial NES/Famicom: A Visual Compendium, a similar reference tome that should be available in January.
Pokemon Go just set a record for first-week downloads on iOS App Store
Hey, have you heard about this Pokemon Go thing? I think it’s pretty popular.
Groan all you want at that intro, but Pokemon Go is actually so popular that Apple recently told Polygon it’s been downloaded from the iOS App Store more times in its first week of availability than any other app in history.
Specific download numbers weren’t revealed, but after today’s Japanese launch, Pokemon Go’s record-setting ways should continue during its second week and its third and its…
Posted in Mobile, News
Tagged Pokemon Go
Overwatch climbs to the top of the NPD’s list of best-selling games for June 2016
June is typically a slow period for new game releases, but The NPD Group’s look at last month’s best-selling games proves just how slow it was. According to tracking firm, consumer spending on games was down 20% from last year, when Batman: Arkham Knight launched to strong reviews and even stronger sales.
To make matters worse, the only new release to crack the top ten were Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens (#3) and Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst (#5). But that means the path to the top of the list was clear for Overwatch, which rode a wave of support from fans to become June 2016’s best-selling game. Grand Theft Auto V (#2) and Doom (#4) rounded out the top five.
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom in June, as NPD Analyst Liam Callahan told GamesIndustry.biz: “After 32 months since the launches of the PS4 and Xbox One, the combined cumulative hardware sales for these two consoles exceed the sales of [the PS3 and Xbox 360] by 40% at the same point in their lifecycles.”
However, the biggest news this month might be the new way that the NPD reports their monthly sales data. Provided a publisher supplies the numbers, the company has agreed to begin integrating digital sales into their monthly tally. Most publishers have already signed on, though Bethesda, Sony, and Mojang remain holdouts, and Blizzard has decided not to share sales data from Battle.net.
A complete look at last months top ten best-selling titles can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Destiny, Doom (2016), Grand Theft Auto V, Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Minecraft, Mirror's Edge: Catalyst, NBA 2K16, NPD, Overwatch, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Juri will join the Street Fighter V roster on July 26
Capcom will add another latex-clad ninja to Street Fighter V next week. Beginning on July 26, Juri will be available to download for the game on the PC and PS4.
Introduced in Street Fighter IV, Juri is “a sadistic fighter who enjoys violence and loves tormenting her prey.” She also hates M. Bison and his Shadaloo organization, which has fueled her involvement in the events of Street Fighter V’s recently released Story Mode, “A Shadow Falls.” Available as part of the Season Pass, as a standalone purchase, or for free with Fight Money, the Capcom-Unity blog has the full scoop on Juri’s new fighting style:
About Juri
Juri returns to Street Fighter V with a brand new look and some tricks up her sleeves. A trained expert in Taekwondo, Juri also possesses a ki booster called the Feng Shui Engine equipped in her left eye to aid her during battles. She focuses on flashy, fast and furious kicks, and has a wide range of ki-based attacks at her disposal. Her trademark moves are her ki-based fireball attack and pinwheel kick.V-Skill: Kasatsushu
Juri builds charges up and rushes at the opponent, kicking them from behind. Juri can choose to charge Kasatsushu by holding down the V-Skill command. During this charge, she can cancel Kasatsushu at any time by inputting a forward or backward dash. Additionally, she maintains her charge level after the cancel.V-Trigger: Feng Shui Engine Type Alpha
Juri activates the Feng Shui Engine which allows her to cancel all of her standard attacks, both in the air and on the ground, into one another. In addition, each strength of her Fuharenkyaku attacks will remain in their charged state.Critical Art – Sakkai Fuhazan
Juri kicks out a large slicing blast towards the opponent that hits multiple times.
Capcom also announced today that three more Premium Summer Costumes (priced at $3.99 apiece) will be available on July 26 for Cammy, Laura, and Ibuki. And if you don’t want to wait until the 26th, fans attending this weekend’s San Diego Comic-Con will get the chance to try out Juri and costume these female fighters in new threads at the Street Fighter V booth.
Posted in News, PC, PS4
Tagged Comic-Con 2016, Street Fighter V
Nintendo Download: Pokemon Ranger, Buddy and Me, Wind-Up Knight 2, more
It’s time to recatch another classic Pokemon game as Nintendo has added Pokemon Ranger to the Wii U eShop this week. Originally released for the DS in 2006, Pokemon Ranger is an action RPG where players work as a… Pokemon Ranger… and attempt to preserve nature and protect Pokemon in the wild.
Also available to download on the Wii U eShop this week is Buddy and Me: Dream Edition, a side-scrolling platformer where players become a young boy and race through the forest with their “magical flying companion” named Buddy.
Over on the 3DS, a different kind of side-scroller asks players to take control of the Wind-Up Knight in Wind-Up Knight 2. Players who download Wind-Up Knight 2 will unload the springy Sir Sprint and help guide him as he “rockets through the kingdom dodging traps, pits and mythical creatures.”
More details about all of these games (and a few other new releases) can be found after the break. (more…)
Dragon Quest Builders Day One Edition includes bonus downloadable content
Listen now to my words, Square Enix has officially narrowed down the release date for Dragon Quest Builders from October 2016 to October 11, 2016… so be sure and update your calendar accordingly.
The publisher also confirmed that prospective players will be able to pre-order a special Day One Edition for the PS4 that includes bonus downloadable content for the game’s Terra Incognita (Free Build) Mode. This content will include exclusive in-game building materials, including a Slimy Block Recipe, Springtide Sprinkles Recipe, and Gold Block Recipe.
And don’t forget, if you’re in San Diego this weekend for this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, you’ll be able to swing by Square Enix’s booth or the Square Enix Experience on Saturday and Sunday to give Dragon Quest Builders a try.
Dragon Quest Builders is also in the works for the Vita, and it’ll be available to download through the PlayStation Store on October 11 as well.
Posted in News, PS4, Vita
Tagged Comic-Con 2016, Dragon Quest Builders
Life Is Strange’s first episode is now available to download for free
Dontnod Entertainment has announced that players who have yet to try out Life Is Strange can now download the first episode for free on the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
In case you missed it last year, Life Is Strange follows Max Caulfield, a teenage photographer who finds out she can reverse time after saving her best friend from a school shooter. But that one act could have apocalyptic consequences for everyone in her small town…
“Although our team set out to create an award-winning narrative we still cannot believe the response we’ve had from players of Life is Strange” said Oskar Guilbert, the CEO of Dontnod Entertainment. “We’re really glad that Square Enix have decided to give the first episode away for free so more players can begin their journey and see why people have fallen in love with the game for themselves.”
Life Is Strange’s near-universal critical acclaim, highlighted in the new trailer embedded above, eventually lead to several year-end awards including a Peabody Award, the “Games For Change” trophy at The Game Awards, the “Audience Award” at the GDC Awards, and “Best Story” at the BAFTAs.