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
EA will release next Need For Speed game in 2017
Ghost Games brought the Need For Speed franchise back last November with the simply-named Need For Speed. Since then, they’ve added to the racer with a number of expansions, including the upcoming SpeedList update. But don’t worry, they’ve got big plans for the future.
Writing on the franchise’s official website today, the developer revealed that an untitled new Need For Speed game will launch in 2017:
We are now building upon the foundations that have been laid with Need for Speed and delivering our next game in 2017.
That’s not to say that we’re going quiet between now and then… far from it. We’ll be working with our community and there will be multiple opportunities to bring many of you into the studio in the coming months to get your feedback on where we’re headed.
Your passion and dedication for Need for Speed continues to motivate, inspire and drive us forward. It’s absolutely amazing. From all of us at Ghost, thank you.
It’s possible, though unlikely, that EA might discuss the next Need For Speed game during their 2016 E3 Press Conference, which will be held on June 12.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Need For Speed Payback
Mass Effect: Andromeda blasts off for E3 2016 (and an Early 2017 release date)
EA and BioWare are very excited about Mass Effect: Andromeda, and they’ve confirmed that fans will be able to share in this excitement beginning next month. Writing on the the game’s official website, Aaryn Flynn, the General Manager of BioWare said that Mass Effect: Andromeda will be a big part of EA’s E3 Press Conference, which is scheduled for June 12.
Flynn also shared some details about the team’s progress:
- More Freedom: One of our biggest ambitions is to give players an unprecedented level of freedom for a Mass Effect experience –where you’ll go, how you’ll get there, and how you’ll play.
- New Uncharted Worlds: We’re leaving the Milky Way behind and headed to Andromeda, where we’ll meet new allies, confront new enemies, and explore fascinating new worlds.
- The Next Great Mass Effect Experience: Mass Effect: Andromeda will be the first Mass Effect game for today’s consoles and the first built on the Frostbite engine. We’re pushing the technology to deliver visuals, story, and gameplay that have never been done in franchise history.
Finally, Flynn also thought he was announcing a slight delay for Mass Effect: Andromeda, but EA CFO Blake Jorgensen actually beat him to the punch a few months ago. Regardless of who said it first, the game will officially be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One in “Early 2017.”
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster will be available on Steam later this week
After launching on the PS4 last year, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster will make its PC debut (via Steam) later this week.
The Steam re-release will include all the special features found in the PS4 version including a modern graphical upgrade, a rearranged soundtrack, and the never-befre-available bonus content from the International Editions. Steam users will also be able to access an Auto Save feature and optional “Boosters” including High Speed Mode and No Encounter Mode. A similar “Booster” system was added to Final Fantasy IX‘s Steam release back in April.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster will be available to download through Steam on May 12.
Posted in News, PC
Tagged Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
Pokemon Sun/Moon will be released on November 18; Starter Pokemon revealed
Nintendo and The Pokemon Company have announced that Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon will be released for the 3DS on November 18. The two companies also unveiled a brand new trailer that introduces fans to the game’s starter Pokemon:
Name: Rowlet
Category: Grass Quill Pokemon
Height: 1’00”
Weight: 3.3 Pounds
Type: Grass/Flying
Starting Move: Leafage
The first of the potential partners is the highly adaptable Grass Quill Pokemon, Rowlet. This Pokemon can fly silently through the skies, sneaking up on its opponent without being noticed. It can attack its opponents using powerful kicks, and it can also attack from a distance using the razor-sharp leaves that form part of its feathers. Rowlet can survey its environment and turn its neck nearly 180 degrees from front to back, so it can see directly behind itself. When in battle, Rowlet turns its head to face its Trainer when waiting for instructions.Name: Litten
Category: Fire Cat Pokemon
Height: 1’04”
Weight: 9.5 Pounds
Type: Fire
Starting Move: Ember
The cool-headed Fire Cat Pokemon, Litten, is the next choice for a first-partner Pokemon. Litten’s fur is rich in oils and is immensely flammable. It constantly grooms itself by licking its coat, collecting loose fur into balls. It then ignites these hairballs to create fireball attacks. When the time comes for Litten to molt, it burns off all of its fur in one glorious blaze.Name: Popplio
Category: Sea Lion Pokemon
Height: 1’04”
Weight: 16.5 Pounds
Type: Water
Starting Move: Water Gun
The third possibility is the acrobatic Sea Lion Pokemon, Popplio. Popplio can create balloons made of water from its nose and utilize them to create a variety of different strategies and attacks in battle. This Pokemon is better at moving in the water than on land, and can swim at speeds over 25 mph. On land, it uses the elasticity of the balloons it creates to perform jumps and acrobatic stunts.
A fiery Cat Pokemon that tosses exploding hairballs. Somewhere, Warp Zoned’s resident Pokemon fanatic/crazy cat lady just lost her mind.
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged Pokemon Sun/Moon
Capcom is planning a “full-scale offensive” for the Resident Evil franchise this year
Brace yourself, the Resident Evil franchise is going on a “full-scale offensive” during the back half of 2016 and into 2017. Capcom announced their battle plan during a recent Quarterly Financial Report, and it’s hard to argue with their choice of words… the publisher has already released two Resident Evil games in 2016 and will push out three more in the coming months, along with the final entry in the Milla Jovovich-starring film franchise:
| Resident Evil 0 (PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One) | January 20, 2016 |
| Resident Evil 6 (PS4, Xbox One) | March 29, 2016 |
| Umbrella Corps (PC, PS4) | June 21, 2016 |
| Resident Evil 5 (PS4, Xbox One) | Summer 2016 |
| Resident Evil 4 (PS4, Xbox One) | Fall 2016 |
| Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (Film) | January 27, 2017 |
And then there’s Resident Evil 7, which Capcom began teasing more than six months ago. Obviously, there’s no guarantee that Resident Evil 7 will be released (or even announced) this year, but the E3 Expo is right around the corner and 2016 is the 20th anniversary of the first Resident Evil game.
On top of all this, Capcom confirmed a few months back that a full remake of Resident Evil 2 is also in the works. The oft-requested doesn’t currently have a release date, but it’s very possible that it’s launch will also fall within the “full-scale offensive” period.
I guess the bottom line is that it’s a great time to be a Resident Evil fan.
Posted in Etcetera, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Resident Evil, Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil 6, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Umbrella Corps
Madden NFL 17 will be released on August 23; Cover Athlete reveal and first gameplay trailer to air during SportsCenter on May 12
Are you ready for some football? EA Sports has announced that Madden NFL 17 will be released for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on August 23. In development at EA Tiburon, the megapublisher also confirmed that EA Access subscribers will receive Early Access to the sports sim before it’s released.
While Madden NFL 17’s late August launch isn’t much of a surprise, EA Sports also confirmed we’ll get our first look at the game during the afternoon edition of SportsCenter this Thursday. ESPN’s flagship show is will be the place to be to find out who this year’s Cover Athlete/Curse Victim is, as well as to get a glimpse at the very first gameplay trailer.
So be sure to tune into SportsCenter this Thursday, May 12, at 6:00 PM (Eastern Time) for all your Madden NFL 17 needs.
Wes Copeland set a new Donkey Kong world record with a near-perfect run
The King of Kong is one of the truly great “video game movies” because it depicts a pair real-life players (Steve Wiebe and Billy Mitchell) battling it out for high score supremacy. But their Donkey Kong duel is over as both men have been left in the dust by a new group of wizards who’ve mastered one of Nintendo’s earliest efforts.
That group includes Wes Copeland, and the near-perfect world record he set late last week. Copeland was able to put 1,218,000 points on the scoreboard before Donkey Kong’s “kill screen” knocked him out in Level 22, better the previous record by 28,200. Writing on Facebook, Copeland said he doesn’t believe the record can be broken: “This will be my last record score… I don’t believe I can put up a game any higher than this.”
And he’s probably right. Copeland lost just a single life during in his run, which ultimately clocked in at over three hours. But congratulations are definitely in order, and Wes Copeland gets a big thumbs up from all of us here at Warp Zoned.
Posted in News, Retro
Tagged Donkey Kong
Minecraft: Wii U Edition is getting a free Super Mario Mash-Up Pack next week
Ever since Minecraft made its way to the Wii U as Minecraft: Wii U Edition, we’ve been waiting for the inevitable announcement of a Super Mario Mash-Up Pack. Well, we won’t have to wait much longer, as Nintendo and Mojang announced today that players will be able to pick up a Super Mario Mash-Up Pack through the Wii U eShop beginning next week.
Best of all, the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack is a free update:
After downloading the update, players who own the Minecraft: Wii U Edition digital game, which launched last December, will have immediate access to new skins (including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and even troublemakers like Bowser, Wario, and all seven Koopalings), a Super Mario-themed pre-made world and a set of Super Mario-themed music and item textures. All this new content is inspired by games in the iconic Super Mario series, such as Super Mario World, Super Mario 64, and Super Mario Sunshine.
The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack will be available to download on May 17, and it’ll also be included on the disc of Minecraft: Wii U Edition’s retail release, which is currently scheduled for June 17.
And if you do nothing else today, be sure to watch the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack’s awesome Announcement Trailer, which is embedded above.