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
PC, Xbox One owners will be able to buy CoD: Black Ops III Eclipse DLC Pack on May 19
As expected, Activision and Treyarch will bring the Eclipse DLC Pack to the PC and Xbox One exactly 30 days after its PS4 debut. The Call of Duty: Black Ops III expansion will add four new competetive multiplayer maps to the game, along with the next episode in the cooperative Zombies saga:
- Spire: Spire takes Multiplayer combat to a futuristic sub-orbital airport terminal set high in the clouds. Multiple levels and open areas promote intense, mid-range combat around a clean, high-tech civilian environment. Watch your step, because one wrong move could send you plummeting back through the stratosphere.
- Rift: Head to the core of a harsh futuristic military complex, set high above an active caldera. Rift funnels and forces tight, intense engagements, where the only way through is forward. Utilize the unique core movement opportunities to outsmart and outplay enemies as you traverse the suspended rail system.
- Knockout: Housed in a traditional Shaolin Temple with a retro twist, Knockout sets the stage for a bloody Kung Fu tournament. This mid-sized map showcases a sharp contrast between the mid-range engagements of the traditional exterior architecture and the tight close-quarters of an eclectic 1970’s styled interior.
- Verge: In this re-imagination of the classic Call of Duty: World At War map, “Banzai,” Verge drops Multiplayer combat into the center of a distant post-apocalyptic future, where two warring factions are entrenched in constant battle. Take control of the key bridge, fortresses, tunnel systems and waterfalls as you engage in high-speed action through this medium-sized map.
Eclipse also sets the stage for “Zetsubou No Shima,” the highly-anticipated, all-new entry in the Call of Duty: Black Ops III Zombies storyline that spans the four DLC Map Packs for Black Ops III this year. The Origins characters continue on their mission to stop the zombie apocalypse not only in this universe but in all universes. Our heroes find themselves stranded on a remote Pacific island which is home to the Division 9 facility: a secret biological research lab whose experiments with Element 115 and its effects on human, animal, and plant biology has created horrors beyond belief. “Zetsubou No Shima” features a foliage rich island map including new terrifying zombie enemies, a variety of innovative transport mechanics, more devastating traps and classic Zombies side quests.
The Eclipse DLC Pack will be available to download as part of Black Ops III’s Season Pass (for $49.99) or as a standalone purchase (for $14.99). Two more DLC Packs will be released over the Summer ahead of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare‘s launch this November.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Splatoon will hold a big party for its first truly global Splatfest
Throughout the year, Nintendo has been trying to bring the global Splatoon community closer together with Splatfests that involve all three regions.
Back in February, a Pokemon-themed contest gave players in North America, Europe, and Japan the same choice for the first time… though matches were restricted to players within the same region. But last month, European and North American players were finally able to directly compete against each other in a Splatfest celebrating SpongeBob SquarePants.
Today, Nintendo announced that the upcoming Splatfest will invite players from all three regions to be matched against each other for the first time. And what will they be fighting over? Miitomo, of course.
Taking a cue from the communication app, this Splatfest will ask players to choose between a “Fancy Party” or a “Costume Party.” It’s not The Beatles versus The Rolling Stones, but it’s a start. The Splatfest Kiosk is now available in Inkopolis Plaza to make your choice, and the contest will begin on Friday, May 13 at 11:00 PM (Eastern Time). Players will be able to battle it out all day Saturday before a winner is crowned on Sunday, May 15, at 6:00 AM.
Good luck and don’t get inked!
Turtle Rock Studios is developing an original narrative-driven game
Turtle Rock Studios is moving on from Evolve. The 4v1 shooter definitely has its fans, but the developer has announced their next project will be an original property unconnected to Evolve or Left 4 Dead (which is owned by Valve, anyway). While the big details of the game are being kept under wraps for now, Turtle Rock divulged a few small tidbits of information about the title through several job listings on their Careers page.
First, and most important, we know it’s in development for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. And according to a job description for a Narrative Director, it’ll be heavily “narrative-driven”:
We are searching for a Narrative Director to help shape the entire narrative structure of our upcoming new AAA game for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. The Narrative Director will work closely with our Creative Director and Head Writer to create and oversee compelling stories, characters, and content that form the backbone of the game’s story.
And thanks to the listing for an Animation Programmer, we know that it’ll also include “unique and stunning characters”:
We are searching for an exceptional programmer to help us in developing unique and stunning characters for an unannounced, cutting edge game targeting next generation hardware. Join us and be a part of an incredible studio and project!
So let’s recap… Turtle Rock’s next game isn’t going to be Evolve 2, but it will feature characters and a story. Yup, that’s what we know so far.
Nintendo Download: Pocket Card Jockey, Super Punch-Out!!, Style Savvy, more
Lovers of the Sweet Science, the Sport of Kings, and the World of Fashion will want to take a look at this week’s Nintendo Download.
It all starts on the 3DS where Game Freak, the developer behind the Pokemon franchise, is back with a wacky new game. Pocket Card Jockey is a horse racing game that includes puzzle-solving elements and a built-in Solitaire game to make the horses run faster. Also, if the Launch Trailer is to be believed, there might even be a “Stud” minigame.
3DS owners will also get to dabble in an outlandish adaptation of the Sweet Science this week in Nintendo’s Super Punch-Out!!. Originally released for the Super NES in 1994, Super Punch-Out!! isn’t as well-known as its NES predecessor, but it’s still a cartoony blast of boxing fun.
Finally this week, fashionistas will get to strut their stuff on the Wii U with the addition of Style Savvy to the console’s Virtual Console service. Originally released for the DS, players will be able to “dream up dazzling outfits” as they run a chic boutique.
More information on all these games (and a few other new releases) can be found after the break. (more…)
Nintendo reiterates that The Legend of Zelda Wii U will be their focus at E3 2016
I’ve got bad news for everyone who was hoping that Nintendo’s “All Zelda, All the Time” mantra for this year’s E3 Expo was just a prelude to a brain-busting slew of surprises. In an announcement today, the consolemaker reiterated that The Legend of Zelda Wii U will be the only playable demo available at their booth.
“At E3 this year, we’re treating people to an immersive Zelda experience,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “By giving attendees extended hands-on time with this remarkable game, they’ll be able to get a much deeper understanding of something new for the franchise.”
Nintendo is even eschewing their traditional E3 Digital Event for a special Treehouse Live broadcast, that’ll focus entirely on Zelda Wii U. Scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 14, at 12:00 Noon (Eastern Time), the special stream will be the world’s first “in-depth” look at the game, and fans are encouraged to tune in through Nintendo.com, YouTube, and Twitch.
While this news is disappointing for fans who wanted to learn more about the NX, Nintendo wants to send one lucky fan to the E3 Expo to play Zelda Wii U on the show floor. All you have to do is send a tweet to @NintendoAmerica about what the Zelda franchise means to you using the hashtags #MyZeldaLegends and #NintendoSweepstakes by May 10. The winning fan will also be able to invite a guest because it’s dangerous to go alone.
The Legend of Zelda Wii U will be released sometime next year for the Wii U and the NX.
Posted in News, Switch, Wii U
Tagged E3 2016, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Doom’s Launch Trailer is here because its launch is just a week away
Bethesda and id Software will resurrect the Doom franchise next week with their many-years-in-the-making reboot. Simply titled Doom, the companies are promising a return to the fast action and brutal gore the series made famous back in 1993-1994.
So strap your eyeballs in for a trip back in time with the newly released Launch Trailer, and be sure to rock out to its fantastic new version of “At Doom’s Gate,” the classic background music from E1M1. Also, keep your eyes peeled for a split-second recreation of the original game’s iconic cover art.
Doom will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on May 13.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Doom (2016)
World Video Game Hall of Fame Class of 2016 announced: Legend of Zelda, GTA3, Sonic, Space Invaders, Oregon Trail, The Sims
The votes have been tallied and the results are in, the Strong Museum is ready to announce the induction committee’s selections for the World Video Game Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
This year’s shortlist includes many well-known names, but only six were able to secure the support of the committee, which weighed each title on its ability to appeal to an international cross-section of players, longevity in the eyes of the public, iconic status, and influence on the industry as a whole.
After much thought and deliberation, the committee chose to honor the following games with induction into the the World Video Game Hall of Fame:
- Grand Theft Auto III, Rockstar’s operatic open world crime saga.
- The Legend of Zelda, Link’s inaugural adventure and one of the first open world RPGs.
- The Oregon Trail, a revolutionary educational game that also taught a whole generation of kids about dysentery and cholera.
- The Sims, Will Wright’s “virtual dollhouse” is one of the most popular PC games of all time.
- Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega’s blue blur starred in several classic side-scrollers and served as a foil to Mario in the 90s.
- Space Invaders, the originator of the iconic “Invader” design and one of the first space shooters.
The World Video Game Hall of Fame was established in 2015, and this year’s class will stand alongside last year’s class, Tetris, Super Mario Bros., Pong, Doom, World of Warcraft, and Pac-Man, as some of the best that video gaming has to offer.
A few days ago, I attempted to play oddsmaker for this year’s finalists, and I’m happy to say that I pegged three of this year’s inductees as “Sure Things” and two more as “Coin Flips.”
Nine other games, Elite, Final Fantasy, John Madden Football, Minecraft, Nurburgring, Pokemon Red/Blue, Sid Meier’s Civilization, Street Fighter II, and Tomb Raider, came up short during the induction process. But all of them will get another chance next year, and the Hall of Fame is already accepting nominations for their Class of 2017.
The World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016 will be on permanent view in the Strong Museum’s “eGameRevolution” exhibit. And congratulations to all designers and developers who helped bring each of them to life.
Posted in News, PS2, Retro
Tagged Grand Theft Auto III, Space Invaders, The Legend of Zelda, World Video Game Hall of Fame
Titanfall developer Respawn is working on a Star Wars game for EA
Electronic Arts is extremely happy with how well Star Wars: Battlefront has sold, so the megapublisher is doubling down on that galaxy far, far away this Star Wars Day by forming another partnership with Respawn to develop a brand new Star Wars game.
Best known for Titanfall, and its upcoming sequel, Respawn is also home to a second squad of developers lead by God of War III Director Stig Asmussen. His team will work with EA to produce the currently-untitled third-person action-adventure game. Obviously, no release date has been announced, so assume that Star Wars: Respawn is at least a year away.
In addition to Respawn’s new project, EA is also working with their internal studios at Visceral and Motive to produce another Star Wars action-adventure. Widely expected to be a “Young Han Solo” game, EA confirmed we’ll learn more it “soon.”
Posted in News
Tagged Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Wars: Visceral