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
Bloodstained becomes most-funded video game in Kickstarter history (and there’s still 13 hours to go)
As its wild (and wildly successful) Kickstarter campaign comes to an end, Koji Igarashi’s Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has risen to the top of the pack as the most-funded video game of all time. Currently sitting at $4.7 million, the campaign proves that gamers still care deeply about Igarashi’s Metroidvania-style gothic castle crawlers. And Igarashi still has 13 hours to gather more pledges as the campaign isn’t scheduled to close until 11:00 PM (Eastern Time) tonight.
The developer has responded to this deluge of money by running one of the most bizarre campaigns in recent memory. He included “achievements” to “unlock” stretch goals, he asked for fan art for a game that barely exists (and which he received by the bucketful), and he created a series of whimsical videos to respond to fans. Igarashi also expanded the scope of Bloodstained considerably through a ridiculous number of stretch goals, including these recently funded features:
- Online Challenge Mode… FUNDED
- Third Playable Character… FUNDED
- Standalone Prequel for PC/Consoles… FUNDED
- Standalone Prequel for 3DS/Vita… ALMOST FUNDED
If the campaign reaches $5 million, Igarashi has promised to create a roguelike mode that reshapes the game into a series of procedurally-generated hallways. But for now, Bloodstained will definitely receive an Online Challenge Mode, a third playable character (details coming soon), and a retro-styled standalone prequel developed by Inti Creates for the PC, PS4, Wii U, and Xbox One. Igarashi and his team are also reasonably confident the standalone prequel will come to handhelds as they’re only a few thousand away.
And they’re not done. This morning, a new update revealed that Yacht Club’s Shovel Knight will be included in the game in some way. Is he friend? Is he foe? Igarashi isn’t saying, but his inclusion is sure to be interesting.
After all these reveals, it’s hard to believe we’ll have to wait until 2017 to play Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Hopefully, Igarashi can keep the crazy updates coming for the next two years.
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One
Tagged Bloodstained Prequel, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Capcom says Street Fighter V will never come to the Xbox One
The “console exclusive” is a bit of a misnomer as games that were originally exclusive to one platform usually find their way to the rest with time. Just look at this Fall’s Rise of the Tomb Raider. It’ll make its debut only on the Xbox One and Xbox 360, but this deal “has a duration” and the game will eventually be released for the PC and PS4 (and probably the PS3).
So it’s reasonable to assume this will also happen with Street Fighter V (or the inevitable Super Street Fighter V and/or Ultra Street Fighter V upgrades), which is currently exclusive to the PS4. But not so fast, a Capcom spokesman has told GameSpot that Street Fighter V will never (emphasis mine) come to the Xbox One in any form:
“One comment we see a lot is that something like a Super Street Fighter 5 is going to come out on Xbox,” said the representative. “But the reality is that this is a real partnership. We are console exclusive for this franchise for this numbered run.”
While this news is disappointing for Xbox One owners, the spokesman went on to say that Sony’s assistance extends beyond marketing support. According to the spokesman, Sony is deeply involved with Street Fighter V’s development:
“We’re not talking about how we’re handling post-launch content, but I can say the relationship with Sony does open doors for things we haven’t been able to do in the past,” the representative said.
“The relationship serves a gameplay and development purpose, and not just a marketing value.”
With the 2015 E3 Expo upon us, Capcom and Sony recently released a new trailer highlighting the game’s battle system. Street Fighter V will be released for the PS4 (and PC) sometime next Spring. A multiplayer beta test is scheduled to take place sometime this year or early next year.
Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Street Fighter V
The Witcher 3 hunts down the top spot as May 2015’s best-selling game
The NPD Group has published their monthly report on the financial state of the video game industry and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has emerged as the best-selling game of May 2015.
The Witcher 3’s victory was assured after the game leapfrogged both of April’s big releases including Mortal Kombat X (#2) and Grand Theft Auto V (#3). The only other May release to make the list, Nintendo’s Splatoon, swam its way into the fifth spot. Though Splatoon should get extra notice for being the only platform-exclusive title in the top ten.
All told, retail sales for games, hardware, and accessories were down 13% versus May 2014. However, Mario Kart 8, Watch Dogs, Wolfenstein: The New Order, and the continued success of TitanFall more than explain the sales gap. The drop-off might have been even bigger if it weren’t for a new wave of Amiibo figures. According to NPD’s Liam Callahan (speaking to GamesIndustry.biz), accessories rose 20% year-over-year, with a 73% increase for “interactive gaming toys.” Callahan also confirmed that the PS4 was the best-selling console of the month.
The complete top ten list of best-selling games for May 2015 can be found after the break. (more…)
Tales From the Borderlands: Episode 3 will “Catch A Ride” to release on June 23
Telltale Games has announced that Tales From the Borderlands will continue with the release of its third episode, Catch A Ride, during the week of June 23. Going by past history, the game will be available for the PC, PS3, and PS4 on Tuesday, June 24. The Xbox 360 and Xbox One launch will take place a day later on Wednesday, June 25. And lastly, the mobile versions will follow on Thursday, June 26.
So what shenanigans have Rhys and Fiona gotten themselves into this time? Well…
After a dizzying escape from a very-near-almost-certain-death scenario (involving statuesque buttocks), Rhys and Fiona find themselves looking for another piece of the puzzle that will lead them to the untold riches of Vault key ownership. Lost in the mysterious jungle of an Atlas terraforming facility, Fiona finds help from an unexpected mentor, Rhys continues to share brain-space with the disembodied mind of a dead dictator, and love is in the air. Pursued by the ruthless criminal ‘Queenpin’ Vallory, and with very little help from Vaughn’s accountancy skills (or stellar abs), getting anywhere near the Vault will be entirely up to you.
A handful of new screenshots from Tales From the Borderlands: Catch A Ride can be found at Telltale’s official website.
Xbox One controller to be included with Oculus Rift; Touch motion controller introduced
Oculus kicked off the Pre-E3 festivities with a Press Conference today focusing on their virtual headset, the Rift. A price tag or final release date weren’t announced, but we did learn a very interesting piece of new information: every Oculus Rift will come bundled with an Xbox One controller and Microsoft’s new Xbox One-to-PC controller adapter. While some Rift games might require a mouse and keyboard, the inclusion of the Xbox One controller as a standard input will possibly cut back on the trepidation some gamers have towards the headset.
The other big news to come out of the Press Conference today was the unveiling of the Oculus Touch controller. The Oculus Touch is actually a pair of motion controllers and each half features an analog stick, two face buttons, and a trigger. I’m not sure what advantages it would have over a standard Xbox One controller, but Oculus says the controllers “let you take your VR games and experiences further than ever before” on the Rift’s official website.
According to GameSpot, Oculus founder Palmer Luckey took the stage and said the Oculus Touch is perfect for introducing players to “hand presence, the sense of feeling as though your virtual hands are actually your real hands.” Luckey went on to say: “This is critical to nailing the sense of overall presence. Once you have your hands involved, you really need tracking to be absolutely perfect, accurate, and low latency, or you’re going to feel like your hands are dead.”
Like all things Oculus-related, this is all very interesting, and a little weird. We’ll see how it all comes together when the consumer version of the Oculus Rift launches in early 2016.
Nintendo Download: Lego Jurassic World, Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure, more
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth!
Welcome to this week’s Nintendo Download, where Lego Jurassic World will soon be available on the 3DS and Wii U. The game, which recreates all four Jurassic Park films using Lego bricks, will be available through the 3DS eShop and the Wii U eShop beginning tomorrow, June 12. In case that wasn’t enough dinosaur adventuring, Jurassic World will open in theaters tomorrow as well (or tonight, if you’re willing to brave the crowds).
Also available this week, today actually, is Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure for the 3DS. All your favorite Dr. Mario modes, including classic style, Dr. Luigi style, and Virus Buster mode, will be included. And new power-ups called Miracle Cures can eradicate the germs like never before.
Finally this week, a pair of 3DS titles from Arc System Works are now available to download. Ninja Usagimaru: The Gem of Blessings is a side-scrolling platformer while Swords & Darkness is a medieval 2D brawler.
More information on all of these games (and a few more) can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, DS, News, Wii U
Tagged Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure, Lego Jurassic World
Insomniac is developing the Oculus-exclusive Anarctic adventure Edge of Nowhere
Insomniac Games dropped a major bombshell at today’s Pre-E3 Press Conference from Oculus Rift. The developer behind Sunset Overdrive and Ratchet & Clank announced Edge of Nowhere, a third-person action-adventure game that will be available exclusively for Oculus Rift users:
Edge of Nowhere is a VR third-person action-adventure from acclaimed independent developer Insomniac Games. Travel to the far reaches of the Antarctic mountains in search of a missing expedition team. What appears to be a rescue mission takes a turn as you venture into the deep unknown, and discover a surreal world that will test your wits and sanity. Scale towering mountains and use makeshift weapons to survive and avoid descending into madness. In Edge of Nowhere, nothing is what it seems and the unexpected lurks from all sides.
Edge of Nowhere’s release date is a big question mark right now, as is the big mystery at the center of the teaser trailer. It’s also unknown if the game will ever be available for non-Oculus platforms. As with all teasers, the developer has promised that we’ll learn more details about the project “soon.”
Posted in News, PC
Tagged E3 2015, Edge of Nowhere
CoD: Advanced Warfare Supremacy Pack will be available for PC, PS3, PS4 on July 2
Activision has announced the Supremacy Pack will be available to download on July 2 for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare players who own the game on the PC, PS3, or PS4. In case you missed the multiplayer maps that will be part of this DLC add-on, more information on all of them can be found right here:
- Parliament: Docked on the River Thames, this military cargo ship delivers a view of the London cityscape along with a fast-paced combat experience. Mixed site-lines provide opportunities for all styles of play to dominate this medium-sized map. Players can take control of the map-based scorestreak to unleash a barrage of missiles that annihilate enemies.
- Kremlin: Gamers must prepare for intense combat outside Russia’s presidential palace in the new map Kremlin, as they navigate the worn-torn buildings of Red Square in this medium-sized, three-lane map. Secure elevated positions to give the team a strategic advantage, or use exoskeleton capabilities to avoid being caught in the minefield that activates mid-match.
- Compound: Players take combat preparation to the limit in an Atlas training facility hidden away in the Colorado wilderness, as they’ll have to be quick on the trigger in this small, symmetrical map, which funnels high-speed combat through tight corners to the main tower structures.
- Skyrise: Players deploy to an Atlas Skyscraper overlooking the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Based on the fan-favorite, Highrise, from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 by Infinity Ward, this map brings new exoskeleton mechanics to the classic multiplayer layout. Gamers must dominate the power positions in the center of this small-to-medium sized map to control the key navigation points.
The Supremacy Pack will also include Exo Zombies: Carrier, the latest episode in the cooperative multiplayer portion of Advanced Warfare. A character played by Bruce Campbell will join the co-op campaign in this episode, and you can check out his groovy entrance in the previously-released Exo Zombies: Carrier trailer.
The Supremacy Pack can be purchased on its own for $14.99. It’s also available as part of the Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Season Pass, which retails for $49.99.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4
Tagged Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare