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
- 2025 GOTY Scoreboard: In Progress
- 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”
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- How a Second-Grade Teacher Revived a Beloved Video Game – The New York Times (2026)
- Spore: An oral history – Design Room (2026)
- Diablo IV PC Cooled With Real Human Blood Is Still Going Strong Two Years Later, Says Guy Who Won It – Aftermath (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)
Most Recent: Articles
Shift 2: Unleashed Review: Getting the NFS Out
It might be difficult to believe, but Need For Speed began as a racing sim. While the franchise might be known for high-speed police chases, loose physics, cheesy stories, and the immortal Razor Callahan, the original game (for the 3DO, no less) was a realistic take on driving a car at high speeds. While EA attempted to return NFS to its roots once before – 2007’s Need For Speed: Pro Street was something that could be described as a racing sim – 2009’s Need For Speed: Shift was the first time they’d really tackled the genre in such a forceful manner. The result was a game that couldn’t quite hang with Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport, but managed to carve a niche that wasn’t really around – a realistic racer that wasn’t bogged down in endless menus and needless complexities. It was something to build upon, and with Shift 2: Unleashed, they’re doing just that. (more…)
EA breaks out complete Battlefield 3 “Fault Line” trailer
Over the last six weeks, Electronic Arts and developer DICE have unveiled several segments to the rather lengthy “Fault Line” gameplay trailer for Battlefield 3. Today, they’re finally ready to release the complete 12-minute cut, now with never-before-seen footage.
So check out the trailer above and start counting down the days until Battlefield 3’s Fall 2011 release on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.
Posted in News
Tagged Battlefield 3, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Sonic Generations brings back “Classic Sonic” this Fall
Sega plans to celebrate Sonic’s 20th anniversary in style with Sonic Generations this Fall. As expected, the PS3 and Xbox 360 title will bring together “Classic Sonic” (the pot-bellied speedster of the Genesis era) and “Modern Sonic” (the sleek Sonic from the 3D games):
Sonic’s universe is thrown into chaos when a mysterious new power creates ‘time holes’ which pull him and his friends back through time. As a result, he encounters some surprises from his past history including Classic Sonic, Sonic as he was in 1991.
This time-bending adventure will allow the two Sonics to run through the classic Zones in both 2D and 3D. You can check out one of the remastered levels in the trailer above. Each incarnation of Sonic also comes complete with his trademark special move, Spin Dash and Spin Attack for Classic Sonic, and the Homing Attack and Sonic Boost for Modern Sonic.
You have to admit, Sonic Generations is a canny move by Sega. Fans have been complaining that the new Sonic games don’t measure up to the Genesis classics, so remaking those same classics for the HD age seems like a can’t miss prospect.
Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Sonic Generations
Michael Vick, Peyton Hillis fight for Madden NFL 12 cover
And then there were two.
The voting for the Madden NFL 12 cover athlete is down to the end and only Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick and Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis remain.
Hillis defeated the heavily favored Aaron Rodgers to reach the finals while Vick ended the cinderella dreams of Adrian Peterson. A Vick victory would give the formerly incarcerated quarterback his second Madden cover appearance while Hillis has run over some of the biggest names in pro football to reach the finals. I think it’s safe to say that few people picked either of these guys to make it this far.
Final round voting will continue from now until Monday, April 25. The winner will be announced on April 27th during ESPN 2’s “SportsNation.”
Mega Man comic book to hit shelves starting May 2011
Believe it or not, the folks over at Archie Comics know how to create an interesting and compelling character backstory when they want to. After having written comics about Sonic the Hedgehog for the last two decades, it shows. Just ask any avid Sonic comic book reader. Archie Comics finally expands on that success; it seems that Mega Man is the next candidate in line for his own full series.
The first issue will be available on May 11 and, for a limited time, when readers subscribe to receive Mega Man for its first year of print, Archie Comics will include a pair of Mega Man posters signed by veteran artist Patrick “Spaz” Spaziante. Spaz was responsible for doing the cover art for the majority of the Sonic the Hedgehog comics.
Call it a coincidence, but between this and the release of Mega Man X on the Wii’s Virtual Console, this is shaping up to be a mega week already! Also, don’t forget to keep checking the dev blog at Capcom for more on Mega Man Legends 3!
Uncharted 3 going for the multiplayer throne, new details are overwhelming
Uncharted 2 had a strong multiplayer offering, but it didn’t feature the same map count, mode diversity, or depth of customization that some of the more established online juggernauts entail. Naughty Dog is looking to take it to the next level with their second bite at the apple, with tons of new features for Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. These will include sprinting in multiplayer, tag team deathmatch, free for all, and being able to kick your enemies off of a ledge.
But there’s even more. As Community Manager Arne Meyer gushed in the PlayStation Blog, there will be a ton of customizations, from character skins to usable weapon upgrades, like scopes and bigger clips. There are new Boosters as well, though they’ve included the favorites from the second game, too. There’s also an in-game reward system, an underdog option called Power Play, Late Join which will help keep matches full, ties to social media, and multiplayer co-op – though they couldn’t say much about that, and I’m more interested in the single-player co-op options, which is something the fans have been clamoring for.
You’ll be able to witness the glory in a multiplayer beta for InFamous 2 purchasers and PlayStation Plus subscribers that opens on June 28. Check the video above for these features in action with some epic, jaw-dropping moments, and hit the jump for a full interview (courtesy of GamerLive.tv) with Naughty Dog’s Co-President, Christophe Balestra.
I don’t know if I can wait until 11/1/11 for this game to be released. (more…)
Posted in News, PS3
Tagged Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
PS3 blurs the line between PC and console with Under Siege on May 3
Under Siege has been in development for quite some time, but it’s coming out shortly for the PlayStation 3 on May 3. Priced at $19.99, the game is a Real Time Strategy title where players engage in tactical combat in a fantasy setting. The game will come with a host of features you’d expect from a PC title in the genre, including a map and mode editor, video recording, screenshot capture, and more. It also contains sweet console features like splitscreen play and custom soundtrack. With PlayStation Move support mitigating the incompetence of a controller with such titles, Under Siege sounds like an awesome blend of PC and console gaming.
Posted in News
Zipper entices you to buy new copies with “SOCOM Pro”
We’ve seen publishers struggle against the second-hand market of used games with numerous programs and initiatives, from Online Pass to Project Ten Dollar. Sony and Zipper are taking a page out of EA’s book with the announcement of SOCOM Pro with all new copies of SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs.
This Pro version will give all purchasers of new copies a PlayStation Network redemption code. Redeeming it gives you access to the SOCOM Pro custom game types, many of which you may be familiar with if you participated in the beta. The four modes initially available will include “Community Day Classic,” “Last Defense Run ‘n Gun,” “SCRUM,” and “Sniper Alley.” Players will also get a little extra firepower in their arsenal, with the classic M-16 and AK-47 both available for use in the game.
Zipper has teased future additions for the service, which include “exclusive multiplayer maps, various co-op additions, dedicated leaderboards, and lots more.” If you don’t buy a new copy of the game, you can purchase SOCOM Pro for $14.99 from the PlayStation Store, but not until April 26.
I’m usually for “Project Ten Dollar”-ish programs, mostly because I almost exclusively buy new games; I just hope this doesn’t dilute the potential for custom lobbies or divide the community too much. We’ll see the effects of this when SOCOM 4 launches on the PlayStation 3 tomorrow.
Posted in News, PS3
Tagged SOCOM 4: US Navy SEALs