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)
- 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)
Most Recent: Articles
EA will release new Plants vs Zombies game and Need For Speed 2015 in next 12 months; Mirror’s Edge 2 coming in Spring 2016
Electronic Arts has quite an impressive array of titles planned for the next 12 months. But the publisher is also looking beyond this Fall and into 2016 with an equally interesting lineup of games.
During the company’s quarterly financial presentation last night, CEO Andrew Wilson reiterated that the publisher will release a new game in the Need For Speed series sometime in the next 12 months. A mobile version of the game is also in development.
Wilson also revealed that EA has a “bigger and bolder new console experience” for Plants vs Zombies fans in the pipeline for a late 2015/early 2016 launch. He wasn’t ready to go into details just yet, but did say that gamers will learn more about it at E3.
Less surprising is Wilson’s continued commitment to EA Sports and their yearly lineup. In addition to the previously announced Rory McIlroy PGA Tour and Madden NFL 16, the publisher plans to release FIFA 16, NHL 16, and NBA Live 16 this year. In case you’re curious, each game will feature “industry-leading gameplay, compelling new features, and fresh Ultimate Team experiences.”
Finally, Wilson announced that DICE’s untitled Mirror’s Edge sequel/reboot will be in Spring 2016. An E3 unveiling wasn’t promised, but it seems very likely at this point.
Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged E3 2015, FIFA 16, Mirror's Edge: Catalyst, NBA Live 16, Need For Speed, NHL 16, Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, Shadow of Mordor GOTY, AirMech Arena, more added to PS Store
Are you ready to head back into Nazi Germany with B.J. Blazkowicz and his particular set of skills (for dispatching Nazis)? I hope so, because Bethesda and MachineGames added Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, a standalone prequel to last year’s Wolfenstein: The New Order, to the PlayStation Store last night.
Other new games to download this week include…
- Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor – Game of the Year Edition, a special PS4 re-release of the well-liked game that includes all the previously-released downloadable content.
- AirMech Arena, a free-to-play strategy game on the PS4 that is currently available for PlayStation Plus subscribers.
- Ether One, a PS4 “first-person adventure that deals with the fragility of the human mind.”
More information on all of these games can be found after the break. And, as always, a full rundown of this week’s new add-ons and discounts can be found at the PlayStation Blog. (more…)
Posted in News, PS3, PS4, Vita
Tagged AirMech Arena, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
Oculus Rift Consumer Version will launch in early 2016
After years of waiting, Oculus has finally announced that the Consumer Version of their Rift virtual reality headset will be available in early 2016. As store shelves will definitely be in short supply, Oculus plans to open up pre-orders later this year.
Writing on the Oculus Blog, the developers said: “The Rift delivers on the dream of consumer VR with compelling content, a full ecosystem, and a fully-integrated hardware/software tech stack designed specifically for virtual reality. It’s a system designed by a team of extremely passionate gamers, developers, and engineers to reimagine what gaming can be.”
The Consumer Version of the Rift will include an “improved tracking system that supports both seated and standing experiences.” It will also improve on the “Crescent Bay” prototype with a “highly refined industrial design, and updated ergonomics for a more natural fit.”
But if you’re looking for hardware specificiations or game reveals, you’re going to have to wait. Oculus said that information on the “hardware, software, input [options], and unannounced made-for-VR games and experiences” will come at a later date.
Mario Kart 8: Animal Crossing X Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack Review: More Tracks! More Characters! More Speed!
Nintendo has released Mario Kart 8’s second downloadable expansion during an interesting time for add-on content. Other publishers have been very welcoming to the new revenue stream, some perhaps overly so, but Nintendo has mostly shied away from creating additional content for their games. However, with Mario Kart 8 and the upcoming Xenoblade Chronicles X, the company seems to have found the perfect balance between releasing extra content that generates more revenue while offering value for money. The Animal Crossing X Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack is priced at $7.99, just like the earlier Zelda-themed expansion. However, players can pick up both packs for $11.99, which would add four additional Cups to the game, each with a mix of old favourites and new challenges. Players who buy both packs will receive 16 new tracks on top of the original 32, which is 50% more game for only a fifth of the price.
Not only that, they released it a month earlier than expected!
But this second DLC add-on brings something special with it, a free update that adds a 200cc Class to the game, which is a faster gameplay mode than the Mario Kart franchise has ever included previously. The new speed setting is a game changer, and the best part is that it is free to everyone, not just those who bought one or both DLC packs. But is this new, challenging speed setting perhaps a step too far in this fun-filled game? (more…)
Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Wii U
Tagged Mario Kart 8
Disney Interactive officially announces Fall release for Disney Infinity: Star Wars
After being outed by a German retailer last week, Disney Interactive has gone ahead and officially announced Disney Infinity: Star Wars. As expected, Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker figures will be included as part of the game’s Starter Pack (which will be priced at $64.99).
The 3.0 Edition of the popular series will once again be developed by Avalanche Software in partnership with Ninja Theory, Sumo Digital, Studio Gobo, and United Front Games. A release date wasn’t announced, but the game should be available for the PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One this Fall. A version of Disney Infinity: Star Wars for mobile devices is also in the works.
Three Star Wars-themed playsets will be released alongside the game, each focusing on a different trilogy. “Star Wars: Twilight of the Republic” (which is included in the Starter Pack) will star Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Darth Maul in epic battle set in the prequel era. Meanwhile, “Star Wars: Rise Against the Empire” will feature Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Darth Vader doing the Rebels versus Empire thing. A third playset based on the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens will also be available sometime this Winter.
A number of non-Star Wars characters will also be part of the main game for the first time including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Sam Flynn and Quorra from Tron: Legacy, Mulan, Frozen‘s Olaf, and many others. And an enhanced Toy Box mode will add two new multiplayer Toy Box Expansion Games: “Toy Box Speedway” (kart racing) and “Toy Box Takeover” (action-adventure). Both Toy Box Expansion Games will require the additional purchase of a Disney Infinity Game Piece.
Additional playsets based on Pixar’s Inside Out and the Hulk/Iron Man battle from Avengers: Age of Ultron will be released this Fall as well.
Finally, even more Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars figures and playsets are planned for release next year. But don’t worry, Disney Infinity: Star Wars will be compatible with all figures and Power Discs from Disney Infinity and Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes.
Daily Scoop: May 5, 2015 – Cinco de Game-O
Today is Cinco de Mayo, which used to mean I went out drinking, usually to local watering hole Mad Mex. But, sadly, I can’t drink anymore, so I’ll likely spend it eating froyo and working on writing. Like, a lot of writing. Which actually sounds… amazing?
Anywho, let’s discuss today’s deals, shall we? This week’s Humble Store sales will keep you busy! Pick up The Inner World is $2.99, Solar Flux is $0.99, and Albedo: Eyes from Outer Space is $7.49.
The Midweek Madness at Steam is the Dead Island Collection. For just $5.99, you get Dead Island, Dead Island Riptide, Dead Island: Riptide – Fashion Victim, and Dead Island: Riptide – Survivor Pack. The Daily Deal is Turbo Dismount, which is on sale for just $3.39.
There are some great t-shirt designs today! (more…)
Posted in Daily Scoop
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 officially coming to PS4, Xbox One this year
Tony Hawk has been teasing the return of his eponymous video game franchise for a while now, but today, Activision made it official by announcing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 in the pages of Game Informer.
In development at Robomodo (the same team behind 2012’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD), Tony Hawk 5 will be “a call back to the old-school lineage of the first four titles.” A new batch of levels complete with solo, co-op, and competitive objectives will reintroduce players to the classic style of a Tony Hawk game. A Skate Park Creator will also be included, and players will have the ability to share their creations online.
So what’s new? Glad you asked. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 will include a series of missions where players collect power-ups and have “the ability to shoot projectiles.” Does this mean Tony Hawk 5 will be the Skate or Die 2 successor I’ve been waiting 25 years for? I sure hope so.
Also new to Tony Hawk 5 is brand new generation of professional skaters including Nyjah Huston, Aaron Homoki, Ishod Wair, Riley Hawk, Lizzie Armanto, Chris Cole, David Gonzalez, Leticia Bufoni, and Andrew Reynolds. Naturally, Tony Hawk himself will also be a playable character.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One later this year. A PS3 and Xbox 360 port is also in development and will launch sometime later.
Dragon Age: Inquisition’s Dragonslayer multiplayer expansion is out today; Jaws of Hakkon add-on available to all on May 26
Electronic Arts and BioWare have announced a new multiplayer expansion for Dragon Age: Inquisition will be available to download (for free) on the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One today. The Dragonslayer expansion will add three new characters (Skywatcher, Zither the Virtuoso, and Isabela the Raider Queen of the Eastern Seas), a new location, and the opportunity to fight dragons. As part of the expansion, BioWare will also add The Black Emporium, ” four high-level stores which sell epic weapons, powerful accessories, new crafting materials and schematics and other hard-to-find items,” to the game.
More details on the Dragonslayer expansion can be found at the Dragon Age Blog or by watching a special Twitch stream hosted by BioWare, which will begin at 1:00 PM (Eastern Time) today.
In other Dragon Age news, BioWare has confirmed (via Twitter) that Inquisition’s first single-player expansion, Jaws of Hakkon, will be available to download for the PS3, PS4, and Xbox 360 on May 26. PC and Xbox One owners have been able to purchase it since March.