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
New Earth Defense Force 2025 trailer shows off new enemies
The Earth Defense Force will make their long-awaited next month in Earth Defense Force 2025. After Vicious Cycle Software handled the previous entry, 2011’s Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon, the series has returned to its original developer, Sandlot.
Sandlot is expanding the EDF world to include multiple character classes, more enemy types, more vehicles, and more missions. They’ve even managed to shoe-horn a dragon into the game. You can check out all the additions to EDF 2025 for yourself in the brand new trailer above.
Earth Defense Force 2025 will be released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 on February 18. EDF! EDF! EDF!
Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Earth Defense Force 2025
Minecraft: The Unlikely Tale of Marcus “Notch” Persson and the Game that Changed Everything Review: The Awesome Story of the Indie Sensation and the Man Behind it
I’m a sucker for books about the video game industry. Big games, small games, gaming personalities – I love them all. Which is why when I heard about Minecraft: The Unlikely Tale of Marcus “Notch” Persson and the Game that Changed Everything, I wanted to read it, in spite of my minimal experience with the game itself. Written by Daniel Goldberg and Linus Larsson, a pair of technology journalists from Sweden, Minecraft: The Unlikely Tale… is their first book to receive an English translation. Once I got my hands on their little green book, I could not put it down. (more…)
Daily Scoop: January 27, 2014 – In the aftermath of the Global Game Jam
This weekend was really exciting! The Global Game Jam ran from Friday to Sunday, and while the theme was generally disliked across the board, some great brainstorming was had, and some even greater ideas were born. I haven’t had a chance to play any of the games yet, but I worked on a game of my own with Inform7, and it’s going great so far! I didn’t get it done in time for the jam, but I’m still proud that I got the ball rolling. Making games is awesome!
There are some good deals happening at Amazon right now. Physical deals include Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag for $29.99 and Rocksmith 2014 Edition for $49.99. Digital deals include the Legacy of Kain Pack for $7.49 and the Max Payne 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV Bundle for $7.99. Scoop ’em up!
Steam has Duke Nukem Forever on sale for $4.99. Um, yay? And there’s only one sale at the Humble Store – it’s Delve Deeper for $1.24
But hey, at least there are lots of t-shirts! (more…)
Posted in Daily Scoop
Microsoft acquires rights to Gears of War franchise from Epic
While the Gears of War franchise has always been exclusive to the Xbox 360, the rights to the series, as well as all development, were handled by Epic Games. Today, Microsoft has ensured that Marcus Fenix and the rest of the Gears grunts will remain exclusive to the Xbox platform as the publisher has purchased the rights to the Gears of War franchise from Epic. Terms of the deal were undisclosed, but Microsoft now owns all intellectual property rights to the franchise, the right to republish or remake any previous title in the series, all development assets, and the right to produce original Gears games in the future.
Just as 343 Industries took over for Bungie when they gave up their claim to the Halo series, Microsoft plans to place the Gears of War franchise in the hands of Black Tusk Studios, their studio in Vancouver. Black Tusk is currently working on an unnamed “AAAA” game that is not based on the trailer they showed during Microsoft’s E3 2013 Press Conference. Phil Spencer, the Vice President of Microsoft Game Studios, referred to it as a “concept piece.” Whatever form this “AAAA” game eventually takes, a new Gears game will likely be produced in parallel with it.
And what kind of Gears game does Black Tush have in mind? Microsoft wasn’t ready to announce anything today, but Spencer told GamesIndustry International: “We’re not announcing anything right now, but I think if you look at what we did with 343 and getting them up to speed for Halo 4, you can maybe anticipate some things that are similar to that. But it does give me confidence knowing that we’ve done this once with 343.”
If you remember, 343 Industries famously produced Halo Anniversary as a practice run before development began on Halo 4. Spencer’s words are a very strong hint that an Xbox One remake of one or more Gears games is currently in development.
Rod Fergusson, a producer on the first three Gears of War games, has been hired by Microsoft to oversee the franchise’s future at Black Tusk. Hopefully, we’ll learn more about that future soon.
Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Gears of War, Gears of War 4
Madden NFL 25 simulation says Broncos will beat Seahawks in snowy Super Bowl XLVIII
EA Sports has run a Super Bowl simulation using the latest edition of Madden NFL Football every year for the past ten years. And in that time, they correctly picked the winner eight times, including last year’s scarily accurate prediction. This year, if the Madden NFL 25 simulation of Super Bowl XLVIII is just as accurate, the Denver Broncos will emerge victorious over the Seattle Seahawks in a snow-filled game that’ll go into overtime.
According to the EA’s crystal ball, Peyton Manning will throw for 322 yards and three touchdowns en route to MVP honors. Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, and an unnamed third receiver will cross the goal line with receiving touchdowns while Knowshon Moreno will add a rushing touchdown. Marshawn Lynch will perform well in the loss, rushing for 109 yards and a touchdown, which forced the fourth quarter tie after a successful two-point conversion. The Seattle defense will also put up seven points as Richard Sherman will return an interception for a touchdown.
After finishing the first four quarters tied at 28 apiece, Denver lost the overtime toss but forced the Seahawks to punt. This set up Matt Prater for the game-winning field goal. Final Score: 31-28.
You gamblers might want to wait before you put a call in to Vegas. Historically, Peyton Manning is 0-3 in playoff games when the temperature is below 40. And it is going to be cold in New Jersey this weekend.
Final Fantasy XIV will be released for PS4 on April 14; Collector’s Edition announced
Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn will be available for the PS4 on April 14. The game will be available in a standard edition (priced at $39.99) and a newly announced Collector’s Edition, which has been priced at $79.99.
The Collector’s Edition will include your usual assortment of bonus items including an artbook, collector cards, and a fancy box:
- Exclusive Box: Featuring artwork by Yoshitaka Amano
- Artbook: The Art of Eorzea: A Realm Reimagined
- Special Movie Content Disc: The Waning of the Sixth Sun
- Seven In-Game Items: Fat Chocobo mount / Coeurl Mount / Behemoth Barding / Wind-up Moogle / Baby Behemoth / Helm of Light
- Special Soundtrack: The Sounds of Eorzea
- Art Card Set: Five exclusive character cards
- Themed Security Token: Enhance the security of your account and protect it from unauthorized access
Pre-orders for both editions are now being accepted and those who pre-order the game will receive two additional in-game items (Mog Cap and Cait Sith Doll minion) and the ability to participate in Early Access starting on April 11.
Whether you pre-order or not, if you’re a current player of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn on the PS3, Square Enix has confirmed that you’ll be able to transfer your character to the PS4 version at no charge.
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
Weekly Warp-Up: I Want Candy Edition
No, that’s not a typo. Welcome to the Weekly Warp-Up, your weekly wrap-up of the biggest and the best articles posted at Warp Zoned this week…
Nintendo’s President, Satoru Iwata, recently told investors that the company is evaluating a “new business structure” in light of their third consecutive yearly loss and the underperforming performance of the Wii U. This has only further stoked the rumor fires that Nintendo is developing a home console/handheld hybrid known as the “Fusion.” They’re probably not (or if they are, they’re not going to release it for a long time), but it’s fun to talk about.
In other business news, King, the makers of Candy Crush Saga have attempted to trademark the word “candy” as it relates to video games. The European Union has already given them the green light and the US Patent and Trademark Office is currently reviewing the application. Hopefully, someone within that office realizes what King is trying to do and puts a stop to it.
While King’s action are definitely unsweet, might I suggest the ultimate sugar rush? This three-hour video of NES Title Screens. After you’ve watched it, be sure and read all about the rest of this week’s big news stories after the break. (more…)
Posted in News
New Releases: Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z
This is the latest “New Releaes” update and the lovely Lara Croft and will be your host. Everyone’s favorite second-favorite third-favorite hunter of relics and antiquities makes the jump to the next-generation consoles in Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition for the PS4 and Xbox One. If you haven’t played it yet, you definitely should as the rebooted Tomb Raider was included in last year’s “Apocalypse List” as one of the best games of 2013. A special Tomb Raider: Game of the Year Edition will also be released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 if you haven’t made an investment in the next-generation yet.
Also this week, the multiplayer battler Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z brings Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, and all the rest back to the PS3 and Xbox 360) for another round of fighting.
Posted in News, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z, Tomb Raider