Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Clair Obscur Completes the Sweep by Winning “Best Game” at 2025-2026 BAFTA Games Awards
- Boss Fight Books Gets a New Look for Richard Moss’s “Age of Empires”
- GDC Awards: All the Winners from 1996 to Today
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wins “Game of the Year” at 2025-2026 GDC Awards
- Silent Hill, Dragon Quest, Skyrim, and More Announced as Finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- 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)
- In 2005, games started rewiring our brains – The AV Club (2025)
Most Recent: 3DS
The Official Mega-Super-Awesome Video Game Release Calendar for 2012
Dick Clark is in Times Square and the big ball will drop in less than 36 hours. That’s right folks, 2011 is coming to an end. But all that means is that 2012 is (quite literally) right around the corner. And with it comes a huge new year of gaming. In 2012, we’ll witness the launch of the PlayStation Vita and Nintendo Wii U. We’ll also welcome back the bullet-time action of Max Payne, the knee-cracking excitement of NFL Blitz, and a rousing return to the world of BioShock. There’s also the tomb raiding rebirth of Lara Croft, another count of Grand Theft Auto, the first Kid Icarus game in over two decades, and the gravity-defying feats of Inversion.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here’s what else we’ll be playing in 2012 (Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments)… (more…)
The Golden Pixel Awards 2011: Gaming’s Best, Worst, and Everything Else
Welcome to Warp Zoned’s first ever Golden Pixel Awards. Sit back and relax as we reward the best (and worst) games of 2011 with accolades based on their rather unique accomplishments.
The Apocalypse List
The bombs have fallen, the zombies have horded, food is scarce, and you’ve boarded yourself up in a bunker that’ll stand for a hundred years. What better way to spend your time in “The Vault” than by playing Warp Zoned’s favorite games from 2011? It doesn’t matter if you call it a “Top Ten List” or “Our Favorites From 2011,” but these are the games we plan to keep playing even if there was no game industry to keep making games. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, Etcetera, Features, PC, PS3, Top Story, Wii, Xbox 360
Tagged Bastion, Batman: Arkham City, Catherine, Dark Souls, Dead Space 2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Duke Nukem Forever, Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon, Gears of War 3, Killzone 3, L.A. Noire, Mortal Kombat, Portal 2, Resistance 3, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
VVVVVV, Bionic Commando added to 3DS eShop
Indie darling VVVVVV and the Game Boy rendition of Bionic Commando lead this week’s 3DS eShop update. Also available this week is Cake Ninja (DSiWare), Slingo Supreme (DSiWare), and Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Big Ben Burglary (WiiWare).
More information on all of these games can be found right here:
VVVVVV (3DS eShop) – There’s something terribly wrong in an alternate dimension. Help Captain Viridian flip to find five crew members, locate 20 hard-to-reach Trinkets and save a dimension on the brink of destruction.
Bionic Commando (3DS eShop) – When the Federation’s greatest soldier is captured while infiltrating the enemy Doraize Army and investigating the development of a powerful super-weapon, elite commando Rad Spencer is sent in to save his missing comrade.
Cake Ninja (DSiWare) – This casual game invites you to slide the stylus across the screen to slice cakes into small pieces like a true ninja warrior. The more cakes you slice, the longer you stay around.
Slingo Supreme (DSiWare) – Slingo Supreme is the sequel to Slingo Deluxe, packed with even more Slingtastic fun. It features a new Supreme mode that lets you build more than 16,000 different Slingo games. It also offers an infinite supply of Daily Challenges, new Powerups (including Reel Nudge and Instant Slingos) and the long-awaited introduction of Devil Mini Games.
Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Big Ben Burglary (WiiWare) – Carmen Sandiego is back and only you can foil her V.I.L.E plans. Travel the globe, solve brain-twisting math puzzles, and catch the villain behind the Big Ben Burglary.
Game Boy Tetris comes to 3DS eShop
Well this is just the greatest Christmas surprise ever!
Nintendo has announced that the Game Boy version of Tetris is now available on the 3DS eShop. Hardcore Tetris geeks have long claimed that the original is still the best as it eschews later “innovations” to the formula like infinite spin, the hold piece, and other nonsense. The Game Boy version is good, old-fashioned Tetris… like Mom used to make play.
If, for some reason, the release of Tetris doesn’t leave you jumping for joy right now, here’s what else is new to the Nintendo Download this week:
Mighty Switch Force! (3DS eShop) – Space Hooligans have escaped custody and are wreaking havoc all over Planet Land. HQ calls on cybernetic peace-keeper Patricia Wagon to bring these renegades to justice.
Chronicles of Vampires: Origins (DSiWare) – Discover a secret that has been hidden for centuries in this supernatural Hidden Object Adventure. When Investigative Reporter and Super Sleuth, Linda Hyde, sets out to cover a rare book exhibition, she receives an offer she can’t refuse – to search for lost manuscripts on the behalf of a mysterious collector. However, Linda will soon find out, she is not alone in this quest. A secret world of vampires slowly reveals itself…
Doodle Fit (DSiWare) – Doodle Fit challenges players to fit sets of blocks into a given shape. The game features more than 100 different levels with a variety of unique shapes and nearly 550 solutions in total.
Rytmik Retrobits (DSiWare) – Rytmik Retrobits is an application for creating rhythmical and melodic themes and for composing whole songs. Its user interface blends the fast and well-arranged interface of classic drum machines with flexible pattern interface of popular trackers and with modern sound library.
Soccer Up! (WiiWare) – Soccer Up! is a funny soccer game that allows you a total control of any action of your team players: Control the ball, dribble and shoot with effect to confuse the goalkeeper and score a goal!
Kingdom Hearts 3D coming to US in 2012
We all knew it was going to happen eventually, but today, Square Enix officially announced that Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance will be released in the US in 2012.
The 3DS exclusive title brings Sora and Riku together as playable characters in the Mark of Mastery exam as well as introduces new Disney worlds like The Hunchback of Notre Dame:
King Mickey and Yen Sid prepare for an impending threat by putting Sora and Riku through the Mark of Mastery exam. Sora and Riku are sent into the Sleeping Worlds, where they will face enemies and allies that have never been seen before. If they can successfully complete the task they are given, they will be deemed true Keyblade Masters.
According to series creator Tetsuya Nomura, Kingdom Hearts 3D is the beginning of the end of “the current Kingdom Hearts saga.” Nomura also said, “The story of this game will serve as the opening chapter of the final conflict, and, as always, will be full of surprises. This title will not only be a bold, exhilarating tale of adventure, but also a first look into the future form of the Kingdom Hearts series.”
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
3DS Ambassador GBA games now available
As promised, Nintendo has made good on the second half of their 3DS Ambassador program. Ten Game Boy Advance games are now available to download for those who purchased their 3DS system before the price drop. And, according to Nintendo, these games will never be made available to non-Ambassador 3DS owners.
And if you believe that, I’ve got a Cheese Bridge to sell you.
Here’s the complete list of GBA games you can download today:
- F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
- Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
- The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong
- Metroid Fusion
- Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island
- Wario Land 4
- WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames
Along with instructions on how to download them (shamelessly stolen from when the NES Ambassador titles were released):
1. Turn on your 3DS. (I tried it when it was off, it doesn’t work.)
2. Head to the eShop.
3. Scroll all the way to the left side, to the “Settings/Other” pane.
4. Click on “Your Downloads” – (the third brick down.)
5. Scroll past all the other titles you’ve purchased (if any, you cheapskates!)
6. You’ll find the free Ambassador titles waiting for you! (You have to click “Re-Download” to obtain them.)
Nintendo Download: Blaster Master Enemy Below, Carmen Sandiego Math, more
Do it, Rockapella! (Sorry, it helps if you were ten years old in 1991 to understand that reference).
For those who got the joke, you already know Nintendo has announced that the world’s greatest thief will be making her way to the WiiWare service today in Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Lady Liberty Larceny. Also of note this week is Blaster Master: Enemy Below, a Game Boy Color sequel to the NES classic that is now downloadable from the 3DS eShop.
The rest of this week’s Nintendo Download includes:
Blaster Master: Enemy Below (3DS eShop) – Using the strong weapons and high jumping power of his legendary battle vehicle, Jason must explore a subterranean region where a sinister life form resides.
Elite Forces: Unit 77 (DSiWare) – Drive armored trucks and tanks, defuse mines, locate explosives and rescue hostages. Gather your forces into a crack squad or control a single game character based on the strategic requirements.
WordJong Arcade (DSiWare) – WordJong mixes Mahjong solitaire and word play. Use letter tiles to create words. WordJong Arcade has 2 new ways to play, Arcade and Yin-Yang.
Just Sing! Christmas Volume 3 (DSiWare) – Merry Christmas Karaoke! Storm onto the Christmas stage and celebrate the festival of festivals with two classic Christmas songs: “O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)” and “Joy to the World”!
Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Lady Liberty Larceny (WiiWare) – The Statue of Liberty has vanished! The Chief wants ACME’s best agent on the case. Carmen Sandiego is back, and only you can foil her V.I.L.E. plans.
Club Nintendo now giving away game downloads
As expected, Nintendo has relaunched their Club Nintendo rewards program, which now includes a variety of free games!
Starting today, Club Nintendo members can exchange 100 Coins for Super Mario Kart (Virtual Console), 150 Coins for Fluidity (WiiWare), 100 Coins for 3D Classics: Xevious (3DS eShop), and 150 Coins for Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! (3DS eShop). Considering the fact that these games are priced between $6 and $12, that’s a pretty good deal. A new selection of games will be chosen in early January, so redeem your Coins today if one of these four titles tickles your fancy.
These games will be joined by other new Club Nintendo rewards like Nintendo-themed notebooks, pen cases, and a set of limited-edition posters honoring the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda.