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
- With Grand Theft Auto 6 poised to take over the world, I reached out to Jack Thompson and it did not go well – PC Gamer (2026)
- Vib-Ribbon: An oral history – Design Room (2026)
- 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)
Most Recent: PC
Gather round the campfire on October 13 for the release of Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 1
Telltale Games has announces that Minecraft: Story Mode, their episodic adventuring adaptation of Mojang’s Minecraft, will kick off on October 13 with the release of Episode 1 (The Order of the Stone) for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and iOS/Android mobile devices. A special Season Pass Disc will also be available on October 27, which will include the first episode on the disc and online access to subsequent episodes as they’re released.
“Developed in partnership with our friends at Mojang, this all-ages adventure series kicks off a thrilling story full of many elements essential to the world of Minecraft, combined with Telltale’s trademark choice-based gameplay,” said Kevin Bruner, the CEO and co-founder of Telltale Games. “There are plenty of exciting details we’ve been keeping under wraps, and we’re thrilled that players will soon be starting their own adventure through the Nether to the Farlands and beyond with Jesse and The Order of the Stone.”
In other exciting news, Minecraft: Story Mode will also be available for the Wii U and Vita at some future date. This is the first time a Telltale adventure game, or any version of Minecraft, will appear on the Wii U… and just in time for the console’s likely replacement by the NX next year.
Kickstart This! Anniversary Interview: Chewing the Fat With Bacon Man Director Neal Laurenza
It is perhaps somewhat ironic that Bacon Man appeared in July 2014’s Common Creative Wealth Edition of Kickstart This! While athletes from around the world competed in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the developers at Skymap Games were hard at work campaigning for their project, which stars an anthropomorphized version of the fatty foodstuff in a surreal Earthworm Jim-style platformer. The game achieved its funding target of $20,000 (with an extra $1,280 to spare), and is expected to be released for the PC and Xbox One before the end of the year.
Neal Laurenza, Managing Director at Skymap, recently sat down with us to share a slab of bacon and to discuss Bacon Man. While we pondered if the breakfast staple proves the existence of God, we also talked about the game’s Kickstarter campaign, how bad emails can do good things, and other sizzling topics. (more…)
Umbrella Corps, a team-based shooter set in the Resident Evil universe, unveiled at TGS
Capcom has announced plans to expand the Resident Evil universe once more with Umbrella Corps, a team-based shooter in development for the PC and PS4. Announced today at the 2015 Tokyo Game Show, Umbrella Corps features “quick, intense matches” that take place within arenas that resemble historic Resident Evil locales. Though Resident Evil lore says the titular corporation was brought down years ago, its villainous spirit lives on in a gladiatorial series of shootouts between rival mercenary squads:
Umbrella Corporation, a ruthless international pharmaceutical company, had been known for its genetic experiments and biological weaponry that led to worldwide devastation including the infamous Raccoon City incident . Although the organization was brought down in 2003, its legacy of bio-terrorism continued. In the present day, corporations with nebulous interests in bio-weaponry have hired squads of special forces for experimental battles in restricted virus-infected areas against other mercenaries.
Umbrella Corps will feature high-intensity team-based matches where players can compete online in a variety of unique close quarter battle modes. Each adrenaline-fueled match will be short and brutal and is designed for quick and engaging play. The game will feature an analog aim and cover system, allowing for more precise control when firing from cover.
The game will feature a variety of game modes, including One Life Match. In One Life Match, players will be tasked with obliterating the other team without having the ability to respawn. Matches are further complicated by the shuffling undead hordes that populate each map. Players can take out these ghouls, or they can use them strategically against the opposing team. But when you add zombies to the mix, you need the right tools to dispatch them and Umbrella Corps delivers with the Brainer (a powerful melee axe which goes straight into the skull), the Tactical Shield (an arm-mounted guard allowing players to utilize a zombie as cover), Terrain Spikes (boot-mounted spikes for trampling the enemy), and the Zombie Jammer (a device which repels zombies only when active).
Umbrella Corps will be released as a budget-priced ($29.99) digital download for the PC and PS4 in early 2016. Its debut trailer has been embedded above.
Posted in News, PC, PS4
Tagged TGS 2015, Umbrella Corps
Prepare for Fallout 4 with a S.P.E.C.I.A.L. instructional video series… S is for Strength
“Following total atomic annihilation, the rebuilding of this great nation of ours may fall to you. Study these materials carefully to ensure your survival and to discover what makes you S.P.E.C.I.A.L.”
Bethesda has always made great use of the Fallout franchise’s retro-futuristic aesthetic, and the first entry in a new series of 1950s-inspired educational videos for Fallout 4 is just the latest bit of proof. The S.P.E.C.I.A.L. series serves as a handy tutorial to give players all the skills they’ll need to survive in The Wasteland. These attributes (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck) will play an important part in the game… especially if you don’t want to be killed horribly by a marauding mutant or deranged survivor.
Proudly produced by Vault-Tec (the in-universe company that created Fallout’s many Vaults), the video for “Strength” has been embedded above. Fallout 4 will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on November 10.
StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void will launch on Nov. 10… watch the opening cinematic now
Blizzard has announced that StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void, the standalone final chapter in the StarCraft II “trilogy,” will be released exclusively for the PC on November 10:
In the expansive new Protoss-focused campaign, players will take command of the mighty Spear of Adun — a magnificent Protoss arkship capable of altering the course of battle from above. Players will guide Protoss legends Artanis and Zeratul as they fight to unite the Protoss race, take back their homeworld, and vanquish the ancient evil that threatens the universe. In addition to determining the Protoss’s destiny, players will also bear witness to the ultimate fates of Terran hero Jim Raynor, the former marshal turned rebel leader, and Kerrigan, the Zerg Queen of Blades.
“Legacy of the Void provides an epic conclusion to a story more than 17 years in the making,” said Mike Morhaime, Blizzard’s CEO. “It also brings tremendous enhancements to StarCraft II’s definitive real-time strategy gameplay, with new units, automated tournaments, collaborative game modes, and more. We can’t wait for players to experience it all this November.”
Players interested in pre-ordering StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void will have plenty of options. More details on the add-ons and bonuses found in the game’s three pre-order packages can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PC
Tagged StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void
The wind-controlling Rashid is the second new character to be added to Street Fighter V
After revealing Necalli, Street Fighter V‘s first original fighter, Capcom promised that three additional new characters would be part of the game’s final roster. Yesterday, the second original character, Rashid, made his debut at the Games 15 event in Dubai.
Introduced by Street Fighter Series Producer Yoshinori Ono, Rashid is a Middle Eastern character who can control punishing gusts of wind. He is also said to have “an affinity for technology” and a “casual” fighting style. You can take a look at Rashid’s parkour-inspired moves in the trailer embedded, while the Capcom-Unity blog has revealed a bit more about the character, including his V-Skills and V-Triggers:
About Rashid
Joining the series from the Middle East, Rashid is an easy going and laid back character that has a very keen interest in technology and the latest gadgets on the market. His fighting style takes cues from parkour and he mixes it up with his unique ability to harness the power of wind. Always first in line to buy new tech, he uses these devices to research and create his fast-paced acrobatic moves, leaving his opponents in the dust and wondering what’s coming next.V-Skill 1 (MP+MK): Front Flip
Rashid performs a high flying flip over the opponent. Pressing kick during the Front Flip results in Rashid performing a divekick.V-Skill 2 (Down+MP+MK): Rolling Assault
Rashid closes the gap between himself and the opponent with a quick front roll. Pressing kick during Rolling Assault results in Rashid kicking upward at the opponent.V-Trigger (HP+HK): Ysaar
Rashid throws out a slow moving whirlwind that closes in on the opponent and causes damage to them if they touch it. While the whirlwind is out, Rashid can use it to increase his movement on any attack that propels him forward.
Capcom previously announced plans to include 16 characters in Street Fighter V when its released for the PC and PS4 in Spring 2016. Rashid is the 12th character announced so far, after Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Cammy, Vega, M. Bison, Birdie, Charlie Nash, Necalli, R. Mika, and Blanka (who remains officially unannounced, though he was all but confirmed two months ago). So that means there’s still four more character reveals to come, including two more brand new fighters.
Posted in News, PC, PS4
Tagged Street Fighter V
New Releases: Destiny: The Taken King, Forza 6, Skylanders SuperChargers, More
We’ve got a lot of ground to cover in this week’s new release report, so let’s get right to it…
Destiny’s “Year One” slate of content will come to a close as Activision and Bungie will release the last major update Destiny: The Taken King for the PS4, Xbox One, PS3, and Xbox 360. The expansion will add a variety of missions and tweaks to the team-based shooter, but the biggest is likely Nolan North’s replacement of Peter Dinklage as the voice of Ghost.
Microsoft and Turn 10 will release their latest automotive simulator, Forza Motorsport 6, for the Xbox One. It astounds me that while Sony continues to struggle with DriveClub and the seemingly non-existent Gran Turismo 7, Microsoft has developed and published two critically-acclaimed Forza games.
If you’re looking for something for the kids, Activision will release Skylanders SuperChargers this week. The popular game franchise has a racing theme this time out for the Wii U, PS4, Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360… and dozens of new Skylanders action figures have begun appearing on store shelves. A Dark Edition will also be released and a spinoff game, Skylanders SuperChargers Racing, will be available for the 3DS and Wii U (complete with an exclusive Skylanders/Amiibo hybrid figure for each platform).
To close out the week in new games, a pair of popular sports simulations will also be available. EA Sports will bring NHL 16 to the PS4 and Xbox One (and NHL: Legacy Edition to the PS3 and Xbox 360), while Konami will publish Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
Finally this week, a number of new console bundles will be released. Sony will launch a 500GB PS4 + Destiny: The Taken King Limited Edition Bundle, while Microsoft is prepping a 1TB Xbox One + Forza Motorsport 6 Limited Edition Bundle. Both feature custom case designs (the Forza Blue color scheme is particularly nifty), one controller, and bonus downloadable content for their respective games. A 1TB Xbox One + FIFA 16 Bundle will also be available, but it doesn’t feature a custom paint job.
More information on all of these games can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Destiny, Forza Motorsport 6, NHL 16, Pro Evolution Soccer 2016, Skylanders SuperChargers, Skylanders SuperChargers Racing
BOOM! Madden NFL 16 is the best-selling game of August 2015
Whatever your opinion of Tom Brady and Deflategate (for the record, I agree with Tony Kornheiser, the suspension was “completely unjust”), it looks like nobody can take the air out of EA’s Madden NFL franchise. And don’t just take my word for it. The latest entry in the series, Madden NFL 16, topped the NPD Group’s newest monthly report and was declared the best-selling game of August 2015.
Madden NFL 16’s ascendance to the top of the list was a foregone conclusion, but August was an unusually quiet month for new releases. Just look at the three remakes/re-releases that broke into the top ten. Gears of War: Ultimate Edition chainsawed its way into the #3 spot, while the 30 games in the Rare Replay compilation collectively landed at #6. Finally, a Combo Pack containing Call of Duty: Black Ops + Call of Duty: Black Ops II claimed the #8 position (two spots ahead of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare at #10, I might add). The only other new release to crack the top ten was Sony’s Until Dawn at #7.
But the real story of the month might be that Minecraft continues to sell. Even though its been available on the PS4 and Xbox One since last year (and another year on the PS3 and Xbox 360), the game continues to sell month after month. Only Madden NFL 16 was able to outpace Mojang’s creation in August as Minecraft is sitting at #2 on the best-sellers list.
A complete look at August 2015’s top ten is available after the break. (more…)