Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Jordan Minor’s “Boss Fight Books: Super Mario Galaxy” is Now Available for Pre-Order
- 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
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
Deep Silver is asking fans to create the Dead Island 2 Collector’s Edition
The last time Deep Silver created a Collector’s Edition for a Dead Island game, they came up with Dead Island: Riptide‘s infamous “Zombie Bait Edition.” The centerpiece of that package was a bikini-clad bloody torso statue that sent the Internet into an uproar. So the publisher is turning to the public for help in designing the Dead Island 2 Collector’s Edition.
A new survey posted by Deep Silver asks their fans to rate 28 different items on a scale of one to five. The options include the expected (character figurines, art book), the unexpected (zombie arm back scratcher, beer cooler case), and the downright bizarre (zombie Oscar statuette, a real zombie). Voting is open now and closes on Monday, July 14 at midnight. So if you want to vote, you better hurry.
Dead Island 2 will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One in Spring 2015.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Dead Island 2
Respawn announces second TitanFall DLC pack: Frontier’s Edge
Before it launched, Respawn revealed that TitanFall would be followed by three DLC map packs. The first, Expedition, was released in May. And now we know the name of the second: Frontier’s Edge.
Like Expedition, Frontier’s Edge will include will include three new maps. The three maps will be known as “Dig Site” (an “isolated mining outpost”), “Haven” (an “exclusive beach resort”), and “Export” (a “mining hub on the side of a mountain”). If you purchased the TitanFall Season Pass, you’ll be able to download the Frontier’s Edge DLC for free. It will also be available individually at a price of $9.99.
The one thing that Respawn didn’t announce for Frontier’s Edge is a release date. It’ll be available eventually, that’s all we know at this point.
Gearbox announces MOBA-like “hero-shooter” Battleborn
In Borderlands, Gearbox created a unique first person shooter that fused frantic gunplay with RPG-style leveling and loot drops. Now, they’re going to flip the FPS script once more with the MOBA-inspired Battleborn, which is in development for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The game will likely be released sometime in 2015, but an early 2016 release is also a possibility.
Battleborn takes place in the “the distant future of an imaginative science-fantasy universe” and features a slew of heroes (including a nymph-like creature, a dandy robot wearing a bowler hat, a musclebound Rambo-type, a pretty pink princess, and a swordsman wielding dual Lightsabers laser swords) battling cooperatively through a story-driven campaign and competitively in traditional multiplayer deathmatches.
“If Borderlands 2 is a shooter-looter, Battleborn is a hero-shooter,” said Randy Pitchford, president of Gearbox Software. “As a genre-fused, hobby-grade, co-operative and competitive FPS exploding with eye-popping style and an imaginative universe, Battleborn is the most ambitious video game that Gearbox has ever created.”
Um… sure. It looks like 2015 is going to be a very confusing time for gamers as now we’ve got Bloodborne, Battleborn, and BattleCry all scheduled for release within the same year. I’m sure some publisher will announce “Blood Cry” any day now.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Battleborn
Anomaly Defenders Review: Back to Basics
The original Anomaly: Warzone Earth took a fresh, new approach in the ubiquitous tower defense genre by flipping the traditional roles around, having you play as the creeps fighting against the towers. The fun, challenging gameplay led to a sequel (aptly named Anomaly 2), which introduced the very cool creeps vs. towers multiplayer. Well, those darn alien towers are back in a third installment, Anomaly Defenders, except this time, you are the darn aliens. (more…)
Heed “Handsome Jack’s Tips for Surviving on the Moon!” in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
Before letting journalists loose on Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel at this year’s E3 Expo, 2K Games forced them to watch “Handsome Jack’s Tips for Surviving on the Moon” to prepare for the experience. In the video, Handsome Jack describes what’s different about shooting and looting on the Moon… in his own deranged way, that is. If you’re too lazy to watch, here are Handsome Jack’s six tips:
#1 Stay in the air
#2 Don’t forget the power of the SLAM!
#3 Use your Skills
#4 New Loot!
#5 Lasers… Heh heh, they’re pretty cool
#6 Cryo Weapons are awesome
Don’t you want to watch it now? Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on October 14.
Mighty No. 9 animated adaptation in the works
I don’t how this will impact the planned live-action adaptation, but Comcept and Digital Frontier have announced they’ve begun work on an animated adaptation of Mighty No. 9.
The project is still in the early stages, but Digital Frontier wants to create an “action-packed comedy aimed at kids 6-11” that they hope will appeal to adults as well. If the teaser video above is any indication, I think they’ve got a shot at doing just that. Produced for this weekend’s Anime Expo in Los Angeles, the video is a neat little taste of things to come. However, according to an FAQ posted on the official Mighty No. 9 site, no one has officially signed on to the animated adaptation as of yet. Digital Frontier is still looking for writers, a director, and voice actors. Because of this, we don’t know when Mighty No. 9: The Animated Series will make its television debut.
But hopefully the announcer sticks around, he’s pretty awesome.
New Releases: One Piece Unlimited World Red, More
It’s another slim week for new releases as we continue to suffer through the dog days of Summer. Here’s what will be available this week:
- One Piece Unlimited World Red, a new game adaptation of the popular manga, will be published by Bandai Namco for the 3DS and PS3, and Wii U (as a Wii U eShop exclusive).
- Scooby Doo & Looney Tunes Cartoon Universe: Adventure will mash together the two cartoons on the 3DS.
- And Garfield’s Wild Ride brings everyone’s favorite cat to the PC in a Jetpack Joyride-type game.
Yup, that’s it.
Civilization: Beyond Earth will launch on October 24
2K Games has announced that Civilization: Beyond Earth will be available exclusively for the PC on October 24. I think this is the first time I’ve written about a game’s launch date when the game in question actually has launches in it.
Players who pre-order the game (from select retailers) will receive the Exoplanets Map Pack, which includes six additional maps, all based on existing exoplanets:
- Kepler 186f: This lush forest planet is one of the oldest known Earth-like planets.
- Rigil Khantoris Bb: Orbiting the closest star to our solar system, the historical records of this arid continental planet’s settlement are well-preserved.
- Tau Ceti d: This planet of seas and archipelagos features a booming biodiversity and a wealth of resources.
- Mu Arae f: Tidally locked in orbit around a weak star, the southern hemisphere of this planet is a blistering desert where the sun never sets, while the northern hemisphere is perpetually in frozen darkness.
- 82 Eridani e: An alien world of scarce water and wracked by tectonic forces.
- Eta Vulpeculae b: A mysterious new discovery with unknown terrain.
And if you want to learn even about Civilization: Beyond Earth, be sure to check out the “Inside Look” video above where Lead Designers Will Miller and David McDonough discuss “details about the story, leaders, and [other] key features.” You can also find a brand new gameplay walkthrough after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PC
Tagged Civilization: Beyond Earth