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)
Warp Zoned Archives
Most Recent: PC
Pre-order Crysis 3, get a downloadable copy of Crysis for free

Are you looking forward to next February’s release of Crysis 3? But are you feeling a little lost since you never played the original Crysis? Well, good news! EA has announced that if you pre-order Crysis 3, you’ll receive a download voucher that can be exchanged for a digital copy of Crysis on the PC, PS3, or Xbox 360.
“The release of Crysis in 2007 was truly a watershed moment for first-person shooters and raised the bar on cutting-edge visuals and gameplay and we could not be more thrilled to include the original game as a pre-order bonus,” said Cevat Yerli, Chief Executive Officer of Crytek. “Building upon the framework laid by the previous games, Crysis 3 offers unparalleled tactical freedom as players experience New York City’s Seven Wonders and adapt to the truly unique challenges they present. By blending the best elements of the series so far, we’ve created an action experience that we believe will blow fans away.”
If you are interested in pre-ordering Crysis 3, EA also wants to remind you that you’ll receive the Hunter’s Edition, which will include access to the Predator Bow and the Hunter Nanosuit module.
Dead Island: Riptide shambles into stores on April 23
Deep Silver announced today that Dead Island: Riptide will be released on April 23, 2012 (and on April 26 in the rest of the world). The publisher also took this opportunity to reveal the first details about the game’s pre-order incentives and the Special Edition package:
Pre-Order Edition: This version of Dead Island: Riptide will include an exclusive pack of weapon mods that allows even more, manifold ways to dispose of the ghastly zombie hordes on Palanai island.
Special Retailers Edition: In addition to the weapon mods this version will contain an alternate character skin not obtainable anywhere else! The Special Edition of Dead Island: Riptide will only be available at selected retail partners. Details about the retail partners per territory offering the Special Edition will be announced soon. The Special Retailers Edition will also feature an alternative packshot.
Dead Island: Riptide is in development at Techland (creators of the original Dead Island) for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Dead Island: Riptide
Surprise! Robert Downey Jr. is the star of the CoD Black Ops II live-action trailer
Let’s see…
Appearance by Robert Downey Jr.? Check.
AC/DC’s “Back in Black” on the soundtrack? Check.
Tongue-in-cheek mayhem? Check.
Activision, and director Guy Ritchie, probably weren’t intentionally trying to link “Surprise,” the new live-action trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops II, to Downey’s Iron Man/Avengers character, but they certainly got the tone right. And what tone is that? Why, pure awesomeness, of course. So be sure to check out “Surprise” above.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on November 13. A Wii U release will follow five days later on November 18.
New Releases: Assassin’s Creed III, Need For Speed Most Wanted, WWE 13, More

The Fall gaming rush is definitely in full swing now as nearly 50 new games will make their way onto store shelves next week. Here are the highlights:
- Ubisoft’s time travelling trilogy comes to a close with Assassin’s Creed III (PC, PS3, Xbox 360) and its Vita-exclusive side story, Assassins Creed III: Liberation.
- Criterion recreates the classic Need For Speed game Need For Speed: Most Wanted (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Vita).
- Your yearly dose of video wrasslin’ returns to the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 thanks to THQ’s WWE ’13.
- Fly you fools… And be sure to check out Lego Lord of the Rings (3DS, DS, PS3, Vita, Wii, Xbox 360).
- The Underrated Zone of the Enders series has been remade for HD consoles and repackaged as Zone of the Enders HD Collection (PS3, Xbox 360).
- Finally, Level-5’s Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask makes it way to the 3DS today. So that’s cool.
Hit the jump for a complete detailing of this week’s new releases. (more…)
Hitman: Absolution is absolutely full of Hollywood actors

Having a cast full of Hollywood actors isn’t quote the big deal it used to be, but leave it to Hitman: Absolution to collect one of the strangest groups of thespians I’ve ever seen.
David Bateson returns to portray the voice of Agent 47, but the motion capture work to bring the assassin to life was done by Lost‘s William Mapother. Ethan Rom did always walk in a creepy manner.
Other members of the cast include an extraordinary badass (Powers Boothe), the world’s most famous former porn star (Traci Lords), one of Bill’s Deadly Vipers (Vivica A. Fox), Bill’s real-life brother (Keith Carradine), and the deranged child star of Orphan (Isabelle Fuhrman).
The complete cast list can be found after the break. Hitman: Absolution will be released for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on November 20. (more…)
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Hitman: Absolution
Borderlands 2 Review: There’s No Place Like Pandora

When Borderlands came out in 2009, it blended together the perfect mix of role-playing elements with first-person shooter fare. Affectionately referred to as an FPSRPG, the game’s Diablo-style loot system had players upgrading their guns and shields while working their way up levels and through skill trees. Each of the four characters – Brick the Berserker, Lilith the Siren, Mordecai the Hunter, and Roland the Soldier – were enjoyable in their own way, adding some flavor to the somewhat utilitarian story. Gearbox Studios bragged that Borderlands 2 was going to take everything about the first game and made it bigger – bigger characters, deeper story, better loot. Do these ambitious changes work in the sequel? (more…)
Activision’s Walking Dead game gets new title; contest to appear in the game announced

Now that the third season has begun, Activision is ready to announce the official title of their first person shooter based on The Walking Dead television show. Since Telltale’s adventure game already laid claim to The Walking Dead, Activision and developer Terminal Reality have decided to go with The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct.
And if you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a zombie (and if so, what is wrong with you?), Activision has a contest for you. The publisher has sprinkled hidden clues throughout this season’s episodes of The Walking Dead. If you spot one, and enter it at AMCDead.com, you’ll be entered into a drawing to have your face put into the game. Well, a little more than just your face…
Each week one lucky winner will be chosen to appear as a character in the game! Terminal Reality will then use photos of his or her facial likeness to create a unique character whose backstory and chilling death scene may be encountered by players during The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct.
I call dibs on “killed while trying to turn my hand into a chainsaw.”
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct
SimCity breaks ground on March 5, 2013
Originally scheduled for release in February, EA has announced that SimCity will be released on March 5, 2013 (March 8 in Europe). As they say, that’s close enough for government work. You know, because you’re the mayor…
Mayors! Mark your calendars, #SimCity will be in stores March 5th in NA. RT If you’re planning to take vacation that week to play.
— SimCity (@simcity) October 24, 2012
You can check out the latest trailer for the game, “How to Deal with Disasters,” above.







