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
- 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”
- GDC Awards: All the Winners from 1996 to Today
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: PS3
Activision reveals Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’s multiplayer mode in new trailer
Activision’s decision to switch to a three-team development cycle for the Call of Duty franchise was to give each of the teams more room to shake things up. Sledgehammer Games is attempting to do their part by massively revamping the multiplayer experience in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. And by “revamping,” I mean that they’re adding in a ton of sci-fi touches like mech suits, invisibility devices, and jetpack jumps:
With the all-new exoskeleton, players can boost jump, dodge, dash, slide, slam and more as the action goes vertical, while using future-tech, cutting-edge capabilities and a brand-new weapon class as part of nearly 350 custom weapons. Offering a new reward system, including more than 1,000 in-game player rewards, and nearly limitless customization options that create more than two billion unique player combinations and more, the title offers the most in-depth, robust and advanced Call of Duty multiplayer experience ever on both next generation and current generation systems.
Also, the much loved Pick 10 create-a-class is back with even more customizable options than before with Pick 13. Gamers can now choose their favorite scorestreaks, which are fully customizable, and include them in their preferred class, raising the bar on personalization from top to bottom. The introduction of co-operative scorestreaks also allows friends to experience Call of Duty multiplayer together in a new way, as for the first time ever, two players can now join a scorestreak and work co-operatively.
The technology of the future in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare wouldn’t be complete without advancement in weapon technology, beginning with the debut of a directed energy class of weapons. This all-new weapon class for Call of Duty uses the power of focused energy to overcome enemies and relies on tactical heat management instead of reloads. Players can test out this new class, along with all their weapons, on the new Virtual Firing Range, a brand new feature that allows players to instantly test-drive their favorite weapon loadout with the click of a button before the next match starts.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare will also include a comprehensive create-a-character mode known as Create-An-Operator that will allow players to “personalize their soldier however they want.”
Finally, Activision has announced that a special “Day Zero Edition” will be available to those who pre-order the game. Available one day early, on November 3, the package will include the game itself, two custom weapons, and double XP on “Day Zero.” For the rest of us plebes, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare will be available on November 4 for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Gamescom 2014
2K has unveiled the Pharrell-curated NBA 2K15 soundtrack
Pharrell Williams has completed his curation of the NBA 2K15 and 2K Games announced the final tracklist on their Facebook page today. As you’d expect, there’s plenty of Pharrell to be found on the soundtrack. The “Happy” singer has three songs on the soundtrack as well as a featured credit on another. There’s also appearances by Lorde (“Team” ), Lauryn Hill (“Doo Wop (That Thing)”), Snoop Dogg (“Drop It Like It’s Hot”), and Depeche Mode (“Personal Jesus”).
I’ve got to admit, I wasn’t expecting “Personal Jesus.” Here’s the full soundtrack:
- A Tribe Called Quest – “Scenario”
- Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force – “Planet Rock”
- Basement Jaxx – “Hot ’n Cold”
- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – “River Styx”
- Busta Rhymes – “Dangerous”
- Clipse – “Grindin'”
- Death from Above 1979 – “Romantic Rights”
- Depeche Mode – “Personal Jesus”
- Junior – “Mama Used to Say”
- Lauryn Hill – “Doo Wop (That Thing)”
- Lorde – “Team”
- Major Lazer (featuring Pharrell Williams) – “Aerosol Can”
- Missy Elliott – “On & On”
- No Doubt – “Spiderwebs”
- OneRepublic – “Love Runs Out”
- Pharrell Williams – “Hunter”
- Pharrell Williams – “Can I Have It Like That”
- Pharrell Williams – “How Does It Feel?”
- Public Enemy – “Shut ‘Em Down (Pete Rock Remix)”
- Ratatat – “Seventeen Years”
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Suck My Kiss”
- Santigold – “Creator”
- Snoop Dogg – “Drop It Like It’s Hot”
- Strafe – “Set It Off”
- The Black Keys – “Everlasting Light”
- The Rapture – “House of Jealous Lovers”
- The Strokes – “Under Cover of Darkness”
2K has created a Spotify playlist if you’d like to listen to the soundtrack right now. Or you can wait until October 7 when NBA 2K15 is released for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
Sierra returns with Geometry Wars 3 and King’s Quest
We knew that Activision had plans to revive the Sierra publishing label as their indie games arm, but I don’t think anybody quite expected this. As part of their announcement revealing Sierra’s return, the publisher confirmed that Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions and a King’s Quest remake are in the works.
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions will be available this Fall and its currently in development at Lucid Games, which is a team comprised mostly of former employees of Bizarre Creations. If you remember, Bizarre Creations was the original developer behind the first two Geometry Wars games:
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions is an exciting new evolution of the fast-paced, frenetic Geometry Wars gameplay fans love, and will introduce full 3D action and both cooperative and competitive multiplayer for the first time in the franchise. In addition to a full single-player campaign with 50 unique challenges and over 10 battle modes – five of which are brand new to the series – Geometry Wars3: Dimensions features dynamic and persistent progression, offering players a consistently new experience each time they play.
As for King’s Quest, it will be developed by The Odd Gentlemen (The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom) for a 2015 release:
King’s Quest is a fully reimagined version of the fan-favorite Sierra game fit for both the old and new generation of King’s Quest players. Huge fans of the original King’s Quest series, The Odd Gentlemen are crafting a charming new adventure with an awe-inspiring art style, engaging puzzles, and a wondrous interactive narrative brimming with humor. In the new story, King Graham – revered as the greatest adventurer to ever live – shares his life’s adventures with his curious granddaughter, Gwendolyn. It is through these tales that Gwendolyn discovers the true greatness of her grandfather.
It’s unknown exactly where Geometry Wars 3 or King’s Quest will land, but Pete Wallace, the Studio Head at Lucid Games, said that their game will launch on “more platforms than ever before.” And with Sierra’s plan to release games through Xbox Live, the PlayStation Store, and Steam, that could be a lot of platforms.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions, King's Quest
Focus your eye laser on Kano’s Mortal Kombat X debut trailer
Ed Boon’s big Mortal Kombat X reveal for this week’s Gamescom convention got released a tad early, giving us our first look at an older (but still badass) Kano.
Like every character in Mortal Kombat X, Kano will be available in three variations. The “Cutthroat” variation will feature powered-up attacks and knife combos while the “Cybernetic” variation mixes things up with multiple eye laser and grenade attacks. The most unique of Kano’s three variations is clearly the “Commando” variation, which features close-range grappling attacks that bring out the wrestler in the gangster.
Longtime fans are no doubt thrilled that Kano is making a comeback in Mortal Kombat X and his inevitable Story Mode confrontation with Cassie Cage will surely bring the fireworks. Mortal Kombat will be available for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One in 2015.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Mortal Kombat X
Square Enix teams up with Dontnod for Life Is Strange
Developer Dontnod has partnered with Square Enix to publish their next project, an episodic game known as Life Is Strange. The downloadable game is Dontnod’s first title for next-generation consoles and will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One, as well as the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
Dontnod has given Life Is Strange a hand-drawn look and will ask players to weigh “choice and consequence” throughout the story, as they employ the main character’s ability to rewind time:
The game takes place in the fictional town of Arcadia Bay, Oregon, where senior student Max Caulfield returns after a five year absence. Reunited with her former friend Chloe, the pair will attempt to uncover the uncomfortable truth behind the mysterious disappearance of fellow student Rachel Amber.
In addition to solving Rachel’s disappearance, the developer said that Max’s powers may allow her to “change the course of history.” Say it with me… “This is heavy, Doc!”
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Life Is Strange
Kickstarter campaign for “ReVamped” version of Night Trap launches
OK, this is unexpected…
The original team behind Night Trap, the full-motion video horror title that indirectly lead to the creation of the ESRB, wants to bring a high-definition remake of the game to the PC, Mac, PS3, and Xbox 360. Naturally, the developers (Director James Riley, Co-Designer Rob Fulop, Technical Director Mark Klein, and Executive Producer Tom Zito) have turned to Kickstarter to fund this bizarre endeavor.
The quartet is seeking $330,000 to “revamp” the Sega CD classic, and I use that term loosely, for modern machines. As opposed to the heavily compressed video seen in the original, the developers want to go back to the original 35mm film and create the definitive version of Night Trap. For those who don’t know, the game put players in control of a security team that is monitoring a sorority slumber party. But their job isn’t to keep out panty raiders, they’re protecting the young women from a gang of bloodthirsty vampires. For all the controversy connected to it, Night Trap seems rather tame by 2014 standards… as a game or as a movie. And the developers themselves always envisioned the game as something a little bit scary, but in PG-13 range.
If Riley and his compatriots reach their goal, they expect to release their Night Trap remake sometime next Spring. I don’t know if it’s got the name recognition to pull it off, but the developers have revealed that if they pull in enough money, they will buy up the rights to other FMV games originally published by Digital Pictures and begin work on Night Trap II.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Night Trap
New Releases: Akiba’s Trip, Risen 3, Disgaea 4 Vita, More
If you haven’t been keeping up with its development, you might not be aware of how absolutely insane Akiba’s Trip: Undressed and Undead. XSEED will release the PS3 and Vita game this week and, if you don’t mind, I’m just going to quote from its official description: “The player’s goal is to identify vampires called ‘Synthesizers’ with the help of an in-game smartphone app, then engage them in battle to strip their clothes off so their bodies are fully exposed to sunlight.” Just… what? And by the way, this insanity all takes place in Akihabara, Tokyo’s “Electric Town” where all the otaku congregate.
Three other games will be released this week including…
- Risen 3: Titan Lords (PC, PS3, Xbox 360), which has dropped the pirate theme of Part 2 and returned to the medieval setting of the first Risen game.
- Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited, a Vita re-release of NIS America’s popular strategy RPG.
- A retail version of World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition, the online-only tank simulator.
Seriously though, Akiba’s Trip sounds BONKERS.
Get your first glimpse at Kevin Durant in NBA 2K15
Are you a basketball fanatic that followed all the Lebron James hullabaloo this Summer like it was a Presidential election? If so, then you might like to know that 2K Games has released about a dozen seconds of footage from NBA 2K15 featuring coverboy Kevin Durant.
NBA 2K15 will be available for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on October 7. Everyone who pre-orders the game will receive the Kevin Durant MVP Bonus Pack, which includes “5,000 in Virtual Currency, Kevin Durant Throwback MyTeam Card, Two MyTeam Card Packs, and MyPlayer Leg Sleeves Inspired by Kevin Durant.”