Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Silent Hill, Dragon Quest, Skyrim, and More Announced as Finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Has Another Big Night and Wins “Game of the Year” at the 2025-2026 DICE Awards
- 2025 GOTY Scoreboard: In Progress
- The Game Awards: All the Winners from 2003 to Today
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Racks Up Nine Wins, Including “Game of the Year”, at the 2025 Game Awards
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: Wii U
Nintendo delays Game & Wario, Wii Fit U, Pikmin 3, The Wonderful 101
Nintendo spent the morning announcing official release dates for a huge number of games set to be released between January and April. But they also dropped a delay of game penalty on four high profile titles that were originally part of the Wii U’s “launch window.”
Game & Wario, The Wonderful 101, Pikmin 3, and Wii Fit U will all miss their previously scheduled first quarter release and, according to Nintendo, will now be released in the first half of 2013.
The new release date is vague enough that Nintendo could release any of these games by March 30 and still make the “launch window.” But if that was a possibility, why announce the delay at all?
Posted in News, Wii U
Tagged Game & Wario, Pikmin 3, The Wonderful 101, Wii Fit U
Nintendo gives release dates to Lego City, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, and many more
Nintendo has announced new release dates for many of the Wii U’s “launch window” games including Lego City: Undercover and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.
The Grand Theft Auto-like Lego City: Undercover will be released on March 18 while the monster mash that is Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will be available a day later on March 19 (a demo will be added to the Wii U eShop on February 21). Sadly, two of the biggest “launch window” games, Aliens: Colonial Marines and Bit.Trip Runner 2, are still without release dates.
Nintendo also took this opportunity to tag the Lego City 3DS spinoff, Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins, with an official release date. Lovers of all things Lego will be able to purchase it on April 21.
Hit the break for a look at the complete Winter/Spring release calendar for all four of Nintendo’s currently active platforms. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, DS, News, Wii, Wii U
Tagged Lego City Undercover, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Disney Infinity combines toys and games this Summer
If that headline is giving you Skylanders flashbacks, that’s by design. Disney’s latest game project, Disney Infinity, combines toys and video games in a way that is very reminiscent of Activision’s cash cow.
Announced today at a press conference in Los Angeles, Disney Infinity will bring Disney’s massive stable of characters together in a way that you normally wouldn’t see outside of Disney World.
In development for the 3DS, PS3, Wii, Wii U, and Xbox 360, every copy of Disney Infinity will include three figures: Captain Jack Sparrow, Sulley, and Mr. Incredible. The three characters will be able to experience their own separate adventures within Disney Infinity, but the real draw of the game is Toy Box Mode.
In Toy Box Mode, the three figures (along with additional figures, which are available to buy separately) can be mixed together in a game of your own creation:
[C]reate your own world! Unlock virtual toys, characters, buildings, weapons, gadgets and more — and bring them into the Disney Infinity ‘Toy Box’ where you can mix them all up to create your own game. In the Disney Infinity Toy Box, there are no rules and you can create any adventure you want. Share your creations with your friends with up to 4-player co-op play.
Disney Infinity will be available this Summer, but a countdown clock on the game’s official site expires on June 1. So I’m thinking “early Summer” instead of “late Summer.”
Explore Double Fine’s The Cave next week
Double Fine’s latest game, The Cave, will be available next week, and this awesome little trailer shows off the seven characters you can choose from. It’s a pretty diverse group: Adventurer, Hillbilly, Knight, Monk, Scientist, Time Traveler, and “the Twins.” The Monk’s description was my favorite: “He seeks a journey filled with peace and enlightenment… and murder!” followed by evil laughter and an apology by the narrator, who is a talking cave.
Brought to you by creator Ron Gilbert (Maniac Mansion and Monkey Island) and Double Fine (Brütal Legend and Psychonauts), it’s a game you won’t want to miss. The Cave will be out on the PlayStation Network and Nintendo eShop for Wii U on January 22 for $14.99, and a day later on PC and the Xbox Live Arcade for $14.99/1200 Microsoft Points.
Injustice punches its way onto PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U on April 16
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios have announced that their DC Comics fighter, Injustice: Gods Among Us, will be available for the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U on April 16.
In addition to the previously announced Collector’s Edition, Warner Bros. will release Injustice in a special “Battle Edition” that contains a custom fight stick, a New 52 Skin Pack, and a copy of the game. The fight stick will feature official artwork from Injustice as well as “adjustable illumination for the buttons and joystick.” Because… sure, why not?
If you want to get a head start on the lore behind the game, be sure to download the Injustice: Gods Among Us #1 digital comic from DC’s online store. The first chapter is available now and a new chapter in the weekly series will be released every Tuesday for $0.99.
A monthly print comic is also in the works. Each print issue will collect three chapters of the digital comic.
Posted in News, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360
Tagged Injustice: Gods Among Us
New Super Mario Bros. U Review: Storm the Castle in an Above Average Mario Game
The Wii U’s launch brought with it one of the largest launch lineups in video game history and even larger expectations. But it also brought with it a brand new Mario game that was available on the system’s first day, something the world hasn’t seen since the Nintendo 64. New Super Mario Bros. U isn’t going to be the game changer that Super Mario 64 was, but it feels good to have a new Mario game released alongside a new Nintendo system. (more…)
Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Wii U
Tagged New Super Mario Bros. U
Journey lands 11 nominations at 2013 DICE Awards
The Interactive Achievement Awards will be sporting a new look in 2013, but they’ve managed to recognize the great games all the same. Now known as the DICE Awards, Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences revealed their picks for the best games of the year this morning, nominating thatgamecompany’s Journey for an astonishing 11 awards.
The game is up for… deep breath… Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction, Outstanding Innovation in Gaming, Downloadable Game of the Year, Casual Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering, Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay, Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition, Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design, and Outstanding Achievement in Story.
Other Game of the Year contenders include Borderlands 2, Far Cry 3, The Walking Dead, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. All four of those games are up for multiple awards, along with other big hitters like Halo 4 (six nominations) and Dishonored (five nominations).
The 2013 DICE Awards will be given out on February 7 during the 2013 DICE Summit. Our host for the evening will be Chris Hardwick, best known as the host of The Nerdist and Telltale’s Talking Dead (hmmm…).
The complete list of nominees can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, Mobile, News, PC, PS3, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360
Tagged Borderlands 2, Far Cry 3, Journey, The Walking Dead, XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Call of Duty: Black Ops II was the best-selling game in all of 2012 too
As the best-selling game of the month in November and December, Call of Duty: Black Ops II has consistently blown away the competition since its November 13th launch. But seven weeks was all it needed to stand tall as the best-selling game of all of 2012.
The complete list doesn’t include many surprises. Like the list of bestsellers from December 2012, no original games are included in the full-year list. Microsoft’s Halo 4 was the only platform-exclusive title to make the list and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was the only 2011 release able to retain its spot in the top ten.
In terms of retail sales, 2012 was a down year for the game industry. Retail sales of games, accessories, and consoles (not counting used games/hardware or downloadable games/content) totaled $13.26 billion, which was off 20% from 2011’s $16.99 billion total. perhaps this Fall’s expected launch of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720 will kickstart the industry in 2013.
The complete 2012 top ten can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360
Tagged Assassin's Creed III, Borderlands 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, FIFA Soccer 13, Halo 4, Just Dance 4, Lego Batman 2, Madden NFL 13, NBA 2K13, NPD