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
THQ begins work on four unannounced projects
Amidst all the doom and gloom of yesterday’s quarterly financial presentation, THQ President Jason Rubin announced that the company has started production on four new games in the last two months, spread out across its internal development studios. These will all be “triple A” titles, and will likely be released for the next generation of consoles, and, of course, the PC.
Rubin said, “THQ has talented studios, strong intellectual property, and is now nimble enough to navigate the complexities and take advantage of a marketplace in transition. Beyond our announced titles, in the last 60 days all four of our internal studios began working on new titles that represent the type of product that we believe will make THQ successful in the future.”
This announcement came about during the same presentation where Rubin announced that THQ canceled development on Insane, the first game in the Guillermo Del Toro horror trilogy.
So what games are they working on? Well, they’re unannounced, but hopefully they’ve already started turning Saints Row: The Third – Enter the Dominatrix into Saints Row 4.
[Source: Computer and Video Games]
Wii U box art design for games discovered on GameStop, Amazon.ca
Another piece of the puzzle has fallen into place as a pair of online retailers have leaked out our first look at the box art design for Wii U games.
Assassin’s Creed III and Avengers: Battle For Earth were both spotted at Amazon.ca while GameStop accidentally unveiled the cover for FIFA Soccer 13. The consistency of the design across both retailers means that it’s unlikely these boxes are mockups or work-in-progress designs.
The two-toned semi-circle is identical to the game box design that Nintendo used during the GameCube era (albeit with teal and yellow instead of black and silver). And it’s possible that Nintendo is switching up their case color of choice again as GameStop shows FIFA 13 with a teal-colored case.
It’s not earth-shattering news, but as I said, one more piece of the puzzle has fallen into place. Hit the jump for a larger look at the Wii U box art design of Assassin’s Creed III. (more…)
Mass Effect 3 confirmed as a Wii U launch title
It’s starting to look like Electronic Arts has decided to fill out the Wii U launch lineup by themselves as the company confirmed yesterday that Mass Effect 3 will also be available on day one. It joins FIFA Soccer 13 and Madden NFL 13 as confirmed launch titles from EA.
The Wii U version of the game will include at least some of the downloadable content already released for the PC/PS3/Xbox 360 version of the game including the new Extended Cut ending. Players will also be able to give the multiplayer mode a spin and import plot decisions from Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 thanks to the (now expanded) “Mass Effect: Genesis” interactive comic.
[Source: Game Informer]
Posted in News, Wii U
Tagged Mass Effect 3
Madden NFL 13 announced for Wii U
Hot on the heels of yesterday’s FIFA Soccer 13 announcement comes the news that EA Sports will also be bringing Madden NFL 13 to the launch of the Wii U.
As you might have expected, Madden NFL 13 for the Wii U will make extensive use of the Wii U GamePad for play calling and audibles. Players will be able to sort through their entire playbook from the touchscreen while also being able to make changes on the fly.
Those changes include quick access to audibles through the touchscreen as well as customizable hot routes for receivers. If the players on the field aren’t to your liking, the touchscreen will also include the option to switch out personnel (on the Personnel screen, naturally) with the swipe of a finger.
The defense will also have access to on-the-fly play customizations with the touchscreen including repositioning players and assigning a player as the one to control.
Madden NFL 13 will be available for the Wii U at launch, whenever that is.
Posted in News, Wii U
Tagged Madden NFL 13
FIFA 13 announced for Wii U, first details revealed
Not only has EA Sports’ heavyweight soccer title, FIFA Soccer 13, been announced for Nintendo’s upcoming console, but it seems that it will not simply be a port of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions. Rather, EA Sports are looking to utilize the Wii U GamePad’s touchscreen in a variety of ways.
Players will be able to carry out numerous actions via the touchscreen, including tackling, passing and shooting. With tackling and defensive options, you will be able to quickly and fluidly assign men to mark attacking players. When the shoe is on the other foot, you can press the shoulder button or L3 to bring up the goals on the touchscreen when you are in a shooting position. You can then place your shot with pinpoint accuracy. This mode is also used when taking penalties or free kicks; the player will essentially inhabit the footballer and see through his POV, and can use the GamePad to look around to see where his players are in a similar style to Nintendo’s Panorama demo at this years E3 Expo.
Off the field, players will be able to check and analyse player ratings, be it for the whole team or one individual player. Ratings which can be changed can now be done with the simple touch of a finger. When playing as the manager, the GamePad will also allow users to give half-time pep talks to their embittered team if need be.
FIFA Soccer 13 will be available sometime during the Wii U’s “launch window.”
[Source: Official Nintendo Magazine]
Posted in News, Wii U
Tagged FIFA Soccer 13
Gearbox talks authenticity for Aliens: Colonial Marines
The big guns at Gearbox Software have released their first developer’s diary for Aliens: Colonial Marines, entitled “Authentic Aliens.” The interview subjects (including CEO Randy Pitchford) mostly talk about their desire to create a game that is worthy of Ridley Scott’s Alien and James Cameron’s Aliens, but in the process, they show off plenty of new footage from the game as well.
Aliens: Colonial Marines will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on February 12, 2013. A Wii U version will also be released sometime next year.
Jay-Z named Executive Producer of NBA 2K13; soundtrack announced
2K Sports has announced that Jay-Z, the biggest name in rap and a part owner of the Brooklyn Nets, will serve as the Executive Producer of NBA 2K13. It would be easy to dismiss this partnership as nothing more than a simple soundtrack gig. But, according to 2K, “Jay-Z’s artistic vision and style will permeate the [entire] experience.” This will include “the overall look and feel of the game” as well as interactive in-game menus, and yes, the soundtrack.
NBA 2K13’s soundtrack will include 24 tracks hand-picked by Jay-Z. The collection includes multiple tracks from the man himself as well as his frequent collaborator, Kanye West. Coldplay, Daft Punk, The Dirty Projectors, Nas, Phoenix, Santigold, and many others also made the cut.
You can check out the complete soundtrack listing after the break or you can head over to 2K’s Facebook page to preview some of tracks. (more…)
D3 bringing Family Party 30 Great Games: Obstacle Arcade to Wii U launch
The Wii U’s launch date is still up in the air, but that hasn’t stopped D3 Publisher from announcing another launch game. The company has revealed plans to bring Family Party 30 Great Games: Obstacle Arcade to the Wii U this holiday season.
People of the Internet, please try to contain yourselves!
Family Party 30 Great Games: Obstacle Arcade will be released exclusively for the Wii U and will feature “dozens of hysterical obstacle courses, popular sporting events, and arcade and brain challenges” specifically designed for multiplayer play:
Family Party 30 Great Games: Obstacle Arcade is the latest in the top-selling Family Party franchise, coming exclusively to the Wii U system from Nintendo. Competitors will navigate through multiple locations in Family Party Land, a remote island divided by uniquely themed environments and obstacles to take on some of the wackiest challenges yet. Using the Wii U GamePad, players will be able to interact with their characters off-screen to enhance the gameplay and create a personalized touch. Obstacle Arcade delivers hours of family entertainment where players can choose from over a dozen family-friendly characters and challenge each other in up to four-player multiplayer in 30 diverse games. These over-the-top games include dodging barrels while on a horse, racing across obstacles floating on water, setting off and detonating fireworks, skydiving from above while avoiding a huge artillery of rockets being shot by other players and many more.