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: Xbox 360
Twitch streaming hits Xbox One on March 11
Microsoft’s own Major Nelson announced today that Twitch streaming will finally make its way to the Xbox One in two weeks. Using the Kinect camera, players can also broadcast picture-in-picture, as is common among streamers.
The Xbox One’s Twitch app also allows you to view other’s streams regardless of where they happen to be streaming from. To make things even easier, a simple vocal command, “Xbox. Broadcast,” is all that is needed to start showing off your skills to the world.
It’s ‘Personarama’ as Atlus announces four Persona games for North America
Atlus today revealed that four new titles in the highly popular Persona universe will be making their way to the North America over the next two years.
First on the list is Persona 5, set to hit the PlayStation 3 in 2015. Persona 5 will be a traditional RPG, but details are slim. The game’s director, Katsura Hashino, only provided us (via the PlayStation Blog) with one cryptic hint of what to expect: “The storyline will be about throwing off the chains of oppression to find one’s true self.’
Second is the next installment of Persona’s fighter, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. A direct sequel to last year’s Persona 4 Arena, Ultimax will host several new features, including new characters, story, and fighting modes. Expect P4AU to hit the PS3 and the Xbox 360 in Fall 2014. You can take a look at Ultimax in motion on Atlus’ YouTube page.
Next, Persona 4: Dancing All Night is a rhythm action game, using tunes from the series. This PlayStation Vita title features 30 tracks, along with a full story mode. Not many details were given about this title, other than that instead of traditional attacks, characters combat each other with dance moves. Hey, why not? It’s worked before. Hold on to your dance shoes, though; this one won’t hit the Vita until 2015.
Finally, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth will unite the Persona users across space and time on the 3DS this Fall. A teaser trailer is available through Atlus’ YouTube page.
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate descends on PC, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360 on April 1
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate – Deluxe Edition brings the handheld content to high definition, replete with 2.5D graphics. It will also have 5.1 surround sound, voice acting, a new map, and a new hint system as well.
The storyline, in case you missed it the first time around, is pretty typical Batman fare: Blackgate Prison, a place full of baddies Batman put there, is having a rebellion, and the only man who can stop it is the caped crusader. Those who played Batman: Arkham Origins can continue the story of that game here.
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate – Deluxe Edition will be released for the PC (through Steam), PlayStation 3 (through the PSN), Xbox 360 (through the Xbox Live Marketplace), and Wii U (through Nintendo’s eShop) on April 1 for $19.99.
Dark Souls II’s “Hollow Lullaby” trailer sings you to the eternal sleep
“This isn’t about death… this is about what you learn from death. This is about doing what you were meant to do.”
Dark Souls II is ready to destroy your free time, your soul, and your will to play video games. No, that’s not true – it’s ready to challenge you, and to weed out those who are weak at heart. Do you have what it takes to face death down?
Dark Souls II will be out on March 11 for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Dark Souls II
Harold Ramis, the man who gave the world Ghostbusters, has died
This is only tangentially related to video games, but it would be a huge disservice for Warp Zoned to ignore today’s passing of one of the greatest comedic minds of the 1980s and 1990s: Harold Ramis. Ramis died this morning due to complications from autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, a rare disease that affects the blood vessels. He was 69.
Ramis is best known to film fans for his appearance in 1984’s Ghostbusters as Dr. Egon Spengler. He also co-wrote the film and reprised the role in 1989’s Ghostbusters II. In 2009, he and writing partner Dan Aykroyd would team up again to resurrect the paranormal scientists in Atari’s Ghostbusters: The Video Game. Once again slipping into the character’s signature deadpan delivery, Ramis provided vocals for Egon in the game.
In addition to the Ghostbusters franchise, Ramis was responsible for more than a few movies you may have heard of. He wrote and starred in Stripes, wrote National Lampoon’s Animal House, directed National Lampoon’s Vacation, and wrote and directed Caddyshack and Groundhog Day. If you took a regular Twinkie and said that it represented the career of your average writer/director/actor, Harold Ramis’ Twinkie would be 35 feet long and weigh approximately 600 pounds. In other words, that’s a big Twinkie.
Our thoughts go out to the Ramis family.
New Releases: Thief, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, Layton: Azran Legacy, More
Square Enix Montreal will attempt to go two-for-two in the reboot department this week with the release of Thief for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. After masterfully resurrecting the Deus Ex franchise a few years ago with Deus Ex: Human Revolution, gamers are optimistic about the first Thief game in a decade.
Also available this week is Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360), the concluding chapter in the “Lords of Shadow” saga. Know one knows what’s next for the Castlevania franchise, but its future looks bright on home consoles once again. Over in the handheld realm, another final chapter will be written as Nintendo and Level-5 will release Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy for the 3DS. The Layton series will live on, but Azran Legacy will be the last game to star the good Professor himself.
Jumping from lasts to firsts, PopCap Games will release their first shooter game this week, the Xbox One/Xbox 360-exclusive Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare. Finally this week, a pair of classic game collections will be available to purchase with your gaming dollar, both from Bandai Namco: Tales of Symphonia Chronicles (PS3) and Pac-Man Museum (PC, PS3, Xbox 360).
A complete list of this week’s new releases can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, Pac-Man Museum, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, Tales of Symphonia, Thief
XBL Store Today: Takedown: Red Sabre, Deathsmiles, El Chavo Kart
Microsoft’s Ultimate Games Sale will continue all weekend, but if you’re looking for something new, a trio of games were added to the Xbox Live Store today. If you’ve ever wanted to play a tactical shooter, a cult classic Japanese sidescroller, or a kart racer based on a popular Mexican cartoon, now’s your chance:
Takedown: Red Sabre ($14.99)
Fight smart in lethal close-quarter tactical combat. Non-linear environments mean engagements change every time you play. Tactics and realism rule the day.
Deathsmiles ($14.99)
Gothic horror and shoot-em-up action collide in Deathsmiles! Face wave upon wave of monstrous creatures intent on your destruction as you turn your skills to the defense of the besieged world of Gilverado. If your trigger finger’s itchy, Deathsmiles is the only way to scratch it.
El Chavo Kart ($39.99)
El Chavo Kart is a kart racing game for up to four players in which you can go head-to-head with your friends and family. Choose from your favorite characters such as El Chavo, Quico, Popis, Don Ramón or Sr. Barriga and start competing. There are 10 original race tracks inspired by the animated series for you to discover. Take your kart out for a race in Chavoltepec, Acapulco and Tangamandapio, or take it all the way to Brazil and into space!
The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 2 will be available in March
For those anxiously awaiting the second of Telltale’s The Walking Dead Season 2, you’re in luck. The developer has confirmed that the story will continue in a few weeks:
NEW SCREEN – #TheWalkingDead S2 Ep 2 to arrive in early March. Stay tuned for trailer and official release dates! pic.twitter.com/i5fB1Hmx1I
— Telltale Games (@telltalegames) February 20, 2014
As you can see, there’s also a new screenshot to gawk at as well. The currently untitled The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 2 will be available in early March through a variety of PC digital download shops as well as the PlayStation Store (PS3), Xbox Live Arcade, and iOS App Store.