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
- Spore: An oral history – Design Room (2026)
- 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)
Most Recent: Xbox 360
Jacked: The Grand Theft Auto Story to release in April 2012, GTA5 to follow?
David Kushner is the author of Masters of Doom, one of the essential texts on video game history. And he’s returning to the world of “interactive entertainment” with his next project: Jacked: The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto. Set for release on April 3, 2012, the book promises to tell the tale of the franchise’s creation as well as the true story behind the “Hot Coffee” incident.
Besides flying to the top of my must read list, the release of Jacked also raises some interesting questions about the release of Grand Theft Auto V. A marketing blurb for the audio edition in the 2012 Blackstone Audio catalog seems to imply that Grand Theft Auto V will be released shortly after Jacked:
The release of a GTA is always a big media moment, and this book will release prior to the next game.
Admittedly, “prior to the next game” could mean anything. After the book is released in April, Grand Theft Auto V might not be released until the Fall or ever sometime in 2013. But I believe this book is meant as a media tie-in for the next game in the series, so a GTA5 release in the Spring is a very real possibility.
And remember, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick told investors that the company expects to see “substantial earnings growth” during their next fiscal year… which begins on April 1, 2012.
Yes, a Spring release for GTA5 is a very real possibility indeed.
Posted in Etcetera, News, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Grand Theft Auto V
Xbox 360 has record week after Black Friday
The Xbox 360 has been out for seven years now, and a long and great seven years it has been. But with rumors of the upcoming “Xbox 720,” you would think that sales of the system would start to drop off. Well, as the Black Friday sales numbers show, this isn’t even close to true.
Xbox 360 community rep Major Nelson reported on his blog that the Xbox 360 had it’s biggest sales week EVER, selling a grand total of 960,000 consoles, 800,000 of which were sold within a 24 hour period, presumably on Black Friday.
“Xbox 360 was among the best-sellers at Best Buy this Black Friday, and is a testament to the continued popularity of the gaming category this holiday,” said Chris Homeister, senior vice president and general manager of Home Entertainment at Best Buy.
Another impressive sales figure was the amount of Kinect sensors, bundled or otherwise, that were sold. A grand total of 750,000 sensors were purchased last week.
This is all exemplified by the news that at a Walmart in the Southern California area, a lady used pepper spray to get through a large crowd in order to reach the last of some Xbox 360 systems, so it seems Microsoft’s system has some life left in it after all, enough life to clear out a Walmart, at least.
Ubisoft deploys new Rainbow 6: Patriots details
Ubisoft has dropped some new intel on the multiplayer mode and campaign for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6: Patriots. Promising to “[capture] the reality of modern-day terrorism,” the game will require players to make “tough ethical decisions in order to stop this new breed of terrorists.”
Ready for those new details now? Here you go…
Unprecedented Narrative – Patriots’ storyline explores an ultra-realistic what-if scenario inspired by real events and characters. The game will allow players to experience events from multiple perspectives creating an unprecedented level of immersion.
A New Threat For A New Team – Terrorism has evolved and Team Rainbow must face an organized militia of home-grown insurgents. As the leader of a new squad, players will wrestle with difficult ethical decisions and determine if the doing-whatever-it-takes mentality is needed to stop the enemy.
Enhanced Squad Management – At the press of a button, the Rainbow squad will perform the most efficient and deadly tactic given the context of the situation. When extreme measures are required, or when players call for it, you can take full control of your squad to plan the perfect assault.
Evolved Combat – The game’s combat techniques have been pushed to the next level with cover and weapon systems redesigned to accommodate every combat situation. New Rappel and Breach mechanics are now enriched with multiple new techniques including Wall & Ceiling Breach, Fast Rope Rappel, inverted ‘Aussie Style Rappel’, Infiltrate & Subdue, to name a few.
Intense Multiplayer Experience – Players will be rewarded for working as a team and mastering the game’s new features that enhance communication and tactical execution between teammates. Once such feature found in the pre-game online lobby is the Sandtable, a holographic display that helps acquaint players with the level maps before they jump into the action. This will help players strategically coordinate attacks and add a new dimension to squad tactics.
Surprise And Overpower Enemies – Utilize the game’s new Scan mode to strategically breach and infiltrate areas. This new tool will provide a thermal read on the situation, allowing you to determine the squad’s best course to overwhelm and defeat enemies.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6: Patriots will be released for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 in 2013.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Tom Clancy's Rainbow 6: Patriots
Dungeon Siege III: Treasures of the Sun Review: Desert Desserts
Dungeon Siege III was released this Summer and, while it didn’t set the world on fire, it was an enjoyable action RPG in the vein of Secret of Mana. But in this post-Skyrim world, it might be hard to find anyone willing to give Dungeon Siege III a chance, even though publisher Square Enix and developer Obsidian have pushed out the first downloadable expansion for the game: Treasures of the Sun. (more…)
Cyber Monday Game Deals 2011: Amazon
The Black Friday frenzy may be over, but Amazon has typically saved their best deals for Cyber Monday, and this year is no exception. Their complete list of game deals is brimming with major new releases such as Batman: Arkham City, Madden NFL 12, Gears of War 3, and many, many more.
Hit the jump for a look at some of the best deals at Amazon on this Cyber Monday and don’t forget about those Lightning Deals. (more…)
New Releases: Mario Kart 7, Assassin’s Creed Revelations for PC, NatGeo Challenge
With December upon us, the Fall gaming rush has come to a close as only a handful of titles are left to be released in 2011. But one of those games is also one of the biggest games of the year, Mario Kart 7. The first “numbered” Mario Kart sequel also adds a number of other new features to the series including karts with hang gliders, underwater tracks, and first-person tilt controls.
Also available in stores this week is the PC version of Assassin’s Creed: Revelations and the PS3/Wii/Xbox 360 trivia contest National Geographic Challenge!
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
Tagged Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Mario Kart 7
Black Friday Game Deals 2011: Amazon
Black Friday is here and Amazon‘s Black Friday bargains are pretty similar to the discounted games during yesterday’s Pre-Black Friday (AKA Thanksgiving) sale.
But there’s still plenty of deals to be had during the online retailer’s Black Friday including major new releases like Batman: Arkham City, Madden NFL 12, Gears of War 3, and many, many more.
Hit the jump for a list of Amazon’s Black Friday sales. But remember, they’re changing all the time, and the retailer has always saved some of the best sales for Cyber Monday.But today’s Lightning Deals are pretty neat. (more…)
Pre-Black Friday Game Deals 2011: Amazon
Black Friday begins tomorrow, but there are still plenty of deals to be found on this Black Friday Eve Thanksgiving Day.
After a few days of appetizers, Amazon has launched their massive Black Friday sale encompassing hundreds of games. This includes major new releases like Batman: Arkham City, Madden NFL 12, Gears of War 3, and many, many more.
Hit the jump for a list of today’s Pre-Black Friday sales available at Amazon. But remember, they’re changing all the time. And don’t forget about today’s Lightning Deals. (more…)