Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Jordan Minor’s “Boss Fight Books: Super Mario Galaxy” is Now Available for Pre-Order
- Angry Birds, Dragon Quest, FIFA Soccer, and Silent Hill are the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
- 2025 GOTY Scoreboard: In Progress
- 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
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- With Grand Theft Auto 6 poised to take over the world, I reached out to Jack Thompson and it did not go well – PC Gamer (2026)
- Vib-Ribbon: An oral history – Design Room (2026)
- How a Second-Grade Teacher Revived a Beloved Video Game – The New York Times (2026)
- Spore: An oral history – Design Room (2026)
- Diablo IV PC Cooled With Real Human Blood Is Still Going Strong Two Years Later, Says Guy Who Won It – Aftermath (2026)
Most Recent: Xbox 360
Bungie bids farewell to the Halo franchise
Halo was first revealed at MacWorld 1999, at a time when Semisonic’s “Closing Time” was one of the most popular songs on the radio. While the game and the song are otherwise unrelated, the theme of Bungie’s farewell to the Halo franchise seems to evoke the song’s memorable: line “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
The team at Bungie talked about the last 20 years and how much the Halo franchise means to them. But they have also empowered fans to remember that the series ultimately belongs to them and to “hold these characters and stories and worlds to the same unflinching standards you did while we were at the helm, but allow them all to blossom and change and grow in the ways that they must.”
The developer also revealed that Halo matchmaking services will transfer to Microsoft’s 343 Industries on August 2, the same day they plan to release a documentary on Bungie’s history titled O Brave New Worlds. After that, they plan to go dark and begin serious work on their New Universe.
They closed by saying thanks to all their fans, but really, I think its the fans who should be saying thanks to them. Whether or not you like the Halo franchise, it changed video gaming forever. And that’s not something too many developers can say.
Bungie hiring more PS3 developers for their New Universe; could it be Pimps at Sea?
If you were still worried that Bungie’s New Universe wouldn’t be coming to the PS3, don’t be. The developer, who just said goodbye to the Halo series, has posted multiple job openings looking for programmers who are proficient in PS3 development.
Scouring the job listings produced few details about the project, although the phrase “A love of combat on the high seas” appeared several times under the heading “Nice-to-have Skills.” Does this mean Bungie is developing a pirate game? Perhaps one with futuristic pirates? Or is this just another reference to their long-running April Fool’s franchise Pimps at Sea? The world may never know.
Actually, we’ll probably know in the not-too-distant future as Bungie plans to “go dark” and afterwards reveal the first game in their New Universe, published by Activision, very soon. Good thing too as the game will likely be released in 2012.
New Releases: NCAA Football 12, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, More
As the Player’s Association and the NFL slowing grind towards a deal to prevent the cancellation of the 2011-12 season, EA Sports wants to know if you’re ready for some college football as NCAA Football 12 will be released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 this week. Also available this week is the final entry game adaptation of a Harry Potter movie as EA plans to release Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 for the DS, PC, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360.
The final major release for this week is a game that’s actually five years old. It’s The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – 5th Anniversary Edition and it includes all the previously released DLC, both expansions and a coupon for $10 off this Fall’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Check out the full list of the rest of this week’s new releases after the break. (more…)
Posted in DS, News, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
Tagged Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, NCAA Football 12
First F1 2011 gameplay trailer released
The first glimpse at the gameplay of the anticipated F1 2011 has arrived. New gameplay mechanics such as wheel to wheel racing, improved garage, paddock, pit lane and Parc Fermé cinematics are all shown off and looking pretty good. F1 2011 releases for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on September 23.
Modern Warfare 3 to include color blind option
One of the many controversies surrounding Modern Warfare 2 was that in multiplayer, teammates’ names appear over their heads in green while enemy names appear in red. If you’re color blind, this essentially means you’re screwed, doubly so if you enjoy Hardcore game modes (unless of course you like team-killing). As part of the “let’s appease everyone Infinity Ward drove away” initiative in Call of Duty: Black Ops, Treyarch included a color blind option for such players.
The trend continues, as the Sledgehammer blog confirms the feature returns in Modern Warfare 3. In response to a question from Nick, a color blind fan, Sledgehammer Vice President and COO writes, “start honing your MP skills, Nick. You won’t be able blame your red-green deficiency for all that friendly-fire come November 8th.”
Accessibility in gaming is a big new initiative; it’s good to see the bigger names in gaming getting with the program.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Review: The 30 Second Climax You Actually Want
Japanese role-playing games are almost always lengthy, involved affairs that require hours of your free time. In our modern era of instant gratification, the genre might be a touch out of step… until now. Originally a hit title on the PlayStation Portable, Half-Minute Hero has arrived on the Xbox Live Arcade, complete with a host of enhancements. That, and a totally ridiculous subtitle which perfectly fits the crazed motif of the game. Designed as a super speedy take on your traditional Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest game, Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax presents role-playing in extremely small chunks, with a hearty side of wacky humor to boot. RPG fans looking for something different will certainly find it here. (more…)
Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360
Tagged Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax
Bethesda reveals Dishonored, a new FPS from Arkane Studios
Bethesda announced that they had acquired Arkane Studios at last year’s QuakeCon. Today, they’re finally ready to talk about the developer’s next project. Arkane Studios, with Raphael Colantonio (Arx Fatalis and Harvey Smith (Deus Ex) at the helm, will be bringing Dishonored to the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2012.
Publisher and developer had very little to say about Dishonored after that, but thankfully, they talked to Game Informer and the magazine plans to put the game on the cover of its August 2011 issue. Along with that cover story comes the first real description of the game:
Dishonored is the antithesis of a edge-of-your-seat roller-coaster ride. It’s a game about assassination where you don’t have to kill anyone. It’s a game about infiltration where you can set up traps and slaughter the entire garrison of an aristocrat’s mansion rather than sneak in. It’s a game about brutal violence where you can slip in and out of a fortified barracks with nobody ever knowing you were there. It’s a game about morality and player choice where the world you create is based on your actions, not navigating conversation trees.
Sounds intense. We’ll learn more when the August 2011 issue of Game Informer hits newsstands, which should be happening any day now.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Dishonored
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary to match original score
Halo fans worrying about the handling of the upcoming Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary remake can rest a bit easier. Microsoft and 343 Industries are teaming with Pyramind Studios to recreate the original score, note for note. The Skywalker Symphony Orchestra and Chanticleer vocal ensemble will also collaborate to recreate the orchestral pieces and famed Halo monk-like singing.
“It was a huge undertaking to transcribe, orchestrate, and produce every note from the original game soundtrack files” said Paul Lipson, Pyramind Studios COO/Audio Director. “Our team approached every aspect of the music with an immense amount of skill and care, keeping the core Halo sound while updating the production to today’s highest standards.”
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary releases for Xbox 360 on November 15, 2011.
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged Halo: Combat Evolved