Most Recent: Xbox 360

New Releases: Michael Jackson The Experience, Patapon 3, Rio, More

Posted on April 9, 2011 by John Scalzo

Next week will be one of the biggest weeks for new releases this year, but that doesn’t mean publishers are taking this week off. Instead, they’ve put together quite possibly the oddest combination of games I’ve ever seen.

First up is the PS3 (with Move) and Xbox 360 (with Kinect) versions of Michael Jackson: The Experience. The King of Pop will be strutting through your living room with several new songs and a “Singing Mode.” If you need to feel the rhythm on the go, Sony will release the PSP rhythm game Patapon 3 this week as well.

Two big games for the kids will be in stores this week, a video game adaptation of the movie Rio (DS, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360) and the uDraw-powered SpongeBob SquigglePants (Wii).

Finally, we have two games that start with D and have been released for other platforms before: Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga (Xbox 360 this week, previously on the PC) and Dance Dance Revolution (Xbox 360 this week, previously on the PS3 and Wii).

The full list of the rest of this week’s new releases can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in DS, News, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , ,

SCEA CEO blasts Nintendo, calls DS a “babysitting tool”

Posted on April 8, 2011 by John Scalzo

Jack Tretton is the President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment of America. If his recent interview with Fortune is anything to go by, he’s also horribly out of touch with how the PlayStation family’s fortunes are faring in the marketplace.

Tretton started off slow, knocking the Wii and Xbox 360 for their optional storage solutions and motion gaming peripherals (I guess the PlayStation Move is beyond that kind of criticism):

“They’re starting to run out of steam now in terms of continuing to be relevant in 2011 and beyond,” [Tretton] says. “I mean, you’ve gotta be kidding me. Why would I buy a gaming system without a hard drive in it? How does this thing scale? Motion gaming is cute, but if I can only wave my arms six inches, how does this really feel like I’m doing true accurate motion gaming?”

Tretton unleashed his true ire on the DS, playing the dreaded “kiddie” card and resorting to namecalling when referring to adult DS owners… (more…)

Posted in DS, News, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360 |

SSX: Deadly Descents gets new title, gameplay details

Posted on April 7, 2011 by John Scalzo

Todd Batty, Creative Director of SSX: Deadly Descents, recently sat down with Game Informer to discuss the rebirth of the snowboarding series. During the interview he dropped new details like the number of mountains players will be able to shred down (at least 70) and revealed the game’s slimmed down title (it’s just called SSX now).

Batty also talked about the game’s three gameplay styles: Speed Descent (get down the mountain as fast as possible), Tricky Descent (perform as many tricks as you can) and Deadly Descent. In Deadly Descent mode the mountain literally fights back against the racers and, according to Batty, “the challenge will be just making it to the bottom alive.” This challenge will be amplified thanks to avalanches, rockslides and falling stalactites.

Tying together all of these death-defying drops are “Nine Deadly Descents,” which are based on the “Seven Summits” of the mountaineering world. Each descent is “themed by an environmental challenge and a cultural significance that makes [the] mountains unique from each other” and Batty considers them like boss battles.

To help players survive the elements, SSX will include a ton of new geat including wingsuits (for gliding after a jump) and pickaxes (to help NOT falling off the mountain). And all of this will come together through what Batty calls “a very strong multiplayer component.”

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Mass Effect’s Commander Shepard has a face for television

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Ryan Littlefield

Thaaaat’s right. BioWare is pumping Mass Effect through every media vein available, including today’s announcement of a full-length anime movie. FUNimation and T.O. Entertainment will be working closely with EA and BioWare on the film, which “will bring [the] rich universe to life with the utmost quality and the same attention to detail that the Mass Effect games are known for.” The Mass Effect anime will be available on DVD and Blu-ray next Summer.

We at Warp Zoned generally love the Mass Effect games, but it seems that the continuous ventures through every available outlet may overwhelm some Mass Effect fans.

But hey, if this is what works for EA, then by all means, seize it, and go with it – especially if it means that Mass Effect 3 will be as well-crafted as Dead Space 2.

Posted in Etcetera, News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Daily Scoop: April 7, 2011 – Nicole needs an Xbox 360

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Nicole Kline

I’ve made a really important decision regarding my birthday, which was a month ago tomorrow. Which…will be a month ago tomorrow? Whatever. It’s not like I went to school for English, people. Anyway, I’ve quit drinking, and every time we have a birthday gathering, people want to buy me shots, so instead, I’m going to put out a small fishbowl with a sign that says something along the lines of “Nicole’s Xbox 360 fund.” Instead of dumping shots down my throat/tempting me with Irish Car Bombs, you can just drop a dollar in the fishbowl. How awesome is that? You’ll get to be an important part of my video game curriculum! Congratulations.

Speaking of the Xbox 360, today’s Amazon Deal of the Day in video games is the Xbox 360 Sharkoon X-Tatic SX Stereo Gaming Headset by… Sharkoon. Shocking, I know. It’s $39.99 today down from $59.99, and is “sophisticated in design and technology” to give you “the crucial sound advantage for epic gaming sessions.” Wow! That just sounds…yes. Good.

Nothing in the daily t-shirt realm today, but I found this shirt that is ridiculously incredible and fully functional as an AR card today at Level Up Studios. Watch this amazing video:

O_o.

Posted in 3DS, Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News, Xbox 360 |

Sega teases new Sonic for 2011

Posted on April 7, 2011 by John Scalzo

Sonic the Hedgehog’s home on Facebook has unveiled the first teaser trailer for the blue blur’s next game (currently untitled, but possibly known as Sonic Generations, which Sega just registered a domain for).

The trailer starts off innocently enough with Sonic dashing his way through tunnels, bridges and loop-the-loops… but then it gets weird when Sonic splits in two. One seems to represent the new, sleek Sonic while the other more closely resembles Sonic in his Genesis days. Does this mean there’s some kind of time travel operation going on in South Island?

Whatever’s going on, Sega has promised that the game will be released sometime in 2011 on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

XBLA Today: Dishwasher Vampire Smile, Red Faction Battlegrounds

Posted on April 6, 2011 by John Scalzo

Microsoft has performed their weekly update of the Xbox Live Arcade and added two new titles to the download service today.

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is the latest stylish side-scroller from Ska Studios. Priced at 800 Microsoft Points ($10), it tells the continuing tale of Yuki’s bloody quest for revenge.

Also available this week, and also available for 800 Microsoft Points, is THQ’s Red Faction: Battlegrounds. The vehicular combat game features four-player modes and rewards players with Red Faction: Armageddon unlockables (which releases on May 31).

Danny Bilson, THQ’s Executive Vice President of Core Games said, “This explosive arcade game is a throwback to top-down, four-player racers of the past, yet with story tie-ins and unlockable weaponry that you will experience in our most futuristic game, Red Faction: Armageddon. Great on their own, playing either will make the other that much more enjoyable – exactly what we want from our transmedia projects.”

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

NBA Jam: On Fire Edition burning up PSN, XBLA in October

Posted on April 6, 2011 by John Scalzo

NBA Jam began its life on the PS3 and Xbox 360 as a downloadable bonus for EA’s new basketball sim, NBA Elite 11. After Elite crashed and burned before it was even released, EA went ahead and brought gave the now expanded NBA Jam a PS3/Xbox 360 retail release. But it looks like the download plan is back on for the sequel, NBA Jam: On Fire Edition.

The On Fire Edition will be added to the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade this October (presumably with a pricetag that’s less than $50). According to NBA Jam’s producer, Trey Smith, the game will include a ton of updates, many of them driven by fan feedback:

  • Real AI: Featuring the ground-breaking AI system used in the Fight Night franchise that learns your tendencies and throws them back in your face.
  • Jam Arena: Play solo, or team up with friends and take on the world in a new, dynamic online competition.
  • Road Trip: A cooperative online campaign where you can team up with friends and compete in a series of white-knuckle challenges against the current superstars and timeless legends from each of the 30 NBA Teams.
  • Tag Mode and Team Fire Return!: Swap players “on the fly” and ignite your entire team by performing consecutive cooperative moves!
  • More NBA Jam Hotness: Online roster updates, more NBA superstars, legendary NBA players, over-the-top animations, Jam Challenges, secret teams and unlockable characters than ever before!

I’m thrilled that Tag Mode is back, that was my prime annoyance with last year’s NBA Jam.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged