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
Xbox Store Today: Shadow of Mordor, Forza Horizon 2, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, more
It’s a big week for the Xbox Games Store as several of this Fall’s biggest releases are now available for Microsoft consoles.
WB Games has released Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor on the Xbox One and players will once again get to explore that unwritten time between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. Microsoft themselves have released the latest game in their Forza racing franchise, Forza Horizon 2, for the Xbox One and Xbox 360.
In smaller releases, Atlus has teamed up with Arc System Works once again to bring Persona 4 Arena Ultimax to the Xbox 360. And Focus Interactive has published yet another Sherlock Holmes detective game, Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments, which is available for both the Xbox One and Xbox 360.
More information on all of these games (as well as a few more new releases) can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Forza Horizon 2, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
New Releases: Super Smash Bros. 3DS, Shadow of Mordor, Forza Horizon 2, More
Phase Two of Nintendo’s plan to dominate the Fall gaming season kicks off this week as Super Smash Bros. For 3DS, the first Smash Bros. game for a handheld system, will be available on Friday, October 3. New friends (Little Mac! The Duck Hunt Dog! Miis! Mega Man! Pac-Man!) and old favorites (Mario! Link! Samus!) give it one of the deepest rosters the franchise has ever seen, making Super Smash Bros. For 3DS even more of a must have.
Also available this week is WB Games’ latest foray into the Lords of the Rings universe, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (PC, PS4, Xbox One). Set between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, Shadow of Mordor will tell a brand new tale within the franchise with assistance from Peter Jackson, J.R.R. Tolkien Enterprises, and the writer of Red Dead Redemption. Less epic (but still pretty epic) is Microsoft’s newest racing game, Forza Horizon 2, which will be released for the Xbox One and Xbox 360.
Finally this week, Atlus is going back to the arena to bring PS3 and Xbox 360 owners Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. Fight!
More new releases (including the return of one of the greatest PC games ever) can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Forza Horizon 2, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, Super Smash Bros. For 3DS
Xbox Store Today: Anna Extended Edition, KickBeat, Skate 3
There’s three new games available on the Xbox Games Store today, including two on the Xbox 360 and one on the Xbox One.
The Xbox 360 is now home to Anna: Extended Edition, a first-person horror game that built up a bit of a cult following on the PC in 2012, and Skate 3, EA’s last skateboarding game from their popular franchise:
Anna: Extended Edition ($14.99)
Set in an abandoned sawmill nestled high in the Italian mountains, Anna challenges the player to uncover horrific clues and use them to solve puzzles related to your character’s dark past. The player’s behavior does not only determine the mental health of the main character but can also change locations and unveil new secrets leading to one of eight possible endings.Skate 3 ($19.99)
The Skate franchise is back and rolling into new territory as Skate 3 heads to the brand new city of Port Carverton. Delivering a unique co-op skateboarding experience, build your own customized skate team and change the face of the city by taking on unique team challenges, competing against rival crews online, and shredding the streets of an all-new skaters’ paradise.
And on the Xbox One we have KickBeat Special Edition, Zen Studios’ “kung fu rhythm” game that was released for the Wii U and PS4 two weeks ago:
KickBeat Special Edition ($9.99)
From indie pioneers Zen Studios (makers of Pinball FX2 and CastleStorm) comes KickBeat Special Edition, an innovative rhythm game with a Kung Fu theme, featuring fully 3D characters and high-energy music! The KickBeat Special Edition Soundtrack features tracks from a diverse lineup of artists from well known bands such as Pendulum and Marilyn Manson, to indie musicians Celldweller and Blue Stahli, to hidden talents like electronic music producer Voicians and Taiwanese rapper Shen Yi.
There’s going to be a Duck Dynasty game this Fall… because of course there is
While the big-time video game tie-in seems to be dead (or at the very least, on life support), the practice of turning faddish television shows into quickie game adaptations is alive and well. Case in point, Activision’s adaptation of A&E’s inexplicably popular Duck Dynasty. The game, which is also simply called Duck Dynasty, will ask players to “Become A Robertson” by hunting ducks (and using their duck calling skills), fishing, racing boats, and playing pranks. It sounds like the Robertsons are also providing voicework for the game, so fans should be pleased.
Duck Dynasty will be released on October 14 for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. A handheld version for the 3DS is also in the works and will be released on the same day. That’s right, we’re going from announcement to release in a little over two weeks. Even if you’re a fan of the show, that’s never a good sign.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare gets “Exo Survival” co-op mode
After giving us another look at the game’s Kevin Spacey-led story campaign and the expansive new online multiplayer mode, the latest Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare trailer introduces a new co-op mode to the word: “Exo Survival.”
In Exo Survival, players are able to team up with three other players to battle back against waves of enemy soldiers and drones. It doesn’t look like Exo Survival will feature a connected story like the Extinction Mode found in last year’s Call of Duty: Ghosts or the Zombies Mode from 2012’s Black Ops II. But one could always be revealed at a future date.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare will be released for the PC, PS3, PS3, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on November 4.
Xbox Store Today: FIFA 15, Slender: The Arrival, Defense Grid 2, CastleStorm
Three new games are now available to download from the Xbox Games Store including one Xbox 360 title and a pair of Xbox One games. First up, Midnight City has brought Slender: The Arrival, the first game starring the sinister Slenderman, to the Xbox 360 today and he’s joined by FIFA 15 from EA Sports:
Slender: The Arrival ($9.99)
You’re on your own. No one to come for you. No one to help you. No one to hear you scream. Slender: The Arrival is the official video game adaptation of Slender Man, re-created from Mark Hadley’s original nerve-shattering sensation. Developed in collaboration with Blue Isle Studios, The Arrival features a brand new storyline, improved visuals, great replay value, and most importantly, survival horror at its best.FIFA 15 ($59.99)
FIFA 15 brings football to life so fans can experience the sport like never before. Authentic Player Visuals make players look lean, athletic, and true to their real-life appearance. Player Control heightens the responsiveness of player movement, giving athletes more control and personality on the ball, and makes Man-to-Man Battles more rewarding than ever before. Football is the greatest drama on earth and FIFA 15 puts fans center stage allowing them to experience the intensity of the world’s greatest sport.
And the Xbox One is now home to Hidden Path’s tower defense title, Defense Grid 2; Zen’s tower-smashing title, CastleStorm; and EA Sports’ FIFA 15:
FIFA 15 ($59.99)
FIFA 15 brings football to life in stunning detail so fans can experience the emotion of the sport like never before. Witness the intensity of crowds chanting and cheering like on match day, and listen to commentators guide fans through the story of the game with Dynamic Match Presentation. For the first time ever, all 22 players on the pitch are connected with Emotional Intelligence – now players will react to opponents and teammates within the context, and relative to the narrative of the match.Defense Grid 2 ($24.99)
Defense Grid 2 is the highly-anticipated sequel to Hidden Path Entertainment’s 2008 Defense Grid: The Awakening. Setting the bar as the definitive tower defense game, Defense Grid 2 introduces new worlds and threats to test your tower placement strategies. With a bold new look, a compelling single-player campaign, and the addition of new game modes, online player-versus-player and multiplayer co-op, every play-through brings fun new opportunities and challenges.CaslteStorm: Definitive Edition ($14.99)
Welcome to the world of CastleStorm, a super genre mashup of 2D physics destruction mashed with tower defense brawler! CastleStorm was born out of the fond childhood memory of building and destroy Lego castles. The clouds bring rumors of war…It’s Knights vs. Vikings in CastleStorm, where medieval warfare meets 2D physics-based destruction! Controlling the battle in real time, players will harness the power of medieval artillery, manage a fearsome ground attack, and cast powerful spells! CastleStorm features a story-driven solo campaign, a custom castle editor, online multiplayer, co-op modes, and more. Building castles and knocking them down has never been so much fun!
Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged CastleStorm, Slender: The Arrival
The Walking Dead Season 2: Amid the Ruins Review: The Dark Before the Dawn
In the television world, the finale is perhaps the most important episode of the season. It needs to be exciting and emotional. It needs to provide closure, while at the same time end on a cliffhanger and leave unanswered questions. How else could we remain interested in the show during that excruciating, seven-month wait until the next season? This rings true for the current season of The Walking Dead TV series. Rick and the gang are once again in a dire situation, and we don’t know what’s going to happen next. What happened to Beth? What do the residents of Terminus want? Will we riot if Daryl dies? See, now I’m getting anxious just talking about it. OK, back on track.
In order for the season finale to pack a punch, you need the prior episode to provide a good set up – which usually means a duller entry. This is not bad; it just slows down the momentum a bit. But it is necessary in order to make the finale that much stronger. A calm before the storm, if you will. Ergo, Season 2 of the The Walking Dead video game is no different from its television counterpart. As we draw ever closer to the conclusion of the season, we need to have the penultimate preparation episode – as we get ready for the end. Episode 4 follows this same mantra, giving us a notably slower episode, but still enjoyable in its own right. (more…)
New Releases: Hyrule Warriors, Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes, FIFA 15, More
Have you got Destiny out of system yet? If so, there are plenty of new releases to talk about this week includingHyrule Warriors, Nintendo and Koei Tecmo’s mashup of The Legend of Zelda and Dynasty Warriors for the Wii U. If nothing else, the game will let us play as Ganondorf and that just sounds amazing.
Also available this week is Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes for the PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Disney’s “2.0” attempt at a toy/game hybrid adds Marvel superheroes and an expanded Toy Box Mode. And speaking of games that appear on a lot of platforms… EA Sports will release FIFA 15 this week for the 3DS, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Sorry, Wii U owners.
Finally this week, WB Games is rebooting the Gauntlet franchise on the PC and Microsoft is bundling up Killer Instinct‘s first season on the Xbox One in the Killer Instinct: Combo Breaker Pack.
Even more new releases can be found after the break. (more…)