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 One
$399 Xbox One without Kinect bundle announced
Microsoft has just announced that, starting June 9, an Xbox One system bundle without the Kinect sensor included will go on sale for $399.99. However, if you want to purchase a Kinect in the future, Microsoft said that the option to purchase a standalone sensor will be available this Fall. The standard $499.99 Xbox One + Kinect bundle, which Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi calls the “best [Xbox One] experience,” will remain on the market.
Phil Spencer, the Xbox Division’s Head, said (via the Xbox Wire) that this decision is all about offering more choice to Xbox customers. However, he also made it clear that Kinect will be part of the Xbox going forward.
“To be clear, as we introduce this new Xbox One console option, Kinect remains an important part of our vision,” Spencer said. “Many of you are using Kinect for Xbox One every day. In fact, more than 80 percent of you are actively using Kinect, with an average of 120 voice commands per month on each console.”
This is a major reversal from Microsoft’s original opinion of the Xbox One and Kinect. Originally, there were some fears that the Xbox One would only operate when connected to a Kinect sensor.
Capy Games shows off “Sloooowww Motion” gameplay in Super Time Force launch trailer
Super Time Force will be available to download from the Xbox Live Game Store for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One this Wednesday, May 14. To celebrate, Capybara Games has released a launch trailer that shows off the game’s “Sloooowww Motion” gameplay.
Dan Vader, the Co-Designer, Level Designer, and Writer of Super Time Force, talked about the game’s unique design with the Xbox Wire: “We’ve never done anything this… ‘splodey before, but in some ways, it feels like the most ‘Capy’ game to me. It certainly bears our hallmarks: familiar mechanics taken in a far-out direction, beautifully stylized art, jokes, and barf.”
Super Time Force is a side-scrolling shooter that the developers at Capy like to refer to as “A Contra game where you can go back in time.” If that doesn’t sound awesome enough, then I guess “barf” is supposed to be the icing on the cake.
Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Super Time Force
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition comes to PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One this August
Blizzard has announced that Diablo III‘s “Ultimate Evil Edition,” which includes the original game and the Reaper of Souls expansion, will be released on August 19. Before today, the Ultimate Evil Edition was officially only in development for the PS4, but Blizzard has confirmed the compilation will be available for the PS3, Xbox 360, and Xbox One as well.
“The Ultimate Evil Edition brings Reaper of Souls to console gamers for the first time, and wraps all of the content, features, and updates we’ve released for Diablo III into one epic package,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “Whether you’re a veteran of the crusade against the forces of evil on PC or are just stepping foot into Sanctuary for the first time, there’s never been a better time to experience Diablo III from the comfort of your couch.”
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition adds a sixth character class, The Crusader, to the main game as well as a fifth Act that pits players against the Angel of Death, Malthael. Other new features added to the game courtesy of the Ultimate Evil Edition include Adventure Mode (“A new game mode that gives players the freedom to go anywhere and slay anything”), Bounties (“Randomized objectives that reward players in new ways for exploring Sanctuary”), Nephalem Rifts (“Fully randomized dungeons offering endless replayability and heaps of loot”), The Mystic (“A powerful new artisan who provides heroes with loot-customization options”), and a raised Level Cap.
If you’ve already got Diablo III on the PS3 or Xbox 360, you’ll be able to transfer your previously created characters into the Ultimate Evil Edition. PS3 owners can make the jump to the PS3 or PS4 versions while Xbox 360 owners can likewise transfer to the Xbox 360 or Xbox One editions.
Wolfenstein: The New Order will take 20 hours to complete and include an “alternate timeline”
Jens Matthies, the Creative Director of Wolfenstein: The New Order at MachineGames, opened himself up to the world this morning as part of an Ask Me Anything on Reddit. The developer refused to answer multiple questions asking if Mecha Hitler will be part of the game, but he did have several very interesting things to say.
On the subject of the campaign’s length, Matthies said that the game is about 20 hours long “if you collect everything and explore everywhere.” But the developer also revealed that the “vibe of the story” can go in radically different directions depending upon a choice the player is forced to make early in the game. Matthies didn’t want to spoil it, but if you’re interested in knowing, please highlight the black bars below:
During the 1946 prologue, B.J. Blazkowicz and his squad (Scottish commanding officer Fergus and a young private named Wyatt) are captured by General Deathshead. Offering a devil’s bargain, The General tells Blazkowicz that he must choose whether Fergus or Wyatt will die, which will allow the other to live. Attempting to defy Deathshead results in the execution of both prisoners while Blazkowicz is brutally beaten to death (which you experience through a first person view). As Blazkowicz, you MUST choose which character is murdered by Deathshead. It’s an absolutely horrifying moment in game that is already pretty horriffic.
Matthies said that the team considers each playthrough from this moment as an “alternate timeline” but it does more than just change the closing cinematic. In addition to the “vibe,” it “affects the tone of the whole game a little bit” and “alters the gameplay somewhat.” Of course, if Wolfenstein: The New Order does well, Matthies and his team will have to choose one ending as the official one as he also said, “We would love to do a sequel and we have lots of ideas.”
Ideas like… Mecha Hitler? Wolfenstein: The New Order will released for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on May 20.
XBL Store Today: Nutjitsu, Bound By Flame
Ninja squirrels! Yes, ninja squirrels, star in today’s Xbox Live Game Store update. My dog will be so mad…
Those ninja squirrels are the stars of Nutjitsu, Ninjabee’s overhead nut-stealing game that was originally released for the PC last year. The game, which is the second ID@Xbox release on the Xbox One, will outfit the squirrels with “smoke bombs, ninja speed, shadow clones, freeze bombs, and flame cloaks” in their quest to steal nuts from foxes. Oh yeah, my dog will be very mad to hear that.
Over on the Xbox 360, Spiders has brought their action RPG, Bound By Flame, to the Games on Demand service. Who doesn’t love wizards that can control fire?
In case you’re unfamiliar with Nutjitsu or Bound By Flame, more information on both games is available after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Bound by Flame, Nutjitsu
EA and ESPN launch a scaled-down Madden NFL 15 Cover Vote
After last year’s mammoth 64-man bracket in honor of Madden’s 25th anniversary, EA Sports and ESPN are scaling down this year’s Cover Vote for Madden NFL 15. Just 16 names, including some of the NFL’s youngest stars, are battling it out for the right to be cursed crowned as the game’s cover athlete.
Voting will once again take place at ESPN.com/maddenvote with a new round beginning every Thursday. The winner will be announced on Friday, June 6 during the 6:00 PM (Eastern) edition of SportsCenter. Richard Sherman, the outspoken face of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, and Cam Newton, Carolina’s Pro Bowl quarterback, are the number one seeds. Here’s a complete look at the Madden NFL 15 Cover Vote matchups:
Left Bracket
(1) Richard Sherman (CB, Seattle Seahawks)
(8) Alshon Jeffery (WR, Chicago Bears)
(4) Jimmy Graham (TE, New Orleans Saints)
(5) Eddie Lacy (RB, Green Bay Packers)
(3) Demaryius Thomas (WR, Denver Broncos)
(6) Luke Kuechly (LB, Carolina Panthers)
(2) Colin Kaepernick (QB, San Francisco 49ers)
(7) Nick Foles (QB, Philadelphia Eagles)
Right Bracket
(1) Cam Newton (QB, Carolina Panthers)
(8) Antonio Brown (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers)
(4) Jamaal Charles (RB, Kansas City Chiefs)
(5) A.J. Green (WR, Cincinnati Bengals)
(3) LeSean McCoy (RB, Philadelphia Eagles)
(6) T.Y. Hilton (WR, Indianapolis Colts)
(2) Andrew Luck (QB, Indianapolis Colts)
(7) Alfred Morris (RB, Washington Redskins)
Madden NFL 15 will be released for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on August 26.
Console version of The Elder Scrolls Online delayed to late 2014/early 2015
The Elder Scrolls Online was originally scheduled to launched for the PS4 and Xbox One next month, but it looks like that won’t be happening now. Developer ZeniMax Online Studios has confirmed, via a short statement on the Bethesda Blog, that the team needs “about six months” to bring the console version up to snuff:
We continue to work on the console versions of ESO, and game development has been progressing steadily, but we are still working to solve a series of unique problems specific to [the PS4 and Xbox One]. Integrating our systems with each console manufacturer’s networks — which are both different from the PC/Mac system as well as different from each other—has been a challenging process. It has become clear that our planned June release of the console versions isn’t going to be possible. Though we have made great progress, we have concluded that we’ll need about six months to ensure we deliver the experience our fans expect and deserve.
To make amends for this delay, Bethesda is giving PS4 and Xbox One owners a chance to begin playing on the PC now and switch to the console version of their choice at a discounted rate. To qualify for this special offer, you’ll need to purchase the PC version of The Elder Scrolls Online by the end of June. Once the PS4/Xbox One version is released (tentatively scheduled for late 2014/early 2015), you’ll be able to transfer your character(s) to a digital version of the game for $20. Your transfer will also include an extra 30 days of game time.
Bethesda and ZeniMax Online Studios have promised they will keep us informed on all the pertinent information related to the console launch of The Elder Scrolls Online including “additional details regarding character transfers, specific offer dates, when you can expect console beta to start, and of course, when ESO on consoles will launch.”
Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged The Elder Scrolls Online
Continue Countdown #3 – CoD Advanced Warfare, MS @ E3 2014, Mario Kart 8, More
The film industry uses the opening of blockbuster season to signify the start of Summer. Meanwhile, the video game industry sets its seasonal clock by Activision and the announcement of the next Call of Duty game. This year’s entry stars Kevin Spacey and the staff of Warp Zoned took the time to debate his inclusion in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare in the latest episode of “Continue Countdown.”
After that, the trio of Editor-In-Chief John Scalzo, Staff Writer Mike Ryan, and special guest Adam Woolcott talked about the expunging of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, and the unearthing of Atari’s E.T. landfill. Next, they examined Microsoft’s Xbox Originals film production plan and their possible E3 2014 announcements before turning to Nintendo and Fatal Frame 5‘s Japanese exclusivity, Mario Kart 8‘s free game deal, and Super Smash Bros. 4‘s Best Buy debut. Finally, we say goodbye to Bob “Mario Mario” Hoskins.
9 Topics… 30 Minutes… And Go!
Posted in Etcetera, PC, Podcast, PS3, PS4, Top Story, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, E3 2014, Fatal Frame 5, Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. For 3DS, Super Smash Bros. For Wii U