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 One
Watch the launch trayler for Ryse: Son of Rome right here
As we continue to march towards the Xbox One’s launch, I am reminded of the mighty Roman Legion and their distinctive “tortoise” style of fighting. And with that rather messy segue out of the way, I can now introduce the launch trailer for Ryse: Son of Rome.
Developed by Crytek, Ryse was originally announced as an Xbox 360 exclusive, but the game moved to the Xbox One earlier this year and it will be released alongside the next-generation system this Friday, November 22.
Hear the soothing music of Dead Rising 3’s launch trailer
Microsoft is all set to roll the Xbox One into stores on November 22. To get everyone excited, Capcom has unleashed this launch trailer for Dead Rising 3… which actually looks very similar to every other Dead Rising 3 trailer the publisher has released, albeit with some very soothing music and a bunch of quotes from media outlets who love the game.
I suppose it could have been worse. If this trailer had been made in the early 2000s, it would have included “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor” on the soundtrack.
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged Dead Rising 3
Spike TV announces the nominees for 2013 VGX Awards
The nominees for the 2013 VGX Awards (previously known as the Video Game Awards) have been announced by Spike TV and it looks like this year’s show will be dominated by Grand Theft Auto V, BioShock Infinite, The Last of Us, and Tomb Raider. Those four games, along with Super Mario 3D World, will duke it out for this year’s “Game of the Year” honor.
Grand Theft Auto V lead all games with four additional nominations (“Best PlayStation,” “Best Xbox,” “Action Adventure,” and “Soundtrack”) as well as a “Best Studio” nomination for Rockstar North, “Best Actor” nomination for Steven Ogg, and two “Best Song” nods. The Fulbright Company’s Gone Home leads this year’s indie charge with two nominations (“Best PC” and “Best Independent”) and a “Best Studio” nomination for the developer.
And in a fun twist, Troy Baker will be competing against himself in the “Best Actor” category as his Joel (from The Last of Us) will do battle with his Booker DeWitt (from BioShock Infinite).
The 2013 VGX Awards will air on Spike TV on Saturday, December 7. A complete list of this year’s nominees can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, Mobile, News, PC, PS3, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged BioShock Infinite, Grand Theft Auto V, Super Mario 3D World, The Last of Us, Tomb Raider, VGX 2013
New Releases: Xbox One, Super Mario 3D World, Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, More
Are you ready for “Part Two” of this year’s next-generation console extravaganza? After months of hype, Microsoft is ready to deliver the Xbox One to store shelves this week. If you haven’t already ordered one, it’s unlikely you’ll find the system in stores, but it’s always worth a shot. However, there will be plenty of Xbox One game available, including:
- Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
- Angry Birds Star Wars
- Battlefield 4
- Call of Duty: Ghosts
- Dead Rising 3
- FIFA 14
- Fighter Within
- Forza Motorsport 5
- Just Dance 2014
- Lego Marvel Super Heroes
- Madden NFL 25
- NBA 2K14
- NBA Live 14
- Need For Speed: Rivals
- Ryse: Son of Rome
- Skylanders Swap Force
- Zumba Fitness: World Party
If you’re not quite ready to hop on the Xbox One bandwagon, there are plenty of brand new current-generation games out this week including:
- Mario’s most recent Wii U adventure… Super Mario 3D World
- Link’s latest 3DS quest… The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
- A tropical Mario Party… Mario Party: Island Tour
- Media Molecule’s origami Vita platformer… Tearaway
- The further adventures of Jake and Finn… Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW!
- And finally, the return of Zoo Tycoon (now for the Xbox 360).
The complete list of this week’s new releases can be found after the break. (more…)
December 7’s VGX Awards will replace the Spike TV Video Game Awards
The Spike TV Video Game Awards are dead! But the long-running awards show isn’t going away. Instead, it’s been renamed the “VGX Awards.” Oh good, many gamers worried that the awards show had an image problem before, adding an unneeded “X” to the name is obviously a step in the right direction.
Dodgy name change aside, the new VGX Awards might actually be moving in the right direction. The dance party atmosphere has been replaced by an “intimate studio setting” and a Hollywood host was passed over in favor of Geoff Keighley of GameTrailers TV. But like in years past, the show will include World Premiere game trailers, “extended demos of the next generation of games, and interactive one-on-one interviews.”
This year’s nominees will be revealed at a later date, but viewer voting for the “Most Anticipated Game” award is now open. Your five choices are Destiny, South Park: The Stick of Truth, TitanFall, Watch Dogs, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
The 2013 VGX Awards will be broadcast on Spike TV on Saturday, December 7 at 6:00 PM. The show will also be livestreamed on VGXLive.com, Spike.com, GameTrailers.com, Twitch, Hulu, Yahoo Screen, ComedyCentral.com MTV.com, MTV2.com, BET.com, and through apps available on the Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, and iOS/Android devices.
Microsoft will bring Xbox One games to Games With Gold promotion in 2014
Microsoft previously confirmed that their Games With Gold promotion would continue in 2014. The program, which began in June, allows Xbox Live Gold subscribers to download two pre-selected Xbox 360 games for free every month. Right now, Xbox Live Gold subscribers can download A World of Keflings for free as part of the Game With Gold promotion. Starting November 16, it will be retired in favor of Double Fine’s Iron Brigade.
However, starting next year, Xbox One games will be added to the mix as well:
Heads up future #XboxOne owners. Access to free games each month is coming for Xbox Live Gold members on #XboxOne . Details coming in 2014.
— Xbox (@Xbox) November 14, 2013
The Games With Gold program was created as Microsoft’s answer to Sony’s Instant Game Collection, which currently offers 18 free games to PlayStation Plus subscribers.
Next Gen Marketing Malarkey: 5 Buzzwords I’m Already Bored Of
While the launch of two new consoles is an exciting event, this one has been slightly marred by marketing departments using inane buzzwords to hype up frantic fans until there is nothing left but over-expectations and broken hearts. It has become a bombastic practice that often leaves companies in a bigger hole than where they started, as fans and critics peel away the poor PR paint job to uncover a myriad of lies and deceit. Here are a few words to cry BS at. (more…)
WB Games announces Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is returning to Middle-Earth with a new game inspired by the Lord of the Rings saga. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is in development for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One at Monolith Productions. If the Monolith name sounds familiar, it should, the team was also responsible for 2012’s Guardians of Middle-Earth.
In the game, players will control a Ranger named Talion as he ventures into Mordor during the time between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. Shadow of Mordor will also appear on the cover of Game Informer‘s December 2013 issue and here’s what they had to say about the game:
While many previous games set in Middle-earth have revolved around the major events or characters depicted in Tolkien’s books, Shadow of Mordor offers a new chapter that fits comfortably between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Players control a lone Ranger by the name of Talion as he journeys deep into the heart of Mordor in the days before it transforms into a blasted hellscape. Along the way, developer Monolith is exploring a fascinating next-gen approach to enemies, encounters, and storytelling, one in which every player shapes their own story through the choices they make. The Nemesis System assures that every enemy you fight is a named foe, and if they survive their battle with you, they continue to grow, improve, and act in the world, even as you attempt to do the same with Talion. Our cover story recounts our extensive look at the game in action, from combat and leveling to story and setting.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor doesn’t currently have a release date, but I’m guessing “soon” is out of the question. One doesn’t simply develop a “fascinating” next-generation game quickly.