Daily Scoop: September 24, 2013 – The Scoop Returns

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Nicole Kline

Hello, friends! It’s been quite some time since I’ve written a scoop – mostly because of the insanity that was PAX Prime. Life has been so busy it’s been hard to get my bearings! But I’m here to tell you, first and foremost, about the Amazon Gold Box Deal of the Day – it’s Saints Row IV! You can save 30% on all of the different versions, including the Wub Wub edition, bringing it down to $70 from $100. I just might use this as an excuse to pick it up! There are lots of other Lightning Deals happening today as well, so keep refreshing that page for more discounted games.

Also, in case you didn’t know about it, you’ve got one day left to pick up the amazing Humble Bundle happening now. Pay what you want for amazing games like Mark of the Ninja and Trine 2, and pay more than the average to get Faster Than Light and Fez, among others. Even if you’re like me and already own most of them, it’s worth the $5 to pick up the ones you’re missing.

If you love video game music as much as I do, you’ll definitely want to check out World 1-2: The Complete Collection, which has even more amazing music than the original. And instead of just being available digitally, you can order a physical CD with lots of awesome artwork. This one is worth picking up!

Other than that, there are a million great shirts up for sale today!

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Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News |

Warp Zoned Rewind: HD Remakes

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Mike Ryan

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Well kiddies, it’s about that time… time to bid a fond farewell to the seventh generation of our favorite hobby. And what a generation it was! Lasting longer than any console cycle before it, this generation brought more than just some amazing titles. The console has become an all-in-one entertainment hub, as opposed to being “just a gaming system.” From apps like Netflix and Hulu Plus to the advent of motion control and the renaissance of indie games, there hasn’t been a better time to be a gamer. We have come so far in these past eight years, and the future looks brighter than ever.

As we play our Wii Us, and eagerly anticipate Microsoft and Sony’s consoles with bated breath, I feel it’s prudent to take a look back at this generation and discuss some of my favorite video games. Titles that left a lasting impression on us. Titles that will forever live in our collective memories as some of the most enjoyable experiences we’ve ever had.

Since there are so many amazing games, I’ve decided to list my favorites based on genre. In this article, I’m going to go with a new genre that emerged this generation: HD remakes. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, HD remakes helped older gamers relive fond memories, and gave a beautiful history lesson to people who recently discovered this hobby. Here are my favorite HD remakes of this generation.

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Posted in Features, PS3, Top Story, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , ,

Valve unveils Linux-based SteamOS for living room PCs

Posted on September 23, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Valve has taken the first steps towards making their long-rumored “SteamBox” a reality with today’s announcement of SteamOS. SteamOS will be a freely-available, Linux-based operating system designed for living room PCs.

SteamOS will add a variety of new features to the Steam platform, including game sharing across accounts, parental conrtols, in-home streaming, and a place to purchase movies, TV shows, and music. All of these feature will available soon on the desktop version of Steam as well.

Valve is also working with “AAA publishers” to make their games natively playable in SteamOS in 2014. According to the company, “hundreds” of games already support SteamOS.

Hit the jump for a look at the full feature set of SteamOS and keep an eye on the official SteamOS page for more details about the operating system’s impending release.

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Ubisoft has released Just Dance 2014’s full tracklist

Posted on September 23, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Ubisoft has released the complete tracklist for Just Dance 2014 and it includes all the songs the kids are into these days like Ray Parker Jr.’s “Ghostbusters,” Mungo Jerry’s “In the Summertime,” and The Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.”

OK, the kids today are probably more interested in Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” and Lady Gaga’s “Applause.” But points to Ubisoft for including a few tracks that people over 21 can appreciate.

You can dance the night away with Just Dance 2014 when it’s released for the PS3, Wii, Wii U, and Xbox 360 on October 8. A next-generation edition for the PS4 and Xbox One will follow in November.

And you can view the full 45-song soundtrack after the break.

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Posted in News, PS3, PS4, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged

Have another look at Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII courtesy of this TGS 2013 trailer

Posted on September 23, 2013 by John Scalzo

Square Enix released yet another trailer for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII during last week’s Tokyo Game Show. This new look at the game is pretty similar to what we’ve seen before:

Lightning attempts to save the world while others vow to stop her. There’s some Final Fantasy-esque background music and a bunch of fights and then… cut to title card.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII will be released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 on February 11.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

Weekly Warp-Up: Honoring Hiroshi Yamauchi

Posted on September 22, 2013 by John Scalzo

No, that’s not a typo. Welcome to the Weekly Warp-Up, your weekly wrap-up of the biggest and the best articles posted at Warp Zoned this week…

Hiroshi Yamauchi, one of the most important figures in the entire video game industry, died this past week. While Yamauchi’s name might not be as instantly recognizable as Shigeru Miyamoto, Hideo Kojima, or Keiji Inafune, he is likely the person most responsible for making the games industry what it is today. As the former President of Nintendo, Yamauchi steered the company (and the entire industry) out of the great “Video Game Crash of 1983” and pushed forward with the creation of the Famicom/NES. The system’s unquestioned success proved that video games would never really go away and the rest, as they say, was history. On behalf of the world, thank you Mr. Yamauchi.

Elsewhere on Warp Zoned this week, Zackery Cote looked at the juggernaut that is World of Warcraft and opined that World of Warcraft’s Next Expansion Should Be Its Last. And continuing our PAX Prime 2013 coverage, Nicole Kline previewed Transistor.

More news from last week can be found after the break.

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Posted in News |

New Releases: Scribblenauts Unmasked, FIFA 14, Pro Evolution Soccer 2014, More

Posted on September 22, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Look! Up in the sky! It’s a new release for the Wii U!

Nintendo’s next-generation system is gathering steam as we head into the Fall gaming period and it continues this week with the release of Scribblenauts Unmasked. Supposedly, the game, which will also be available for the 3DS, brings together every DC Comics character ever in a massive superhero/supervillain crossover.

Gamers will also be able to go for the goal this week as the two biggest soccer game franchises go head-to-head. FIFA 14 (EA Sports has finally dropped the “Soccer” from the title) will be released for the PS3, Vita, and Xbox 360 this week. Meanwhile, Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 will be released for the PS3 and Xbox 360.

If soccer isn’t your thing, Armored Core, the giant mech series from From Software, is back with a new installment. Armored Core: Verdict Day will be available this week for the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Finally this week, the romantic RPG Hakuoki: Memories of the Shinsengumi comes to the 3DS from Aksys in both Standard and Limited editions.

Posted in 3DS, News, PS3, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , ,

Deep Down will be Free-To-Play with an open beta available in early 2014

Posted on September 21, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Capcom’s Deep Down is like an enigma that just keeps getting enigma-ier. OK, that’s not a word. But the game’s development has taken a ton of twists and turns since it was revealed earlier this year.

First, we thought it would turn out to be multiplatform. Nope. Deep Down is a PS4 exclusive. Then, we thought it was a medieval dragon-fighting epic. Nope. Turns out the whole thing takes place in New York City about 80 years into the future. Now, Shuhei Yoshida, the President of Sony’s Worldwide Studios division, has tweeted that Deep Down will be released as a free-to-play title:

When you stop and think about it, it actually makes a weird kind of sense. From what we’ve seen of the game so far, players in Deep Down start in some futuristic hub level and then descend into the demon-infested dungeons below. Selling some of the dungeons to players piecemeal while keeping a small selection of them free could work. If nothing else, it’s very similar to how Microsoft is handling Killer Instinct.

The PS4 is scheduled to launch in Japan on February 22, 2014. Hopefully the open beta will be available internationally so we can all find out how it works together.

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