Transistor PAX Prime 2013 Impressions: The Impossible Elegance of Supergiant Games

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Nicole Kline

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Any fan of the hit indie game Bastion already knows the name Supergiant Games, and is probably already following their latest work of art, Transistor. In fact, Warp Zoned’s very own John Scalzo played Transistor at PAX East, and he had nothing but wonderful things to say about it. I played it at PAX Prime, after the game had been announced for the PlayStation 4, and I was ecstatic at the gameplay (and at getting my hands on a DualShock 4). I loved Transistor so much that I went straight home from Seattle and immediately began playing Bastion, from start to finish, over the course of three days. All it did was make me wish it was 2014 already so I could play the rest of Transistor.

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Posted in PC, Previews, PS4, Top Story | Tagged ,

NBA Live 14 will be released for PS4, Xbox One on November 19

Posted on September 17, 2013 by John Scalzo

nbalive14-1After a multi-year hiatus that included an aborted rebranding and the cancellation of two different games, the NBA Live series will finally return this Fall with the release of NBA Live 14. Yesterday, EA Sports revealed (via their Twitter account) that the game will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One on November 19. So it’ll be available in stores three days ahead of the Xbox One launch, but four days after the release of Sony’s PS4.

EA Sports also released the first official in-game screenshot for NBA Live 14, which you can see to your right. Be sure and click the image to get a closer look at the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard shooting over NBA Live 14 cover boy Kyrie Irving.

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The Evil Within terrifies the Tokyo Game Show with a new trailer

Posted on September 17, 2013 by John Scalzo

Shinji Mikami, “The Father of the Survival Horror Game,” is hard at work on his next gore-riffic game, The Evil Within. Part of that work includes plans to showcase the game at this year’s Tokyo Game Show. But for those that can’t make the trip across the Pacific, Bethesda has released a new story/gameplay trailer for the title. Be sure and check it out above, but you might want to leave the lights on.

The Evil Within will be released for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One sometime next year.

Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged ,

Mighty No. 9 reaches PS3/Xbox 360/Wii U stretch goal

Posted on September 17, 2013 by John Scalzo

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The Kickstarter campaign for Keiji Inafune’s Mighty No. 9 has reached a huge funding milestone. Shortly before midnight, the total pledged amount crossed $2.2 million, ensuring that the spiritual successor to Mega Man will be released for the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U. The console editions of Mighty No. 9 join the previously confirmed PC version (which also includes Mac and Linux options) and all versions of the game are expected to be completed by Spring 2015.

There’s still two weeks remaining before Mighty No. 9’s Kickstarter campaign is closed to new pledges. That leaves plenty of time to cross the PS4/Xbox One threshold, which is currently set at $3.3 million.

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World of Warcraft’s Next Expansion Should Be Its Last

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Zackery Cote

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It’s no secret that Blizzard’s immensely popular MMORPG, World of Warcraft (WoW), has been suffering ever since the release of the game’s most recent expansion, Mists of Pandaria. Whether it’s the pandas, the retcon, or the multitude of changes to the game mechanics, World of Warcraft has lost over two million subscribers since Mists of Pandaria released last September. The most recent statistics released by Blizzard state that WoW has dropped to 7.7 million subscribers.

At one point in 2010, WoW boasted 12 million subscribers, so the number of subscribers has been steadily dropping, and is almost at only 50% of its highest number. Whether this is due to an influx of free-to-play MMOs, a lack of continued interest in the world of Azeroth, or the rise of the MOBA genre, World of Warcraft seems to be on its last leg. According to a recent comment from Game Director Tom Chilton to IGN, Blizzard may have read the writing on the wall. The announcement directly mentioned the next patch for Mists of Pandaria, stating that it would “bridge the storyline between Mists… and the next expansion.” He went on to hint that the next expansion for World of Warcraft would be announced at BlizzCon, which is set to happen this November. I personally believe that Blizzard should make this the final expansion for World of Warcraft, tying up the story of Azeroth.

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Posted in Opinions, PC, Top Story | Tagged

Rockstar says don’t install GTA5 “Play” disc on Xbox 360

Posted on September 16, 2013 by John Scalzo

grandtheftautov-box-largePlayers will be required to install Grand Theft Auto V when its released tomorrow, but Rockstar is warning Xbox 360 owners not to install the “Play” disc to ensure “optimal performance.”

The Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto V comes on two discs: one labelled “Install” and one labelled “Play.” After installing the “Install” disc, players will have to keep the “Play” disc in the drive to play the single-player campaign and the Grand Theft Auto Online multiplayer mode. According to Rockstar Support, it is not recommended to install the “Play” disc.

The PS3 version of Grand Theft Auto V also includes a mandatory installation requirement, but because it ships on a single Blu-ray disc, no special recommendation is required.

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Mutant Football League might rise from the grave thanks to Kickstarter

Posted on September 16, 2013 by John Scalzo

You know, I think Kickstarter might need to rename their “Games” category to “Sequels to Your Favorite Games From 20 Years Ago.” Especially, after today’s debut of a campaign to fund a Mutant League Football sequel.

The classic game was released for the Sega Genesis in 1993, or exactly 20 years ago. Now, the game’s original creator, Michael Mendheim, wants to create a sequel (using a slightly altered title: Mutant Football League) for the Xbox Live Arcade and mobile devices.

Mendheim has partnered with Robomobo to develop the game and is seeking $750,000 from the Kickstarter community. He’s promising that the game will include 30 unique teams (including the Mutant Humans, The Undead, Battlebots, Orcs, and more), trap-filled stadiums, “devastating mayhem” on the field, a Create-A-Player mode, and “tongue-through-cheek humor.”

The MFL team is offering up a variety of backer rewards and Mendheim hopes that the fan fervor that kept the game in the public eye for 20 years crosses over to the Kickstarter campaign: “The fans have kept their interest in this genre alive over the years and we want to reward them for their loyalty. We will be creating a new and very different game that pays homage to classic monster sports games and parodies the owners, the coaches, the sponsors and everything else that makes football such a great American sport.”

Posted in Mobile, News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Microsoft has had “conversations” with Activision about Geometry Wars 3

Posted on September 16, 2013 by John Scalzo

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It’s likely that everyone who has ever owned an Xbox 360 has gotten sucked into Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved at one time or another. The addictive twin-stick shooter from Bizarre Creations was hailed by many as the best game available at the console’s launch and its sequel, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, was even better.

The general public assumed that the series was over after Bizarre closed its doors in 2011. But Microsoft’s Phil Spencer doesn’t want the dream to die. Tweets from the Xbox Division’s Corporate VP reveal Spencer has been in talks with Activision (the current holder of the rights to Geometry Wars) about the possibility of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 3:

Take it with a huge grain of salt for now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Microsoft attempts to counteract Sony’s indie assault with another Geometry Wars game.

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