Quantum Conundrum Hands-On Preview: Lasers Make Everything Better

“It’s like Portal.”

Ever since it was announced at PAX Prime 2011, that’s been the best and most succinct way to describe Square Enix’s Quantum Conundrum. This comparison shouldn’t come as a surprise since Portal creator Kim Swift is also the lead designer on Quantum Conundrum at developer Airtight Games. The similarities end there, however, because there really is a quirky uncle to save at the end of this game.

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Posted in PC, Previews, PS3, Top Story, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

Super Mario Bros. Wii U to debut at E3 2012

This is both the biggest surprise in the history of surprises and a news story so yawn-inducing in its obviousness that it almost doesn’t need to be said. But here goes.

An interview with Shigeru Miyamoto was published in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo this morning. During the interview, Miyamoto confirmed that a new Super Mario Bros. game for the Wii U will make its debut at this year’s E3 Expo. But since it’s not official until it’s in English, Eurogamer asked Nintendo to reconfirm the news… and they did!

“In a recent interview, Mr. Miyamoto confirmed that a new Super Mario Bros. game for the Wii U system will be shown at this year’s E3 Expo,” a Nintendo spokesperson said. “We’ll have more to announce about our plans for the E3 Expo at a later date.”

In addition to the unnamed Super Mario Bros. game for the Wii U, Nintendo has another Mario game, a 2D sidescroller for the 3DS, in the works as well.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged ,

Daily Scoop: April 16, 2012 – Summer’s here!

Summer has arrived early here in Philadelphia! I’m trying not to melt today as the degrees continue to rise. Though it will be hotter than this in hell, which is where I’m going after the three games I played this weekend of Cards Against Humanity. They aren’t kidding when they say it’s a party game for horrible people.

There are some new deals at Amazon today, both on Sony products. First up is Aksys’ Fate/Extra Limited Edition, which is on sale for $27.99. Then there’s 33% off Twisted Metal, bringing it down to $39.99. If you’ve been waiting to join Sweet Tooth, now’s the time!

One particularly amazing gaming shirt today… so amazing I really, REALLY want to buy it…

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Posted in Daily Scoop |

Zelda: The Musical brings down the pixelated house

Have you ever wondered what The Legend of Zelda would look like as a lavish Broadway musical? If so, then this video isn’t for you.

But if you’ve ever wondered what pixelated versions of Link, Zelda, Ganon, and Malon singing their hearts out would be like, then this video is definitely for you.

Posted in Etcetera, News |

Police Warfare: A Kickstarter project that looks arresting

Elastic Games, a newly launched company comprised of veteran developers from Ubisoft, Epic, and Rockstar has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund their ambitious multiplayer shooter Police Warfare. Yes, it’s another Kickstarter campaign, but Police Warfare sounds super awesome, promising to combine the expansive scope of Battlefield 3 with the “cops and robbers” feel of Heat. That is, if Elastic can reach their funding goal of $325,000 (as of this writing, they’re at $15,000).

Players will experience the gorgeous visuals, punchy sound design, and fluid controls they expect in a AAA FPS. All this while a clash of titans takes place in sunny Los Angeles between America’s oldest and most distinguished SWAT division, and a group of former private military contractors armed to the teeth in the latest weapons, vehicles and gadgets. This isn’t just a bank heist… this is war.

Even in this very early state, Police Warfare looks amazing with multiple character classes (Assault, Sniper, Support), vehicles and a ton weapons (including a taser mine). If Elastic exceeds their funding goal, they plan to add more maps, more weapons, and more platforms (including the PS3 and Xbox 360).

Posted in News, PC |

Crysis 3 officially announced by EA

As promised, EA and Crytek have officially announced Crysis 3 for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. The game will return the action to New York City in early 2013 promising, “the hunted becomes the hunter!”

Set 25 years after Crysis 2, the steel and concrete that make up the urban jungle of New York City have given way to an actual jungle courtesy of a “nanodome” that includes “overgrown trees, dense swamplands and raging rivers.” Crytek is calling this new New York City the Seven Wonders because players will visit seven unique game environments during their quest. Series protagonist Prophet also returns, this time with new weaponry (including the lethal composite bow pictured above) and an enhanced nanosuit to hunt down the alien invaders:

Set in 2047, Prophet is on a revenge mission after uncovering the truth behind Cell Corporation’s motives for building the quarantined Nanodomes. The citizens were told that the giant citywide structures were resurrected to protect the population and to cleanse these metropolises of the remnants of Ceph forces. In reality, the Nanodomes are CELL’s covert attempt at a land and technology grab in their quest for global domination. With Alien Ceph lurking around every corner and human enemies on the attack, nobody is safe in the path of vengeance. Everyone is a target in Prophet’s quest for retribution.

Players who pre-order Crysis 3 will receive the “Hunter Edition” limited edition at no extra charge. The Hunter Edition includes exclusive weapons and character skins as well as a multiplayer XP boost. Several retailer-specific pre-order bonus packs will also offer additional weaponry on top of the Hunter Edition package.

Crytek’s CEO, Cevat Yerli said, “We cannot wait until people get their hands on the game.”

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Weekly Warp-Up: Lollipops and Aliens and Claptraps… Oh My!

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…

Welcome to week one of our post-PAX East coverage. But first things first, if you’ve never attended a PAX before and you’re thinking it might be fun, check out our PAX Primer For the Regular Guy. Maybe we’ll see you at PAX Prime 2012!

But what about the games available at this year’s PAX East? There were a lot of them and we were able to deliver hands-on reports of Aliens: Colonial Marines, Borderlands 2, and Lollipop Chainsaw this week. All three felt incredibly polished and give me hope that 2012 is going to be a great year for gaming. But I worry for the far future…

And that’s because rumors are swirling once again about a “used game lockout” on the PS4/Orbis and Xbox 720. Industry analyst Michael Pachter thinks it’s a load of hooey. We offer our own insight as to why a discless future is unlikely as well in Living in a Discless World.

A lot more happened this week and you can read all about it after the break.

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Posted in News |

New Releases: The Witcher 2 Enhanced Edition, Disgaea 3 Vita, More

Welcome to another relatively dry week of new releases in the relatively dry month of April.

The biggest new release of the week is the Enhanced Edition of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings for the PC and, for the first time, on the Xbox 360.

Also new this week is Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat, a compilation that brings together the downloadable games Deadliest Warrior and Deadliest Warrior: Legends in one retail package. It’ll be available for the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Finally this week is Atlus’ Vita RPG Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention. It’s a shrunk-down version of the PS3 game with nearly the same name, so if you love strategy RPGs, it might be one to look into.

Wait! There’s one more. Budget publisher Viva Media will bring Dark Strokes: Sins of the Fathers to the PC this week.

OK, that’s all of your new releases for the week.

Posted in News, PC, PS3, Vita, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,