USC is the top Video Game Design school for third year in a row

Posted on March 2, 2012 by John Scalzo

The University of Southern California (USC) has topped a Princeton Review report as the best undergraduate and graduate Video Game Design program for the third straight year. Actually, many schools that appeared on the 2011 list made a repeat appearance this year. The one big addition, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which landed at #2 on the undergraduate list and #3 on the graduate list.

The results of the report were gathered through a survey conducted during the 2011-2012 academic year of administrators at 150 institutions. The 50-question survey gauged the quality of the curriculum, faculty, facilities and infrastructure of the selected schools.

All told, the Princeton Review created a top ten list for both undergraduate and graduate programs along with selecting 30 honorable mentions.

The complete list can be found after the break.

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PC puzzler Break Blocks benefits Doctors Without Borders

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Melissa Niedringhaus

And your mom told you playing games would never do any good…

Instead of wasting all your time camping Aeonaxx, why don’t you do something nice for somebody else? Don’t worry, you don’t have to leave the comfort of your computer chair. Just head over to Greater Good Games, and check out their debut title, Break Blocks.

Break Blocks is an action puzzler where you place blocks on a circular dance floor in time with the beat. Group primary colors, and connect them using secondary colors as “bridges” to clear more blocks and out “break” your enemies!

Break Blocks is available on PC, and uses a pay-what-you-want model (minimum $1.00). Greater Good Games will donate 20% of the proceeds to the international humanitarian organization Doctors without Borders.

Posted in News, PC |

Nintendo Download: Metroid, Crush 3D demo, Spot The Difference

Posted on March 1, 2012 by John Scalzo

This week’s Nintendo Download brings the NES classic Metroid to the 3DS eShop. But before you Justin Bailey your way through Zebes, you might also want to know that a demo of Crush 3D, Sega’s in-your-face puzzler is also available to download. Finally this week, the find-the-object game Aahh! Spot The Difference was added to the DSiWare Shop.

If you’re still in the dark about this week’s new releases, here’s a little bit more information, straight from Nintendo:

Metroid (3DS eShop) – Packed with high-tech weaponry, creepy tunnels and hideous alien creatures, the first installment in the immensely successful Metroid series introduces us to the slick, cybernetic bounty hunter Samus Aran.

Aahh! Spot The Difference (DSiWare) – Demonstrate your powers of observation in this engaging “spot the difference” game. Complete 40 challenging levels in four unique scenarios by spotting the differences between the upper and lower screen.

Posted in 3DS, DS, News | Tagged

The Games of March 2012

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Warp Zoned Staff

There’s a lot of excitement going on at Warp Zoned for the month of March! It looks like Mass Effect 3 is a staff favorite, along with the latest Kid Icarus and Tales games. We’re going in like an N7-lion and coming out like a slaughtered lamb from Silent Hill in this latest edition of what we’re planning on playing!

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Posted in Features, Top Story |

Madden NFL 13 Cover Nominees: AFC East

Posted on March 1, 2012 by John Scalzo

Are you ready for some football? How about a long and drawn out fan vote to decide who will appear on the cover of Madden NFL 13? Well, EA Sports has you covered on both.

Every day this week, the Madden-maker will continue to reveal each division’s nominees for the game’s cover. The 64-player tournament will initially include two players from each team. Beginning March 7, fans can head over to the ESPN SportsNation Facebook Page to decide who will represent each team in the final 32-player bracket.

Today’s nominees come from the AFC East:

Buffalo Bills
Ryan Fitzpatrick or Stevie Johnson

Miami Dolphins
Reggie Bush or Brandon Marshall

New England Patriots
Rob Gronkowski or Wes Welker

New York Jets
Darrelle Revis or Mark Sanchez

A Tight End has never been chosen as the cover athlete for any Madden NFL release. Even though we’re less than halfway through the nominees, I think New England’s Rob Gronkowski has a very good chance of breaking down that barrier. Statistically, there was no better receiver in the NFL in 2011.

Oh, but uh, I guess Wes Welker is pretty good too. So it’s probably too early to make that kind of prediction.

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

BioShock Infinite takes to the skies October 16

Posted on March 1, 2012 by John Scalzo

And by skies, I mean stores.

After teasing us with a TBA 2012 release date for ages, 2K Games and developer Irrational Games have announced that BioShock Infinite will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on October 16.

“After BioShock, we had a vision for a follow up that dwarfed the original in scope and ambition. BioShock Infinite has been our sole focus for the last four years, and we can’t wait for fans to get their hands on it,” said Ken Levine, Creative Director of Irrational Games.

BioShock Infinite will join Medal of Honor: Warfighter and Assassin’s Creed III in what is quickly becoming a very crowded October.

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

Daily Scoop: March 1, 2012 – In like a lion…

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Nicole Kline

Hello, March! So glad to see you. That means we’re one step closer to beautiful spring! If we can just get through a few more weeks without a major snowstorm, we’ll be scott free. Hopefully I didn’t just jinx us…

Anyway, what’s going in the world of deals? Amazon’s Deal of the Day in video games is Sega’s Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics for the Wii. It’s on sale for today only for just $34.99. Is this your bag, baby? Then scoop it up! Not sure why I just went into Austin Powers mode! Must be my hyper-ness pouring out through my fingers.

Sadly, there are no game-related shirts, but there’s an awesome poster I’d like to share, as well as some cool shirts I just happen to like:

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Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News |

Give me Assassin’s Creed III or give me death!

Posted on March 1, 2012 by John Scalzo

Ubisoft released the boxart for Assassin’s Creed III today and, as rumored, the franchise will be jumping forward to Revolutionary War times.

While we don’t know which of Desmond’s ancestors this is, the white robe shows he’s definitely an assassin. And the tomahawk and quiver show that he’s likely part Native American (or he was captured as a child like Mary Jemison). But Native American or not, that Redcoat’s brain is definitely about to get very drafty.

Assassin’s Creed III will be released for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on October 30. More details will be revealed in a few days, probably during the Game Developers Conference.

Posted in News, PC, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,