Complete list of 2011 Spike TV Video Game Awards nominees

Posted on November 20, 2011 by John Scalzo

Spike TV has revealed the complete list of nominees for the 2011 Spike TV Video Game Awards and Portal 2 has teleported back into the public’s consciousness as it leads the way with 11 nominations. Batman: Arkham City is also preparing for a big night as it racked up nine nominations. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception rounds out the top three with seven nominations.

Not surprisingly, those three titles will all vie for this year’s Game of the Year award along with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.

There were a few blunders (who wants to break the news to the VGA Advisory Panel that Epic Mickey was released in 2010?), but Spike TV seems to finally be getting the hang of this awards show thing. One thing the channel definitely got right was the love for Bastion, which walked away with five nominations. That’s more than The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. I’m definitely pulling for “Build That Wall (Zia’s Theme)” by Darren Korb to win Best Song in a Game.

The complete list of nominees is available after the break.

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Weekly Warp-Up: Countdown to Black Friday 2011 Edition

Posted on November 20, 2011 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…

Get Warp Zoned!
One of America’s great holidays is almost upon us. That’s right, Thanksgiving Black Friday is right around the corner. Don’t act surprised. You knew that joke was coming.

Our Black Friday countdown continues with a rundown of deals at four additional shops: GameStop, Toys R Us, Kmart, and Sears. This year’s bargains are pretty amazing, so you better start working on your Black Friday plan now.

And speaking of bargains, our own Adam Woolcott took some time out of his busy schedule to have a few Adventures In Xbox Live Indie Games. Adam selected five games that are available to download for a dollar apiece and found a quintet of memorable games that can be obtained for less than the price of a used copy of Madden NFL 06.

Hit the jump for the rest of the Weekly Warp-Up.

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New Releases: WWE 12, King of Fighters XIII, Tekken Hybrid, More

Posted on November 19, 2011 by John Scalzo

As we all make preparations for the upcoming Black Friday sales, the publishers are making one final push for holiday season new releases.

This week, it’s all about the fight as WWE ’12 (PS3, Wii, Xbox 360), The King of Fighters XIII (PS3, Xbox 360), and Tekken Hybrid make their way to store shelves. Which one is tough enough to find a place on your game shelf?

This week’s batch of new releases also includes a few titles branching out on new platforms as Batman: Arkham City is now available for PC. In the handheld space, Sonic Generations and WWE All-Stars will be released for the 3DS.

Check out the full list of the rest of this week’s new releases after the break.

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Black Friday Game Deals 2011: Sears

Posted on November 19, 2011 by John Scalzo

Black Friday is less than a week away (November 25, mark your calendars) and retailers have continued to release their annual Black Friday sales circulars.

Like its parent company, Kmart, Sears has attempted to attract video game shoppers all year long. So it’s no surprise that the Black Friday sales at both stores are so similar. The former mail order catalog king will have Battlefield 3, Gears of War 3, Forza Motosport 4, Madden NFL 12, and Need For Speed: The Run available for $39.99, as well as Rage for $29.99. Yes, those same games are available for slightly better prices elsewhere, but the Sears electronics department may be less crowded than your local Best Buy on Black Friday, so plan accordingly. Hmm, I used almost that exact same spiel when talking about the Kmart Black Friday ad.

Hit the jump for the complete list of Black Friday sales available at Sears.

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Posted in 3DS, News, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 |

Black Friday Game Deals 2011: Kmart

Posted on November 19, 2011 by John Scalzo

Black Friday is less than a week away (November 25, mark your calendars) and retailers have continued to release their annual Black Friday sales circulars.

Kmart has attempted to attract video game shoppers all year long. And their Black Friday sale is no different. The retailer will have Battlefield 3, Gears of War 3, Forza Motosport 4, Madden NFL 12, and Need For Speed: The Run available for $39.99, as well as Rage for $29.99. Yes, those same games are available for slightly better prices elsewhere, but the Kmart electronics department may be less crowded than your local Best Buy on Black Friday, so plan accordingly.

Hit the jump for the complete list of Kmart’s Black Friday sales.

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Posted in 3DS, DS, News, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 |

Professor Layton and the Last Specter Review: The Mysteries of a True English Gentleman

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Ryan Littlefield

Even though it has only been a year since the last engrossing title featuring the world’s favorite mystery-solving English professor, Level-5 and Nintendo are continuing to keep loyal Layton fans fed with a new Professor Layton adventure. This recent release – Professor Layton and the Last Specter – is the fourth entry in the series of five currently-planned Layton games, boasting the same intrigue and complexity of all its predecessors.

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Posted in DS, Reviews, Top Story | Tagged

Hideo Kojima to reveal plans for Metal Gear Solid 5 in OPM UK

Posted on November 18, 2011 by John Scalzo

You didn’t really think Solid Snake’s involvement with the Metal Gear Solid series would come to an end did you?

A few weeks ago, Hideo Kojima spent an entire day with Official PlayStation Magazine UK editor Joel Gregory. During that time, the developer talked at length about the future, including his plans for Metal Gear Solid 5 and the super-secret Project Ogre (which is supposed to not be connected to the Metal Gear Solid saga at all). More Metal Gear musings emerged during the interview such as Kojima’s feelings about the series as a whole, his desire (and failure) to kill Solid Snake off, and his “open and frank opinions” on Metal Gear Solid: Rising.

Official PlayStation Magazine UK’s interview with Hideo Kojima will appear in issue #65, which will be available on newsstands everywhere on November 29.

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Mass Effect 3: N7 Edition is a collector’s dream

Posted on November 18, 2011 by John Scalzo

Are you a massive Mass Effect fan? If so, then listen closely, because BioWare wants to tell you all Mass Effect 3‘s “N7 Collector’s Edition.”

Retailing for $79.99 and available on the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, the N7 Collector’s Edition includes a treasure trove of goodies that fans have been requesting for a long time. I refer, of course, to the commemorative tin case with artwork featuring the official female character model for Commander Shepard. Oh, and MaleShep is on there too… if that’s your thing.

What else can you expect to find in the N7 Collector’s Edition? Behold…

  • Premium metal case featuring commemorative artwork of Commander Shepard.
  • 70-page hardbound art book featuring hundreds of unique and gorgeous illustrations from the BioWare development team.
  • Limited edition Mass Effect comic by Dark Horse Comics, complete with unique cover artwork.
  • Join the ranks of the N7 with the premium fabric N7 patch.
  • Exclusive 4×6 lithographic print featuring a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork.
  • A full collection of in-game content that can’t be found anywhere else!
    • N7 Arsenal Pack – Bring the firepower with the N7 Sniper Rifle, Shotgun, SMG, and Pistol.
    • Robotic Dog – A faithful sidekick to keep you company on board the Normandy.
    • Squadmate Alternate Outfit Pack – New appearances for your favorite squad members.
    • N7 Hoodie – For Commander Shepard’s casual days on board the Normandy.
  • Relive all the greatest moments of Mass Effect 3 with the digital soundtrack.
  • Xbox Live Normandy prop for your Avatar. (Available on Xbox 360 version only.)
  • Display your initiation in the N7 ranks with a collection of forum and social badges, avatars, and perks.
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