These are the Special Editions of Star Wars: The Old Republic you’re looking for

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Chris Urie

The dawn of BioWare’s Star Wars: The Old Republic is upon us, and we get lots of tasty editions to pre-order from, even if there still isn’t a solid release date.

Beta testing for the game starts in September, and hopefully it will highlight the new ideas that BioWare and Lucasarts have brought to the MMO game. The Old Republic is supposed to have a deeper focus on story rather than herding X amount of Nerf.

The pre-orders will get you first access to the game and an in-game color stone to change up your weapon. The launch supply of the game will be limited in order to keep transition to the servers nice and smooth. If you are cuddling with your Darth Maul pillow in anticipation, you might want to ante up some cash.

The three editions of Star Wars: The Old Republic are:

The Collector’s Edition – It includes a ton of real and in-game swag. You get a Darth Malgus Statue, the journal of Jedi Master Gnost Dural, The Old Republic soundtrack, a security key and a map of the in-game Star Wars galaxy. Virtual items include a Flare Gun, Training Droid, personal HoloDancer, HoloCam, the STAP vehicle and access to the Collector’s Store, an in-game store with new in-game items exclusively for owners of the Collector’s Edition. The Collector’s Edition will also include 30 days of game time and will set you back a resounding $149.99.

Digital Deluxe Edition – This edition includes 30 days of game time and five virtual items, including the Flare Gun, Training Droid, personal HoloDancer, HoloCam and the STAP vehicle. It is a little bit cheaper, weighing in at $79.99.

Standard Edition – You get the game and 30 days to play it. This one will cost you a reasonable $59.99.

In true George Lucas fashion, we get many editions of the game. Hopefully they won’t feature any updated special effects, extra scenes, or Jar Jar Binks.

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Activision looking to new studios to ‘reinvent’ Guitar Hero, eventually

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

Well, this is awkward. Since cancelling the Guitar Hero franchise earlier this year and the intense flood of reactions thereof, Activision has had a lot of chances to reflect on just what went wrong with the music genre. Activision CEO Bobby Kotick told Forbes this week he saw the problem as a lack of “nourishment and care.” However, he also hinted that the series is far from over.

“We said you know what, we need to regain our audience interest, and we really need to deliver inspired innovation,” said Kotick. “We’re going to go back to the studios and we’re going to use new studios and reinvent Guitar Hero. And so that’s what we’re doing with it now.”

So if you’re a fan of where the series was and are looking forward to a glorious new era for Guitar Hero, keep your fingers crossed and stay tuned at Warp Zoned as we get more information.

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Zombies and Miniskirts: Suda 51 announces Lollipop Chainsaw

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Chris Urie

No, it isn’t a Highschool of The Dead video game, but it is damn close. Lollipop Chainsaw is a new trip in the works from Suda 51 and Grasshopper Manufacture, the same people that brought you No More Heroes, Killer 7, and Shadows of the Damned. Although there is no release date yet, the game is evidently in the fine tuning stages and the studio has secured a publisher to release the game in English for PS3 and Xbox 360.

Juliet Starling is a cheerleader at San Romero High School (I get what you did there Suda, you clever mouse, you) whose whole school becomes zombified and she needs to teach those brain hungry flesh munchers a lesson with a chainsaw and a miniskirt.

“Actually I’ve wanted to do a crazy horror-action game like this set in a school for a while now,” Suda told Famitsu magazine. “Something where the classrooms, corridors, gymnasium and so on are suddenly transformed into something completely different. I was also working on a game concept centered around using a chainsaw as a weapon, and once the idea for the Juliet character began to form, it was just a perfect fit.”

Surprisingly, Lollipop Chainsaw aims to be a somewhat cute game. It will evidently be trading in gushing sprays of blood for bursts of pink light. And Akira Yamaoka, the man behind the sound and music for Silent Hill and Shadows of the Damned, has been hard at work on creating bubbly pop tunes for Lollipop Chainsaw.

Looks like all that cheerleading practice will help you survive the slavering hoards of undead. And let’s hope Fox doesn’t decide to headshot Lollipop Chainsaw with a lawsuit due to its rather obvious similarities to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

[Source: Andriasang]

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Xbox 360 Limited Star Wars Kinect Bundle coming to a retailer not so far, far away

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

To celebrate the launch of the ambitious Kinect Star Wars, Microsoft is preparing a limited console bundle to go with it. Featured left, the Kinect sensor, controller, and Xbox 360 console are all custom tailored after everyone’s favorite droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO, including special “power on” and “tray eject” sounds for the system. The bundle also includes a headset and a 320 GB hard drive.

You’ll get a nice share of software to go with it, including the Kinect Star Wars game, the Podracing mode thereof, Kinect Adventures, and a limited edition Star Wars theme. The Xbox 360 Limited Star Wars Kinect Bundle retails for $449.99 and will be available day and date with Kinect Star Wars when it launches this holiday season.

The bundle is ironically coming out the same year that the Star Wars films are being released on Blu-ray.

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Jordan, Bird, Magic triple-team NBA 2K12 cover

Posted on July 21, 2011 by John Scalzo

Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. 2K Sports has chosen those three legends to grace the three different covers that’ll be available for NBA 2K12. The basketball sim will be available for the PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii and Xbox 360 on October 4.

After the huge success of last year’s Jordan-infused NBA 2K11, expanding the game’s repertoire of hoops legends is a great idea. The looming NBA lockout probably influenced 2K’s decision to stay away from active players as well.

However, I wouldn’t get too attached to the artwork of His Airness. If you look close you’ll see that, instead of his familiar “23” (or even his short-lived “45”), the number on Jordan’s jersey is a “3.” (A second look reveals that the “2” in “23” is there, just pushed all the way to the left.)

Whoops! Hit the (fast) break for a look at all three covers.

Press Start to Continue →

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Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 adds Strider, Ghost Rider, Hawkeye, Firebrand to the fight

Posted on July 21, 2011 by John Scalzo

As expected, Capcom has used this year’s San Diego Comic-Con to announce Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3. The updated version of the crossover event will be released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 in November with an additional 12 characters, a refined fighting system, eight new stages and new modes.

Capcom also used the show to introduce four of the new fighters to the world. They include sword-wielding badass Strider Hiryu, Ghosts ‘n Goblins gargoyle Firebrand, the flame-headed Ghost Rider and archery expert Hawkeye.

Finally, the publisher confirmed that Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 will include a Spectator Mode and be priced at a wallet-friendly $39.99.

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Nintendo Video coming to America “soon”

Posted on July 21, 2011 by John Scalzo

The Nintendo Video service is not currently available from the 3DS eShop. I repeat, the Nintendo Video service is not currently available from the 3DS eShop. However, Nintendo used this week’s Nintendo Download to announce that the service will be coming soon.

When’s soon? Nobody knows. But here’s what this week’s real Nintendo Download looks like:

3DS owners will have a chance to download a 3D Classics version of the NES game Xevious. They’ll also have access to this week’s DSiWare offerings: Trollboarder, a snowboarding game with trolls (not what I expected at all); Antipole, a gravity-reversing shooter; and Kung Fu Dragon, a martial arts training game.

The WiiWare service will receive one new game today, Bobby Carrot Forever, a puzzle platformer starring Bobby Carrot.

More information on all of the games in today’s Nintendo Download can be found in Nintendo’s weekly newsletter.

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, Wii |

My release date sense is tingling: Spider-Man Edge of Time coming Oct. 4

Posted on July 21, 2011 by John Scalzo

Activision has unveiled a new trailer for Spider-Man: Edge of Time at Comic-Con and announced the game’s release date along with it. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (and his future counterpart, Spider-Man 2099) will make their way to the 3DS, DS, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 on October 4.

But for now, be sure to check out the trailer above. It gives a very revealing look at some of Spider-Man’s opponents in Edge of Time.

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