Operation Hastings unlocked for BFBC2 Vietnam on consoles

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

Last year’s Battlefield 1943 saw a unique kind of community challenge where the final map in the DLC game would unlock on each console version once its community achieved 43 million kills.  EA and DICE implemented a similar challenge for Battlefield Bad Company 2 Vietnam, but while PC players racked up the requisite 69 million support actions in no time, console players have had the competition ended early.  To celebrate the new year, Operation Hastings is now unlocked for the 360 and PS3, before either community got a chance to do it themselves.

It makes you wonder if there’s simply a more “lone wolf” mentality when it comes to shooters on consoles, but in any case you can expect our own review of Battlefield Bad Company 2 Vietnam on Warp Zoned shortly.

Posted in News | Tagged , , ,

Johnny Cash rings in 2011 with Rock Band 3

Posted on January 2, 2011 by John Scalzo

The newly independent Harmonix has revealed that an eight-pack of Johnny Cash songs will lead off the Rock Band Store’s 2011 offerings.

The Man in Black has been a fixture over at that other music franchise for the last few years, but PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 Rock Band 3 owners will be able to download the following Cash classics on January 4 as part of the Johnny Cash Track Pack 01:

  • “Cry, Cry, Cry”
  • “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town”
  • “Five Feet High and Rising”
  • “Folsom Prison Blues”
  • “I Got Stripes”
  • “I Walk the Line” (Pro Guitar/Bass Available)
  • “Tennessee Flat Top Box” (Pro Guitar/Bass Available)
  • “The Ballad of Ira Hayes”

As usual, individual songs can be downloaded for $1.99/200 Wii Points/160 Microsoft Points each while the Pro Guitar/Bass upgrades can be purchased for a dollar more. All of the songs will also be available as a track pack, which will be priced at $13.49/1350 Wii Points/1,080 Microsoft Points.

If those prices sound a bit steep to you, Harmonix also plans to launch the Rock Band Free Pack 01 on the PS3 and Xbox 360 this week as well. As the name implies, the developer will dish up nine songs for free, all of which previously appeared as hidden tracks on Rock Band or Rock Band 2:

  • Abnormality – “Visions”
  • Anarchy Club – “Get Clean”
  • Bang Camaro – “Night Lies”
  • Breaking Wheel – “Shoulder to the Plow”
  • Libyans – “Welcome to the Neighborhood”
  • The Main Drag – “A Jagged Gorgeous Winter”
  • Speck – “Conventional Lover”
  • The Sterns – “Supreme Girl”
  • That Handsome Devil – “Rob the Prez-O-Dent”
Posted in News | Tagged , , ,

The Brothers Mario battle Bowser in a gangland tale

Posted on January 1, 2011 by John Scalzo

Created by the geniuses at CountryClubPictures, The Brothers Mario is a machinima that recasts the Super Mario Brothers’ battle against Bowser as a gangland tale between the mafia and Bowser’s “Koopa Troopa Gang.” It was originally posted on YouTube almost three weeks ago, so you may have seen it already, but if not, it’s a great way to spend a few minutes on a lazy New Year’s Day.

The constant barrage of characters and references is amazing including “Bullet Bill” as an assassin and the “Hammer Brothers” as crazed enforcers (causing Luigi to quip “Never bring a hammer to a gun fight!”). There’s also “real world” versions of Toad and Yoshi along the Koopa Troopas as a literal paratrooper force…

I could go on, but listing all the references to Mario games and the crime film canon would just ruin the surprise. Watch it and be entertained.

Posted in Etcetera, News |

New Retail Releases – Lost In Shadow, More

Posted on January 1, 2011 by John Scalzo

Welcome to 2011! The new year starts off a bit slowly when it comes to new releases, but one notable game will make its way to store shelves this week.

Konami’s Lost In Shadow (Wii), a puzzle platformer where players control a shadow’s climb up a tower, finally makes its way to America this week. Lost In Shadow has been a highlight of every industry showcase its appeared at, so let’s hope the finished product lives up to the hype.

The rest of this week’s new releases are pretty slim, but they can be found below.

New Retail Releases: Week of January 3, 2011

DS

PC

Wii

Posted in News | Tagged , , ,

Welcome to Warp Zoned

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Warp Zoned Staff

Hi there, and welcome to Warp Zoned!

In addition to posting daily news bites, a regular podcast, and highlighting the latest bits of gaming geekery, Warp Zoned will go behind-the-game with a heavy focus on special features, editorials, interviews, and plenty of reviews. Over the next few weeks we plan to review some of 2010’s biggest games as we get into the 2011 groove.

So come on in and have a look around. Pull up a chair, bench, children’s swimming pool – whatever you want. We’re not here to judge. We’re here to talk games, and so are you. As you stand poised above that pipe, preparing to be Warp Zoned, read a few quick sentences from our staff:

“I like to think of Warp Zoned as that time when you say “One more game” at 8:00, and then the next thing you know, it’s midnight.” – John Scalzo, Editor-In-Chief

“Thanks for using your precious warp to come here, to the next level.” – Nicole Kline, Senior Editor

“If you have anything you want us to cover, tell us! We’ll either laugh at you or gladly accept, but we always welcome your suggestions.” – Ryan Littlefield, Staff Writer/Podcast Producer

“Welcome to Warp Zoned. We promise to never refer to a brand new game franchise as ‘IP.'” – Adam Woolcott, West Coast Editor

Posted in Features |