Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon
- Meet the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025: Quake, GoldenEye 007, Defender, and Tamagotchi
- The BAFTA Games Awards Polled the Public and Shenmue is “The Most Influential Video Game of All Time”
- 2024 GOTY Scoreboard: Astro Bot, Balatro, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, More
- The Strong Museum of Play Acquires Prototypes and Development Documents from Volition’s 30-Year History
- Minecraft’s Volume Alpha Soundtrack Has Been Added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry
Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Research Library
- Inside the ‘Dragon Age’ Debacle That Gutted EA’s BioWare Studio – Bloomberg (2025)
- Fight Club, The Game David Fincher Didn’t Want You To Play – Time Extension (2025)
- It’s beginning to feel like gaming isn’t for everyone – Digital Trends (2025)
- 22 years later, modders are keeping SimCity 4 alive – The Verge (2025)
- The B-movies of Paul W.S. Anderson double as acts of devotion to his muse, Milla Jovovich – The AV Club (2025)
Warp Zoned Archives
All Articles: PS2
Persona 4 stage play hitting Japan in March
Atlus’ RPG/school sim Persona 4 has been seeing a lot of attention lately in it’s home country of Japan. At the Tokyo Game show this year, two new games in the franchise were announced, Persona 4: The Golden for Vita and Persona 4: Ultimate Mayonaka Arena for Xbox 360/PS3. Even an anime based on the series, called “Persona 4: The Animation,” has begun airing in Japan and is on episode six.
The video game is breaking some entirely new ground as well… ground in REAL LIFE. The new production company Marvelous AQL has greenlit Visualive Persona 4, a stage play based on the popular video game. The play is set to run from March 15, 2012 through the 20th at the Sunshine theater in Tokyo.
The voice actor for Teddie (Kuma in the Japanese version) is even reprising his role from the video game on stage.
[Source: Anime News Network]
Posted in Etcetera, News
Tagged Persona 4, Persona 4: Arena, Persona 4: The Golden, PS2
2K fills out “NBA’s Greatest” roster in NBA 2K12
After teasing NBA 2K12‘s new “NBA’s Greatest” mode at the beginning of the month, 2K Sports is ready to announce the full roster of 15 basketball greats:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1986-87 Lakers vs. 1986-87 Celtics)
- Larry Bird (1985-86 Celtics vs. The 1985-86 Hawks)
- Wilt Chamberlain (1971-72 Lakers vs. 1971-72 Knicks)
- Julius Erving (1984-85 76ers vs. 1984-85 Bucks
- Patrick Ewing (1994-95 Knicks vs. 1994-95 Magic)
- Magic Johnson (1990-91 Lakers vs. 1990-91 Blazers)
- Michael Jordan (1992-93 Bulls vs. 1992-93 Hornets)
- Karl Malone (1997-98 Jazz vs. 1997-98 Spurs)
- Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94 Rockets vs. 1993-94 Nuggets)
- Scottie Pippen (1995-96 Bulls vs. 1995-96 Sonics)
- Oscar Robertson (1970-71 Bucks vs. 1970-71 Lakers)
- Bill Russell (1964-65 Celtics vs. 1964-65 Lakers)
- John Stockton (1997-98 Jazz vs. 1997-98 Lakers)
- Isiah Thomas (1988-89 Pistons vs. 1988-89 Bulls)
- Jerry West (1970-71 Lakers vs. 1970-71 Hawks)
“Fans across the country were ecstatic to see Jordan, Bird, and Magic on the cover of NBA 2K12, and have speculated for weeks about who would fill out the rest of the ‘NBA’s Greatest’ roster,” said Jason Argent, Vice President of Marketing for 2K Sports. “These 15 legendary athletes will allow sports fanatics to create the NBA’s most storied matchups – and lock in bragging rights for their favorite teams in NBA 2K12.”
Players who pre-order NBA 2K12 for the PS3 or Xbox 360 will receive access to two additional teams/players in NBA’s Greatest mode. The bonus babies include the 1990-91 Golden State Warriors (with Chris Mullin) and the 2001-02 Sacramento Kings (with Chris “Timeout!” Webber). According to 2K, these teams will only be available to those who pre-order NBA 2K12.
NBA 2K12 will be released for the PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii and Xbox 360 on October 4.
[Source: ESPN]
NBA 2K12 soundtrack revealed
NBA 2K12‘s soundtrack was released today by 2K Sports, featuring tracks and collaborations by Eminem, Cee-Lo Green, Busta Rhymes, and many more. Alex K. and D.J.I.G. made the soundtrack through a contest called “Duck Down,” giving them the opportunity to collaborate and create the track “Now’s My Time.”
2K Sports’ Vice President of Marketing, Jason Argent, emphasized how important music is to the series. “Music has always been an integral part of our NBA 2K video games, as it further immerses players into the world of basketball and enhances their gaming experience,” he said. “It was important to us that the NBA 2K12 soundtrack was not only what you hear while navigating the menus, but also in real-life situations like pre-game highlight introductions and during timeouts, just as you would hear a song while at a game or watching on TV.”
NBA 2K12 will be available October 4 for the PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, and Xbox 360. Hit the jump for the full track list. (more…)
NCAA Football 12 is the valedictorian of July’s NPD chart
The NPD Group has revealed the top ten bestselling games for the month of July and NCAA Football 12 jumped to the head of the class. None of the rest of the month’s new releases managed to crack the list (including the awesome Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon or the alluring Catherine). Even the heavily-hyped Duke Nukem Forever was unable to maintain its place in the top ten.
With few new releases, only 17 titles were released during the month, gamers spent their money on other things in July. According to The NPD Group’s Anita Frazier, July was the “lowest month [for game sales] since October 2006.”
Maybe that’ll show publishers that the gaming community is pretty desperate for new games in the Summer. So maybe they shouldn’t backload every worthwhile game into the September-November period. In the meantime, check out the full top ten after the break. (more…)
Posted in News
Tagged 3DS, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Cars 2, DS, Fallout: New Vegas, Just Dance 2, Lego Pirates of the Caribbean, Major League Baseball 2K11, Mortal Kombat, NCAA Football 12, New Super Mario Bros., NPD, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360, Zumba Fitness
Kareem, Dr. J say “I am the greatest” in NBA 2K12’s NBA’s Greatest mode
What do you do for an encore after you add His Airness to NBA 2K11? You throw the ball back onto the court and see who else wants to play.
2K Sports plans to make NBA 2K12 legendary with the new NBA’s Greatest mode. Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and ten more basketball legends will relive their greatest game and then match up against current NBA stars like Lebron James and Dirk Nowitski.
“One of the things we’re really proud of as a franchise is that we’ve transcended video games and have become part of the talk about basketball and the NBA,” says Jason Argent, 2K’s Vice President of Marketing. “So we’re going to leverage that with NBA 2K12 as every person who loves to debate sports, every person in every barber shop and bar and everywhere else always wonders: What would happen if today’s Lakers played one of the Jordan teams?”
With ten spots remaining, I hope there’s room for The Round Mound of Rebound, Sir Charles Barkley himself!
[Source: ESPN]
Jordan, Bird, Magic triple-team NBA 2K12 cover
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. (more…)
Double Fine begins acquiring the rights to Psychonauts
The exclusive rights to publish Psychonauts, the first game from Tim Schaeffer’s Double Fine Productions, have now reverted to the developer. Although this resulted in a celebratory OMG Tweet from Senior Gameplay Programmer Anna Kipnis, the studio still has a few more deals to work out before they can resume working on the IP. Schaeffer told Gamasutra, “[A]fter that’s all squared away, we will have some fun stuff to announce! (And no, it’s not Psychonauts 2.)”
Released in 2005 for PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, Psychonauts is revered for its unique story and sense of humor that has since become synonymous with Double Fine. We’ll be sure to keep you posted on what those announcements end up being.
Posted in News
Tagged PC, PS2, Psychonauts
See the final box art for Madden NFL 12
Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis vaulted over some stiff competition to earn the right to grace the Madden NFL 12 cover. Today, Hillis has officially been targeted by the Madden Cover Curse as the final box art for the game was revealed. Feel free to click on the image to view a slightly larger version.
Madden NFL 12 will be released for the PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii and Xbox 360 on August 30.