Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Silent Hill, Dragon Quest, Skyrim, and More Announced as Finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Has Another Big Night and Wins “Game of the Year” at the 2025-2026 DICE Awards
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Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
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- The History Of The Word “Metroidvania” And How It Spread – A Critical Hit (2025)
- Creator of Hit Game Shovel Knight Is at a ‘Make or Break’ Moment – Bloomberg (2025)
- Shadow of the Colossus: An oral history – Design Room (2025)
- In 2005, games started rewiring our brains – The AV Club (2025)
All Articles: PS4
Rumor: PS4 launching in November at $429 and $529
Here it is, the final rumor ahead of Sony’s expected PlayStation 4/Orbis reveal tomorrow night.
Kotaku is reporting that an inside source has informed them that the PS4 will launch in November of this year at two separate price points: $429 and $529. According to Kotaku’s tipster, the retail price of the PS4 won’t be announced until after E3, and how the two packages will differ is currently unkownn.
In addition to the price and the launch date, the source revealed that Sony will begin charging for their online service. The current plan is to phase out most aspects of the free service and replace the newly beefed-up PlayStation Plus with a new subscription service dubbed PlayStation World.
Finally, Kotaku’s source has said that every PS4 will come bundled with a PlayStation Eye, every game will include a spectator mode, and the system will be controllable with a SmartGlass-like tablet/phone app.
Remember to check back tomorrow at 6 PM (Eastern Time) to see how many of these rumors turn out to be true.
Posted in News
Tagged PlayStation Meeting 2013, PS4
The Essential Guide to Next-Generation Games: Version 1.0
With the Wii U already in stores and Sony set to announce the first details of the PlayStation 4/Orbis tomorrow, I think it’s safe to say that the next generation of consoles is upon us. But what games will this brave new world bring us? For now, most of the titles that will be available for the PS4 and Xbox 720/Durango are shrouded in mystery. Even the majority of the Wii U’s 2013 lineup is one big question mark.
Thankfully, your friendly neighborhood Warp Zoned editors have compiled a status report on 67 next-generation games known to be in existence. You can read all about our findings, after the break. (more…)
Bungie embraces their Destiny
Well, the wait is finally over. This afternoon, Halo creators Bungie unveiled the first details of their newest offering, Destiny, to the public.
The title, which is scheduled to hit the Xbox 360, PS3, and “future generation technology” (that’s the next Xbox and PlayStation systems to the layperson) sounds very ambitious. The story is as follows: In the distant future, humans have spread across the galaxy, exploring the far reaches of space. That is, until they attacked. The entire species is all but wiped out, and all that remains live in a guarded city on Earth. The invading aliens are unable to destroy this last bastion of hope, as the city (and its civilians) are protected by a large, floating orb called “The Traveler” that hovers above. This orb not only shelters the last remaining survivors, but also bestows upon them immense power. The humans use these newfound abilities to try to prevent their extinction.
While this may at first seem like your basic futuristic sci-fi game, Bungie assures us it is anything but. Destiny features an extremely deep online world; almost MMO-like. Destiny is an “always online” first-person shooter, akin to Borderlands. Players are given a choice between three classes: Titan (your heavy hitter), Warlock (magic-wielder), or Hunter (stealth-based). Once you choose your class, you then go through deep customization process, and then you are thrust into the game. You and your friends can progress cooperatively (like Borderlands), or you can choose to join in on a competitive match or two. Vehicles also make up a huge part of Destiny, as it appears you’ll not only be traversing Earth, but also visiting other planets as well.
Bungie is looking to create a world that is always on, always inhabited. Destiny’s main focuses is character interaction – and not just NPCs. Adventures with your friends (and complete strangers) while playing online is what Destiny is all about. According to Bungie’s Joseph Staten, “The most important stories we tell won’t be told by us They’ll be told by players. Personal legends built from shared adventures.”
No specific release date has been given, and Destiny may not even hit shelves this year. But one thing is certain: we can’t wait.
Rumor: Is this the PS4’s controller?
The PlayStation 4/Orbis rumors continue to leak out of Sony like… well, like a rumor leaking out of Sony. I mean really, the consolemaker is just terrible about keeping secrets. Thank god they don’t run the Witness Protection Program.
This time, Destructoid has gotten their hands on a picture that is purported to show the PS4’s controller, up close and personal. A separate inside source, speaking to IGN, has stated the controller is real, but that it’s a PS4 prototype and not representative of the final design.
The image (click to enlarge) shows a standard-looking DualShock controller with a massive touchscreen affixed to the center. The analog sticks have been changed from their traditional convex shape to more closely resemble the concave sticks on the Xbox 360 controller. Finally, the d-pad buttons have been moved closer together, though they still don’t form the “plus” that the Nintendo-style pad is known for.
Oh, and what’s that blue light on the top?
Hopefully we’ll find out the answer to all of these questions next Wednesday, February 20, during Sony’s “The Future” presentation.
Posted in News
Tagged PlayStation Meeting 2013, PS4
EA plans to release 10-15 next-gen games during console transition period
Blake Jorgensen, the Chief Financial Officer at Electronic Arts, told the crowd at this year’s Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference that EA plans to have 10-15 next-generation games ready to go during the PS3-Xbox 360/PS4-Xbox 720 “transition period.”
But don’t worry, if you don’t plan on purchasing a next-generation console (for whatever reason), Jorgensen confirmed that the majority of EA’s output would be available on “generation-three” consoles (that’s the PS3 and Xbox 360) because they’re a slave to the sports schedules:
“An important thing to remember is that next-gen consoles will most likely not be backwards compatible,” [Jorgensen] explained. “And if you [play] multiplayer on a game, you’ll most likely not be able to play with someone on a different generation. And so if you’re a FIFA player, and the soccer season’s starting in August, and all your friends are playing FIFA, you’re going to want to be on the same box that they’re on.”
Further details of these 10-15 titles were unavailable, but we know for a fact that EA internal studios DICE and Criterion are hard at work on next-generation games.
[Source: Polygon]
GameStop says 60% of customers will skip next-gen consoles that block used games
Rob Lloyd, GameStop’s Chief Financial Officer, has some strong for any consolemaker considering a used game lockout system for their next-generation console.
Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference, Lloyd told the assembled crowd that the retailer recently conducted a poll of their customers and found that 60% would refuse to purchase a console that disallowed used games. Someone who says that consumers demand to be able to play used games, who also happens to be the CFO of GameStop, can be considered a bit of a biased source. But something tells me their research doesn’t stray too far from reality.
“Consumers want the ability to play pre-owned games, they want portability in their games; they want to play physical games. And to not have those things would be a substantial reason for them not to purchase a new console,” Lloyd said.
He was also quoted as saying, “Sony has said publicly that they don’t intend to block used games on its next console.” That’s news to me, but I’d like to believe it’s true.
Hopefully we’ll find out next Wednesday.
[Source: VG247]
Media Molecule is working on a mystery project
Media Molecule, the team behind LittleBigPlanet, LittleBigPlanet 2, and the upcoming Tearaway have a second game in the works. But apparently, it’s a mystery!
The list of games on the developer’s website includes their previous titles as well as a question mark. The question mark links to the music video for “It’s A Mystery,” a minor hit for the UK band Toyah in 1981. Sadly, the lyrics aren’t much help:
It’s a mystery, oh, it’s a mystery
I’m still searching for a clue
It’s a mystery to me
A shot in the dark
The big question mark in history
Is it a mystery to you?
We’ll hopefully learn more about Media Molecule’s Question Mark during Sony’s “The Future” presentation on February 20.
Arkane Studios is working on a next-generation FPS/RPG
Arkane Studios, the developers behind last year’s critically-acclaimed Dishonored, are working on a next-generation first person shooter/RPG hybrid. The news comes via a job listing on their Careers page:
Senior Engine Programmer
Answering to the Technical Director, you will adapt, maintain and optimize the code for PC and next gen consoles. Multipurpose, you will deal with technology issues that will come up during production (animation, IO, audio, physics….)
You know, Dishonored was a bit of an FPS/RPG hybrid. And Bethesda Vice President Pete Hines has mentioned his desire to see development begin on Dishonored 2 before. Hmm…
Posted in News
Tagged Dishonored 2, PC, PS4, Xbox One