Warp Zoned Presents
Author: Holly Scalzo
Mercedes Japan is bringing the GLA to Mario Kart 8 in this creepy commercial
In an attempt to be cute, both Nintendo and Mercedes-Benz Japan have actually done more to haunt my dreams than It, True Detective, and that one episode of The X-Files with the inbred cannibal family combined. Well, that’s not totally true because each of those is pretty disturbing. But this is close.
Mercedes-Benz has bought the best product placement imaginable by brokering a deal with Nintendo to add its new car, the GLA, to Mario Kart 8 as free DLC within Japan later this Summer. It hasn’t been officially announced, but the GLA kart will most likely be available elsewhere, too.
In itself this isn’t the terrifying part. The stuff of nightmares is actually to be found in the commercial advertising the car’s placement in the game. At thirty seconds long, it starts out with Mario hopping into a GLA and inexplicably going through the first level of Super Mario Bros. (never mind that there are no cars in that game) and when he reaches the castle at the end, well, you kind of have to see it for yourself.
I apologize for making anyone else see this, but I think it’s kind of like the video in The Ring — if I don’t make someone else view it, I may die.
[Source: IGN]
Posted in News, Wii U
Tagged Mario Kart 8
Pushmo World will be released for Wii U on June 19
Pushmo World, developed by Intelligent Systems, is coming to the Wii U on June 19th. It is the third game in the Pushmo series, which also includes 2011’s Pushmo and 2012’s Crashmo. What’s different, and notable, with this game is that it is the first game to be playable on a console, rather than previous entries which were available only for the 3DS.
Similar to its predecessors, “Pushmo World finds players pushing, pulling, and climbing blocks to solve a collection of more than 250 new puzzles.” Billed as a game with wide appeal, for kids and more advanced gamers alike, “players are tasked with solving three-dimensional block-based puzzles by moving blocks to climb to the top of structures. As the game progresses, the puzzles get larger and more complex, with some massive, screen-filling creations resembling familiar objects, animals, and even classic Nintendo characters.”
New to Pushmo World is the World Pushmo Fair, which is an in-game community space wherein players can download and share new puzzles they create using the Pushmo Studio. The developers will be adding new puzzles to the game through the World Pushmo Fair as well ensuring a “near-endless amount” of puzzles for Pushmo World.
To celebrate the upcoming release, Nintendo is discounting Pushmo (to $4.69) and Crashmo (to $5.99) in the 3DS eShop now through June 13th at 11:59 AM ET. Pushmo World will then be available the following week in the Wii U eShop for $9.99.
Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U
Tagged Pushmo World
Conan goes on a crime spree in Watch Dogs
Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs is now available in stores, but Conan O’Brien gave the world its first look at the game in last Thursday’s installment of his “Clueless Gamer” segment. If you’re unfamiliar with these segments, the title of them and the fact that it’s Conan should tell you all you need to know. Watch as he plays and reviews the game, imparting words of wisdom applicable not only to video games, but to life as well, such as “…the best way to solve a crime, sometimes, is to start a new crime.”
Enjoy!
It’s not TV, it’s homoerotic Nintendo characters on HBO’s Last Week Tonight
“Virtual, eventual, equality. That’s the dream!”
As you may know, two weeks ago Nintendo upset everyone with their omission of a same-sex relationship option in the upcoming North American/European release of Tomodachi Life, a Sims-ian life simulator. Not a simian life simulator — this isn’t Planet of the Apes. But there’s a game idea, Nintendo. Trademark!
Anyway, last week on Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, America’s favorite chimney sweep, the delightful Brit Mr. Oliver, discussed this story on his program. With Nintendo’s promise of future inclusion despite their massive oversight that gay people exist, watch as beloved Nintendo characters like Mario, Link, and Zelda celebrate the announcement in this clip.
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver airs on Sunday nights at 11:00 PM on HBO (but not tonight, he’s on vacation #FortnightOfIgnorance).
Posted in 3DS, Etcetera, News
Tagged Tomodachi Life
Revenge of the Swine! Angry Birds Star Wars II announced
From the secret, frozen, underground laboratory of Rovio, located somewhere in Finland, comes their latest Angry Birds incarnation, a sequel to the super-popular Angry Birds Star Wars of last year. This new game, Angry Birds Star Wars II, will be released on September 19th and will be available for download from all mobile app stores. The game also features a couple new twists in the gameplay.
In addition to new stories, levels, characters, special powers, and “new sides to fight for,” Rovio has proudly announced an interesting gimmick called “Telepods.” Made by Hasbro and available come September wherever toys are sold, Telepods will allow you to teleport your favorite characters directly into the game using, presumably, magic. You can also customize your slingshot lineup as well as choose which characters to include in that launch. There will be 30 collectable Telepods, so start saving up your nickels now, kids.
So many Telepods to play with, of course, means that there are over 30 “never-before-seen” Angry Birds Star Wars characters to play with, AND…OMG, GET THIS: “Another first for the series is that you can choose your side! Players can choose to “Join the Pork Side.”
Since this game sequel will feature the Star Wars prequels, the first two levels in the game appear to be called “Naboo Invasion” and “Escape to Tatooine.” So pull out The Phantom Menace, in the meantime, to prepare yourself. But don’t forget to plug your ears when Jar Jar comes onscreen. (Note: Rovio has not said either way whether Mr. Binks will appear in the game, but we can only pray to our respective gods that the Empire shot him in the face with a blaster and dismembered him into pieces as small as ice cubes with a Lightsaber. Oops, I hope there are no children reading this. He’s fine, younglings! Uncle Jar Jar is just fine!)
Check out the trailer to find out how these Telepods work (I’m being told it’s not “magic”), some screenshots of the game, as well as an interior shot of what looks to be the secret Rovio fortress featuring several English-speaking scientists. I’m starting to think they’re not really Finnish.
And in keeping with a really successful and marketable franchise, there will be ABSWII merchandise coming out the wazoo (which, I gather, must be some rural Finnish village), including but not limited to toys, plushies, books, clothes, pharmaceuticals, and more! Okay, one of those is not real. But I won’t tell you which. All this plus the Telepods will make their debut in September alongside the main event, Angry Birds Star Wars II, the game.
Posted in Mobile, News
Tagged Angry Birds Star Wars II
Writer Rumble Review: Let’s Get Ready to… Actually, No
Writer Rumble is the first game that GameFly, the video game version of Netflix, has produced. The premise of the game is very simple: choose a character and get ready to play Boggle (or Scramble With Friends) as a variety of monsters make their approach. Sticks and stones won’t break their bones, but words do have the power to destroy them. As you quickly search for words in the board area, keep an eye up top as well where the “action” is taking place, and make sure you’re keeping pace with all the ghouls headed your way. (more…)
Posted in Mobile, Reviews, Top Story
Tagged Writer Rumble
Angry Birds Star Wars Review: I’ve Got A Bird Feeling About This
Angry Birds Star Wars comes on the heels of the less-than-stellar puzzle-solving fiasco that was Bad Piggies, and is the next game in the Angry Birds Series (which also includes Angry Birds, Angry Birds Space, Angry Birds Seasons, Angry Birds Rio, Angry Birds Magic) from Rovio Entertainment. After that Bad Piggies episode, not only do we have our slingshot back, but we have a Lightsaber, too! How is that not amazing? (more…)
Posted in Mobile, Reviews, Top Story
Tagged Angry Birds Star Wars
Angry Birds Star Wars “Hoth” update is now available
Earlier today, I was alerted to the fact that Rovio has released the “Hoth” update to Angry Birds Star Wars. And of course, I immediately updated the game and started playing. I’ve had things to do today (hey, naps are important, plus if I remember correctly from Daria, TV counts as a place to be), but I’ve peppered in as much playtime as I could and I’m almost done with all the levels.
The first update for ABSW is based on Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back and takes place on the ice planet of Hoth. Rovio says “[F]ans must lead the desperate Rebel birds to safety as they’re pursued by AT-ATs and Pigtroopers. Luckily the Rebels have an ace up their sleeve.” Yup, if you’ve been playing and noticed one of the characters missing from the lineup thus far, you’ll be happy to see that Princess Leia has made her debut (as the pink bird) and has an interesting (and mostly helpful) power.
Check out the trailer to see the Hoth adventure in action and if you’ve already purchased Angry Birds Star Wars, get the free update for iOS with 20 levels, and start it. Now! It’s pretty fun.
The Hoth update is coming soon to Android, Mac, and PC.
Posted in Mobile, News
Tagged Angry Birds Star Wars