Warp Zoned Presents
Author: Mike Gutierrez
Square Enix keeps it up, Parasite Eve likely joining PSOne Classics
Square Enix has been on quite a roll lately. After reinstating digital PSP downloads on the PlayStation Store with Tactics Ogre and re-releasing the elusive and legendary Xenogears as a PSOne Classic, another masterpiece from Square’s golden age is joining Sony’s retro corner. Parasite Eve recently received an ESRB rating for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable (the two platforms you can bring your PSOne Classics on), likely M for Mature as it was when it originally released on the PlayStation in 1998.
Parasite Eve followed in the footsteps of Final Fantasy VII, innovating the cinematic RPG sub genre, popularizing the use of FMV cutscenes and intense set pieces. A new entry in the series, The 3rd Birthday, is coming March 29 on the PSP.
Posted in News, PS3, PSP
Tagged Final Fantasy VII, Parasite Eve, The 3rd Birthday
Entire Nintendo 3DS shipment gone within a day
The initial shipment of the Nintendo 3DS in Japan, 400,000 units, has completely sold out in less than 24 hours. Retailers were already taking pre-orders for the next shipment that was set to arrive today. Nintendo plans to distribute a total of 1.5 million units to stores in the country by the end of March, (the end of their fiscal year) and if this keeps going, I imagine those will be gone just as fast. The total worldwide shipment in the same time frame will be 4 million units, and if the rest of us go as crazy for this handheld as the Japanese have, well, that’s a pretty big install base in a very short amount of time.
This is insane. You can hear some thoughts on the 3DS from the Warp Zoned staff, including yours truly, on the third episode of our podcast here.
Former Bizarre Creations staff come out from the dark as Lucid Games
It’s been a sad couple weeks with series being cancelled and studios saying goodbye, particularly Bizarre Creations. Fans of the studio will be pleased to know, then, that many of the senior members of the studio are already back, ready to continue doing what they do best as Lucid Games (logo above). The studio will likewise be staying in Liverpool, England and could be hiring for as many as 50+ new positions. “Our approach is to create for fun, quality and simplicity – it’s how our games make you feel that matters to us. We are committed to hiring character, hiring talent and training skill,” said Managing Director Pete Wallace. They seem to be really excited about bringing in new talent, with Wallace further stating, “if you are interested in being a part of something new and feel you can meet or exceed the standards you have seen in our previous games then get in touch.”
The fan favorite developer is already in talks with several publishing partners about potential projects and building up a team to deliver. It’s great to see developers bounce back like this, let’s hope we don’t let them down this time around.
Posted in News
Virtua Tennis 4 serving retailers May 10
Sega announced that Virtua Tennis 4 will be available in the United States on May 10 for the Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. The lucky Europeans who probably care about tennis a lot more than we do get the game a little early as an award on April 29. Adapting to the current trends on the HD platforms, Virtua Tennis 4 will be compatible with both PlayStation Move and Xbox 360 Kinect.
Posted in News, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
Tagged Virtua Tennis 4
SOCOM 4 Full Deployment Edition detailed, curiously missing headset
Before Halo would take players to Xbox Live, SOCOM introduced the console demographic to online multiplayer shooters, giving them a headset with the game to encourage tactical play. Yesterday Sony detailed the Full Deployment Edition for SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy Seals, which regrettably is missing a mic. On the bright side, this is actually a really great Move bundle, considering SOCOM 4 was one of the first games announced with Move support. Along with the game, the bundle includes the PlayStation Eye Camera, a Motion controller, a Navigation controller, and the PlayStation Move Sharpshooter. $150 is kinda steep, but it’s everything you need, and a little more (Killzone 3 plays fine with Move without any plastic gun peripheral), to get in on Sony’s take on motion controlled gaming.
Also, your SOCOM 4 Beta information should be coming next week for all of us who’ve already picked up Killzone 3 or plan to. SOCOM 4 is oscar mike April 19.
Posted in News, PS3
Tagged SOCOM 4: US Navy SEALs
The G-Spot: Modern Warfare 2 vs. Black Ops
When Infinity Ward released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in 2009, it launched one of the biggest names in gaming into the stratosphere of pop culture. A year later, at the time it needed to deliver most, Treyarch released Call of Duty: Black Ops, which not only matched the records of Modern Warfare 2, but shattered them. This prolific series fought its way to the top of the charts while spurning out ugly legal battles and one of the most caustic rivalries in the history of gaming. Now that the first map pack for Black Ops is about to be available on all platforms, it’s time to examine the comparative merits of these two games, and this is our focus for the second installment of The G-Spot. (more…)
Posted in Opinions, PC, PS3, Top Story, Xbox 360
Tagged Call of Duty: Black Ops, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Halo: Reach Defiant Map Pack dated
For 800 Microsoft points ($10), you’ll be able to grab yourself the three maps in the Defiant Map Pack DLC for Halo: Reach when it releases on March 15. The maps include Condemned, a space station orbiting Reach, Highlands, taking place at the Wilderness Training Preserve, and Unearthed, a new firefight map set at a titanium excavation site. Hit the jump for a few screenshots. (more…)
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged Halo: Reach
Robot Entertainment announces first original game, declares ‘Orcs Must Die!’
Many of you may recognize Robot Entertainment as formerly Ensemble Studios, creators of Halo Wars and the legendary RTS series Age of Empires. They’re still supporting those titles, but today have announced their first new IP, Orcs Must Die! As you may have guessed from the title, this game invites you to slaughter as many of the green fiends as you can. The game combines elements of tower defense and action games, as you set traps to wipe out oncoming waves, or jump into the action yourself.
“Robot exists to make great games that our fans love. Orcs Must Die! is our first original title, and we’re counting on players to do what must be done: drive the orcs into oblivion!” demanded Robot CEO Patrick Hudson.
Orcs Must Die! will be showcased at PAX East in Boston from March 11 to 13, so expect more information here on Warp Zoned. The game is scheduled for a summer downloadable release on PC and consoles.
Posted in PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Orcs Must Die!, PAX East 2011