Warp Zoned Presents
Author: Ryan Littlefield
XBL Marketplace MEGA Sale on 2K/Rockstar Content
Major Nelson’s blog has the report: The XBL Marketplace has more content on sale right now than you can shake your virtual fist at (sorry, Kinect joke)!
If you’ve been stingy about buying add-on content like I have, now’s your time to take advantage! Red Dead Redemption’s Undead Nightmare pack is discounted, along with Borderlands and Grand Theft Auto IV content. The complete list is after the break and the sale ends January 31st. Save yourself some money by spending some money!… Go figure. (more…)
Atlus bestows Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga unto Xbox 360
After roughly two years of near-silence on Microsoft’s action-RPG-laden console, Atlus graciously announced their triumphant return to the Xbox 360 yesterday, through the publishing and release of Focus Home Entertainment’s Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga.
The game will be released on April 12 and contain all of the expansions and DLC that Atlus has released for Divinity II so far. In a somewhat extensive quote from Aram Jabbari, Manager of Public Relations and Sales at Atlus, he detailed the package as follows:
“With Ego Draconis, the original Divinity II adventure now enhanced to live up to its original promise, and Flames of Vengeance, the tale’s rousing finale, Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga for Xbox 360 system stands as one of the most expansive console action RPG experiences of all time. Comprehensive in its content, extensively remastered based on community feedback, and unflinching in its grand scope and ambition, this complete set offers roleplaying fans over 100 hours of intense action, unique quests, a fully realized fantasy world to explore, and the unmatched thrill of taking to the skies as a powerful dragon. There’s no better or more entertaining way to mow down dozens of your enemy’s troops than with searing blasts of flame from your mouth. Believe us: we’ve tried.”
As always, Atlus plans to bundle the game with its soundtrack, satisfying the thirst of Atlus fans everywhere.
Throughout 2011, Atlus’ presence on the Xbox 360 will remain prevalent, with the upcoming releases of The Cursed Crusade, Catherine, and Rock of Ages.
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga
How To Make the Perfect Sonic the Hedgehog Game
Now that Sega has announced a 20th anniversary celebration for Sonic the Hedgehog, 2011 may well prove to be an important year for their spiky blue mascot (we’ll likely get a new game out of it at least). But despite Sega’s best efforts, every gamer – casual or otherwise – knows that there hasn’t been a good Sonic the Hedgehog game made since 1994; Sonic 4 may carry on the series, but the first episode still didn’t feel perfectly right. (more…)
Posted in Opinions, Top Story
Tagged Sonic the Hedgehog
LittleBigPlanet 2 celebrates release with help from Guinness Book of Records
In an attempt to solidify its place in platform gaming, LittleBigPlanet 2 found itself in the Guinness Book of World Records after fans set five consecutive records earlier this week.
The event was held at the Playstation Lounge in the New York City-based Sony Style store beginning on January 17th, and ending less than 48 hours later. Specifically, three fans who attended the event were the ones responsible for setting the records: David Dino (PSN ID: Gevurah22), Sean Crowley (PSN ID: Jaeyden), and one of the contestants from season 1 of The Tester, Lauren Guiliano (PSN ID: Lugey). SCEA earned recognition for two additional records through LittleBigPlanet 2’s release.
Records set by the fans included:
- Longest marathon playing LittleBigPlanet 2
- Longest marathon playing a platform video game
- Most video game genres played in one video game in 24 hours
- Most user-generated video game levels played in 24 hours
- Most user-generated video game levels played in a video game marathon
Though some of the fans’ records seem like a stretch, SCEA received their two records for “Most Gaming Genres In One Video Game,” and “Most Player-Created Levels In One Video Game.” After the event closed, the Guinness Book’s staff issued awards to SCEA and the three fans who, in total, set seven records over the course of 48 hours. It is unclear whether these records had a say in the official decision to place LBP2’s Sackboy on the cover of the recently-released Guinness World Records 2011: Gamer’s Edition, but I can’t think of a cuter, sackier, better face for the cover.
Posted in Etcetera, News, PS3
Tagged LittleBigPlanet 2
Google zaps Android’s Kongregate support, blocking free arcade capabilities
In an event that seemed to end as quickly as it began, Kongregate’s free Android app was taken out of the Android’s App Store by Google today. Google claims that Kongregate’s free app illicitly downloads and installs applications without users’ permission.
Kongregate stated the following in response:
“In truth, Kongregate Arcade just plays Flash games via the Android web browser and doesn’t install anything, though it does cache games for faster loading. The TOS limitation they reference for our takedown is so broad it would apply equally to content apps like Kindle, Slacker, and hundreds of others, and yet only our app has been removed.”
This action may be Google’s way of defending other Android app store developers, but Kongregate is still hosting the app directly via their own website. Kongregate is currently making an effort to get their app back into the Android’s store.
Source: Kongregate.com
Kirby’s Epic Yarn Review: A Game That Doesn’t “Suck!”
At E3 2010, Nintendo’s press conference included a slew of long-awaited titles for the Wii, including the likes of Donkey Kong Country Returns and Epic Mickey. Kirby’s Epic Yarn joined that list, and with its release, it is clear that Nintendo carefully stitched together a modern-day masterful performance. Side-scrolling gameplay is back, and Kirby is here to prove it! (more…)
Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Wii
Tagged Kirby's Epic Yarn
Pac-Man returns to U.S. televisions; scientists suggest possible time lapse
Just when we thought the 80s were over, we find out that Pac-Man will be returning to our television screens. Only this time, it’s not quite in the same format as before. Merv Griffin Entertainment has been working with Namco Bandai in creating a Pac-Man reality show. That’s right, a Pac-Man reality show. How, you ask?
The upcoming Pac-Man TV show is briefly described as “the world’s biggest game of tag” and a “big, crazy Wipeout-type event with a lot of energy” by Merv Griffin Entertainment president of TV Roy Bank. No firm details have yet been released on the show’s specific premise, but one can guess that it may play out similar to the popular “Pac-Man Library” video. In case you weren’t yet on the internet in 2006, here’s an example:
As far as I’m concerned, personally, stick to the Pac-Man games. Notably, Pac-Man Championship Edition DX.
[Source: Deadline]
Nintendo’s Miyamoto states “Not all 3DS games in 3D,” blows minds
According to a formal, fancy sit-down interview with Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto, Satoru Iwata, and Hiroshi Yamauchi (AKA Iwata Asks), the upcoming 3DS may not feature 3D visuals on every game. Miyamoto states: “New game cards will be specific to Nintendo 3DS, but whether they will be in 3D or not is basically up to the maker, just like how much to use the touchscreen was up to developers for Nintendo DS.”
Understandably so. But Nintendo has promised several release titles with 3D capability, including high-resolution remakes of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. So, why bother even stating this? Well, because of this statement by Miyamoto, one can make the inference that 3DS may have just as much third-party software as the Nintendo DS and Wii have had. Because Nintendo spearheaded the 3D charade within their own handheld, other third-party publishers may take time to effectively follow in their 3D footsteps.
Miyamoto justifies the lack of 3D necessity by noting: “Even now, I don’t think we need to have everything stick out. One thing I’m certain of is that in games today, there are quite a few scenes that would be much better if they stuck out. They’re not interesting simply because they stick out.”