Retro Studios Hires A Pair of Game Designers
VGC reports that Texas based Retro Studios has hired New Super Lucky’s Tale designer Mark Capers, who was also designer on Epic Mickey and its sequel. Retro’s second new hire is designer James Beech, known for his work on Crysis 3 (Senior Level Designer), DC Universe Online and the planned (and scrapped) sequel to Silicon Knights’ Eternal Darkness 2. He comes to Retro Studios as an Environment Designer.
From VGC, of interesting note:
Crucially, five of Metroid Prime 3’s 11 designers were still at Retro and potentially working on the upcoming Metroid Prime 4.
However, from the original Metroid Prime – which released almost two decades ago – less than 10 of the 40-plus team members remained at Retro and virtually all of the lead creators had moved on.
Here’s hoping these new design hires talents are used for the upcoming Metroid Prime 4 and we can get some game info soon!
A special thanks to videogameschronicle.com for their reporting.
Amazing Custom Ridley Action Figure
Instagram user Otaku_Tokusatsu has created a fully posable, custom Ridley action figure by cleverly combining a NECA ALIEN Xenomorph figure with a Marvel Legends Sauron figure. After some paint and detail, the finished result looks killer!
Click to Enlarge Images
Now, if only Nintendo could be gracious enough to give this legendary villain its own official figure.
Check out Otaku Tokusatsu’s instagram page here to see more awesome custom creations.
The Spectacular Story Of Metroid (2013, KOTAKU Article)
There’s a slew of amazing Metroid articles out there and these KOTAKU articles in particular deserve to be revisited. Even though they were written in 2013, they still stand out as some of the best explorations of the Metroid lore to date with sourced references to distinguish lore from speculation and credited artwork that bring the (often understated, yet complex) Metroid story to life.
This is an amazing read and a quite a feat of exceptional detective work that could only come from a hyper-dedicated Metroid fan, Mama Robotnik.
Kotaku:
Nothing beats the passion of a true fan writing about something they love. That’s what you’re about to see here: one of the richest, most amazing tributes to a great gaming series that we’ve ever run on Kotaku.
The Spectacular Story Of Metroid – PART 1
The Spectacular Story Of Metroid – PART 2
Content From The Old MDb Site Is Still Accessible!
In case you didn’t know, you can still access our collection of Metroid comics, maps, guides and content from our old site.
Of particular interest to newcomers is our, Japan only, Metroid Manga that has been exclusively translated for the Metroid Database. Here’s a few:
Metroid E-Manga Conversion (English)
This is the first two chapters of the Metroid Manga, in color form. The images from the E-Manga were reassembled panel by panel, determined by the pages of the real manga. Created exclusively for the MDb!
Samus and Joey, Volume 1 (English)
This is the MDb’s exclusive copy of Metroid: Samus and Joey! This 3-volume manga was published by Bom Bom Comics and released in 2003 in Japan. It is a non-canon story about Joey, who nominates himself as Samus’ first disciple after being saved by her from a deadly Space Pirate attack on his village. Also contains the one-off Metroid Fusion: Special Edition – Rebirth of Samus.
Click here to see the rest of our comic & manga collection!
Samus Aran’s Arm Cannon, Up for Pre-Order at GameStop.com
Out of nowhere, GameStop.com has put up a replica of Samus Aran’s Arm Cannon up for pre-order and it is expected to ship next month, 11/15/19.
It will cost $59.99 and features:
- Interior trigger
- Battery operated
- Lights and sounds
Click on the pics below to enlarge and see the details.
PRE-ORDER HERE!
Also, if you happen to be near a GameStop store and have lady luck on your side, you might be able to find this Blacklight Metroid.
Picture courtesy of Reddit user PapaProsciutto
Reddit user AutumnOctavia writes:
From what I understand it’s the same Metroid as the last World Of Nintendo release with new paint apps and 5 blacklight LEDs in the packaging. They used UV paint where there were yellow dots on the originals fleshy parts. They also used more UV paint to add vein details to the green translucent dome.
All the electronics are in the box and not actually in the Metroid. The box is also open to the elements unlike the original release that had plastic window on the box so expect it to collect a lot of dust. 🙁
Apparently each Gamestop got 1 each. It costs $24.99, 10 dollars more than the original $14.99 release.
Happy Hunting!
How a Metroid Movie Could Work
Taking cues from the official Metroid Manga, Derrick Bitner from GameXplain shares his vision of how a Metroid Movie could potentially work on the big screen. With narration by Bitner and a small cast of voice actors enacting key scenes, Daeyumi’s beautiful artwork is brought to life in this 10 minute pitch.
Derrick Bitner adds:
“This is just a small taste of my Metroid Movie project. The entire script is written but before I can move forward, I need to see if the interest is there. So, if you enjoyed this sample and want to see the rest, please let us know in the [YouTube] comments and share it as much as possible. I would love to continue on, the question is, do YOU want to see more?”
Click Images to Enlarge
There’s already an outpouring of support for the project on YouTube but be sure to make your voice heard! Head on over to the comment section of the YouTube link (below) showing your support and perhaps we will soon see a conclusion to Derrick’s narrative.
Derrick Bitner shared a tease for his follow up on Twitter:
Curious what later scenes in the Metroid movie would be like? I know the preview was all set-up, but @_Daeyumi_ cooked up two scenes from later in the script so I could see her range. This one is from Samus’s battle with Kraid. I love it so much.
— Derrick Bitner (@BitnerdGX) September 16, 2019
Super Nintendo Classics Heading to the Switch (Finally!)
Yes, that means Super Metroid is finally coming to the Nintendo Switch tomorrow, September 5. The rest of the games available at launch are:
- Super Mario Kart
- Kirby’s Dream Course
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
- F-Zero
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Super Mario World
- Star Fox
- Stunt Race FX
- Kirby’s Dream Land 3
- Pilotwings
- Super Soccer
- Super Tennis
- Brawl Brothers
- Demon’s Crest
- Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics
- Super E.D.F. Earth Defense Force
- Super Puyo Puyo 2
- Breath of Fire
- Super Ghouls ’n Ghosts
One of the coolest announcements was definitely the SNES controllers that will be made available for the Switch at a mere $29.99 each, only available to subscribers of Nintendo Switch Online.
Click on the Pics to Enlarge These Beauties
Watch the full Nintendo Direct Here, and see all the awesome new announcements for the Nintendo Switch!
Preorders Now Open for figma Samus Aran: PRIME 3 ver.
Did you miss getting the Prime 3 version of the figma Samus the first time around? Fret not! The GoodSmile Company is re-releasing the figure on January 2020. Preorders have begun and will go on ’till August 22, 2019. Avoid exorbitant eBay prices and secure your figure today!
figma Samus Aran: PRIME 3 ver.
“Power suit diagnosis complete. All systems online and functioning normally.”
From the Nintendo Wii exclusive game “Metroid Prime 3: Corruption” comes a rerelease of the figma of the main character, Samus Aran!
- Using the smooth yet posable joints of figma, you can act out a variety of different scenes.
- A flexible plastic is used for important areas, allowing proportions to be kept without compromising posability.
- The figma includes a morph ball part as well as interchangeable parts for her arm cannon based on when she fires missiles.
- Alternate hand parts included a clenched fist, open hand, hand for holding items and the classic thumbs-up hand.
- The visor of her mask as well as the areas on her hands, hips and legs make use of translucent parts for improved detail.
- An articulated figma stand is included, which allows various poses to be taken.
To Preorder, click here!
SynaMax Lifts the Curtain on the Metroid Prime Series OST
Electronic musician SynaMax has been able to trace a trove of synth patches (sound settings/programming) for sounds and music from the Metroid Prime series. Using vintage synth EMU Proteus 2000 and sounds from the KorgMS2000, SynaMax has been able to replicate many of the iconic sounds and music from the Prime series.
SynaMax prefaces:
“I recently discovered that the KORG MS2000 was used for the Metroid Prime Trilogy OST. The MS2000 and the MicroKorg [used in the video below] have nearly identical sound engines so we can take most of the synth patches that were used on the MS2000 and load them into the MicroKorg.
Here is a selection of patches that were used”
Here’s SynaMax breaking down and reconstructing beats from iconic Metroid Prime Songs in FL Studio:
A great ear and killer detective work from SynaMax, make sure to check out his YouTube channel and give the man a follow.
Ghost Song Interview with Developer Matt White
The upcoming indie game Ghost Song is a Metroidvania that we at the Metroid Database have been excited about for some time now. With its focus on atmosphere, isolation, mystery and horror, you could argue that Ghost Song is already more Metroid than Nintendo’s own recent offerings to the franchise. In this exclusive interview, Ghost Song creator Matt White talks to us about his upcoming game, its development, and his thoughts on the state of the Metroid series. We are very excited to bring you this little preview and hope that you will get a feel for what is to come and share in our excitement.