MDb news since 1996.
Starting in the January issue (#164) of Nintendo Power magazine is a Metroid Prime comic series. The artwork, by Dark Horse Comics, is superb -- far superior to the old Super Metroid NP comics by Benimaru Itoh. The first installment is 9 pages, but we don't know how many parts will run. NP subscribers also get a free Super Smash Bros. Melee orchestral soundtrack CD performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra (the same disc which was included with an issue of Famitsu in Japan months ago), which includes one Metroid track.
--TJ
Let's be honest: many fansites (including some Metroid ones) have stolen some of their content from Nintendo. But how many fansites can say that Nintendo borrowed something from them? Please take a moment to check out page 4 of Nintendo's Metroid Fusion Official Player's Guide. Take a look at the image of the original Super Metroid box. Notice anything? Look at the lower right corner -- the MDb watermark is clearly visible! (No, I did not doctor the image -- go to your local game shop and look at the book yourself!) Yes, Nintendo swiped an image of their own product off the MDb! (I also believe the original Metroid box on this page might be my image as well, although the watermark is not present.) The same image is also used on the official Metroid Fusion website, although it's not as clear as it is on the printed page.
Am I cheesed off? Heck no! I think it's a riot! Not only that, but this means that those are actually my copies of Metroid and Super Metroid shown in the book -- the very same copies that are on my shelves! How cool is that? I'm glad Nintendo has found a use for the site. I guess the MDb is good for something after all, and even Nintendo knows it! =) Hey N, now that you're pinched, how 'bout a little kickback for the assistance? ;)
--TJ
The November issue of Play and #163 of Nintendo Power are the latest magazines to feature Samus as the cover girl. You can find scans of both in the Prime and Fusion sections. Shockingly, Play and NP were the only American videogame magazines to put Samus on the covers of their November editions. Play and NP, you're alright. I dunno what happened to the rest of you game rags, but 8-1/2 years of waiting and two games released simultaneously, and nobody else puts Sam on the cover? pff. Losers.
--TJ
World Wrestling Entertainment and Nintendo are running a WWE Metroid Prime Sweepstakes where the winner can win dinner with a WWE wrestler as well as a Gamecube with Metroid Prime. Click the link for details.
--TJ
Thanks to Mad Mega for finding this and bringing it to our attention.
Animal Logic, the company that did the digital effects for the new Metroid commercials, has
an informative article about the Prime commercial on their website.
--TJ
As for the games themselves, I've gotten a number of emails and messages questioning the release date as many retailers are expecting Prime and Fusion in on the 19th or even later. This is how it works, to the best of my knowledge, as explained to me by my buddy who manages a major chain location in my city:
The official release date is definitely November 18, but whether or not you can find the games on that date will depend entirely on where you live and what retailers are near you. It is true that the games don't actually ship until the 18th. Major game chains such as Electronics Boutique and Gamestop, especially those in major cities, should be able to get it on the 18th (quite probably later in the day, as the games should be shipped early in the morning). Shops in smaller cities (including EB's, GS's, and other chains) may not be able to get their shipments until the 19th, and other shops and mom-and-pop game stores may not see it until a little later. It all depends on how your local retailers' distribution channels are set up. Your best bet is to just check with your favorite shop to see what their schedule is. So if you hit the store at 10 am on Monday morning and Prime and Fusion aren't there yet, don't freak out. They're on the way.
--TJ
HEYYYYYY, I didn't know they were doing this! There's a Metroid Fusion live-action commercial airing in addition to the Prime one. Yes, there's a Fusion Samus costume, and it also features the Prime-costume Samus, this time in the role of the SA-X. It's just as cool as the Prime commercial! Catch it if you can!
--TJ
Nintendo has launched the official site for Metroid Fusion, found at www.metroidfusion.com and/or www.metroid.com/fusion. It's all Flash-y and cool, check it out -- but beware of spoilers!
--TJ
The November edition of Nintendo Power (issue #162, on sale now) is the first of a double-shot of covers graced by our girl. This issue has a somewhat minimalistic design featuring Prime-style
Samus, while the December issue will have a cover story on Metroid Fusion. November's coverage of Prime and Fusion are preview-style, with 9 pages of basic overviews of both titles. December's features look to be more in-depth and strategy-oriented, since both games will be out by then.
The November cover can be found in the Prime area here on the MDb.
Also in #162 is a short writeup on Nintendo's new official Metroid website, metroid.com, stating that it will feature a wealth of information as well as hidden secrets for the visitors to uncover (taking a cue from the old
MDb's Secret Passages, perhaps? ^_^). Might the MDb become obsolete with this new official site on the horizon? :(
--TJ
Continuing their heavy push of Metroid Prime toward older gamers, Nintendo is running the Metroid Prime T & A Contest for college-age gamers. With the "T & A" standing for "Talent and Adventure," you can win a Metroid Prime theme party for you and 200 friends if you can pull off a Metroid Prime-related publicity stunt and catch it on camera. Follow the link for the contest details.
--TJ
Nintendo is now offering the Prime Time Bundle Pak, a bundle deal including a copy of Metroid Prime, the official Nintendo Metroid Prime Player's Guide, a Memory Card 59, a 1-year subscription to Nintendo Power magazine, and a coupon for $10 off a Wavebird wireless controller, all for US$69.95. Follow the link for more information or to order.
--TJ
Thought I could leave the little Happy Anniversary thing up for at least a week, but it appears there's no rest for the wicked. (You can still see the MDb's 6th Anniversary message in the
Happy Anniversary: The MDb Year-By-Year feature.) Lots of things have popped up in the last week, so I'll try to cover it without spoiling anything (if you really gotta have spoilers, check the Current Information sections in both the Prime and Fusion areas):
- Metroid Prime playable demos in stores now. Find them at EBs, Best Buys, and other retailers with Gamecube demo units.
- Prime and Fusion POP displays in stores now. Keep an eye out for oversized display boxes, Samus cutouts and standees, and other nifty gimmicks to advertise the new games.
- Metroid Prime live-action commercial airing now. You can also download it from various websites (the MDb should have it soon), and the full 60-second version will be playing in cinemas. No way of really telling where or when you'll catch the commercial on TV, but I do know that WWE wrestling programs such as Raw and Smackdown are heavily sponsored by Nintendo, so they'd be a good bet.
- Nintendo Cube Clubs are featuring Prime and Fusion. The Cube Club DVD contains game footage and also...
- Nintendo has revealed the complete Metroid timeline, finally telling us exactly where Prime and Fusion fit into the saga.
- Lots of information revealed. Various details on Prime -- mostly technical and gameplay-related, not story-related, yet some of which include hidden surprises and could definitely be considered BIG SPOILERS -- are available online if you're the type who likes to peek at your Christmas presents early. Planet Gamecube has a great, in-depth preview here. The MDb also hits on the main points of the article in our Prime area's Current Information secion. View at your own risk, and don't say we didn't warn you.
--TJ
Samus appeared on the cover of issue #8 of the UK magazine CUBE a few months ago, which can be found in the Metroid Prime: Packages & Promos section (Thanks to Niels Ravn for sending that over!). And, as expected, Samus will appear on the cover of the November issue of Nintendo Power. (NOTE: Please do not email us pictures of the NP cover; we've seen it and we'll obtain quality scans ourselves. Thanks!)
--TJ
Just a quick update to mention that www.metroidprime.com is finally now online. This is Nintendo's official Metroid Prime website, as evidenced by the fact that up until now, that URL led to nintendo.com. As of this writing, there's just some teaser stuff up there, but I would expect more content to be added as the game's release draws nearer.
--TJ
IGN reports in their "Insider" (read: pay) section that Nintendo is currently filming a live-action commercial for Metroid Prime. Yes, live-action, as in, they made a Samus costume. There are pics on the site, but you have to be an IGN Insider member
(read: give IGN money) to see 'em.
UPDATE: A kind MDb visitor has shared the pics from the IGN article following the Prime commercial. While I won't be posting them on the MDb, they are great behind-the-scenes pics and the Samus costume looks very cool. More details were made available, including the facts that the full-length ad spot will run 60 seconds and will also be shown in theaters. It will combine live action with CGI and game footage. Nintendo really seems to be going all-out in getting behind Metroid again, and that can only be a good thing.
--TJ
After Nintendo's Gamer's Press Summit on 8/22, Gamespot and IGN both reveal new Prime and Fusion hands-on impressions (links below) after playing the latest builds of the two new Metroid titles. SPOILERS abound, so beware. Nintendo also announced that Prime and Fusion will feature connectivity between the Gamecube and Game Boy Advance, though no details are available yet.
Gamespot: Metroid Prime
Gamespot: Metroid Fusion
IGN: Metroid Fusion
IGN: Metroid Prime
--TJ
Thanks to reader J. Anderson for sending this link along... Figures.com reports here that JoyRide's videogame action figure series will still include Samus Aran -- but not until Wave 3, to be released around November/December/January. Also included in that assortment as part of the "Nintendo Power Presents" series should be Luigi w/Ghost and Link w/Epona. Apparently, Samus is already the most highly-anticipated figure in the entire series, as Figures.com points out in this short article.
JoyRide Studios' website has finally been updated with more information on the product line, however Samus is NOT listed at all. Curious. Could they be taking the time to rework the figure? Link and Luigi look fantastic -- while the Samus prototype (above right) shown at this year's Toy Fair looked decent, it definitely needed work. Judging by the quality of the other figures in the line, there's a good chance that Samus will look mighty good when her first-ever official action figure is finally unveiled.
--TJ
Nintendo of Japan revealed here that two secret trophies in SSBM will be written to fans' Gamecube memory cards at special Toys R Us events in Japan. The new Mario trophy features Mario in his yellow cape riding Yoshi, while the Samus figure will be Ms. Aran without her helmet. Details about availability to fans outside Japan or other ways to obtain the trophies are still sketchy at this point, but we're hoping the rest of the world will be able to enjoy them as well.
--TJ
We've lucked out again. The Metroid Database has a man on the inside this year after all!
Thanks to Cyrian, the MDb's Official E3 2002 Correspondent, we now have hands-on impressions of Metroid Fusion and Metroid Prime. Plus, he's sent along some exclusive photos -- not just screenshots, but packages and displays as well! These have now been added to both the Fusion and Prime sections. The MDb owes Cyrian a huge debt of gratitude for acting as our go-to guy for this year's E3!
For more Metroid media from E3, visit:
Nintendo.com: E3 2002
Nintendo.com: Metroid Prime
Nintendo.com: Metroid Fusion
--TJ
Nintendo updated their Metroid Prime section today with several new screenshots. Some of these screens have been floating around on other sites, but Nintendo's are, of course, superior quality. View Nintendo's entire gallery of Metroid Prime screenshots here.
I'd put some on the MDb but I'm not a thief; besides, I'm too far into the MDb overhaul to do any major updating. :P
This would also be a good time to quickly mention something: Please DO NOT e-mail the MDb or post on the MDb Message Board asking the following questions:<
- When is Metroid Prime/Metroid IV coming out?
- What is the plot of Metroid Prime/Metroid IV?
- Why doesn't the MDb have more news on Metroid Prime/Metroid IV?
See, the reason the answers to these questions are not on the Metroid Database is because
this information is not available yet. If I knew the release date, the plot, or anything else about either of the new Metroid games, of course it would be here on the MDb, right where you're reading this. Sure, some sites are reporting Fall 2002 as the release date for Metroid Prime, but
unless I hear that from Nintendo, I'll refrain from posting it, even though it's entirely possible. Even though this is a fan site, the MDb prides itself on only reporting truths, and keeping the rumors and speculation to an absolute minimum. I'd rather get it right the first time than have a lot of statements to retract later!
--TJ
After taking the ol' MDb for a spin, checking the mileage and kicking the tires, I've come to
a decision. The Metroid Database will be undergoing a complete overhaul.
The plan of attack is thus: I will first begin work on a new overall structure and new graphic design, and implement the MDb's existing information and media into this new framework. MDb visitors
can look forward to a whole new reorganization of data for the site, one which will hopefully prove more intuitive, easier and quicker to use. Once the existing MDb has been rearranged into the new format, the new site will launch, but over time, MORE information and media will be added to the MDb. There are plenty of things I still want to do with the MDb, and I'm even hoping to include things I've always considered unnecessary in the past, such as walkthroughs, item and weapon lists, beastiaries, and more.
Naturally, this overhaul and the subsequent maintenance of the MDb will be an enormous task.
I must finally admit that the MDb is about to become too large a beast for me to wrangle all by myself, so for the first time ever, I will be putting together an MDb Staff. It will be a very, very small group of people -- probably fewer than five individuals -- whom I'll hand-pick myself. (Please do not write or post and ask to be on the staff -- I'd much rather quietly choose the members myself so I don't have to turn anyone down. Requests to join the staff will be ignored.)
Now, when all this will finally be done and ready to launch, I can't say, but I'd like to aim for having at least the new structure in place sometime in spring or by early summer 2002.
So, why am I doing all this now? Let's just say it's the right time. Two new Metroid games are finally on the horizon. I like to think of this "MDb Overhaul Project" as fixing up the place and rolling out the red carpet to welcome Samus back home. :)
Wish me luck!
--TJ