For our 2010 end of year feature, we thought we would do something a little different and offer not one, but six interviews! We have teamed up with some of the largest Metroid websites on the internet to offer an insight into their thoughts on the series they love. This is the first time such a thing has happened in the Metroid community. The interview consisted of replies and questions by these webmasters:
Metroid Database – Infinity’s End and CapCom (IE & CC)
Metroid Headquarters – MetroidMaster1914 (MHQ)
Metroid Recon – Falcon Zero (MR)
Metroid 2002 – Nate (M2K2)
Wikitroid – FastLizard (WT)
Shinesparkers – Darren (SS)
Between us, we came up with various questions we wanted to ask each of the different website admins and compiled them into this feature. Shinesparkers would like to thank each of them for their time in putting this together and we hope this is the first of many great projects we can work on together. Happy New Year everyone!
Metroid Database
The Metroid Database is by far the longest running and most popular Metroid website on the Internet. It was first opened in 1996 and has a vast amount of content, which includes comics, music, walkthroughs and guides. It has a dedicated team of staff and as of November 2010, its forums hold almost 1700 members, who have contributed over 120,000 posts. Without a doubt, Metroid Database is by far the authority when it comes to Metroid fan websites.
Website: www.metroid-database.com
Question 1: How did you first get into Metroid? (Shinesparkers)
IE: I got into Metroid through a friend. I played it at his house on his NES and he let me take it home and borrow it. It was very difficult for me even then and the only way I could beat it was using the Game Genie. I played through it again in the later years and beat it normally, but it’s still painful to get through. I played a little of M2 later down the line, but it was definitely Super Metroid that sealed the deal. I’ve never looked back ever since.
CC: I actually started pretty late. I’d picked out a copy of Metroid II for my brother for Christmas because I had heard it was a good game. We’d just beaten Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and so Descent: Freespace was the next-biggest game for me. I got to the end of Freespace and hadn’t beaten it yet and my brother kept telling me how cool Metroid was. So I picked it up and played nothing else for the next week or so. I haven’t stopped playing since!
Question 2: What got you to create your Metroid-related website? Or, alternatively, what got you into the one you’re involved with now? (Wikitroid)
IE: I joined the Metroid Database community around 2000-1, before the release of Metroid Prime. It wasn’t until 2005-6 (and furthermore, the release of MP2: Echoes) when TJ’s affinity for the site and Metroid in general began to wane. I was a big forumite and it had recently closed down due to unforeseen circumstances, but I had kept in contact with Devin, aka Capcom through AIM. During that time, the site wasn’t being updated and the MDb’s popularity began to fade. I felt that the site deserved and needed a really awesome 10-year anniversary banner (which you can see here: http://www.metroid-database.com/features/current_MDB105.jpg).
I created it out of the passion and love I had for Metroid as well as the site, and was so happy when it was used on the site! Later that year, TJ granted Devin, Jesse and I to become the new webmasters of the MDb, and I joined the team as a full-time graphic artist and editor. When the new forum was created, I made all of the Samus smileys which everyone loves! A few days before our 11th anniversary, I took a road trip out to TJ’s tattoo shop to have him tattoo Samus on my left arm in celebration of the MDb and allowing me to join their team. I still believe the banner I made that year (http://metroid-database.com/features/11th-banner.jpg) will probably never be topped.
CC: I started coming to the MDb in early 1999 and scoured the site and board as a newb. I got into writing fanfic and became a forum regular, and usually had something interesting to say about the series. When TJ Rappel, the site’s creator, asked me to help out with fanfic and fanart, I jumped at the task. I added all kinds of development artwork to the site as well. This was about 2002. A few years later, TJ could no longer work on the site and asked if I would take over, so here I am!
Question 3: How important do you feel fan-created websites are for the Metroid fan base? What should a Metroid site provide for that community? (Metroid Database)
IE: A sad truth, but Metroid-centric fan sites are few and far between. At least, say, compared to Zelda ones or WoW ones, to be sure. But that’s just a reflection of their overall popularity. When you have excellent, “all-encompassing” fan sites with dedicated staffs like the MDb, Metroid Recon, or even a hardcore forum like Metroid2002, you’ve basically covered all the bases. Metroid sites don’t need to be prevalent. It’s a blessing in disguise, actually.
Metroid remaining niche series has allowed the MDb community to be one of the best and close-knit forums I’ve ever encountered in my life. And I’m very proud of being able to maintain a game forum like this one with such a bunch of passionate, dedicated fans of the series!
CC: Metroid fan sites are very important because they provide a wealth of information that an individual would never be able to discover on his or her own. Most of this stuff never appears on an official Nintendo website, either. Whether you’re looking for tips and tricks, artwork or comics, music or movies, news on what’s to buy, or whatever, it’s the fan community’s job to provide that because Nintendo sure doesn’t! It’s kind of like an extended playground circle – everybody has something new to contribute, and collectively, we can encompass the whole series. In addition, the fan site should take a unique approach to the series. If everybody covers the same material, then what makes it worth visiting your site rather than someone else’s? But if you do something well that nobody else does, then you are helping the community more.
Question 4: What is the most difficult part of running a Metroid website? (Metroid Database)
IE: Well after Jesse D created the updater panel, the site isn’t difficult at all to update! HAHA, j/k. I’d say the hardest part is trying to find news when there isn’t any and coming up with new and refreshing content during the downtime. That and balancing working on the site with my real life. 2010 was definitely the biggest Metroid news year in our 14-year history, but now that Metroid news has slowed to a crawl, I feel sad to not be able to update it so much. But we do plan on adding a few new cool things coming in 2011, so be on the lookout for that stuff!
CC: Actually, there are two answers to this! Sometimes, it has been managing the message board because you will sometimes run into a member who isn’t playing nice with everyone else, and then you have to take disciplinary measures, and I never like having to do that! Well, that and having to say ‘no’ to people! We get submissions sometimes where I am just scratching my head, and this kid obviously put a lot of heart into it, but it just doesn’t meet the standards of the site. So that’s always tough. The second is that there just isn’t much Metroid news out there! I don’t want to say we make stuff up, but it can be difficult if you have a slow news…year.
Question 5: What has been your favorite part of running your site? (Wikitroid)
IE: 1st, the satisfaction of running the “most well known” or “longest-running” Metroid site on the planet. 2nd, the perks like free games, and 3rd, being an excellent source for discussing one of my favorite game series.
CC: Again, more than one answer! The first is being able to interact with such a great community. Metroid fans are the best game fans out there because we take our series so seriously! There’s really a lot of love and passion, and it’s always great to see what people are working on whether it’s fanart or music or whatever. This and it’s always great when we get a submission for our media section that I’ve never seen before. Keep sending us scans, guys!
Question 6: How do you think your involvement with Metroid has changed/shaped your life? (Wikitroid)
IE: As I touched on in #2, Metroid has changed my life in many ways. Meeting TJ and getting that Samus tattoo has officially made me a fan for life, and I will never regret it. I will never stop gaming until my dying breath. Working on the MDb has allowed me to meet three fantastic friends – Capcom, Jesse D, and TJ, and without them I’m sure my life would not be nearly as interesting. Not to mention all the great discussions I’ve had with people over the years on our boards. Metroid4Life, yo!
CC: I think too much about it? Well, it has definitely colored the types of games and movies I like to see. It has also gotten me involved with translation. And there’s the sense of pride and feeling of duty that whatever I put on the web is going to be seen by thousands of people, so I have to make sure that it’s as good as it can possibly be. But mostly, it has been through talking with the guys who help run the site and longtime friends from the community.
Question 7: Do you think Metroid still has a place in today’s gaming world among all the big guns? (E.g. Final Fantasy, Halo, Call of Duty, etc.) (Metroid Recon)
IE: Games like Mario or Zelda are much more approachable series than Metroid, especially when people feel the need to start at the very beginning. Metroid 1 is also an extremely difficult game due to unrefined controls, and not very accessible to today’s audiences. (Even though MZM tried to fix that.) So I feel it will always remain a niche series, even though so many other games developed today take direct inspiration from the series.
CC: Well, if Final Fantasy is still around after 25 years, why not Metroid!? The trouble with Metroid is Nintendo doesn’t keep releasing new games just to put them out: they want to make sure each game does something new. This is both an asset to the series and a limiting factor. It’s limiting because new Metroid games don’t come out frequently, but it’s also an asset because when they do, they’re always very interesting. Despite the negative feedback Other M had, the more I think about this game and the way it plays, the more I think this is a glimpse into the future. Team Ninja didn’t use Quick Time Events to make cool action pop out, nor did they use complex button combinations. It’s all done through camera work and intuitive controls. If Metroid can continue to influence gaming, then it is still a very important part of the gaming world.
Question 8: Should Metroid continue in the more story-driven fashion seen in Fusion, Prime 3, and Other M, or does that detract from the “Metroid Experience”? (Metroid Headquarters)
IE: I think they, be it Sakamoto or someone else, needs to seriously take a look at the potential of storytelling without words and how powerful it can be in the future of gaming. Super Metroid used the game play as the way to tell the story and that can be expanded upon, but I don’t think cut scenes and dialogue should be completely swept under the carpet — they still have their place. A lot of times nowadays, developers are relying on scripted events for full impact.
Even though there’s a demand for it from the hardcore fans, if you just repeat what you’ve already done, people start to complain that the “series is getting stale.” I heard a lot of similar comments after we got 6 portable “SOTN-clones.” There’s always a limit to how far you can take a franchise, so maybe Metroid needs to go in a different direction in order to succeed. Maybe Other M is a result of that. Game development can be a bit of a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation at times, so I don’t think it’s really up to anyone but the developer to determine what truly is or isn’t a “Metroid Experience.”
Games like Ico and Shadow of the Colossus were able to tell vast, brilliantly moving, heart-wrenching stories with very little dialogue. When it comes to storytelling and gaming, developers need to tread lightly or else you’re going to feel like you’re alienating the audience that loves it the most. Of course this all depends on the game series. I look forward to That Game Company’s Journey, which may take storytelling to a new level.
CC: I don’t think story matters so much as long as it doesn’t take away from the focus of the gameplay. For me, these Metroid games did not do that. They paced it, and put it into context (though Other M’s cutscenes were too long…) and we got to know more about Samus. However, I do still want to see more of the environmental storytelling found in Super Metroid! That was a very interesting way for games to go, and I think we just sort of set that by the wayside when everyone became enthralled with FMV. I’d like to see them “tell another story without words.”
Question 9: From Metroids and Ridley to music and level design, Metroid games draw a lot on past titles to appeal to fans. What level of nostalgia do you appreciate, and where does it become too much repetition? (Metroid Database)
IE: I appreciate all the nostalgia, but I don’t usually see solely as “nostalgia.” To me, like many other Nintendo series, Metroid has a certain “feeling” or captures a certain “look.” So Mario games have the Bros., Bowser, Goombas, coin blocks, stars, level-based design, and weird power-ups, whereas Zelda games have Link, Ganondorf, Octoroks, the Master Sword, Hyrule, magic, etc. Metroid is no different than that. Those throwbacks are just a part of what makes the series what it is.
CC: There’s definitely a fine balance between providing new material for fans and not providing enough. If you don’t have enough nostalgia, then older fans aren’t going to be as interested. There has to be enough musical cues and enemies such that the player will recognize things from their past experiences. However, the majority of the game must be new, or it will feel like a rehash (just look at Castlevania!). I think where it becomes a little too much is with Ridley. That guy is in almost every single game out there. While he’s a fun opponent, it doesn’t make much sense that he keeps coming back. Either they need to explain why or they should stop putting him in there and make a new nemesis. Otherwise, the story just doesn’t make sense.
Question 10: Are you satisfied with the way Samus’ character has developed, especially with regards to Other M’s portrayal? (Metroid Recon)
IE: Without going too deep into it, yes, I am satisfied with the way Samus has been developed, character-wise. She’s still an ass-kicking bounty hunter, and still a great character. I don’t think Other M has diminished my opinion of her at all. Other M did nothing but give us what we’ve always wanted: to know more about the woman behind the visor. Maybe people just have a hard time accepting what was given to us.
CC: I don’t really see a problem with how Samus was portrayed. She was orphaned and grew up with the Chozo, so she doesn’t have the type of human emotions we would recognize, and she’s a woman struggling in a man’s world, so she struck back emotionally. Then she loses what you might think of as a brother and her father figure did nothing. Over a decade later, she’s mature and confident because she’s gone through so much.
She takes orders from a guy she respects, even if they don’t get along anymore – it’s kind of like an estranged relationship with a father. It’s not sexist. Then she loses that father figure. Maybe she’s a little too trusting (she lets Madeline off too easy after finding they were making Metroids). But it’s not like she was given a reason to distrust James, MB, or the Federation. I guess her PTSD breakdown doesn’t make much sense if you look at only the games, but I guess I don’t really put much thought into it. It’s there, and if you don’t like it, then don’t like it. But stuff like that doesn’t ruin the experience for me.
Question 11: What is your favourite Metroid game and why? (Shinesparkers)
IE: Easily Super Metroid. I spoke a little about this during our Classic Trilogy podcast, but essentially, it’s clear that while you play Super Metroid, and you consider game development in the early 1990’s, you can see that all the team members were working, extremely passionately, towards a common goal.
Some people like to attribute Super Metroid’s success due the fact that Gunpei Yokoi was involved, but knowing how the development process works I can safely say it was all the other developers who felt Super Metroid was becoming something much more than a video game; it’s a landmark achievement for the entire industry, and it will be for years to come. Super Metroid has spawned an entire genre, not to mention the numerous games that draw inspiration from it. It’s just a fantastic game, and one that I will continue to play until I can no longer pick up a controller.
CC: I like Metroid II a lot because that was the first one I played. The story of ancient ruins full of the monsters that destroyed it is a really evocative plot. In terms of gameplay though, I think I’d have to say Super Metroid. I had the most fun with that. MZM I think does a better job with controls and nonlinearity, but Super was pretty expansive and it has very few flaws. Of course, Other M is the only game that actively made me want to play it again, so there’s something there!
Question 12: Where do you see Metroid in ten years time? (Shinesparkers)
IE: I think Nintendo may either remake a previous game (like Metroid 2: Return of Samus) or keep adding midquels to the franchise, since everyone knows Samus best as the Varia Suit-clad heroine we all have grown up with. It’s hard to say though, after the latest sales figures with Other M. It’d be a pity to see the franchise become abandoned after Other M, but who knows what the future will hold. I do predict we’ll be able to play Samus again, just how long exactly, is the question. Of course if there’s a sequel to SSBBrawl, we’ll see her return. I also expect Sakamoto and his team will make a Wario Ware title for the 3DS, if not a Metroid game.
CC: Still here. Though maybe only two or three new games because there’s no company out there with a contract to make Metroid titles and Yoshio Sakamoto said he was working on something else…
Question 13: Where do you feel the continuation of the Metroid story should go after Fusion? (Shinesparkers)
IE: It’s a difficult question since in my mind, Metroid doesn’t really need to keep going on. Mainly because she seems to permanently have the Fusion suit now and if all the X are destroyed, then it renders it pretty much useless. If the story is to continue, then I’d imagine the GFeds would be putting a bounty on Samus’s head for finding out their secrets, destroying the BSL station, and Samus could end up possibly thwarting a newly-established X parasite cloning program since it seems that’s the only way Samus’s current powers could be utilized.
CC: I’d like to see more Chozo. We’ve talked about Samus’ past in the military, but not much about her relationship with the Chozo and just what the Chozo are doing. Why did they make bioweapons? The used to be warriors and fought their way through a good chunk of the galaxy. They visited practically every planet. Of course, most of what is going on will probably deal with this splinter faction inside the Federation, but to me that’s not really that interesting. They kind of dug themselves a hole because there are no Space Pirates left, and that was Samus’ whole reason for fighting. She needs another purpose, something other than Metroids or Pirates, and that’s where Metroid should go.
Question 14: If Metroid did a spin-off for a different character, who should it be and why? (Metroid Headquarters)
IE: Anthony Higgs, and I think anyone who’s played Other M knows why.
CC: Hmm… I have a feeling most people would say Anthony Higgs! Honestly, I don’t have an answer to this because outside of Samus, I don’t think the characters have been that evocative. Without Samus in the game, it wouldn’t really feel like Metroid. Even if you did a game about the GFed Marines, it would end up feeling more like Halo. You really need to have that combination of exploration and upgradeability, and nobody else in Samus’ world can do that as far as we know. While it would be interesting to see a game about Ridley or the Space Pirates, I don’t think Nintendo would ever do that because their goal in life is to basically kill everything.
Question 15: What’s your best time in your favourite Metroid game? (Metroid 2002)
IE: IIRC, I think I got sub-1 hour (probably 50-55 min) in Super Metroid, but it was with a very low item %.
CC: I don’t really speed-run, so my scores are pretty bad! But I don’t feel so bad since the game’s creators had pretty low scores, too! I think I once beat Metroid II in 1:14 though…
Question 16: Would you like to see an official remake of Metroid II, in a similar style to Metroid: Zero Mission? (Metroid Recon)
IE: Considering I have worked on several fan-made ones for a while, yes, absolutely.
CC: Of course! There have been several fan remake attempts, but they mostly didn’t get finished because the teams weren’t well-organized, and they don’t exactly leave their assets lying around for other people to finish the job. AM2R looks interesting, but I just don’t think it would have the same kind of polish and feel as an official Nintendo game. I bet they could do some really interesting stuff with the DS or Wii if they went 2.5D. Hey, didn’t Retro Studios just finish Donkey Kong?
Question 17: If you could have an ability of Samus in real life, what would it be and why? (Shinesparkers)
IE: Space Jump since I’ve always had the dream of being able to fly.
CC: Well, if I had the X-ray Scope, I would probably have to work for TSA. I think Space Jump is the coolest item, but I think it would be kind of hard to use in real-life because you would have to constantly keep jumping, so it’s not as easy as flying – that and you’d have to spin around in a somersault! But with the Speed Booster, I could save a lot of money on gas and get some good exercise. I’ll go with the Speed Booster.
Question 18: Do you have any closing comments you’d like to make?
IE: I’d just like to take this opportunity to thanks Darren for this interview feature, and to all of the fans out there reading this, be you from the MDb or elsewhere: THANK YOU. We are always trying to the Metroid Database a satisfying experience for the community and to make it the best source of Metroid information, and without your support it probably wouldn’t be nearly as awesome as it is today. Maybe as a New Year’s resolution: try to get a friend or a loved one into the Metroid franchise? You might be surprised by the result.
CC: Hey, wasn’t there supposed to be a question here on the type of Metroid game you’d like to see?
I’d like to see a multiplayer Metroid. Something that could be co-op, as I find that more fun than death match. If it was networked like on the DS, you could explore a large world together. Make some power-ups usable only by the other person and then you can share information about the map. Puzzles and bosses that require cooperation, too. If you want a death match, take this same game play and stick it in a giant space arena! The audience watches on cameras installed in the rooms, and you can lay traps for other bounty hunters. You need lots of monsters, too, so you can earn credits. Maybe one player is Mother Brain and you can monitor their progress and control objects in the rooms via the camera. Hey, that’s how you could probably make Metroid Prime: Hunters good!
Anyway, thanks to everyone who visits the MDb! We really appreciate your support and hope to give you lots of great new material this coming year! Metoroido: Omoroido!
Metroid Headquarters
Metroid Headquarters was born in 2004, but established itself in 2007 as a major player in the world of Metroid fan sites. The website’s main feature is its fan games section. It also has a fan art section, chatroom and forum community, which at the time of writing, holds close to 750 members with almost 80,000 posts.
Website: www.metroidheadquarters.com
Question 1: How did you first get into Metroid? (Shinesparkers)
MHQ: When I was younger I was invited over to a friend’s house, and he kept telling me about an awesome new game he got that he wanted to play with me. That game was Metroid Prime. I was immediately as hooked as he was and rented the game as soon as I got home (I didn’t end up buying it until much later). After I had beaten that I found out that there was another Metroid game for the GBA (Fusion). When I first started hearing rumors about a sequel to Metroid Prime that when I turned to the Internet for all things Metroid related, and here I am.
Question 2: What got you to create your Metroid-related website? Or, alternatively, what got you into the one you’re involved with now? (Wikitroid)
MHQ: If we’re being honest, when I first created MHQ back in 2004 I was a Class-A n00b (bad grammar and all). I created MHQ mainly because it was what a lot kids that were active in the community were doing (at least at the website I was active on). Had it not been for a series of extremely unfortunate events for me personally, however, MHQ would have likely died off with the rest of those “websites” (I’m talking Geocites, FreeWebs, etc.) Due to that happening, though, it allowed me to focus almost all my Internet time on Metroid Headquarters and building it up to what it is today.
Question 3: How important do you feel fan-created websites are for the Metroid fan base? What should a Metroid site provide for that community? (Metroid Database)
MHQ: The fan site community for any game series I feel is extremely important. When a fan goes to the Internet to geek out about their favorite game, obviously one of the first places they’ll run into is the official website for the game. Once they figure out that most of those websites are nothing more than an advertising technique used to promote the game, they’re going to hit up Google for other website about the game, which is where we come into play. We need to be providing information, content, and a sense of community that they can’t find from those cookie-cutter official websites. Those are made because they get paid to make them; it’s their job. We make (and maintain) our sites because we are passionate fans of the series, and so obviously other fans looking for things having to do with their game will (hopefully) like a fan site better, because, while it does cater to the general public, it is primarily by the fans, for the fans.
Question 4: What is the most difficult part of running a Metroid website? (Metroid Database)
MHQ: Mostly it’s balancing maintaining a website with other (and frankly more important) obligations we have in our lives. For those that are younger, they have to deal with balancing school and after-school activities with the daily up-keeping of the website, as well as still managing to have a social life. For those of us that are older, we have to worry about our jobs and our day-to-day responsibilities, and for some of us, our families. So for me at least, it’s just keeping life’s priorities straight while still finding time to consistently make better our websites.
Question 5: What has been your favorite part of running your site? (Wikitroid)
MHQ: Easy: The people I’ve met. I’ve been running MHQ for about 6 1/2 years now, and over that time I’ve met a lot of people who are not only as big of fans of Metroid as I am (some more <_<;), but very cool and talented as well. I’ve met a few of them in person, and (once you get past the awkward first minutes of “Hey, we met on the Internet.”) they are just as awesome. There have definitely been points in MHQ’s history where, had it not been for other members of the community, MHQ would have been dead and buried long ago. I have full confidence that, if something very bad were to happen to me, I could leave MHQ in good hands. Plus, the people I’ve met from other Metroid communities have been pretty cool as well.
Question 6: How do you think your involvement with Metroid has changed/shaped your life? (Wikitroid)
MHQ: It’s definitely had a hand with some ups and downs in my life. When I was younger I would occasionally get into trouble for spending too much time working on MHQ, causing me being grounded to the point where I couldn’t work on MHQ for months at a time. On the other hand, I wouldn’t have the job I do today had it not been for MHQ being a showcase of my work and the technical expertise that I’ve learned by consistently working on MHQ as a website.
Question 7: Do you think Metroid still has a place in today’s gaming world among all the big guns? (E.g. Final Fantasy, Halo, Call of Duty, etc.) (Metroid Recon)
MHQ: Of course. The Metroid series has its roots in the era of classic gaming, and continues to push forward into the modern and future generations of gaming. Each and every games series bring its own unique footprint to the gaming world, and Metroid is no exception. I expect that Metroid will be around for many years to come, despite what other “big guns” come out.
Question 8: Should Metroid continue in the more story-driven fashion seen in Fusion, Prime 3, and Other M, or does that detract from the “Metroid Experience”? (Metroid Headquarters)
MHQ: A little story never hurt anyone. ^_^ I don’t feel that it detracts from the Metroid experience. Metroid has always had a story to it; just not always in the game play (I’m talking things like instruction manuals, manga, etc.). I recent years though, we’ve seen more of the story of a lot of video game series being told in-game, and so I think that Metroid games are just starting to move toward that trend. I don’t think it takes away from the games at all, but adds to them, since the Metroid-style game play we all love is still there (most of the time <_<;). Plus, it allows for classic Metroid moments we all love to be retold (yes I’m thinking of the mega awesome Mother Brain battle cut-scene at the beginning of Other M).
Question 9: From Metroids and Ridley to music and level design, Metroid games draw a lot on past titles to appeal to fans. What level of nostalgia do you appreciate, and where does it become too much repetition? (Metroid Database)
MHQ: I’m a big fan of nostalgia, while still not wanting things to be the same old thing. I do appreciate all the classic upgrades, backtracking, and musical themes they can sneak into newer games, but at the same time I do like to see newer elements at play. For example, I thought it was about time when in Metroid Prime 3 they made the choice to visit multiple planets in the game instead of different areas on the same planet. Another welcome change was finally giving Samus a real voice in Metroid: Other M. On the same note, sometimes they do bring an element back into the games waaay too often (Ridley). So I do appreciate keeping in the elements of Metroid that make the series what it is, but at the same time welcome changes that, at least in my opinion, better the series as a whole.
Question 10: Are you satisfied with the way Samus’ character has developed, especially with regards to Other M’s portrayal? (Metroid Recon)
MHQ: So much controversy about Other M…the things with Samus’s character before Other M, is that we didn’t know that much about her on a personal level (outside of what we saw in the various mangas). We knew her background, and many of her past actions and deeds, but she was still very much a mystery. So essentially, when Other M came out, we got to see her character really develop for the first time in a Metroid game. Her constant inner monologues (while some times excessive) gave us insight into the way she thinks, and how she reacts to certain kinds of situations. So to answer the question am I satisfied with her character development, I’d probably say yes, because now she has an actual character, as opposed to being a mystery to everyone. I will say that I look forward to what Mr. Sakamoto and the other Metroid developers do from this point onward in that regard.
Question 11: What is your favourite Metroid game and why? (Shinesparkers)
MHQ: It’s close between Super Metroid and Metroid Prime, but ultimately I have to go with what brought me into Metroid in the first place: Metroid Prime. It had all the classic weapons and backtracking, and wonderful musical score, and just the general atmosphere and natural progression of the game makes it my personal favorite. That said, there’s no denying the impact that Super Metroid made on video games as we know it. I think that the Metroid series was made better by both of those games.
Question 12: Where do you see Metroid in ten years time? (Shinesparkers)
MHQ: I definitely still see it around. I’m guessing we’ll see anywhere from 3-5 new games by 2020 (although in the past 10 years we’ve seen 9 releases). Hopefully we’ll finally get a good side-scroller on the 3DS (or any handheld successors), as well as a resolution to that cliff-hanger at the end of Metroid Prime 3. I’d also like to see Samus have a voice in future games like she did in Metroid: Other M. All-in-all I’m optimistic, and can’t wait to see what lies ahead.
Question 13: Where do you feel the continuation of the Metroid story should go after Fusion? (Shinesparkers)
MHQ: That’s another point of controversy, mainly because many fans have taken it upon themselves to postulate what may go down after the events of Fusion (a lot of the time by attempting to make a fan game where they tell a story post-Fusion). I feel that the story could continue on past the events of Fusion, there would need to emerge some sort of new threat to the Galactic Federation. Sure, the Metroids are still around, the space pirates are still around, but I think it’s time (post-Fusion wise) that a new story arc come into play. It’s really all up to the developers and what they can bring to the table. Whatever ends up happening, though, Samus needs to find a way to get her old suit back. <_<
Question 14: If Metroid did a spin-off for a different character, who should it be and why? (Metroid Headquarters)
MHQ: Personally, I don’t think there needs to be one. Metroid has and hopefully always will centre on Samus Aran. Although, if I had to pick, I would probably choose Sylux. What we do know about Sylux from Hunters is mysterious at best; much like Samus was at the beginning of Metroid. I think it would be interesting to see his/her/it’s back story.
Question 15: What’s your best time in your favourite Metroid game? (Metroid 2002)
MHQ: I was never one to go for a fast time, always would just be satisfied with a 100% run. I think the only time I remember from playing Metroid Prime was somewhere around 7 hours, although I can’t remember if that was a normal run or a 100% run. Sorry to disappoint. ^_^;
Question 16: Would you like to see an official remake of Metroid II, in a similar style to Metroid: Zero Mission? (Metroid Recon)
MHQ: Absolutely. There seems to be a general consensus amongst the fans that this would be awesome if it happened. There’s a fan game project out there that seems to be doing a pretty good job of filling the void, but it would still be nice to have one from Nintendo.
Question 17: If you could have an ability of Samus in real life, what would it be and why? (Shinesparkers)
MHQ: Space jump. ‘Nuff said.
Question 18: Do you have any closing comments you’d like to make?
MHQ: I’m really happy that all the Metroid webmasters could get together for something, I’ve wanted that to happen for a long time. Maybe next time we can put together something live. Thanks to Darren for organizing this. Go Shinesparkers!
Metroid Recon
Metroid Recon was born in 2006 and has mostly been run single handed since. It offers information on all Metroid releases but its main focus is its guides, which were originally posted around the Metroid Database, but were later incorporated into the website that we see today. Metroid Recon has custom made maps that can be viewed in a unique map viewer that allows players to find their way around various Metroid games. The website may not hold a forum community, but it does have a lot of great content that fans will find interesting.
Website: http://metroid.retropixel.net/
Question 1: How did you first get into Metroid? (Shinesparkers)
MR: It was actually later in the series’ life when I jumped into the Metroid universe. My first Metroid experience was Super Metroid – a few years before Metroid Prime arrived – I think in around 1998 or 1999. Oddly, I can’t distinctly remember my first play-through of the game thanks to countless times playing through the game in the years since, but I do remember early on hunting down a used copy of the game for the SNES (by then the N64 was in full swing and new copies of old SNES games couldn’t be found anymore). I was a massive fan of the SNES games Zelda: A Link to the Past and Secret of Mana back in the day, so getting into Metroid was a brilliant new experience.
Question 2: What got you to create your Metroid-related website? Or, alternatively, what got you into the one you’re involved with now? (Wikitroid)
MR: My very first website was all about strategy guide material for a collection of SNES games – Super Metroid included. I’ve always enjoyed writing game guides, and eventually put together a collection of text-based GameFaqs walkthroughs for the classic Metroid series around the time of Metroid Prime’s release. I took a break from guide-authoring after Metroid: Zero Mission. But a few years ago in 2006, I decided to convert the guides to a more robust website format, and so the site was born.
Question 3: How important do you feel fan-created websites are for the Metroid fan base? What should a Metroid site provide for that community? (Metroid Database)
MR: There’s a special place in the world for fans of digital entertainment these days. I think fan communities – especially Internet-based ones – are very important. When the developers of any form of entertainment (in this case Nintendo) create such a compelling and inspirational world, having a passionate fan base supporting it should help inspire, humble and direct their future efforts. It’s an old cliché, but without the fans, there’s no franchise. A Metroid site should help celebrate the series and nurture the community.
Question 4: What is the most difficult part of running a Metroid website? (Metroid Database)
MR: The core content of my site are the strategy guides, and without a doubt the hardest part of running the site is putting all the guide material together in a timely manner. The games tend to have lengthy release delays in my region after the initial US release (except Other M!), and trying to get guide material up as quickly as possible can be quite stressful.
Question 5: What has been your favorite part of running your site? (Wikitroid)
MR: Receiving positive feedback from fans. There’s nothing better than knowing that your constructive efforts are appreciated and enjoyed by fans around the world. It’s extremely humbling and very satisfying.
Question 6: How do you think your involvement with Metroid has changed/shaped your life? (Wikitroid)
MR: As strange as it might sound, every time I see a cloudy, rainy and otherwise miserable day, it always reminds me of the surface of Crateria in Super Metroid or the Tallon Overworld in Metroid Prime. Is it pouring rain outside, are there flashes of lightning or the sound of rain hammering on the roof? Rather than drag my spirits down, I’m reminded of the moody atmosphere and excitement of the Metroid games. It’s hard to put into words, but this positive association can brighten any day with lousy weather.
Question 7: Do you think Metroid still has a place in today’s gaming world among all the big guns? (E.g. Final Fantasy, Halo, Call of Duty, etc.) (Metroid Recon)
MR: Metroid Prime showed us that Metroid still matters in the 21st century. While the recent Metroid: Other M drew mixed results, I think the endless possibilities of Samus’ future missions definitely give the series a place in today’s world – so long as Nintendo can continue to dream up new scenarios in their own unique way.
Question 8: Should Metroid continue in the more story-driven fashion seen in Fusion, Prime 3, and Other M, or does that detract from the “Metroid Experience”? (Metroid HeadQuarters)
MR: The “Metroid Experience” has grown and changed over the years thanks to the Prime saga, and it’s a tough situation for Nintendo. They can’t be seen to recycle the same material from the Super Metroid days over and over, or repeat elements in Other M that didn’t resonate so well with fans. As the series continues to grow, I wouldn’t mind seeing Nintendo either mix together all the best ingredients from past titles (including story elements), or stir up something new and fresh that scores a thumbs-up from most fans. More of the story-driven fashion would be good; the trick would be to balance it with game play, treasure-hunting and the all-important ambient atmosphere.
Question 9: From Metroids and Ridley to music and level design, Metroid games draw a lot on past titles to appeal to fans. What level of nostalgia do you appreciate, and where does it become too much repetition? (Metroid Database)
MR: Fighting Ridley over and over is starting to get somewhat old, when will Kraid finally have another go? Musical nostalgia is always a good thing, and I always appreciate the back-tracking and treasure-hunts. New abilities for Samus would be good though, as giving her mostly the same equipment in each game can quickly become repetitive.
Question 10: Are you satisfied with the way Samus’ character has developed, especially with regards to Other M’s portrayal? (Metroid Recon)
MR: Samus has been largely left as a blank slate for the player’s imagination to fill in, especially with the lack of any character development during the Metroid Prime saga. Unfortunately for Nintendo, no matter what direction they took Samus’ character in Other M, some fans wouldn’t be happy with the result. You can’t please all the fans all of the time.
I didn’t really mind the direction they took Samus’ character. Sure, there are moments that seem out-of-character compared to her actions (and reactions) in the other games, but this is a video game series and a work of fiction after all, so not everything will always fit together perfectly. I can see potential for a stronger character in Samus for future titles, thanks to the personal crises she endures and overcomes aboard that crazy Bottle Ship. Sometimes for a character to develop a strong, mature and in-control personality, they need to endure some rough times – Other M certainly gave Samus a few of those. I think that gives at least one positive outlook on her future character development.
Question 11: What is your favourite Metroid game and why? (Shinesparkers)
MR: That’s a really tough question, but the (predictable) answer is a close tie between Super Metroid and Metroid Prime. I think in the end I would choose Metroid Prime, as it’s the first game I’ve played through without ever experiencing a single moment of frustration – just sheer inspiration and fun all the way.
Question 12: Where do you see Metroid in ten years time? (Shinesparkers)
MR: Hopefully Samus is still around! I would hope that Nintendo take the character established in Other M, and by 2020, let her grow and mature into the no-nonsense bounty hunter we all know and love.
Question 13: Where do you feel the continuation of the Metroid story should go after Fusion? (Shinesparkers)
MR: It’s going to be tough for Nintendo to find new ways of keeping the actual Metroids in the timeline post-Fusion, but we still need to find out who the ringleaders are behind the Metroid research on the BSL station and whatever consequences Samus will face. And will she ever get her original Power Suit back? It would be good to see these points addressed in future titles.
Question 14: If Metroid did a spin-off for a different character, who should it be and why? (Metroid HeadQuarters)
MR: There’s only one person that comes to mind for a spin-off game, and that person is Anthony Higgs of the Galactic Federation Army. Anthony’s charisma and good-naturedness would be brilliant to see in his own game. It’d give us a different perspective in the Metroid universe, and we’d probably learn a lot more about what makes the Galactic Federation tick.
Adam Malkovich would probably seem like an easy choice for anyone curious to learn more about the inner workings of the Galactic Federation, but the word he so obviously chose, outsider, gave me a change of heart (sorry, couldn’t resist!).
Question 15: What’s your best time in your favourite Metroid game? (Metroid 2002)
MR: I’ve never really tried a speed-run of Metroid Prime, but my best time for Super Metroid is 1 hour 47 minutes (played on the original SNES version).
Question 16: Would you like to see an official remake of Metroid II, in a similar style to Metroid: Zero Mission? (Metroid Recon)
MR: Yes, definitely. There’s been some great recent fan games based on recreating Metroid II, and it would be an absolute treat if Nintendo could give it the official treatment.
Question 17: If you could have an ability of Samus in real life, what would it be and why? (Shinesparkers)
MR: The Gravity Suit. Having an environmentally-sealed suit of armour capable of protecting the user from extreme heat or cold and oxygen-deprived areas would be fantastic for exploring just about any part of planet Earth.
Question 18: Do you have any closing comments you’d like to make?
MR: I’d just like to comment on the overall growth of the series in recent years. Since Metroid Prime and Fusion released, we’ve seen a substantial growth in the series over the last 8 years. Will we see another 8 games released between now and 2018? Regardless of what future Nintendo have in mind for Samus, I think we should gratefully appreciate the series as it stands now – there’s a lot to be said for appreciating what you have, rather than focusing on what you don’t have.
Metroid 2002
Metroid 2002 is the authority when it comes to Metroid speed running, sequence breaking, secret worlds and other various techniques. The site is dedicated to those people who enjoy taking the Metroid experience to a whole new level. It has videos of various techniques with in-depth instructions on how to execute them. The forum community is active with almost 3500 fans, who have contributed to an astonishing 338,000 posts!
Website: www.metroid2002.com
Question 1: How did you first get into Metroid? (Shinesparkers)
M2K2: I was late in getting into the series. It took until my freshman year of college to actually play prime and fusion. My roommate knew the series and was really pumped about the double sequel and I decided I should take advantage of him owning the games.
I played Prime first. It was probably late march or early April of 2003. I was pretty impressed and ended up skipping all my classes on the first day I played it. Looking back now, I must have been really really impressed, because I wouldn’t have gotten into it just because my roommate said it was good.
From there of course I was hooked and went through the other three games that were out then plus fusion. I was especially impressed with super because I could see how it basically paved the way for Metroid prime. I started to think of prime as “super Metroid in 3d.” and then when I learned that you could do things in pretty much any order in both games that sealed it. I later found out that a lot of that stuff was unintentional in Metroid prime (and they actually tried to stop you from doing it in later versions of the game) but that doesn’t matter in my opinion. The games are what they are: super Metroid is a 2d masterpiece and Metroid prime is its 3d equivalent.
Question 2: What got you to create your Metroid-related website? Or, alternatively, what got you into the one you’re involved with now? (Wikitroid)
M2K2: long story short, i met people discovering new tricks in metroid prime on the gamefaqs message board in summer 2003, and i decided to make a site to catalog videos of all those tricks to help new people pick them up. eventually all those awesome people joined me and i branched out to the other games in the series. that’s metroid 2002.
Instead of going into this here I’ll just refer you to this forum thread where I explain exactly how I got into the community and ended up originally putting together Metroid 2002:
http://m2k2.taigaforum.com/post/history_of_metroid_2002_part_1_was_happy_birthday_m2k2.html
Question 3: How important do you feel fan-created websites are for the Metroid fan base? What should a Metroid site provide for that community? (Metroid Database)
M2K2: This is a particularly interesting question when it comes to m2k2. As I mentioned before, a lot of the things we show you how to do on the site were blocked off in later versions of the games. We also try to point out where those things changed in later versions of the games and, where possible, alternative ways of getting items out of order and skipping items and so on that still work in the later versions even after they blocked off the original ways we found.
Question 4: What is the most difficult part of running a Metroid website? (Metroid Database)
M2K2: I guess the whole wiki thing wasn’t as well-known or widespread when I started developing the site in late summer 2003. If I were doing it today, everything would be a wiki, so I wouldn’t have to be this gatekeeper whom people have to wait on to post new content. That’s something that I’ve always tried to mitigate by just posting things as soon as I can. But it’s way better, in my opinion, to take the human element out entirely and make it to where anyone can post stuff on the site. Then, if it’s really a site worth existing, there will be a community around it that will patrol it for people posting porn links and (worse) bad information so the site stays clean and correct.
Question 5: What has been your favorite part of running your site? (Wikitroid)
M2K2: Over time I became like the guardian of the knowledge of the community. Even as more and more stuff becomes “crowd-sourced,” like wiki-driven, I still have to be there paying the bills and making sure it doesn’t get hacked and stuff. So I can participate in the community as an equal, knowing that I have a part to play.
The social aspect of it has always been my favorite. I met some amazing people who were breaking the games apart more and more on a daily basis at the beginning and I’ve met a ton more amazing people after I decided to stick around and make the site.
Question 6: How do you think your involvement with Metroid has changed/shaped your life? (Wikitroid)
M2K2: Hard to overestimate. In summer 2003 I had just turned 19 and I had no marketable experience in any area people in the real world care about. Today I’m a Perl and c++ programmer about a year away from a PhD. I have a lot of experience as a Linux server administrator and I know a lot about really esoteric stuff like mpeg-2 transport streams. It’s clear to me that deciding to stick around in the community and make Metroid 2002 and later join speed demos archive and maintain those sites was the turning point in my life. So m2k2 and sda are the projects I worked on to place myself in a marketable position to get into a prestigious PhD program and to feel like I have something to offer other people. I ended up writing my own forum software too called taiga forum which I developed with someone I met on the m2k2 forum. I didn’t know or care about web forums before m2k2.
Question 7: Do you think Metroid still has a place in today’s gaming world among all the big guns? (E.g. Final Fantasy, Halo, Call of Duty, etc.) (Metroid Recon)
M2K2: It’s hard to say. I haven’t looked at the sales of other m (I haven’t even played it yet!). I know it really bothers a lot of people – absolutely including me – which sales are what ultimately decide whether a series has a “place” in the gaming world. But I think to have another blockbuster like Metroid prime they are going to have to go back to what works and stop doing what Nintendo unfortunately does a lot which is to go off in random directions and pray something works.
Question 8: Should Metroid continue in the more story-driven fashion seen in Fusion, Prime 3, and Other M, or does that detract from the “Metroid Experience”? (Metroid HeadQuarters)
M2K2: Different people get into different things. I’m sure some people are highly attracted to the fusion/other m story (though we don’t see those types around m2k2 so much). So for them maybe the “Metroid experience” *is* getting into the story. Personally, I used to get into the story more than I do now. I read the manga that came out around the same time fusion did and I thought how they handled it in zero mission was really cool (the game play in zm on the other hand was certainly not done as well). But as more time goes by I realize that for me the most important thing was meeting other people and discussing things, and there’s only so much you can discuss about the story before you start asking the same stupid questions over and over again. For whatever reason it seems like hunters is especially bad about this – maybe because they didn’t really give us a lot to go on in hunters and yet it’s apparently meant to be in the same universe as the fusion/other m stuff.
So an example of something that lasts longer than talking about the story is talking about how to get a better clear time. There are a lot of ways to go about accomplishing that – there is a lot of work for a small group of people to do all at once. There is something unique for each person to contribute. So that’s the “Metroid experience” for me. If they can get back to making games like prime that are basically endless entertainment in that way then they can put in all the story they want and I won’t mind one bit. Maybe I’ll even get into it again. But for the love of god, make it optional…
Question 9: From Metroids and Ridley to music and level design, Metroid games draw a lot on past titles to appeal to fans. What level of nostalgia do you appreciate, and where does it become too much repetition? (Metroid Database)
M2K2: Well, like I already said, I thought some of it was really well done in zm. I was so pumped for that game. It looked like they were going to do everything right. and then what ended up being done right was how they worked in a new story with what was already “known,” but they failed to capture the feel of the original game because once you knew how to do things then it was over – there were only like two or three things that were found later on that could be done differently from how they apparently wanted you to go through the game. It didn’t have the wide open feel of the original.
Question 10: Are you satisfied with the way Samus’ character has developed, especially with regards to Other M’s portrayal? (Metroid Recon)
M2K2: Well, I’d have to play other m to say on that game, but I did think it was a little odd the sudden shift between prime and prime 2. I know a lot of people were really taken aback. It was like they shouldn’t have let retro design or redesign Samus for prime 1 if they were just going to come in and say “you have to use our Samus” for prime 2.
Question 11: What is your favourite Metroid game and why? (Shinesparkers)
M2K2: Think I’ve already answered this one. wouldn’t be here if not for prime. Endless entertainment.
Question 12: Where do you see Metroid in ten years time? (Shinesparkers)
M2K2: At this point it’s not even clear where they’re going after other m so who knows. One weird thing is that it’s now been longer since prime than it had been since super when prime came out. But beyond that I don’t really have any useful observations. Maybe someone will figure out where the series ought to go after prime and then we will get the third great Metroid game. That’s what I’d like to see anyway.
Question 13: Where do you feel the continuation of the Metroid story should go after Fusion? (Shinesparkers)
M2K2: I’ve always said (not entirely seriously) that no one will know until alien 5 comes out because the main series is so closely tied to the alien movies. Like if you watch resurrection and then think about what happened in fusion it’s pretty clear that one is influencing the other. But as for what I think should happen … it seems like it’s becoming harder and harder to produce something that feels like a natural continuation of the series. It could have ended chronologically with super and I would have been fine with it. Maybe Nintendo will surprise me. Who knows.
Question 14: If Metroid did a spin-off for a different character, who should it be and why? (Metroid HeadQuarters)
M2K2: Hard question. I guess when I got into the fusion story I saw a lot of potential for some of the things on the BSL station, especially nightmare and yakuza. Like why did they create Nightmare? What kind of military applications did they see for it? There had to have been some events that led up to that. What’s the federation’s side of the story? Also, I’m really impressed any time a story can make you start to hate a universally adored protagonist. So it would be interesting to do some stuff with some of the rivals from hunters or even Ridley or the other space pirates as they encounter Samus. Samus has had it easy so far because we’ve always been able to identify with her. But she’s made a lot of enemies.
Question 15: What’s your best time in your favourite Metroid game? (Metroid 2002)
M2K2: It’s funny but I’m actually not going to be able to answer this one now. It’s changing all the time because I’m working on getting better at any percent in prime for the sda marathon next month (http://speeddemosarchive.com/marathon/). if you want to watch me go through prime as fast as I can without saving then be sure to tune in. if you’re not familiar with some of the more advanced tricks you can do in the game (especially skipping stuff) then it ought to be a trip. Whatever I get during the marathon I’ll call my best time.
Question 16: Would you like to see an official remake of Metroid II, in a similar style to Metroid: Zero Mission? (Metroid Recon)
M2K2: Absolutely. they just need to avoid adding a ton of new stuff and screwing up the original by putting in a bunch of unskippable story or arbitrarily blocking where you can go at certain times or borking the controls. Then I think it would be fantastic.
Question 17: If you could have an ability of Samus in real life, what would it be and why? (Shinesparkers)
M2K2: Very hard to pick just one. They’re all so awesome. When I’ve lost something I feel like the x-ray visor would save me a lot of time. And who wouldn’t be interested in finding out what the opposite sex’s bathroom looks like? Having said that, the morph ball would definitely be the most fun. Legs are overrated.
Question 18: Do you have any closing comments you’d like to make?
M2K2: Impossible is nothing.
Wikitroid
If there was ever anything you needed to know about Metroid, Wikitroid is the website to provide you with the information you need! It’s professionally maintained and is at hand to provide you with the most extensive reference to the franchise that you’ll find anywhere. The site holds over 3000 articles and is constantly growing and changing on a daily basis. It’s the fans that have made this all possible, as it is them that contribute to the growing database of information.
Website: http://metroid.fandom.com
Question 1: How did you first get into Metroid? (Shinesparkers)
WT: It began when I was in 6th grade, which would be 2004-2005, I noticed some fellow students playing a game using the ZSNES emulator in the computer lab. Of course, this game was Super Metroid. I managed to snaffle it off someone using my flash drive, and it all took off from there.
Question 2: What got you to create your Metroid-related website? Or, alternatively, what got you into the one you’re involved with now? (Wikitroid)
WT: I originally found Wikitroid through an external link on Wikipedia. Since I was interested in Metroid, I browsed the site for a while, which was then hit with what we now call the “great fanon crisis” – essentially, a period of a few weeks in which the wiki was struck with a wave of fanon after the active administrator had retired (fanon is disallowed on Wikitroid itself). I and another user offered to become administrators to replace the one that had retired, and became an administrator on 30 November 2007.
Question 3: How important do you feel fan-created websites are for the Metroid fan base? What should a Metroid site provide for that community? (Metroid Database)
WT: As with any popular series, I feel that fan-created sites, even those that are the bane of the series creator(s), are very important to the series they serve. Although rare, I have seen instances of fan sites being used by people involved with a series, and they serve to connect a series’ fans. And, well, they’re plain fun!
Question 4: What is the most difficult part of running a Metroid website? (Metroid Database)
WT: One of the features of the MediaWiki software that Wikitroid uses is called “RC patrolling”. It essentially marks all edits made to the site as “unpatrolled”, placing a big red exclamation point next to it on the Recent Changes page. The idea is that after the edit is made, an administrator or other trusted user will come in, check the edit, and then mark it as patrolled (or revert it).
In theory, this sounds like a great idea (“What could possibly go wrong?”), but in practice, as we quickly found out on Wikitroid, it becomes an extremely tedious thing, especially when you’re the only administrator online to patrol sometimes hundreds of edits (close to a thousand on one occasion). Of course, despite the time it takes up, it does end up benefiting the wiki by ensuring that all vandalism eventually gets caught.
Question 5: What has been your favorite part of running your site? (Wikitroid)
WT: I’m finding it surprisingly difficult to answer my own question! My favorite experiences from being an admin on Wikitroid have been the different people I’ve had a chance to work with, and the knowledge I gained about Metroid that I would not have gained otherwise.
Question 6: How do you think your involvement with Metroid has changed/shaped your life? (Wikitroid)
WT: Being an administrator on Wikitroid is no small job, and being one has definitely required me to manage my time differently, fitting in the time spent doing administrative work with other commitments. And, of course, it makes up a central part of my online activities today. When I have free time, you’ll likely find me spending it patrol edits on Wikitroid.
Question 7: Do you think Metroid still has a place in today’s gaming world among all the big guns? (E.g. Final Fantasy, Halo, Call of Duty, etc.) (Metroid Recon)
WT: Definitely. Metroid is a lasting series, and also has a certain quality to it that makes it seem like an “honest” video game, and not just some over-milked cash cow. Although it may not be equal to the big names in terms of fan base, it certainly is in terms of quality.
Question 8: Should Metroid continue in the more story-driven fashion seen in Fusion, Prime 3, and Other M, or does that detract from the “Metroid Experience”? (Metroid HeadQuarters)
WT: Yes, I would love to see some more story-driven games, but more “freestyle” games like the older sidescrollers would also be interesting. To me, Nintendo well-adapted the story-based games to good old Metroid-style exploration, and I have fond memories about getting stuck in a room in both the story-driven and freestyle games.
Question 9: From Metroids and Ridley to music and level design, Metroid games draw a lot on past titles to appeal to fans. What level of nostalgia do you appreciate, and where does it become too much repetition? (Metroid Database)
WT: I love how Nintendo successfully integrates new worlds with old characters. Ridley is the best example of this. The three appearances I best remember are in Super Metroid, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and Metroid Fusion (although it’s arguable that in Fusion, it wasn’t really him….). Each takes place on a different world (or worlds, or space station as the case may be), yet good ‘ol Ridley still manages to make an appearance. As for what would be too repetitive, it’s hard to say – it’s one of those things that I can point out when I see it, but before then, it’s hard to describe.
Question 10: Are you satisfied with the way Samus’ character has developed, especially with regards to Other M’s portrayal? (Metroid Recon)
WT: Yes, until Other M, when it becomes mostly yes. I’ve found her development to be pretty consistent from game to game, except for Metroid: Other M. Certain aspects of her character as portrayed in Other M seem a bit odd to me, such as her willingness to not use weapons she has until she is ordered to. It may just be me, but that just seems a bit out-of-character.
Question 11: What is your favourite Metroid game and why? (Shinesparkers)
WT: Definitely Super Metroid. While it may just be because it’s the first one I played, I loved the experience from playing Super Metroid, specifically the whole non-linear exploration.
Question 12: Where do you see Metroid in ten years time? (Shinesparkers)
WT: I see Nintendo releasing some more “modernized” Metroid games like Other M, resulting in a larger fanbase and increasing popularity. What this results in really depends on the games released and the fanbase created; for all I know, future releases could end up alienating the existing fanbase leading to a decline, or it could draw in massive numbers of new players so that it would become a top franchise within ten years. It’s hard to say, and anything really could happen.
Question 13: Where do you feel the continuation of the Metroid story should go after Fusion? (Shinesparkers)
WT: Since it seems to me that the Federation won’t exactly like Samus as much as before following the events of Fusion, I feel that Nintendo could probably make a very interesting story with Samus having to “fight” (figuratively, if not outright actually physically fighting) the Federation as well as the Space Pirates.
Question 14: If Metroid did a spin-off for a different character, who should it be and why? (Metroid HeadQuarters)
WT: I think Sylux would be the best character to spin off. He seems to be the most popular hunter (aside from Samus), and is definitely one of the more mysterious elements of the Metroid series. In other words, he’s a logical choice to be the subject of a spin-off series.
Question 15: What’s your best time in your favourite Metroid game? (Metroid 2002)
WT: Umm… eight hours? Super Metroid is one of those games I like to take my time playing; speedrunning it has yet to be a goal of mine. I think my best time ever has been around eight hours, but I don’t remember the exact time.
Question 16: Would you like to see an official remake of Metroid II, in a similar style to Metroid: Zero Mission? (Metroid Recon)
WT: Yes. An update/remake on Metroid II would be awesome, but perhaps it could be done as a story about revisiting SR388 following Fusion. Don’t know how feasible that is, but it certainly sounds cool.
Question 17: If you could have an ability of Samus in real life, what would it be and why? (Shinesparkers)
WT: After thinking about it for a bit, I probably would want the scan visor. It may not be as flashy or powerful as the power beam or screw attack, but it would be the most useful to me. It’d probably make science labs a lot easier, and would make quick work of locating lost keys.
Question 18: Do you have any closing comments you’d like to make?
WT: Being involved with Metroid has definitely changed my life. Being an administrator on Wikitroid has been a very unique experience, and I wonder how my life would be different if I never got into Metroid. Long live Samus, and long live Metroid!
Shinesparkers
Shinesparkers is one of the newest Metroid fan websites on the internet. It was established in August 2010 and since then, has gathered interviews with fan created projects such as Metroid Metal and various developers who have had an influence in Metroid games. The site is quickly growing and has had plenty of support from other Metroid communities which has certainly given it the kick-start it has needed.
Website: www.shinesparkers.net/
Question 1: How did you first get into Metroid? (Shinesparkers)
SS: It all started for me back in 2004, my friend from the USA had sent over a copy of Metroid Prime in a package of things he sent over shortly before Christmas. Prior to receiving Metroid Prime, I hadn’t really given much attention to Metroid, nor did I really care for it, but thanks to encouragement from my friend, and the determination to get me playing Metroid by sending over his own copy of Metroid Prime, it soon changed. I fell in love with the game and it just went from there. I picked up Metroid Prime 2 and Super Metroid soon after and now I own and have completed every Metroid game in some form or another. Me and my friend have kinda lost touch over the years but I have everything to thank him for. If it wasn’t for Jesse, I wouldn’t be the Metroid fan I am today.
Question 2: What got you to create your Metroid-related website? Or, alternatively, what got you into the one you’re involved with now? (Wikitroid)
SS: As a keen fan, I’ve always had a lot to say when it comes to Metroid. I’ve always been a great fan of various other Metroid websites, most notably the Metroid Database. I put off creating a Metroid website for a long time because I felt that I could focus my attention into existing communities rather than make competition. But after thinking about different things I could offer the fanbase compared to other websites out there, and recognising that another Metroid website on the internet isn’t such a bad thing, I went ahead and created Shinesparkers. My main focus is to offer exclusive content and a personal touch to the site.
Question 3: How important do you feel fan-created websites are for the Metroid fan base? What should a Metroid site provide for that community? (Metroid Database)
SS: I think these types of websites are absolutely vital to Metroid, websites created by fans for fans and staff which are passionate and care about what they do. The forum communities bring together other fans and allows them to express themselves. Nintendo have made it clear that they do look over these websites and the fans opinions. These in turn could play, or have played a vital part in the franchise. I feel that a Metroid fan website should provide regularly updated news and content that keeps people wanting to come back for more. I also believe that the presentation of the website is important; it should be easy to navigate and look fantastic. I also feel that the staff hired should be passionate and willing to provide and surpass a service that will make users want to come back for more.
Question 4: What is the most difficult part of running a Metroid website? (Metroid Database)
SS: For me, I think finding ways of reaching out to new fans and ensuring projects are kept to deadline has been the most challenging. Since starting this website I’ve found myself to be quite demanding yet organised in what I do. I’ve also found it challenging to hunt down interviews and making sure the content of those interviews is interesting to read and set out well. Maintaining a life outside of the site hasn’t exactly been much of a problem for me but working on the site can be quite time consuming at times. However, because I hold Metroid in such high regard, it’s worth all the extra effort, I just hope it’s worth it for the people who visit!
Question 5: What has been your favorite part of running your site? (Wikitroid)
SS: It has to be the knowledge and satisfaction that people are coming to the website and enjoying what we are doing, it makes the whole thing worthwhile. I set realistic goals when I started this website and those goals have been surpassed. I’ve also had the opportunity to meet and speak to some great people, not just big developers for interview, but fans within the forums. I’ve also enjoyed working with my team, they’re fantastic at what they do and they’ve been very flexible and willing to help. I feel I can raise the bar and meet even higher expectations than what I first felt possible when I started back in August 2010.
Question 6: How do you think your involvement with Metroid has changed/shaped your life? (Wikitroid)
SS: Metroid for me, is not just my favourite videogame franchise, it’s a love and a passion and something that drives me. It has given me a focus and a hobby as well as a platform to meet likeminded people. Metroid has had a serious impact on my life, sometimes I question if it’s even healthy for me to love it so much! I can safely say that whatever the future may hold for me, Metroid will always be close to my heart and it will certainly have made a huge impact on my life.
Question 7: Do you think Metroid still has a place in today’s gaming world among all the big guns? (E.g. Final Fantasy, Halo, Call of Duty, etc.) (Metroid Recon)
SS: Most definitely! Metroid offers a unique experience, it is always changing and has a great level of nostalgia connected with it. There are many great franchises out there on many platforms, but Metroid has plenty of key features that will draw in the fans such as exploration, atmosphere, sound and character. For Nintendo, Metroid is a mature title; it’s a great example to give to people that Nintendo is not ‘kiddy’.
Question 8: Should Metroid continue in the more story-driven fashion seen in Fusion, Prime 3, and Other M, or does that detract from the “Metroid Experience”? (Metroid Headquarters)
SS: I feel there is room for both types of Metroid game, both the classic series and the prime series has lots of similarities, both have great levels of exploration and puzzle elements and both have a great soundtrack and atmosphere. I can enjoy both types of game whether I am busy going around shooting things and collecting as many items as I can by simply following the map and bringing down the bosses, to hearing a story that draws me in enough to be intrigued to play further.
Question 9: From Metroids and Ridley to music and level design, Metroid games draw a lot on past titles to appeal to fans. What level of nostalgia do you appreciate, and where does it become too much repetition? (Metroid Database)
SS: I love nostalgia, it’s great to see returning bosses and themes from previous Metroid games, but I like to see fresh new things too, I don’t want to see too much of the old. Musically, I adore what Metroid has to offer, it is by far my most favourite aspect of Metroid. I feel it’s important to have a reminder of what we used to have to bring to the fans of new. I remember when I first heard Magmoor Caverns in Metroid Prime, I wasn’t aware that the theme was actually a remake of Lower Norfair in Super Metroid and it was nice to see the connection between the past and the present. I hope that in the future we will see some themes from the current games in later Metroid offerings.
Question 10: Are you satisfied with the way Samus’ character has developed, especially with regards to Other M’s portrayal? (Metroid Recon)
SS: Metroid: Other M has sparked a lot of controvercial comments from gamers, and although I feel certain story aspects could have been explained more clearly, I feel a lot of comments have been unfairly targeted. Metroid: Other M was an opportunity to learn more about Samus as a character, something I have being intrigued about since I started playing the games. So it was fantastic to finally see some characterisation of an otherwise mute character in Metroid: Other M. After all these years we got to see the girl behind the visor. It is easy to make assumptions into the type of character Samus is when you can’t see her expressions or feelings in previous Metroid titles. I cross my fingers in the hope we see an english release of the Metroid manga, it held a lot of information that fans will find interesting.
Question 11: What is your favourite Metroid game and why? (Shinesparkers)
SS: My favourite Metroid game is Metroid Prime. It was the game that introduced me to the series and that sense of nostalgia doesn’t fade so easily. The game holds a lot of great moments for me, the atmospheric locations, great original bosses, a fantastic soundtrack and a great sense of achievement as you progress through the game collecting items and powering up your suit. Speaking about my favourite game is very difficult for me, as I don’t know where to start when it comes to praising it. All I know is that no game so far has been able to do what Metroid Prime has done for me and no Metroid game yet has achieved the same level of appreciation than what Metroid Prime has done.
Question 12: Where do you see Metroid in ten years time? (Shinesparkers)
SS: I expect Metroid to be a strong franchise for Nintendo with a fan base that consists of our current fans and a great deal of new enthusiastic fans. I believe we will see a continuation of the Metroid story after Metroid Fusion and possibly remakes of Metroid 2: Return of Samus and Super Metroid. I would also like to see more of Samus’ character and hopefully a great deal more Metroid fan websites out there on the internet. It is our job to bring in new fans and let them see what a wonderful series Metroid is. I wonder how many fan websites will still be around as Metroid enters its 35th Anniversary?
Question 13: Where do you feel the continuation of the Metroid story should go after Fusion? (Shinesparkers)
SS: The story after the events of Metroid Fusion is going to be very interesting,and intrigues me greatly. The Galactic Federation’s secrets are revealed and I am pretty sure that they will want to stop Samus at all costs. With Metroids and X eliminated from the galaxy I’d like to see Samus face a new threat, which also ties in with the past somewhat. I also want to see Adam, Etecoons and Dachoras play a big part in the next Metroid game and perhaps we will see the last of the Chozo, who may be able to do something about Samus’ physical appearance that was altered by the X-Parasite infection and her suit. Perhaps she can learn valuable knowledge from the Chozo, which leads to a nice story element and kinda reboots the series with a new element of some kind. I want to see more freedom in this game too; I’d prefer it if we didn’t have another linear Metroid game in my opinion.
Question 14: If Metroid did a spin-off for a different character, who should it be and why? (Metroid Headquarters)
SS: Personally I’d like to see a game from the Space Pirates point of view, where you play as the villain. there’s plenty of character development that can go on here and we could get a nice insight into how Mother Brain thinks, how the Space Pirates are organised etc. Or, perhaps we can have an Anthony Higgs game, showing the origins of his character prior to Metroid: Other M. Either way, I would prefer it if Samus wasn’t seen in the game, at the very least, referenced.
Question 15: What’s your best time in your favourite Metroid game? (Metroid 2002)
SS: Unfortunately, Speed Running is something I haven’t really been fond of. I prefer to just take the game at my own pace and enjoy it. I think my time for Metroid Prime is about 12 hours. I did try to complete Zero Mission as quickly as I could, but I got frustrated by the time I got to Kraid that I just gave up with that idea.
Question 16: Would you like to see an official remake of Metroid II, in a similar style to Metroid: Zero Mission? (Metroid Recon)
SS: Definitely! I would love to see a Zero Mission style take on Metroid II: Return of Samus, I feel after the release of Metroid: Other M and the references to her past, it would make sense to recreate this game for something like the 3DS so newer fans can see the events of that game and make a connection between Metroid and Super Metroid. Next year marks 25 years of Metroid, and it also marks 20 years since Metroid II was released, I would love nothing more than to see a remake of this game in celebration of that and to allow new fans to experience this story.
Question 17: If you could have an ability of Samus in real life, what would it be and why? (Shinesparkers)
SS: I would love the Speed Booster, It would be a great way of getting around! I don’t drive, so this would be handy at avoiding the traffic jams!
Question 18: Do you have any closing comments you’d like to make?
SS: I just want to take this opportunity to say a big thanks to all of the Metroid websites I contacted to make this interview possible, I am amazed at the response, every single one I contacted agreed to this, so I truly appreciate it. In addition to this, I want to thank the fan community for the support and help they’ve given to get this site off the ground. It means a lot to me, it wasn’t brushed aside, it was given a lot of good support from day one. I want to say a big thanks to the staff that make this site what it is and of course, this website wouldn’t be what it is without the fans who visit on a regular basis. We hope you will stick with us into 2011 and beyond and help us grow even further to become an established website!
This feature was originally published in December 2010. It has been slightly edited since its original publication.