18 Nov 2022
Metroid Fusion, Metroid Prime Permalink

Feature: Metroid Prime’s 20th Anniversary

November 18, 2022

Today is a momentous occasion, as it is the 20th anniversary of Metroid Prime! To celebrate, the Shinesparkers team has come together to pay tribute to both Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion as they enter their second decade of existence. These games revived the Metroid series back in 2002 after an eight year hiatus following Super Metroid, and have consistently remained some of the fans’ favorite Metroid games.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on Fusion and Prime as they turn 20. Chime in on our social media pages, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Click here to check out the feature

04 Nov 2022
Uncategorized Permalink

Feature: Cook Like a Bounty Hunter

November 4, 2022

Today I’m thrilled to share a new feature I’ve been working on all year long: Cook Like a Bounty Hunter! I love cooking, and decided to combine that with one of my other passions in life, Metroid. I’ve developed and tested seven recipes themed around Metroid, from Samus Arancini to Phazon Alfredo and X Parasite Jellies. If you make any of these, do let me know how they tasted! I think you’ll really enjoy them.

Click here to check out the feature

14 Oct 2022
Uncategorized Permalink

Community Spotlight: Bonbon

October 14, 2022

We’re back with another Community Spotlight! This month we’re featuring Bonbon, an incredible Metroid cosplayer from Japan. Besides making amazing Power Suit cosplays, like Dark Samus and the Metroid: Samus Returns Gravity Suit, Bonbon has worn them to film reaction videos, including to the announcement of Metroid Dread. He’s currently hard at work on what might be the world’s first Proteus Ridley cosplay, which we can’t wait to see!

Click here to check out the Spotlight

13 Oct 2022
Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Permalink

Armature Studio bought by Meta Platforms

October 13, 2022

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has acquired Armature Studio and three other game development studios, and absorbed them into its Oculus Studios brand. Armature was founded by three former Retro Studios developers in 2008; as most of you know, Retro created the Metroid Prime Trilogy, and is currently making Metroid Prime 4. Armature released ReCore in 2016, which was described in marketing as made by “the makers of Metroid Prime”, and had a few similarities with Prime as well. Many former Metroid Prime staff at Retro have gone on to work for Armature.

It is currently unknown what game Armature will be working on next as part of Meta. They most recently worked on an Oculus VR port of Resident Evil 4.

Source: Eurogamer

30 Sep 2022
Metroid Prime: Federation Force Permalink

Interview: Patrick English

September 30, 2022

Today we are incredibly happy to share an interview with Patrick English, a former Environment Artist on Metroid Prime: Federation Force for the Nintendo 3DS. Patrick modelled and textured a variety of environments across the planet Talvania, as well as the tutorial for the game. He goes on to share information on his inspirations and influences, and fan feedback to the game. We want to say a huge thanks to Patrick for taking the time to work with us on our very first Metroid Prime: Federation Force interview!

Click here to check out the interview

27 Sep 2022
Uncategorized Permalink

Metroid Icons available on Nintendo Switch Online

September 27, 2022

Icons from the Metroid series can now be obtained as part of the Nintendo Switch Online application, allowing you to customise your profile icon with various sprite artwork from the original Metroid NES. Samus, a Metroid, and Ridley are currently available, costing 10 platinum points each. They will only be available until next Monday, October the 3rd, so get them before they’re gone!

06 Sep 2022
Uncategorized Permalink

NES Metroid user icons soon available on Nintendo Switch

September 6, 2022

Nintendo has added a new selection of user icons, available to purchase with Platinum Points obtained with the Nintendo Switch Online Missions feature. These icons will change every week, and will feature at some point one or several icons based on the original Metroid game for the NES! Make sure to claim them while you can for 10 Platinum Points each as they are temporary rewards.

02 Sep 2022
Metroid: Other M Permalink

Interview: Micky Coyne (Metroid: Other M commercial)

September 2, 2022

We are delighted to be publishing another great interview on Shinesparkers today, this time with Micky Coyne, the Creative Director behind the Metroid: Other M commercial. Micky discusses the writing, filming and casting process, as well as sharing an insight into the working relationship with Nintendo and Series Producer Yoshio Sakamoto. This interview may be valuable to anyone with an interest in filmmaking, and those with an interest on what goes behind the scenes when it comes to advertising a product for Nintendo and the video game industry.

Click here to check out the interview

30 Aug 2022
Uncategorized Permalink

Community Spotlight: Wata Ridley

August 30, 2022

We’re back with another Community Spotlight, this time for the brilliant artist Wata Ridley! A prominent member of the Japanese Metroid fan community, Wata Ridley’s artwork encompasses all games in the Metroid series, including the most recent Metroid Dread. One of their drawings has Samus playing on a Switch alongside one of the E.M.M.I. Wata is on a mission to help increase the Metroid series’ popularity in Japan. We wish them the best of luck with this and hope to see more of their wonderful art in the future.

Click here to check out the Spotlight

09 Aug 2022
Metroid Prime Permalink

Autechre almost composed Metroid Prime

August 9, 2022

For years, it’s been rumored that Autechre, the English electronic music duo of Sean Booth and Rob Brown, either inspired the music of Metroid Prime or were approached to compose it. Both of their names appear in special thanks in Metroid Prime’s credits (original NTSC release only), which is what fueled the speculation. In an AMA stream on Twitch at the end of July, Sean explained that Autechre had been asked by Retro Studios if they would make the music. They met with Retro representatives in Austin, Texas, and both parties were eager to get started. However, Nintendo disagreed with hiring them for unknown reasons, and instead sent Kenji Yamamoto to work with Retro directly.

Sean previously declined to answer a question about Autechre’s potential role on Prime in another AMA almost a decade ago, citing the non-disclosure agreement he signed.

You can see Sean answer the question at 32:34 in the video below.

Source: VGC