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Episode 19 – Traditional Metroid’s Future

Shinesparkers Podcast
Shinesparkers Podcast
Episode 19 - Traditional Metroid's Future
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Our nineteenth episode of the Shinesparkers Podcast is now available! This episode welcomes back industry veteran Eric Kozlowsky to the podcast, who was a Level 3 artist at Retro Studios and worked on Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, and currently Art Director at indie video game company, FuzzyBot. The team discuss where we want to see the traditional style of Metroid game go next after Metroid Dread, and Eric shares his thoughts and opinions on Metroid Dread’s art and environments, based on his background in the games industry. The podcast is hosted by Amanda, with team members Darren and Roy.

Please be aware that this episode will contain major spoilers from Metroid Dread. If you wish to avoid spoilers, please listen to this episode later.

01:21 – Main topic: The Future of the traditional Metroid series
19:07 – Topic: Eric Kozlowsky on the Environment and Art of Metroid Dread
33:22 – Mailbag: What is your favorite boss or character from Metroid Dread?
38:52 – Bloopers

12 Nov 2021
Metroid Dread Permalink

Metroid Dread sells a staggering 854,000 units in North America

November 12, 2021

Market research company NPD Group has published data for the best selling video games in North America during the month of October. Metroid Dread had an extremely strong first month of sales! NPD ranked Dread as the third best selling game in North America during October 2021 (behind Far Cry 6 and Back 4 Blood). These numbers do not include digital sales, however.

At the same time, Nintendo of America CEO Doug Bowser has told The Verge that Dread sold 854,000 units, in the United States, which in his words make it “the best start for any Metroid game ever”.

Separately, Famitsu has confirmed that Dread’s lifetime sales in Japan, as of November 7, 2021 are 128,257 units, which confirms that Dread has sold almost one million physical and digital units (source) in these regions alone.

We will update this news post with more information as it comes.

Source: NPD Group/Oscar Lemaire/The Verge/Famitsu

10 Nov 2021
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Permalink

Interview: Kynan Pearson

November 10, 2021

Today we are excited to announce that we have a brand new interview to share! This time with Kynan Pearson, a former Retro Studios employee who worked as a Level Designer on Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and Senior Designer for Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Kynan spent some time talking to us, sharing several anecdotes from the games he helped develop, his feelings about working at Retro Studios, and with the colleagues he befriended. We are happy to finally share this interview with the Shinesparkers community, and hope you will enjoy hearing Kynan’s insights.

Click here to read the interview

09 Nov 2021
Metroid Dread Permalink

Brie Larson films Metroid Dread ad for Nintendo

November 9, 2021

Yesterday, Brie Larson, a well-known fan of Samus who’s campaigned to play her in a Metroid movie, filmed a sponsored advertisement for Nintendo that she shared on Instagram. In it, she plays Metroid Dread on her Nintendo Switch OLED system, while sharing her memories of past Metroid games and playing as Samus in the Super Smash Bros. series. It’s great that she loves Metroid Dread as much as we do. You can check out the ad at the link below.

Source: Brie Larson

04 Nov 2021
Metroid Dread Permalink

Metroid Dread patch 1.0.2 released

November 4, 2021

A new update for Metroid Dread is now available. It contains some general fixes, which will be applied to the game once you connect your Switch to the internet. Nintendo have outlined the changes coming in 1.0.2 on their support page, listed below:

  • Fixed an issue where retrying after a game over would cause the play time to be added only when retrying a specific boss fight.
  • Fixed an issue where the game would force-quit if you hit an enemy frozen by an Ice Missile with the Shine Spark in a certain way.
  • Fixed an issue that caused Samus to move strangely when jumping at certain times in the Morph Ball Launcher.
  • Fixed an issue where the final boss would get stuck on a wall and not be able to move during a certain attack, making it impossible to progress in the game.
  • Fixed an issue where Samus would get stuck in the wall when defeating the E.M.M.I. in Ferenia in a certain position.

What do you think to the update? Share your thoughts with us on our social media channels!

Source: Nintendo Support

29 Oct 2021
Metroid Dread Permalink

Feature: Nintendo Switch OLED Model Review

October 29, 2021

For our latest feature, we are happy to share our first ever video game hardware review for Shinesparkers: the Nintendo Switch OLED Model! The console launched on the same day as Metroid Dread, and features a beautiful OLED screen which helps games look even better when playing in handheld or tabletop mode. But what did we think to it? Is it worth upgrading your current hardware? Are the new features and improvements worth the price? How does Metroid Dread compare on the new console?

Be sure to check out our review and make an informed decision by clicking here

28 Oct 2021
Metroid Dread Permalink

Metroid Dread demo now available

October 28, 2021

In a surprising move, Nintendo have released a demo for the recently released Metroid Dread, that launched on October 8th 2021.

Nintendo Switch owners who have yet to experience Samus’s latest adventure, can now do so by navigating to the Nintendo eShop and downloading it to their consoles.

While we are sure many of our readers already have the game, or have the intention of picking it up in the future, this may be the perfect opportunity to convince others who may be undecided.

Source: Nintendo

26 Oct 2021
Metroid Dread Permalink

Tetris 99 crossover with Metroid Dread announced

October 26, 2021
The hugely popular Tetris 99 title for Nintendo Switch is having a crossover with Metroid Dread! Face off against 98 other players online and drop those Tetrominoes to destroy your opponents, with a Metroid Dread themed board complete with music and characters from the Metroid Dread game.

The theme will be available between October 29th and November 2nd 2021, but players who manage to rack up 100 event points during this time, will be able to unlock the Metroid Dread theme permanently!

Check out the trailer for the Tetris 99 X Metroid Dread Grand Prix event below!

21 Oct 2021
Metroid Dread Permalink

Metroid Dread patch 1.01 released

October 21, 2021

Metroid Dread has just received a new update to fix a specific glitch which made the game crash near the ending, along with some other unspecified issues.

General Fixes
  • Fixed an issue where, if a map marker is placed on a specific door on the map screen (the door destroyed with the beam obtained at the end of the game), destroying that door at the end of the game would cause the game to forcefully quit with the message “The software was closed because an error occurred”.
  • Fixed several other issues to improve overall gameplay experience.

Source: Nintendo Support

20 Oct 2021
Metroid Dread Permalink

Metroid Dread nominated at the Golden Joystick Awards

October 20, 2021

The Golden Joystick Awards are taking place on November 23rd this year, and Metroid Dread has been nominated in two categories! It’s up for Nintendo Game of the Year, and Ultimate Game of the Year. Voting on nominees has now opened, and you can cast your vote for your favorite games, actors and companies until November 5th. After you finish voting, you’ll have a chance to win a free gaming ebook of your choice.

Winners will be announced during the award show on November 23rd. With any luck, Metroid Dread will go on to win both Game of the Year awards!

Click here to vote

Source: GamesRadar