09 Feb 2018
Metroid Prime 4 Permalink

Multiple sources confirm Metroid Prime 4 is in development by Bandai Namco Studios Singapore

February 9, 2018

This week, rumors have been swirling around the internet that Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, composed of veterans from LucasArts and the Far Cry series, is in fact the “talented new development team” that is working on Metroid Prime 4. Today, Eurogamer has published a report with multiple sources corroborating the rumor. Nintendo and Bandai Namco have declined to comment. As with any rumor, you should take this with a grain of salt until either Nintendo or Bandai Namco announce it themselves. However, this once unlikely murmur is quickly growing louder and more believable. It’s only a matter of time until we find out who the developer really is, and more about Prime 4.

UPDATE: Eurogamer is now reporting that Bandai Namco Japan is also working on Prime 4, and will take over its development while the Singapore studio moves to another project for Nintendo Switch (likely Ridge Racer 8 exclusively for the platform, also mentioned on the LinkedIn profiles).

Source: Eurogamer/GameSpot/Polygon

07 Feb 2018
Metroid Prime 4 Permalink

Metroid Prime 4 might be developed by former LucasArts & Far Cry designers at Bandai Namco Singapore

February 7, 2018

Last night, new hints at the possible identity of the mysterious “talented new development team” working with Nintendo EPD’s Kensuke Tanabe on Metroid Prime 4 (working title) have surfaced. This comes via a LinkedIn page dug up by YouTube’s own DocTre81. The profile by the “lead designer” mentions an “Unannounced IP (First Person Shooter/Adventure Exclusive to the Nintendo Switch).” We have confirmed that this LinkedIn profile actually exists and it contains further details that strongly point to Metroid Prime 4, such as “[creating] many design concepts in order to meet Nintendo’s exacting requirements” and “regularly present[ing] pitches, storyboards, design directives, and gameplay to both Nintendo Headquarters and Bandai Namco Entertainment Group.”

Over the last few weeks and months, there had been hints from insiders that Bandai Namco might be behind the development wheels for Metroid Prime 4 already but the pairing has always seemed highly unlikely given Bandai Namco’s development portfolio not really aligning well with the foundations of the Metroid Prime series.

This has now changed with the new information suggesting that said Unannounced FPS/Adventure IP is indeed Metroid Prime 4 but being developed by Bandai Namco Singapore. Now, why does this change things? Well, Bandai Namco Singapore was founded in March 2013 and has thus far only lent development support to Bandai Namco projects such as Mario Sports Superstars or Tales of Berseria, for example. However, digging deeper into the people working at Bandai Namco Singapore now, there are several Western industry veterans from LucasArts (the canceled but highly sought after Star Wars 1313, SW: The Force Unleashed, etc) and Ubisoft Shanghai/Eurocom (Far Cry 4, Far Cry Primal, 007 Legends). These development credits along with the aforementioned FPS/Adventure IP exclusive to Switch complete the puzzle quite nicely as it aligns with Nintendo’s official description form their E3 2017 Fact Sheet and the existing rumblings about Bandai Namco being involved in Metroid Prime 4.

Nintendo’s Metroid Prime 4 Fact Sheet from E3 2017 (click to enlarge)

Naturally, take all of this with a grain of salt until it is officially confirmed who is developing Metroid Prime 4. But everything seems to point to Nintendo EPD collaborating with a team of several sci-fi/action/first-person/adventure/puzzle veterans at Bandai Namco Studios Singapore.

Source: LinkedIn via DocTre81 & ResetEra (1 | 2)

27 Jan 2018
Uncategorized Permalink

Community Spotlight: Joe Heasman (Cutting Edge Props & Cosplay)

January 27, 2018

Our latest Community Spotlight is now available! This one focuses on costume and prop maker Joe Heasman (Jobiwan) who creates props and costumes on a small budget, proving that if you are willing to put in the hard work and effort, you don’t have to pay a fortune for a great looking cosplay. Among Joe’s creations is a Varia Suit, created on a budget under just £100!

We are constantly looking for creative people in the Metroid community who we can promote further. If you or someone you know is a musician, artist, cosplayer, speedrunner or something else that you feel our audience would be interested in seeing, be sure to get in touch with us!

Check out the Community Spotlight here

27 Jan 2018
Metroid: Samus Returns Permalink

Metroid: Samus Returns total sales data from Spain for 2017

January 27, 2018

As we reported several months ago, Metroid: Samus Returns had a good launch week in Spain. Now, the cumulative sales for software throughout all of 2017 have been made available. While the game did not secure a spot in the year’s Top 20 (which are filled with all the usual AAA suspects ranging from FIFA to Mario to Zelda to GTA), we got some additional numbers for Metroid: Samus Returns and a few other titles as a bonus for the year-end round-up, courtesy of Hobby Consolas via Bruno MB.

Note that the following listing is not ranked or exhaustive and the other titles are listed solely for context comparisons:

INJUSTICE 2 (WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE) – 20,000 (PS4/X1/PC)
WOLFENSTEIN II: THE NEW COLOSSUS (BETHESDA SOFTWORKS) – 12,500 (PS4/X1/PC)
PERSONA 5 (ATLUS) – 11,000 (PS3/PS4)
NIER AUTOMATA (SQUARE ENIX) – 10,000 (PS4/PC)
METROID: SAMUS RETURNS (NINTENDO) – 7,200 (3DS)
PREY (BETHESDA SOFTWORKS) – 7,000 (PS4/X1/PC)
YAKUZA ZERO (SEGA) – 4,400 (PS4)
YAKUZA KIWAMI (SEGA) – 3,000 (PS4)
OKAMI HD (CAPCOM) – 2,000 (PS4/X1)

This covers up until week 51, 2017 which contains sales data as of December 23, 2017. Note that all of the higher performing titles in that list, aside from Wolfenstein II, came out very early in the year and are multiplatform releases (sales figures are for all available formats combined). These figures do not include digital sales.

Interesting to note is that in Spain, the sixth of January (Día de los Reyes Magos) is when the big presents are given as part of the Christmas holiday, usually celebrated with gifts on the 24th/25th of December across most European countries. This means that the first week of January also sees a big increase in sales, usually. We can thus assume that the game moved some more units between the cut-off for this sales chart and that date, but that’s ultimately just speculation. Take that as you will.

The full Top 20 can be found at the source link.

Source: Hobby Consolas via ResetEra’s Bruno MB

25 Jan 2018
Uncategorized Permalink

Bayonetta 1+2 for Switch includes support for Metroid amiibo

January 25, 2018

The official Japanese website for the Switch ports of Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 has been made public and it includes details on the new amiibo support not present in the original Wii U versions. Various amiibo can be scanned to unlock special costumes and weapons, which includes three of the Metroid range of amiibo.

Samus (Smash), Samus Aran (Samus Returns) and Zero Suit Samus (Smash) have been confirmed to unlock costumes in both games. Originally, the Samus costume was a special unlock in Bayonetta 2 that you had to pay for with halos collected in the game, while Bayonetta had it unlocked from the start.

The full list of compatible amiibo are as follows:

Peach (Smash), Link (Smash), Fox, Samus (Smash), Bowser (Smash), Bowser Jr, Toon Link (Smash), Falco, Zero Suit Samus, Bayonetta Player 1, Bayonetta Player 2, Peach (Mario), Bowser (Mario), Daisy, Boo, Koopa, Goomba, Wedding Peach, Wedding Bowser, Link (OOT), Link (8-bit), Toon Link (WW), Link (BotW bow), Link (BotW horse), Link (MM), Link (TP), Link (SS) and Samus Aran (Samus Returns).

Source: Official Japanese Bayonetta Site

22 Jan 2018
Metroid Prime Permalink

First 4 Figures reveals a preview of Meta Ridley statue

January 22, 2018

Fans of Metroid Prime, and especially Ridley, will be happy to know that First 4 Figures has recently revealed a new preview of their Meta Ridley statue. While it had already been announced almost a year ago, this new sneak peak shows an updated version of Meta Ridley, as it has now entered the physical stages of development.

First 4 Figures is known for their amazing statues and attention to detail, and this statue certainly appears to be of the highest quality. The preview is shown below.

The hand you see in the photo is there to illustrate the scale of the statue. That being said, Meta Ridley is shaping up to be quite sizable.

As of now, we have no idea when preorders will open up or how much it will cost, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated!

Source: First 4 Figures
20 Jan 2018
Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Permalink

Interview: Jack Mathews (Technical Lead Engineer, Metroid Prime 1/2/3)

January 20, 2018

We have a great interview for our readers today! Jack Mathews, former Technical Lead Engineer on Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption talks to us about his time working on the original three Metroid Prime games and highlights some interesting facts about their development.

We would like to thank Jack for taking the time to answer our questions!

Click here to read the full interview

 

19 Jan 2018
Metroid: Samus Returns Permalink

Samus Returns ranks above Fire Emblem in best selling 3DS games of 2017 (NPD)

January 19, 2018

The first traditional Metroid title in thirteen years seems to have been received well by fans according to industry-tracking firm The NPD Group, who have confirmed that physical sales of Metroid: Samus Returns have placed the game in the top ten best selling 3DS games of 2017.

The game came in at #6 just ahead of Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadow of Valentia at #7. Over the past few years, the Fire Emblem series has gone from strength to strength with great success, so it is fantastic to see that sales have been strong for our favourite intergalactic Bounty Hunter too, at least in physical game sales. It is not known how each franchise has fared in the digital market.

The full NPD 2017: Top 10 best selling 3DS games are:

  1. Pokemon: Ultra Sun
  2. Pokemon: Ultra Moon
  3. Pokemon: Sun
  4. Pokemon: Moon
  5. Super Mario Maker
  6. Metroid: Samus Returns
  7. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadow of Valentia
  8. Super Smash Bros.
  9. Mario Kart 7
  10. Poochy and Yoshi’s Wolly World

Source: Mat Piscatella (NDP Analyst)