News Articles
Thursday9th Feb 2023
Random Metroid Prime's OG Engineer Isn't Happy About The Remastered Doors
"This should be fixed"
After months — heck, possibly years — of rumours, Metroid Prime Remastered is finally out on the Nintendo Switch as a digital download, with a physical edition available later this month on February 22nd. While many folks seem overjoyed at the remastered visuals in the game, one original Retro Studios' developer has...
Monday27th Jun 2022
Rumour Metroid Prime Remaster Apparently Lined Up For November, Prime 2 And 3 To Follow
"Almost certainly to line up with the 20th anniversary"
It's one of those rumours that feels like it's been around for years because, well, it has, but Jeff Grubb of the Giant Bomb parish has once again gone on record with updated info
News Former Metroid Prime Dev Calls Cancelled 'Project X' A "Frustrating Experience"
"It doesn't make sense and it's not even fun"
In the latest video published by YouTube creator KIWI TALKZ, ex-Retro Studios dev Paul Tozour gave an extensive interview around his time with the studio, including cultivating a positive working culture, how Metroid Prime 3: Corruption was influenced by Halo, and the studio's relationship with Metroid...
Wednesday11th May 2022
News Ex-Retro Studios Devs Laud Metroid Prime's Camera System
"You never lose sight of Samus"
In a recent video compilation from YouTuber KIWI TALKZ, a group of ex-Retro Studios developers spoke about the late Mark Haigh-Hutchinson, a LucasArts alumni who was in charge of the camera system for the Metroid Prime games. Mark sadly passed away in 2008 from pancreatic cancer and his former co-workers had a lot to...
Tuesday3rd May 2022
Random Metroid Prime's Logo Went Through 53 Different Iterations
"I wanted to blow my brains out"
Anyone with a background in graphic design or illustration knows just how many different iterations of a logo are required before landing on the perfect end result. It can be a taxing process, but when it comes to a massive game like Metroid Prime, the time and effort is undoubtedly worth it when you see just how...
Monday29th Nov 2021
News Nintendo Takes More Risks With Prototypes, Says Metroid Prime Developer
"[Nintendo] know that that’s the right way to go"
We're all still waiting for Metroid Prime 4, and yes, that sucks. However, the game's prolonged development is indicative of Nintendo and Japanese companies as a whole, according to former Retro Studios staffer Jack Mathews. Mathews served as the Lead Technical Engineer on the Metroid Prime...
Saturday27th Nov 2021
News Former Metroid Prime Engineer Admits He Was "Disappointed" With The Wii's Specs
Remaining with Nintendo would have meant staying "a bit behind"
The Nintendo Wii is arguably one of the most innovative video game consoles ever released, but when it comes to raw power - at the time, it was well behind the competition. This led to some third-party developers completely skipping the generation, and even certain Nintendo teams were...
Monday25th Oct 2021
Random Nintendo Rejected Samus Voice Acting In Metroid Prime For Being "Too Sexual And Sensual"
"They're very, very particular about vocal sounds"
Podcaster Reece Reilly – AKA: Kiwi Talks – has been discussing the development of past Metroid games with the people who made them for some time now, having previously chatted to the likes of Mike Wikan and Bryan Walker. More recently, he sat down with Clark Wen, who was Audio Director on
Tuesday7th Sep 2021
News Nintendo Changed The Culture At Retro Studios Following Metroid Prime Crunch
Mike Wikan reckons Prime 4 "will be great"
Thanks to a recent interview on Reece Reilly's Kiwi Talkz podcast, today has brought some rather interesting details around Retro Studios and Nintendo. We've had the humorous tale of how the blowing mechanic was added to Donkey Kong Country Returns, and some
News Metroid Prime Trilogy Had A Core Dev Team Of Four, Surprisingly
Original designer "knew where all the skeletons were buried"
Earlier today we shared a rather nice detail about the development of Donkey Kong Country Returns, courtesy of an excellent interview on Reece Reilly's Kiwi Talkz podcast with former Retro Studios developer and senior designer, Mike Wikan. Naturally a lot of the interview focused on the...
Friday2nd Jul 2021
News Industry Veteran "Zoid" Retires And Reminisces About A Conference Call With Miyamoto
Call me by my (nick)name
Blizzard's most senior software engineer David "Zoid" Kirsch has announced his retirement from the company and the games business. The industry veteran has an enviable list of credits to his name, having worked for some of the biggest companies in the business and some of the biggest games of the last 20 years, including...
Friday23rd Oct 2020
Video First 4 Figures Unboxes Its Stunning Varia Suit Samus Statue
It's just mindbogglingly beautiful
Expensive-but-fantastic statue maker First 4 Figures has shared an unboxing video of its delightful Varia Suit Samus figure. Available as a standard edition or a super fancy Exclusive edition that includes LED lights, the figure has entered its 'last chance to pre-order' stage on First 4 Figures' website. The...
Wednesday19th Jun 2019
News Metroid Prime Developer Andy O'Neil Passes Away, Aged 47
"Andy’s contributions to the gaming industry will never be forgotten"
Bluepoint Games has revealed that its co-founder Andy O'Neil passed away on June 10th, aged 47. O'Neil is perhaps most famous to Nintendo fans as the technical lead on Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2, and as principal engineer on Metroid Prime 3. Originally from Birmingham...
Wednesday13th Mar 2019
Video Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Looks Lovely Running At 60fps And In 4K
HD Trilogy when?
The Metroid Prime series is hugely popular among the franchise's fanbase - you probably already knew that if you chose to read this article - but the games are starting to show their age a little as technology gallops forward. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is now 15 years old (where does the time go?), with its GameCube visuals naturally...
Monday4th Jun 2018
News Metroid Prime 1 & 2 Audio Lead Discusses His Work And Life At Retro Studios
We can dream, eh?
With Metroid Prime 4 now officially announced for Nintendo Switch - please let there be another reveal at E3 this year! - fans of the series finally have something to be excited about after what will be a 12-year gap between entries. To whet your appetite before any further announcements, though, indulge yourself in...
Monday5th Sep 2016
News Turns Out Nintendo Came Up With Metroid Prime's Most Compelling Feature
"Nintendo was like, this is going to be about the scan visor"
The Metroid Prime sub-series has to rank as one of the most beloved of all Nintendo's franchises. The three mainline Metroid Prime titles are sublime pieces of software, yet it's easy to forget that the public reaction to early footage of the first instalment was met with widespread...
Thursday29th Jan 2015
Video You NEED To Play Metroid Prime Trilogy
Yes, you really do
Metroid Prime Trilogy is finally here - no longer will you need to trawl eBay for highly priced retail copies, because now you can play three amazing games, in one package, for a much more affordable price. Until 5th February the price is downright outrageous, a promotional cost of $9.99 / €9.99 / £8.99; that's for one of the...
Tuesday29th Jul 2014
News This Master Arts Metroid Prime 2 Light Suit From First 4 Figures Has Lit Up Our Day
A pricey treat
When it comes to premium collectible Nintendo-themed statues, First 4 Figures has often provided some of the most memorable releases. Its latest product is sure to excite Samus fans, as it's opened pre-orders for the Master Arts Metroid Prime 2 Light Suit. This is from the excellent Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, of course, and will come...
Friday23rd May 2014
News Check Out This Gorgeous Metroid Prime Visual Feature
Part of an "empty spaces" mini-series
The Metroid franchise remains a keen source of interest for Nintendo fans and, to some extent, gamers in general. From its iconic NES début to the stand-out Super NES entry, it's a series that has enough lore and variety in style to keep conversations lively for a long time. Retro Studios has played its own...
Sunday5th Oct 2008
News Play On Wii - European Update
Eurogamer have uncovered some more titles, with Nintendo UK suggesting Metroid Prime 1 & 2 are to get the make over.
Nintendo UK has told Eurogamer that Wii reworkings of GameCube titles Pikmin 1 and 2, Metroid Prime 1 and 2 and Mario Tennis will all be released in Europe next year. Also on the cards for remake treatment are Chibi Robo and Donkey...
Monday28th Apr 2008
News Metroid Prime Trilogy Rumour Shot Down
Within hours of the rumour of a Wiimake for both Metroid Prime and it's newer sequel were Earthed - Nintendo has gone and squashed everyones wet dreams.
According to our friends over at GoNintendo.com their "mole" has unearthed some juicy tid-bits from a retailers computer regarding a game entitled "Metroid Prime Trilogy"...
Thursday17th Jan 2008
News Metroid Prime Senior Engineer Loses Fight With Cancer
Key Retro Studios team member dies at just 43 years of age
Mark Haigh-Hutchinson, an industry veteran who worked on all three best selling Metroid Prime titles, has succumbed to pancreatic cancer. He was just 43 years old. Haigh-Hutchinson’s career dates back to the ‘80s, when he worked on games like Paperboy prior to joining Lucasarts. He...
Wednesday2nd Jan 2008
News Retro Talk About Metroid Prime
Highly respected American developer spills the beans
American developer Retro Studios has broken its silence about working with Nintendo on the critically acclaimed Metroid Prime franchise. The Texas-based company worked closely with the Japanese giant to craft what many gamers regard as being one of the finest FPS adventure series in existence. In...