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Archive for May, 2011

Win a personalised autograph from Jessica Martin, voice of Samus Aran, Metroid: Other M

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

During the May edition of the Metroid Headquarters podcast, I announced a joint competition between Shinesparkers and Metroid Headquarters to win a personalised autograph from none other than Jessica Martin, voice of Samus Aran in Metroid: Other M. I am happy to announce that today, as part of our efforts to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Metroid, we can announce further details on the competition and the rules.

In order to be in with a chance of winning, you’ll have to write a short poem called a Haiku. A Haiku is a very short form of japanese poetry. In English, a popular form of Haiku is made up of three lines made up of five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line and five syllables in the final line. Here is an example:

In the Brinstar Depths
There is a scary creature
That is lurking there

The theme for this Haiku is Metroid and Jessica Martin herself will be judging the competition. Entries will be taken from the 1st June to the 31st July on the Shinesparkers forums and the Metroid Headquarters forums. You will be required to register to one or both of the forums in order to take part. The best two Haiku’s from each website will win a signed personalised autograph by Jessica Martin with the winners announced on the 7th August.

You can enter this competition twice, once on the Shinesparkers forums and once on the Metroid Headquarters forums. Multiple entries and accounts will not be counted and your entry could be made void. Your Haiku should remain tasteful and with a Metroid theme. Entries will be passed on to Jessica Martin after the competition has closed and she will choose the winners. Her decision is final. Shinesparkers and Metroid Headquarters reserve the right to change and adapt these rules.

For more information on Haiku, check out the Wikipedia entry.

Source: Shinesparkers Forums

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Various translation projects at Metroid Database

Sunday, May 22nd, 2011

I felt it was time to mention that the Metroid Database are hard at work on a few translation projects, some that I urge you to check out. Back in February, we mentioned that the site was translating chapters of a rare Metroid manga-zine originally released in Japan called “Episodes of Aether”. I am happy to say that there are now four chapters of EoA are now available on the site, fully translated. You can check them out here.

Cast your mind back when the Metroid Prime Trilogy teaser site was revealed. At the very bottom of the site was a banner that said “Another side story coming soon”. It was speculated that it could have been a new Metroid game, but thanks to the Metroid Database, we now know it was a story of the Metroid Prime series from the Space Pirates perspective through log entries. It is actually very funny and I urge you to give it a read. You can find that here.

The most recent project the site is underway with is the translation of the Metroid: Other M development art gallery that can be accessed in the game and unlocked as you progress through it. The artwork featured handwritten notes in Japanese and for the first time, fans on western shores can learn more about the characters and creatures in the game, from the people who created it. There are lots of very interesting stuff in here that we probably would have never known if it wasn’t for this translation. At the time of writing, only the character profiles are done, but you can expect to see more very soon. You can check those out here.

I would personally like to thank CapCom for the translations and Infinity’s End and JesseD for their continued support to the Metroid Database. Shinesparkers really appreciates the effort that goes into the site and the content they bring their users and it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Source: Metroid Database

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Dead or Alive Dimensions: Out now

Saturday, May 21st, 2011

Team Ninja, who worked alongside Nintendo to create Metroid: Other M has released their latest game, Dead or Alive: Dimensions in Japan and was released yesterday in Europe. For those of you who aren’t aware, DoA:D features a stage based on the chamber where you encounter Ridley in Other M. The stage also features Ridley himself as a stage hazard who will grab opponents and slam them and scrape them against a wall, similar to what he does to Samus in Other M.

Although Samus herself won’t be a playable character, she has a cameo appearance in the game to help our the fighters. For those of you who live in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, you will not be able to purchase DoA:D due to child pornography laws that permits the distribution of the game in these countries, as the game features characters with ‘revealing’ costumes under the age of 18. The game is still currently available in other EU countries and will be released in North America on May 24th and Australia on May 26th.

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“PLAY! A Video Game Symphony” to perform Metroid!

Friday, May 13th, 2011

PLAY! A Video Game Symphony is a symphony that is touring the world and features music from blockbuster video games performed by world class orchestras and choirs. The show has toured in North America and in Europe where the show was a complete sell-out. To celebrate 25 years of Nintendo, PLAY! will be performing brand new arrangements, one of which will be for the Metroid franchise. In addition to Metroid, PLAY! will also be performing music from Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, Castlevania and Final Fantasy. These arrangements have been created by composer and orchestrator Chad Seiter, who has contributed and assisted with scores to movies such as Star Trek, The Incredibles and the video game Medal of Honor: Airborne. The music for PLAY! is produced by Jeron Moore who has provided supervision and editing for companies such as Namco and has produced over 12 soundtrack albums for British Academy award-winning composer Jeremy Soule.

PLAY! is most certainly a Symphony that is of the highest standard of music and we are thrilled to learn that Metroid will be a part of this.

PLAY! Will be performing the world premiere of the Metroid arrangement at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, WA on June 21st. For more information on PLAY! and how to book tickets for the event, check out the website!

Source: PLAY! A Video Game Symphony

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Reminder: TSG Metroid Marathon starting tomorrow!

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

The Speed Gamers Metroid marathon will be kicking off tomorrow from 18:00 CST to raise money for Civic Force to raise money for the Earthquake & Tsunami disaster that struck Japan in March this year. TSG will be streaming Metroid games over a 72 hour period between May 6th and May 9th and you can do your bit to help by donating to the cause in the name of Metroid.

Civic Force responds to domestic natural disasters in Japan. Currently, we are delivering urgently needed relief services in the hardest-hit isolated areas of Northeast Japan following the massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011.

Civic Force is a registered not-for-profit organization in Japan that was established in the wake of the Niigata Earthquake crisis of 2004. Our mission is to provide swift and effective emergency services in case of large-scale crises in Japan through two key interventions.

You can check out the live stream here and we wish them the very best of luck and hope it becomes their most successful stream ever!

Update: The marathon is now over. I am delighted to report that TSG managed to raise over $8,000 for Civic Force, $1,500 of that was brought in by FanGamer alone on the sale of their Metroid Visor shirts. A fantastic effort from all involved!

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