Metroid Pinball for DS revealed. Really…
Milking a franchise? Nintendo? How dare you…
According to a listing on Electronics Boutique’s US website, Nintendo is planning to release a new Metroid game for its wonderful DS portable games console, perhaps not a great surprise given the warm reaction to all things Samus since Retro Studios’ sublime involvement in the franchise.
What does come as a surprise however is the title. The game is called Metroid Pinball. Really. It would seem that some bright spark deemed fit to commission yet another franchise spin-off and could think of nothing more innovative than pinball.
Of course, this follows on from Super Mario Ball and the latest chapter in Pokemon Pinball, both released in the last year for Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance.
Reacting to the news, many Nintendo boards have poured scorn on the idea, though SPOnG wouldn’t be too quick to write off the concept. The idea of a free-roaming and expansive pinball environment with strong Metroid level designs is hugely appealing. Samus’ abilities in morph ball mode increase over the course of every game, so this following suit in Metroid Pinball (doesn’t it just sound wrong though?) is a given.
Well, according to the originating retailer’s site, Metroid Pinball DS hits stores in North America on the 12th of May.
We’ll look for some official gameplay details from Nintendo in the meantime.
What does come as a surprise however is the title. The game is called Metroid Pinball. Really. It would seem that some bright spark deemed fit to commission yet another franchise spin-off and could think of nothing more innovative than pinball.
Of course, this follows on from Super Mario Ball and the latest chapter in Pokemon Pinball, both released in the last year for Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance.
Reacting to the news, many Nintendo boards have poured scorn on the idea, though SPOnG wouldn’t be too quick to write off the concept. The idea of a free-roaming and expansive pinball environment with strong Metroid level designs is hugely appealing. Samus’ abilities in morph ball mode increase over the course of every game, so this following suit in Metroid Pinball (doesn’t it just sound wrong though?) is a given.
Well, according to the originating retailer’s site, Metroid Pinball DS hits stores in North America on the 12th of May.
We’ll look for some official gameplay details from Nintendo in the meantime.
Companies:
Nintendo
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Comments
Pandaman 10 Feb 2005 23:35
1/13
When shall the day come when the true successor to Sonic Spinball emerges from the depths of the release chart!?
Ditto 11 Feb 2005 09:05
2/13
I'm really getting fed up of these spin-offs from Nintendo.
They've milked Mario as much as possible, and now they've turned on Metroid. Gone are the days when we used to look forward to one excellent game per generation. Next for the Nintendo spin-off machine is Zelda. Zelda Pinball, Zelda Snap, Zelda Party, Link Pinball, Link Snap, Link Party 2. Zelda and Link Pegasus Boots Saga.
On a more serious note, I hope that they let Retro develop a non-Metroid game. The staff there must be bored stiff of Samus. Three near-identical games in a row is too much.
Nintendo really should look at developing some new, adult franchises. Part of Metroid's success is that it isn't as childish as many of it's other money-spinners.
They've milked Mario as much as possible, and now they've turned on Metroid. Gone are the days when we used to look forward to one excellent game per generation. Next for the Nintendo spin-off machine is Zelda. Zelda Pinball, Zelda Snap, Zelda Party, Link Pinball, Link Snap, Link Party 2. Zelda and Link Pegasus Boots Saga.
On a more serious note, I hope that they let Retro develop a non-Metroid game. The staff there must be bored stiff of Samus. Three near-identical games in a row is too much.
Nintendo really should look at developing some new, adult franchises. Part of Metroid's success is that it isn't as childish as many of it's other money-spinners.
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NiktheGreek 11 Feb 2005 09:39
3/13
Adam M wrote:
I'm really getting fed up of these spin-offs from Nintendo.
They've milked Mario as much as possible, and now they've turned on Metroid. Gone are the days when we used to look forward to one excellent game per generation. Next for the Nintendo spin-off machine is Zelda. Zelda Pinball, Zelda Snap, Zelda Party, Link Pinball, Link Snap, Link Party 2. Zelda and Link Pegasus Boots Saga.
They've milked Mario as much as possible, and now they've turned on Metroid. Gone are the days when we used to look forward to one excellent game per generation. Next for the Nintendo spin-off machine is Zelda. Zelda Pinball, Zelda Snap, Zelda Party, Link Pinball, Link Snap, Link Party 2. Zelda and Link Pegasus Boots Saga.
I think it's telling that Nintendo's most original game in years (Wario Ware) has seen no less than four versions (The GBA original, the GBA sequel and GC/DS versions). That is how to milk a name. That's all in the space of about a year and a half since the mid-2003 release of the first.
As for Zelda, remember when Four Swords Plus and Tetra's Trackers were announced seperately at E3 2003? At one point, they planned to give Zelda that "special Nintendo treatment"... A friend from another board has probably summed up Nintendo's current stance better than I could:
Dreadknux 11 Feb 2005 09:42
4/13
Adam M wrote:
On a more serious note, I hope that they let Retro develop a non-Metroid game. The staff there must be bored stiff of Samus. Three near-identical games in a row is too much.
Three? Retro did not develop/are not developing the new Metroid Prime: Hunters on Nintendo DS. They only worked on MP1 and 2, a Nintendo division in Japan's working with the MP code for Hunters.
But I agree with your point. Isn't it about time Nintendo stopped with the freaking spinoffs already? Whatever happened to the "Nintendo Difference", wherein nothing but *NEW* franchises would be created, instead of sequels and lame spinoffs?
Having said that, if this Metroid Pinball (if it's even in development...) - they gotta change the name - turns out anything like Sonic Spinball, I'll be happy.
Ditto 11 Feb 2005 11:16
5/13
Svend Joscelyne wrote:
Three? Retro did not develop/are not developing the new Metroid Prime: Hunters on Nintendo DS. They only worked on MP1 and 2, a Nintendo division in Japan's working with the MP code for Hunters.
Yeah, I know. I was refering to Prime/Prime 2 and the new Revolution game they probably have in development.
Yeah, I know. I was refering to Prime/Prime 2 and the new Revolution game they probably have in development.
Joji 11 Feb 2005 13:03
6/13
I totally agree wwith you, Adam. It is getting tired and Nintendo fail to see it. As the saying goes familiarity can breed contempt.
Where are the Waveraces, Pikmins and 1080s' of this generation? Where is the spark of originality that the likes of Capcom give us in spades? Are you feeling okay Nintendo, because with this and other gaming symtoms you are fast becoming a shadow of your former self.
I really don't think it's to much to ask for something new and I pray they are not gonna become EA, churning out the bile of sequelitis and sports games. They better get their act together or I won't be bagging no Revolution, I''ll be bagging their head from the guillotine and hold it aloft to gaming public. For without us they are nothing.
Where are the Waveraces, Pikmins and 1080s' of this generation? Where is the spark of originality that the likes of Capcom give us in spades? Are you feeling okay Nintendo, because with this and other gaming symtoms you are fast becoming a shadow of your former self.
I really don't think it's to much to ask for something new and I pray they are not gonna become EA, churning out the bile of sequelitis and sports games. They better get their act together or I won't be bagging no Revolution, I''ll be bagging their head from the guillotine and hold it aloft to gaming public. For without us they are nothing.
schnide 11 Feb 2005 15:47
7/13
EA becoming like Nintendo? There's one fundamental difference - EA know their products are crap but that people will buy them anyway because of the right marketing and demographic hooks. Nintendo still think that their products will sell because They're From Nintendo so they must be great and people will buy them simply because of who made them.
This is yet another step in the long-predicted decline of Nintendo - I will be collecting my winnings soon from everyone who bet against me.
After the N64, after the Gamecube and now coming up to 'Revolution', Nintendo always promise they've learnt from their mistakes and will work more with third party developers and blah blah blah..
..but what happens? They sit back and churn out the same spins on previously successful IP and hope that they can get away with it as long as Pokemon and Gameboys are selling - and they won't even have that for much longer if the PSP is successful.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want them to go software only or worse - but I don't want them to carry on the way they have been doing for far too long.
This is yet another step in the long-predicted decline of Nintendo - I will be collecting my winnings soon from everyone who bet against me.
After the N64, after the Gamecube and now coming up to 'Revolution', Nintendo always promise they've learnt from their mistakes and will work more with third party developers and blah blah blah..
..but what happens? They sit back and churn out the same spins on previously successful IP and hope that they can get away with it as long as Pokemon and Gameboys are selling - and they won't even have that for much longer if the PSP is successful.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want them to go software only or worse - but I don't want them to carry on the way they have been doing for far too long.
NiktheGreek 11 Feb 2005 16:09
8/13
Going software-only would be the best thing for Nintendo in my eyes. Cutting them free of the first-party security and forcing the company into a world where they've got to compete on equal terms with EA, Ubisoft, Capcom, Konami and Sega could be just the spark needed to reinvigorate the development teams within the company. However, the N64 and Gamecube haven't done nearly as badly as the Saturn or Dreamcast did, and the company remains profitable. For now, Nintendo will just go on being Nintendo.
vault 13 11 Feb 2005 16:54
9/13
I think you guys summed it up. The only thing is, people are still buying this stuff. Mario Party and Pokémon and whatever else cute character they're schlocking out that month, all do relatively well. Is there a way to tell little six year olds what to buy and what's crap? Not really.
TigerUppercut 11 Feb 2005 17:41
10/13
I love you.
A lot.
:D
Ditto 11 Feb 2005 17:42
11/13
NiktheGreek wrote:
Going software-only would be the best thing for Nintendo in my eyes. Cutting them free of the first-party security and forcing the company into a world where they've got to compete on equal terms with EA, Ubisoft, Capcom, Konami and Sega could be just the spark needed to reinvigorate the development teams within the company.
As I keep gibbering on about, I would rather Nintendo improved it's products and caught up with today's market. Failing that, I'd like to see a joint product with Sony.
However, the N64 and Gamecube haven't done nearly as badly as the Saturn or Dreamcast did, and the company remains profitable. For now, Nintendo will just go on being Nintendo.
Yeah, they produce just enough good titles to keep them going. However, there have been more disappointments this generation from them than any other. I bought several games on the strength of the Nintendo brand and sold them several days later (eg Wario World, Four Swords, Luigi's Mansion).
Newtynho 12 Feb 2005 02:14
12/13
schnide wrote:
as long as Pokemon and Gameboys are selling - and they won't even have that for much longer if the PSP is successful.
The PSP outsold the DS in Japan once again this week, almost 50000 units versus 30000 DSes, and it's now the second best-selling game system in Japan this year so far, losing only to (Shock) the PS2.
Total 2005 Japan :
PSP - 316383
DS - 279474
fluffstardx 14 Feb 2005 08:40
13/13
Joji wrote:
Where are the Waveraces, Pikmins and 1080s' of this generation?
Right at the beginning of the console cycle, really. Waverace was a launch title, 1080 (Avalanche) came out a year later i think, and Pikmin WAS this generation alone. Luigi's Mansion was innovative, as were the above; no-one bought them, so they died off. Pikmin's sequel did that to that franchise.
The problem is, Nintendo will only keep successful franchises and ventures alive. Waverace bombed; nobody's really bothered about a water-based racing game, Pikmin was good while it lasted but that wasn't long, ditto Luigi's Mansion, and 1080 was seen to be a poor SSX... I loved all the above, but if the sales aren't generated, then they die. It's a pity, but a necessary step.
And hey, they keep on milking- but people keep buying, too. Hence the problem; originality keeps getting left, sequels and spinoffs get bought, so spinoffs just flood out.
Duck Hunt for Revolution, that's what i say...