Fils-Aime coy about Metroid date

By Tom Bramwell Published 19 February, 2007

What happened to 'early 2007'?

Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime has dodged a question about when exactly Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is due out for Nintendo Wii, having previously said to expect it "early in 2007".

"The focus on Prime 3 is to make that the stellar game for a first-person experience on the platform," Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo America, told MTV News.

"What that means is we're going to make sure it's perfect when we launch it. I think this is one where your readers - the fans of Nintendo, the core gamer - need to recognize that when we release it, it will be perfect.

"And if that's a little later than folks would have liked, I'm hoping they're going to be happy," he said, adding that people seemed to be happy Nintendo took its time on The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

Not completely encouraging news for those of you hoping for new Wii titles sooner rather than later, then. Oh well, you can always play good stuff like Excite Truck in the meantime, and we'll be bringing you our thoughts on another Wii exclusive, Kororinpa, later this week.

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About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (48) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • The12thMonkey #1 5 years ago

    I'm torn in two directions; I'd love Metroid Prime 3 to be a stunning game, but at the same time I recognise that Nintendo have built some excellent good will with the Wii, that needs to be sustained with good titles in a timely fashion.

    Even though I recognise both sides, I'd rather have the game be as good as possible than rushed.

  • RE*AC*TOR #2 5 years ago

    Nintendo can't afford any of their AAA titles to be less than perfect.

    I'd be happy enough if it gets released in 2007 at all. They should be filling the shelves with the titles with the shorter production cycles. Big Brain Academy should be out, BWii should be forthcoming too.

  • richardiox #3 5 years ago

    Personally, i think the main reason for all this extra time is so they can fully implement online multiplayer. And I also expect MP3 to be the first Wii title that does so and as such imagine the association teething problems and delays will hold back MP3 until end of summer at the earliest.

    Ideally, Nintendo would have online mutliplayer for Wii up and running from day one and they kind of missed out by not doing so.

  • Dizzy #4 5 years ago

    This game will - if good- sell me a Wii so they better take their time :)

  • Killerbee #5 5 years ago

    It's annoying to have to wait, but he's right - I would rather it was perfect and a bit late, than earlier but unfinished. Online multi-player would be awesome. :)

    Looks like Super Paper Mario is the next big Wii title then... any news on a European release date?

  • plok #6 5 years ago

    Nintendo games are always always delayed. This therefore is no surprise.

    The only good thing about Nintendo's delays is the end product tends to be superb, and I really hope this is the case for MP3

  • JackyB #7 5 years ago

    Don't mind waiting, though i would like a few more AAA titles. There are a couple decent looking gammes on the not so-far horizon - Sonic, SSX, and possibly tiger Woods if its anything like a more fleshed out Wii sports golf. They are all out within the next month and should tide me over.

  • Santino #8 5 years ago

    great news, take as long they need and make it as great as it should be, Nintendo have plenty of titles to put out in the meantime, and 3rd party games like ssx and Tiger Woods are out in a month.

  • Blerk #9 5 years ago

    Looks like Christmas is going to be a busy time for Nintendo, then. ^_^

  • JackyB #10 5 years ago

    so then.... We are still due Mario, Paper Mario, Metroid, Smash bros... all first party, all should be out this year. Woohoo

  • mazzl #11 5 years ago

    arg common, release the game and do a patch, this is the ms way of doing it. and it seems to work pretty wel :p

  • dirigiblebill #12 5 years ago

    @Dizzy

    +1 (providing Paper Mario shows up on time and the new Crystal Chronicles is good)

  • tomkuryakin #13 5 years ago

    I agree when people say they want MP3 to be as good as possible.

    But I didn't buy a Wii at launch because MP3 got pushed back. I bought the Gamecube version of Twilight Princess because I did have to wait ages for it and I was damned if was going to buy a new console just to play it.

    So...get a move on, Nintendo. You've built up a lot of goodwill and excitement but you're in danger of blowing it.

  • Darth_Flibble #14 5 years ago

    I would rather wait then get a MP:3 that was rushed and not as good as it should be. You just have to look at the effort on 360 and ps3 games

  • Carrybagma #15 5 years ago

    So they're doing a Halo 3 now? "It'll be ready when it's ready" etc? I hope richardiox is right, but I'd guess that it's got more to do with spreading the first party titles out more thinly to cover the gaps in the release schedules. Other titles will probably shift too - perhaps with Galaxy coming out a little sooner than expected?

    Either way, that Reggie is a swine and deserves more stick than he currently gets.

  • Carrybagma #16 5 years ago

    Oh. I wonder if this means it will 'walk straight into Halo'?

    Fanboy fight of the year, I reckon. I'm in the blue corner!

  • Calo #17 5 years ago

    Take as long as you like! Just dont screw up like Echoes.

  • Santino #18 5 years ago

    echoes was awesome i had a great time recently finishing it on hard (quadraxis is brilliant boss and the whole game in general is more difficult), just not a match for the first although barely anything can match up to that masterpiece :)

  • Artemus #19 5 years ago

    Haven't played on my Wii since Xmas. Good job there's plenty to buy on other platforms with these delays.

  • Rambaldi #20 5 years ago

    Never mind the games, how about getting some bloody consoles on the shelves?

  • Kami #21 5 years ago

    Echoes really blew it on a few points, but the original Prime is a masterclass in how to reinvent a loved franchise.

    As said already, I am happy to wait. Online multiplayer would be great from the off and of course, that is something that requires a lot of testing to see if the infrastructure can cope with it. If a delay means we get a stable online mode with some lovely maps and a great single-player experience, then delay away. I am happy to wait. If they rush MP3, they could blow it if it seems unfinished. But they delay it, so yes they could equally blow it but end up with something good... lesser of two evils comes into play...

    Wii has lots of love right now, and myself, Super Paper Mario looks... well. Mad, just the way I hoped it would look.

  • peterfll #22 5 years ago

    No policy changes for Nintendo then.

    Ahhh..... it's the Gamecube all over again.

  • MARKIV #23 5 years ago

    I just wished they wouldn't BS in the first place. Microsoft did it with Gears of War, originally scheduled as a launch title, then also did with Forza 2 ( end of 06, then Winter ) to name but a few. They BS to push console sales, surely there should be law against it.

    It also funny how Nintendo did it with Zelda TP, just so they could have a AAA launch title for the Wii, yet gave us some BS about putting in some extra levels. I guess they did put in some extra level's but the main reason for it's delay was surely to be Wii launch title. The game is now so bloated, I find the game tiresome and boring. IMO!

  • spongebob #24 5 years ago

    peterfll is so right on the money. Wii is going to be the next Gamecube, with the exception that it sells loads. On the games front however except about 10 great titles or something and all of these are 1st party.

  • dirigiblebill #25 5 years ago

    @spongebob

    Please don't let that be true because it's the only console I can afford right now :(

  • spongebob #26 5 years ago

    @dirigiblebill

    Don't be sad. It's not the quantity that counts. Even GameCube is a fantastic console and definitely worth owning.

  • Steroyd #27 5 years ago

    I'd prefer strength in depth but yeah, people buy Nintendo Consoles for Nintendo titles, although in Japan that rule of thumb is broken exponentially, especially with Square Enix games.

    Remains to be seen if Nintendo can bring that DS support to the Wii, but at the moment at least this year everything will start off slow.

  • Artemis_Matsas #28 5 years ago

    @spongebob

    I'm afraid that you're right. To tell the truth, if i hadn't sold my Gamecube, i wouldn't have bought my Wii, for sure.
    Yeah, my Gamecube deserved every penny, but when i think of it's potential that never materialized...

  • Razz #29 5 years ago

    From what I hear the single player mode is finished. It's the online multiplayer modes and infrastructure RS is having trouble with. It's annoying but I really want them to get it right, I can't wait to play some of you lot at MP3. :)

  • peterfll #30 5 years ago

    My comment was meant to mean; Nintendo will release their big 1st party titles when they feel ready, and not before, and this strategy will be viewed as either a good thing (if you're one of those people who would rather wait) or bad thing (if you think that half a dozen max major, prime releases a year won't keep a console afloat).

    I have a Wii. I want it to be successful. But I think the Gamecube was less successful that it could have been mainly due to a flawed strategy on Nintendo's part.

    The difference this time I guess is the Wii is placed in a different space to the "competetion".

  • CallousB #31 5 years ago

    I hope they didn't delay it for the twonks who keep wanting Metroid online. Just make it a superb offline, single player game as it should be.

    Just re-use the engine and release a game exclusively created for multiplayer next year.

    I have yet to play any FPS/FPA that has a great and lengthy single player game as well as great multiplayer..they always skimp on one or the other.

  • AcidSnake #32 5 years ago

    Goldeneye...
    It wasn't really long but its multiplayer kicked ass...

  • spongebob #33 5 years ago

    I don't care if a console is succesful. I don't own stock of the companies that make them. What I want is good games on the consoles I own or the ones I am thinking of buying.

    And sometimes the success and the number of good games doesn't go hand in hand at all. And sometimes a console company can't get rid of their old tactics and that's when they can't make their product appeal to me at all. For example, Nintendo DS is a console I don't find that interesting. All the hip and happening games are shallow and are good for couple of hours of fun. Would be fine if the games cost like 10 euros a pop. I can buy similar casual and funny games from XBLA for a more reasonable price.

  • trevd72 #34 5 years ago

    i am not far off finishing zelda - hopefully (i am not one for 40+ hour games with my time restrictions, i am more of a buffet gamer than a 5 course meal gamer).

    So what does that leave to play on the Wii now that this and mario have slipped. I just advised my bro not to bother getting one for a while because of the lack of games. I had a feeling things would dry up before I got mine but luckily ebay worked for me and I got it free (i know, but its dog eat dog even more these days).

    Is this going to be Gamecube part 2. We haven't even seen a game that shows its improved power over the 'cube.

    All I can say is thank god its my 6th preferred console at the moment or I would be screwed. heehee.
    Edited by trevd72 at 19/02/07 @ 16:48

  • spongebob #35 5 years ago

    So right now it would be wise to buy a cheap 2nd hand GameCube , get the new Zelda for it, play it and some other great GC titles, and after a year or so when there's some actual content for Wii change to that?
    Edited by spongebob at 19/02/07 @ 16:48

  • Geowolf #36 5 years ago

    They did the same thing with Hunters prior to the DS launch. When did it arrive? A year after the DS launched. Does anyone really think that a delay this long wouldn't have been obvious a couple of months ago when they were promising it as a launch "period" title? Face it, people. Nice little innocent Nintendo conned us with the Wii version jsut as they did with the DS version. DEJA and most definitely VU.

    I fell for it with the DS but I had enough sense to recognise that neither Mario nor Metroid were even sitting on calendar for anytime soon at launch. I bought the Wii for Zelda, Sports and Red steel. Looking forward to the new Sonic and Excite truck (once the launch price comes down).

    Welcome to the new generation: it promises a lot, just don't believe it!

  • tomkuryakin #37 5 years ago

    @spongebob

    Yep, that about sums it up.

  • trevd72 #38 5 years ago

    Just thought I would bring some doom and gloom.

    You just know that the MP is going to suck compared to the best on LIVE!. Games on 360 that are not near the benchmark set by R6:V, Halo2, Battlefield COD are pretty much ignored. So those doing the wii60 thing will not play it much. Also they are going to have to make this the first MP game from N that has proper community settings like Live! cos this peudo avoidance thing is just shitty excuses for not having a good system and marketing bundled in one.

    So in effect I could not give a shit about the MP.

  • MoGamer2006 #39 5 years ago

    Why do Wii-related forums always seem to end up with a bunch of Xboy fanboys circle-jerking each other about how the Wii is going to be a failure?

    Nintendo hasn't released a new game for five minutes... *nurrr*... It's the Gamecube 2... *hmmf*... Nintendo's got no online strategy... *grnt*...

    Have fun, ladies!

  • malloc #40 5 years ago

    I'd be disappointed if it didn't have anything extra. With Echoes they did make a few efforts, granted mp wasn't a stellar success and felt tacked on. Hopefully if they ramp it up a notch and make it online, then I won't complain about the delay. If it's a cross between MP1 and MP2 but with the new controller I'll be a tad cheesed.

  • mattrix33 #41 5 years ago

    Im amazed there are not more articles on Wii games going MIA.

    Mario Galaxy seems to have vanished of the release date lists and Smash Bros is also been delayed.
    Any good ground the Wii has gained on the PS3 will count for nothing when people don`t get a steady release of good titles.
    Exitetruck is a OK game,its far from A title.

  • Carrybagma #42 5 years ago

    Never mind when it's coming out - give me some vee-hic-el specs man. I want to know some VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS. Or weapons. TELL US ABOUT A WEAPON IN GREAT DETAIL. With pictures, man. Tell me about the Metroid universe, so that I can I can immerse myself fully in the game and add to the EXPERIENCE. Oh SAMUS, you're so beautiful!


    /bonk

  • smelly #43 5 years ago

    >Or weapons. TELL US ABOUT A WEAPON IN GREAT DETAIL

    But then we'll all be bored hearing about it (like halo 3)

  • NegativeZero #44 5 years ago

    This one has me feeling quite ambivalent. I absolutely loved the first two on Gamecube. However, I also had Hunters on DS, and the control scheme there is absolutely godawful. I'm really worried that the controls for Prime 3 will be more Hunters and less Prime 1-2. It really worries me when I start seeing people call it a FPS, because it's really not one.

  • smelly #45 5 years ago

    FPS : First person shooter.

    Metroid is in first person, and has shooting... Therefor it's a fps.

    I agree with you that FPS shouldnt be classified as a genre though. It's a style of gameplay - not a genre. So listing games in the "fps genre" is (imho) stupid. Unless they're boring games which do nothing OTHER than first person shooting.

    So genre is definately action adventure. But it is still an fps (for the most part)

  • GiarcYekrub #46 5 years ago

    This and Umbrella Chronicals and maybe Manhunt 2 and Day of Disaster are the system sellers I'm looking at.

  • oerhoert #47 5 years ago

    <em>I'm really worried that the controls for Prime 3 will be more Hunters and less Prime 1-2.</em>

    You needn't worry. I've tried it, and it mainly feels like a more responsive version of the same thing. The lock-on is still in.

    There never was a date neither for Metroid nor Mario, by the way, just the sneaky "suggestion" that they were winter 07 titles or something like that. Nintendo in general is very cautious with specific dates, which on the other hand means that if one has been set, it is usually met. At least that is the rule as far as I can see.

  • GiarcYekrub #48 5 years ago

    whats wrong with Hunters? It's better than Prime if you can remember what you've done feels alot less solitary with the Hunters about and there seems to be much more action cause with prime I felt most of the time I was scanning crap