For our first Post-E3 Mailbag, we've compiled

together the most frequently asked questions from everybody. More answers are coming soon!

If you have E3 questions, feed the Mailbag at mailbag@planetgamecube.com.

Once the Broadband Adapter and Modem Adapter come

out, will it be possible to link up GameCubes like the Xbox with Halo?

Jonathan Says: YES. At the

Nintendo roundtable meeting on Wednesday, two GameCubes were on display linked directly to

each other via their broadband adapters and a cable. I highly doubt you can connect

directly through the 56K modem adapter. The only game we know to use the direct-link

feature is a Phantasy Star Online trading card game that Yuji Naka created just to

convince Nintendo EAD that a portable LCD monitor and direct-linking could let GameCube

owners set up small LANs anywhere they want. Sega still has not officially announced that

PSO card game, but it was later on display in Nintendo's booth on the LCD monitors.

What ESRB ratings do you suspect Metroid Prime will have? From what you've played of the

game, do you believe that Metroid Prime will be the next "Goldeneye," success

and popularity-wise, as Steven Kent had mentioned? What is your honest take on Metroid

being in first person? I can't imagine how a first person perspective is a better solution

for a Metroid game than third person.

Rize Says: Honestly, with the lock on shooting, I

don't see why the game had to be in first person. It does eliminate camera problems

though, and the visor effects are nice. I'm expecting an ESRB rating of Teen. As for the

next Goldeneye; nothing will be the next Goldeneye. Certainly not a game that won't have

multiplayer.

Jonathan Says: In terms of the single-player

experience, I do think Metroid Prime could be the next Goldeneye. It's definitely a system

seller. The game could easily be made for an M rating, but to keep it in the mass-market

range, I really think Nintendo and Retro will keep it at Teen, which is what the content

looked like at E3.

As for the first-person view, I totally understand your worries. I had them too. The fact

is that Retro has gone out of its way to make Metroid Prime feel like no other

first-person game you've ever played, and that does make a ton of difference. And if the

perspective still bothers you, realize that you can play almost the entire game in

third-person via the Morphball...it'll be harder, but I'm sure some people will try to do

it. Further upgrades and moves (such as the Screw Attack) will probably also use a

third-person camera view, though only briefly.

Max Says: I think Metroid has the potential to be huge because it's Metroid. I

mean, picking it up and playing it was practically spiritual, especially as I felt totally

immersed in Samus Aran's realm and it's been so long since she's had a game. I

don't know how accurate it is to compare it to another full on shooter like Goldeneye.,

because Metroid really isn't one. For example, it'd be great if Metroid Prime had some

multiplayer modes, though it wouldn't exactly translate well to Metroid Prime's gameplay.

Popularity-wise, I think Metroid will rock the house in a manner all its own.

What's up with Rare? Why the no show at E3 (besides StarFox of course)? Where's Kameo:

Elements of Power? I fell in love with that game at last years E3, is there any new info

on the game?

Rize Says: Good question. The answer is... I don't

know. Star Fox looked great though. They're actually doing grass shaders now in addition

to the fur shaders (which are all done in game as well as in cut-scenes). The grass

shading is applied to entire fields of grass. It's stunning.

I imagine that whatever else Rare is working on simply won't be out this year, so they

have no reason to show it. At last year's E3, they needed to show as many GameCube games

as possible. Now that that isn't a problem, they were able to keep their secrets where

they belong. At least they didn't show any Xbox or PS2 software...

Jonathan Says: The official word from Nintendo is that their relationship with Rare

has not changed at all. Of course, something could always happen at a moment's notice, but

for right now, Nintendo claims that everything is completely normal. Games like Kameo and

Donkey Kong Racing aren't being shown because Nintendo only wanted to display games in

their booth that will be released before next year's E3. Star Fox Adventures is the only

Rare GameCube project that fits that criteria; the new Mario Kart wasn't shown for the

same reason. The absence of Rare's GBA projects was more mysterious...not even the

completed SabreWulf was on display, and Nintendo didn't have a clear explanation.

Billy Says: I wouldn't say that Nintendo says

everything is status quo, because I personally believe it's not. Nintendo avoided every

single question about Rare. Period. Star Fox Adventures was the only game they were

talking about. No other GBA or GameCube games would be discussed. Not even Rare GBA games

we know are done.

Rare cannot make Donkey Kong titles on other systems. Those characters are owned by

Nintendo. Whether Rare can port a Perfect Dark game to other systems is unknown. I'm still

trying to figure out who actually owns that license. Nintendo wouldn't comment about that.

So my take on it all is that Rare is considering going multi-platform, or at least has

brought the idea up with Nintendo. Something has to be happening. I'm sure there's enough

legal stuff happening with it to disallow anyone commenting on it currently. When will we

know? Hopefully sooner than later.

Why do I believe this to be the case? Because if Rare were to be full on Nintendo right

now, not only would Nintendo be touting that all over E3, but there would be Rare games on

the shelves by now.

Max Says: This has been a pretty confusing

situation indeed. One of my reliable sources has told me the Rare rumors are entirely

unfounded. I’ve heard talk closer to NOA that suggests otherwise, where some are

convinced Rare might be leaving the fold. I just don’t know what’s going on—nobody

does. The Microsoft buying Rare I know was a manufactured hoax. Though

there’s been so much talk, it’s really hard to not think that something

is happening. There were crazy rumors with Capcom, Sega, Square which gave way to solid,

albeit less spectacular, goings on. Not that the rumor mill is always so reliable…

Still, this was Rare’s quietest E3 ever, save for Star Fox Adventures, which looked

and played excellent.

The latest Scribes, posted 5/20 offers no insight whatsoever, though addresses the mystery

in a round-about-sort of way:

“We're being quiet because we're always quiet.

If we seem quieter than usual, it's because anything we say at the moment is going to be

picked to bits by press and public alike.”

Which I guess is what I’m doing here. D’oh!

Here’s hoping for the best…

Is the gameplay in Super Mario Sunshine like Super Mario 64, where you are in a sub-world

and then selecting individual levels by jumping through paintings, or will it be one big

world? It was mentioned that the tropical town is only one "level" of the game.

Can we expect to see levels with themes other than tropical, like snow levels or fire

worlds?

What familiar enemies, if any, can we expect to see return in this game? What do you know

about Yoshi's part in the game so far?

Rize Says: I've seen footage of

Mario jumping on top of Yoshi and then riding around and jumping. I think it's safe to say

that Yoshi is all the way in SMS. As for other familiar enemies... Piranha Plants have

made a return. The gameplay is similar to Mario 64 in that you must complete certain

objectives to get Shines (Shine Get!). However, the E3 demo simply features six selectable

scenarios. I don't believe anyone knows how the levels will connect this time around.

Jonathan Says: In the Nintendo roundtable

discussion, Miyamoto mentioned that the game design for Super Mario Sunshine is

essentially the same as in Super Mario 64. You usually have a selection of worlds to

enter, and each world has several objectives to complete for Shines. However, the worlds

are much bigger and livelier this time around. Miyamoto thinks the biggest difference

between SM64 and Sunshine is that now you can look all the way across a world and see

things happening of their own accord on the other side. I would have to agree with him on

that point.

Billy Says: As I also noticed in the levels we

played, there will be multiple shines available per level. Meaning, as in Mario 64, there

will be multiple shines to be picked up for completing different tasks in each world.

I also know there will be mini games, and warp stages. The 6th level playable at e3 was a

Warp Stage.

Daniel Says: Well, as they said, the demo really

didn't show how the levels connect. I'm personally hoping for a huge pipe system to bring

Mario back to his roots a bit.

And that 6th level is really tough. I'm surprised Billy took the time to beat it.

Max Says: As for returning enemies, I saw Bloopers

and Cheap-Cheaps in the water in the level with gates! There’s also Piranha Plants.

Most of the enemies were NEW, and there are lots of them. Whereas in Mario 64, enemies

were few and far between, some foes regenerate out of ooze until Mario cleans up the area.

Do you think the new Zelda game for GCN will be delayed beyond February? When can

we expect an official name for it to be unveiled? Is the music orchestrated, or still

synthesized? And any traces of the classic Zelda theme? How well do you think it'll be

received by this realism-obsessed society?

What do you make of the new storyline? I agree with the statement made that the new Zelda

game seems to be symbolic of the franchise being reborn, so to speak. I'm curious as to

whether or not Princess Zelda or Ganon will figure in this new quest, as all we've heard

about so far is that Link's sister needs rescuing, which may or may not be the focus of

the majority of his quest.

Jonathan Says: I do indeed think Zelda will be delayed beyond February. In

fact, I don't expect it to be released in Japan until next summer and in America until

next Thanksgiving. But perhaps Miyamoto will surprise us all and deliver on time. Keep in

mind though, he doesn't really need to rush Zelda out the door since Nintendo has so many

other high-profile games coming out in the next six to nine months...so I really think

he'll choose to keep working on Zelda until it's needed more in the marketplace.

Billy Says: Zelda = Holiday 2003.

This February stuff makes me laugh. Seriously folks, get ready. A majority of the dates

that are said at E3 always get delayed. This happens every year.

Nintendo Games I predict to be released this year:

Eternal Darkness

Mario

Metroid

Star Fox Adventures

1080 2

That's it. Wario, Mario Party, and Zelda for 2003. If I'm wrong, I'll be pleasantly

surprised.

Dragona Says: I'm positive there will be Zelda in 2002. But that's

just me.