RipTen Videogame Blog » Metroid

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Samus and The Cat

Dylan Duarte — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:28 +0000

You know what would make the Metroid games even better? Not cats, that’s for sure. Hey internet, stop putting cats into everything.

Five O’Clock Fan Art is perfect for wrapping up the work day. You don’t want to think anymore, you just want to look at awesome things. And there’s nothing more awesome than a well crafted piece of videogame fan art. If you don’t agree, what the hell are you doing at a gaming blog?

Sundragon83 loves him some felines.

Cosplay Spotlight – Samus Aran (Metroid Prime 3)

Tina Pesterfield — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:00:37 +0000

While we have featured a Samus before, I just cannot ignore Yukilefay’s full-armor rendition. She is an award-winning cosplayer hailing from Brazil, and man, does the girl crank out amazing costumes. Her Varia Suit is her most recognized piece, but she didn’t stop the Samus train. She even made the infamous Zero Suit.

Most of the armor was made from EVA, although the helmet and shoulder pads were made from fiberglass. All the details were carved into the armor in polystyrene and polyurethane, giving it the crisp, clear lines that you see on the high resolution photos. All of the painting was done with – shockingly – automotive paint. All of the lighting is provided by 73 LEDs. This is a fantastic Metroid Prime armor set. I will admit, I love armor jobs. But this is still one of the best I’ve come across.

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Samus

Dylan Duarte — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:57 +0000

I’m not one of those sickos that gets all hot and bothered over videogame characters, but mmm mmmm, look at dem shoulder spheres. I be all up in those shoulder spheres.

Five O’Clock Fan Art is perfect for wrapping up the work day, as well as 2011. You don’t want to think anymore, you just want to look at awesome things. And there’s nothing more awesome than a well crafted piece of videogame fan art. If you don’t agree, what the hell are you doing at a gaming blog?

I hope transfuse can transfuse me some shoulder spheres.

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Metroid

Dylan Duarte — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:00:56 +0000

I went to the doctor and he gave me one of those little blue butt pillows to sit. Turns out I’ve got a bad case of the ‘roids. The Metroids, that is! Rimshot! As the year draws to a close, so does my mind.

Andrew Wilson and I share the same condition.

10 Free NES Titles Are Now Available To 3DS Ambassadors

Justin Berube — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:55:22 +0000

The 10 free NES titles that are being given to 3DS Ambassadors are available NOW! However it would appear that early adopters of the 3DS will currently have to wait for their 10 free Game Boy Advance titles. The 10 free NES games include the following:

Super Mario Bros.
The Legend of Zelda
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Metroid
NES Open Tournament Golf
Donkey Kong Jr.
Balloon Fight
Ice Climber
Wrecking Crew
Yoshi

3DS Ambassadors can download these titles by entering the eShop, going to Settings / Other, then Your Downloads. Within the Your Downloads area will be every title that the user has previously downloaded plus the 10 free NES titles. In addition Ambassadors can download the Ambassador Certificate in the same section.

The Ambassador Certificate is nothing more than a lame movie telling the user they can receive notifications about Ambassador Program news by opting in to Ambassador Program notifications. While the movie may be lame I suggest all Ambassadors Download the video because without it they can’t get these Spot Pass notifications that will inform users of the latest happenings within the program.

Want to stay up to date on the latest Nintendo news, information, editorials, and more? Follow me on Twitter @KingNintendoFan or Like Me on Facebook. Be sure to let me know what you think about this 3DS Ambassador Program news!

All NES Ambassador Program Games Have Been Revealed

Justin Berube — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:22:17 +0000

Many 3DS owners are getting pumped for the Ambassador Program which will grant those that purchased a 3DS for $249.99 that ability to get 20 free digital titles. 10 NES Virtual Console titles and 10 Game Boy Advance titles. Today Nintendo has revealed the full lineup of NES titles that will be available in Japan as part of the promotion, and I think it’s ALMOST safe to say the rest of the world will be getting these games as well. The full list can be seen below.

NES Ambassador Program Games In Japan
Super Mario Bros.
The Legend of Zelda
Ice Climber
Donkey Kong Jr.
Balloon Fight
Wrecking Crew
NES Open Tournament Golf
Yoshi
Metroid
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

UPDATE:

These titles have also been confirmed for North America as well!

Source

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Samus Fett

Dylan Duarte — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:02 +0000

I’ve always wanted to play the Metroid Prime series, but I’ve just never got around to it. If Samus looked like this, I probably would have. Also if she was Boba Fett. Also if Metroid Prime was Star Wars. I like Star Wars.

I like the cut of Ninjaink’s jib.

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Samus

Dylan Duarte — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:33 +0000

I’ve got a confession to make. I’ve ~~killed a man~~ never really played any Metroid. I’ve played bits, here and there, but never in a serious manner. Should I rectify this? It feels like it needs rectifying.

ChaseJC is a fine chap with a steady hand.

The King Nintendo Fanboy’s Collection Showcase: Limited Edition Super Metroid Poster

Justin Berube — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:16:03 +0000

Over the years I’ve added many great items to my Nintendo collection. Even though I’ve gained a large horde of Nintendo goods, I have yet to show much of it off. That’s what the Nintendo Collection Showcase is for.

Previous Showcase Item: Mario Valentine’s Day Cards

Next Showcase Item: Nintendo Power 100 Coins

The item this week is a rare Limited Edition Super Metroid poster. It was originally sold in the Nintendo Power Super Power Supplies catalog around 1994, or 1995. Nintendo used to send out these catalogs with cool Nintendo swag for sale to the readers of Nintendo Power magazine.

The poster is limited to 2000 pieces and mine is number 569. This poster also is cool because it can glow in the dark and it is signed by Samus Aran herself. This poster has always been mine and I didn’t buy it off eBay or from another collector. I bought it straight from the catalog so it has some sentimental value to me in that sense.

Want to know when the next Nintendo Collection Showcase will be up? Follow me on Twitter @KingNintendoFan or Like Me on Facebook. Be sure to let me know if there are any items in particular that you’d like to see me showcase.

New Dead Or Alive Dimensions (3DS) Metroid: Other M Stage Screens

Justin Berube — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:04:17 +0000

Last week RipTen reported on a new Dead Or Alive Dimensions (3DS) trailer that revealed a stage from Metroid: Other M. Today Tecmo Koei America and Team NINJA have just revealed several new screens of the exciting new stage. This game is now a must buy for any hardcore Nintendo and/or Metroid fan! Enjoy!

Want to stay up to date on the latest Nintendo news, information, and more? Follow me on Twitter @KingNintendoFan or Like Me on Facebook. Be sure to tell me what you think about the Metroid: Other M stage in Dead Or Alive Dimensions!

Metroid: Other M Stage In Dead Or Alive Dimensions (3DS)

Justin Berube — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:35:20 +0000

A new Dead Or Alive Dimensions trailer shows off a stage modeled after an area from Metroid: Other M. This stage also features Ridely, the famous Space Pirate from the Metroid series, and Samus Aran. Check out the video below to see this stage in action! This game is now a must buy for me!

Source

Metroid Coming To Nintendo 3DS? (UPDATE)

Justin Berube — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 02:54:59 +0000

Jonathan Ross is a UK celebrity that will be hosting Nintendo’s 3DS reveal on January 19th, 2011 in Amsterdam. That being said, Ross clearly has some inside information about what will be happening at this highly anticipated event. Today many were Tweeting @ Ross about the upcoming reveal. One fan, going by the name darrenkerwin, sent the following to Ross regarding his knowledge on the event:

“@Wossy It’s absolutely fine, I don’t expect you to spill anything, it’s nice to have a surprise. I have my fingers crossed for Metroid..“

Ross’s reply was more than interesting:

“@darrenkerwin I think you’re going to be pleased then…“

Whether Ross is referring to a totally new game, or a 3D remake of a classic Metroid title, is unknown. For now this information should be considered a rumor but know that Ross clearly knows things that the rest of us don’t.

UPDATE:

3DSBuzz.com decided to ask Jonathan Ross about this reveal via Twitter. They asked Ross the following:

“@Wossy You started a lot of 3DS rumours! You meant @darrenkerwin will be pleased about general surprises not about a Metroid 3DS didn’t you?“

Ross replied:

“@3DSBuzz yes. Why? Did he think I meant new Meteoid?“

Sadly this exciting rumor may be on shaky ground. Regardless – stay tuned for Wednesday for all the exciting Nintendo 3DS information is revealed. There is still some hope for a new Metroid title though, but the odds have just been lowered a notch.

Want to stay up to date on the latest Nintendo, Metroid, and Nintendo 3DS information? Follow me on Twitter @KingNintendoFan or Like Me on Facebook. Be sure to tell me how you feel about this rumor.

Metroid Prime Gunship Now Available For Pre-order

Justin Berube — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 16:43:40 +0000

As reported last week, high-end figure manufacturer First 4 Figures has just launched pre-orders for their newest figure: the Metroid Prime Gunship. This ship is a replica of the one Samus uses in the original Metroid Prime game.

The Metroid Prime Gunship is 12 inches long and will cost $299.99 USD. The figure comes with several LEDs and can be tilted in several different ways due to the swivel joint that attaches the ship to its base. This figure is limited to 750 pieces worldwide and is currently scheduled to ship Q2 2011.

For more pictures and information on the Metroid Prime Gunship, or to pre-order, be sure to check out www.first4figures.com.

Source

Nintendo Adresses How to Solve Metroid ‘Red Door’ Glitch

Garrett Hartman — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:58:18 +0000

Following up on our earlier story about a frustrating Metroid: Other M red door glitch, Nintendo is now offering ways to avoid causing the glitch.

Their support website explains how to avoid the dreaded “red door”:

Problem:
There is a door in Sector 3 that cannot be unlocked and opened. It remains red and locked, making it impossible to advance in the game.

Location Of The Door:
The door that remains red and locked is located in the basement of the Desert Refinery in Sector 3. After defeating the crustacean boss enemies located on the top level of the Desert Refinery, an elevator appears that goes down to this area. The door can be found on the other side of the wall from the three Grapple Points.

The Cause Of This Problem And How To Avoid It:
This sequence of events will cause the door in Sector 3 to remain locked:

1. In the room after the large lava area in Sector 3, battle the Space Pirates to unlock the Ice Beam.
2. Proceed to the second room ahead.
3. Defeat the enemies with spiked, purple legs to unlock the door at the end of the room.
- To create the issue: Do not go through this door and instead backtrack to the room where the Ice Beam was obtained. Continuing to play from here creates the issue.
- To avoid the issue: Proceed through the door that was just unlocked at the end of the room before doing any backtracking to any previous rooms.

For those unlucky to have already encountered the bug:

“If players find themselves unable to progress in the game, we also provide details about how Nintendo will fix the saved data at no charge,” according to a spokesman for a public relations company that represents Nintendo of America. “Information about this can be accessed through our contact center at 1-800-255-3700 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-255-3700 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, as well as on a custom webpage for Metroid: Other M at http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/wii/en_na/ts/metroid-other-m.jsp. Nintendo sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience this may have posed to our players.”

If you click further you get this:

If you are experiencing this issue, we are able to resolve it by fixing your save data. For instructions on how to set up a repair by sending us your save file on an SD card, or for other options, please call 1-800-255-3700 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-255-3700 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. Representatives are available from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (PST) seven days a week.

We at Ripten, sincerely hope that everyone involved can get this problem solved quickly and effectively.

Source

First 4 Figures Announces Metroid Prime Gunship

Justin Berube — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:02:03 +0000

High-end figure manufacturer First 4 Figures, just announced a new figure in their Metroid Gunship Series. This ship is the Metroid Prime Gunship from the first Metroid Prime game. This brand new figure goes up for preorder on the First 4 Figures website on September 28th. You’ll know where to find me.

First 4 Figures has been making several video game related figures from the Metroid, Zelda, and Sonic games. Be sure to check out their website at www.first4figures.com for more information.

Nintendo Collectors Journal 9/14/2010

Justin Berube — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:52:04 +0000

Many people know that I’m a big Nintendo Fanboy and that I collect Nintendo games, goods, memorabilia, and more. If it says Nintendo on it, and it’s official, I want it. That’s what the Nintendo Collectors Journal is for. From this point on I’ll be documenting all the exciting Nintendo items I gather on my travels. I come across things both new and old so be sure to check back to see what I’ve come across.

Nintendo Collectors Journal 8/30/2010

Nintendo Collectors Journal 9/30/2010

Sorry that it’s been a while since my last collectors update. I had to go to the Wii Games Summer 2010 Grand Championships and I’ve been playing other games as well. I have, however, come across many great items.

The first awesome item I received was a Wii Games Summer 2010 official competitors track jacket. The back says Wii Finalist and the left sleeve says National Championships. On the left breast it has the official Wii Games Summer 2010 logo and slogan.

I also was able to obtain several other items from the Wii Games Summer 2010 Grand Championships. Some official Wii Lanyards, flyers about the games, free t-shirt card, and player cards from the event. I also got ton of Wii Games Summer 2010 pins and other informational papers regarding the rules of the games and more.

Here is a close up of the pins I obtained at the Wii Games Summer 2010 Grand Championships.

On the last day of the Wii Games Summer 2010 Grand Championships the event staff was just trying to get rid of the official event baseball caps. I made sure to grab myself some of them as they were giving them out in stacks. I ended up with over 20.

Also being handed out to finalist at the Wii Games Summer 2010 Grand Championships were Wii Fit Plus tote bags. I ended up scoring three of these.

At the Wii Games Summer 2010 Grand Championships I earned myself a Super Mario Bros. Yahtzee Collector’s Edition. The last one my sister and I won at the Wii Games Summer 2010 NYC Main Event ended up going to her so I’m glad I got one for myself.

The last item I got from the Wii Games Summer 2010 Grand Championships is the box that the Super Mario Mushroom Sour Candies comes in. These candies come in a Mario Mushroom tin and are sold at many stores. Having the box is nice though.

Recently I also bought a copy of Metroid: Other M which came with the official Metroid: Other M Art Folio. This Art Folio has many pictures of character art and in game screen shots with a short description written on the back of each. Also pictured is a copy of Professor Layton And The Unwound Future that I purchased just last Sunday.

And finally I received the latest issue of Nintendo Power magazine.

Want to stay up to date with my Nintendo collecting? Or maybe you just have a tip on where to find some nice Nintendo items. Follow me on Twitter @KingNintendoFan or Like me on Facebook and be sure to tell me about it.

RipTen Review: Metroid: Other M (Wii)

Justin Berube — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:24:40 +0000

Metroid: Other M is a game I have been eagerly anticipating since it was announced at E3 2009. The game takes place shortly after the events of Super Metroid and starts out by showing a cinematic of what took place at the end of that game. Players are then given a tutorial on how the game works, since there are a lot of new elements here.

In Metroid: Other M, players control Samus Aran, the games protagonist, in a third person view by holding the Wii Remote sideways like an NES controller. From this position the D-Pad moves Samus around and the 1 Button fires your arm cannon. If a player holds the fire button, Samus can charge up a charge shot that will fire when the button is released. If players then tilt the Wii Remote and hold it in your right hand, as you would if playing Wii Sports Resort Bowling, you are given a first person perspective of what Samus sees. This view allows players to look around their environment. Also while using this first person view players can lock onto enemies and then fire missiles (the only way you can).

She also has other abilities while playing in the third person view. Samus can now dodge enemy attacks by pressing the D-Pad in the direction you’d want to doge in right before getting hit. This technique can get even more useful if the player is to hit and hold, the fire button right after dodging because when this happens players will then have a full charge shot ready instantly. Samus also now has the ability to jump on, and thus grapple, with enemies to do a special attack. In addition to this, when enemies are weak and close to dying, Samus can usually run at them while charging up a shot and perform a Fatal Strike. These look completely bad ass and feel great to pull off. Samus, of course, can also still morph into her morph ball form by pressing the A button and can drop bombs and jump in this form.

Once the in game tutorial is completed players then learn that Samus has heard a distress signal from a distant Galactic Federation space station named the Bottle Ship and has decided to go investigate. As soon as she arrives on the Bottle Ship she runs into her former Commanding Officer, Adam Malkovich, who has a squad of Galactic Federation Soldiers there with him. Adam is unable to explain to her why they are there ,since it’s against Galactic Federation policy to tell these things to an outsider such as Samus. However, she is able to assist them in their mission and decides to do so.

It’s at this point in the game that Samus decides to take orders directly from Adam. In doing so Samus can only use the equipment that Adam has authorized her to use. She has all of her suit and weapon upgrades already, but can’t use them unless Adam says so. While this may sound dumb, you learn that this is how it works for everyone under Adam’s command and thus is probably the ways of the Galactic Federation. Samus is just trying to fall in line. At different points in the game Adam will allow Samus to use more of her equipment to help her explore.

Metroid: Other M really starts out at this point. Unlike other Metroid games, Metroid: Other M feels much more linear. You are told to go to certain points by Adam and you do what it takes to get there. The problem here is that the exploration aspect of the game, which Metroid is famous for, is then really limited. This is because doors are often locked forcing players to head directly in a specific direction. I found this to be somewhat of a problem because after obtaining the order to use different abilities from Adam, I often found that I couldn’t go back to certain areas in the game that would let me obtain upgrades. It wasn’t until near the end of the game that I was able go back and get many of these items and if I were able to get some of them earlier, it seemed to be purely chance that the game would let me backtrack through those areas.

Also, unlike other Metroid titles, there are no energy or missile drops from enemies. The only place to get more energy is at Save Stations that are positioned in many areas throughout the game. The game felt as if it were designed to have players get from Save Station to Save Station and try to do so by surviving. To make things a bit easier though, Samus can Concentrate by pointing the Wii Remote up vertically and holding the A button. If this is done while Samus doesn’t have max missiles then after a few seconds her missiles will be completely restored. Also, if a players health is dangerously low it will replenish some of it.

Metroid: Other M is more of an action game than a traditional Metroid game and there is nothing wrong with that. The story seamlessly combines with the action and compels players to continue onward and really gives players the sense that they are on the Bottle Ship trying to complete their mission. The game also features many intense boss and mini boss fights that are also part of the story. These fights can often just pop out of nowhere really adding to the great sense of action and excitement within the game.

Many Metroid fans may be wondering if there is any true Metroid feel to this game and I will say, yes. The part of the game that feels most like Metroid is when looking to obtain upgrades. These upgrades, such as Missile Expansion packs, are hidden within rooms and require the player to really observe the environment and use their abilities to obtain them. Many of the available upgrades require some good thinking on the part of the player and definitely feel very Metroid.

Metroid fans may also be wondering if Metroid: Other M has the sense of isolation that the other Metroid games are known for. The truth is that even though there are several other people on the Bottle Ship, Samus often finds herself alone and doing things on her own. Yes there are times when you run into others, but without ruining the story I will say that as the game progresses players will begin to feel more and more alone as they try to complete their mission. The isolation is here!

One thing I would quickly like to touch on is the music within Metroid: Other M. I really wasn’t impressed with most of it. In fact I probably wouldn’t recognize most of it if I heard it again because it was really just background music that gave off only a slight atmospheric sense rather than a traditional Metroid soundtrack. I am a bit disappointed in this sense since the music in other Metroid titles is very memorable to me and aside from a few tunes in Metroid: Other M, it just didn’t stick.

Metroid: Other M really should not be someone’s first Metroid experience. The game has many references to past Metroid games and may confuse players in this sense. Metroid: Other M really goes into Samus Arans’s storyline and deep into it’s own story with the use of many cutscenes. I personally would rather a person play a more traditional Metroid game before going into something like this, so they know what a Metroid game is really like and wont get confused by the storyline.

In closing Metroid: Other M is a really fun game but it may not be the game Metroid fans were waiting for. With that said, I do think that anyone who is a fan of the Metroid series, or would just want to learn more about Samus Aran as a character, should pick it up. This is a great action game with some elements of the Metroid series thrown in and it shouldn’t be overlooked.

Here’s the rundown:

+ Intense
+ Learn Much About Samus as a Character
- Too Linear
- May Upset Metroid Purists

To keep up with my latest reviews Follow me on Twitter @KingNintendoFan or Like Me on Facebook.

Metroid: Other M was developed by Project M and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Wii. The game released in the United States on August 31^st, 2010 with an MSRP of $49.99 USD. The copy used in this review was purchased by the reviewer. The game was played to completion on Super Fanboy difficulty mode.

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Metroid

Dylan Duarte — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:08 +0000

Two awesome Metroid pieces in one week? It looks like Metroid Fever is getting to somebody! Seriously, I think somebody needs to take me to the hospital. I’m burning up, you guys.

Today’s picture comes from Iwasian.

The Game That Best Used Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

Justin Berube — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:05:06 +0000

Many people out there criticize Nintendo’s online approach to gaming. For years I have heard people complaining about friend codes, lack of online options and more that plague Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. To this day it’s clear that there are several hoops that developers must jump through in order to get a decent game online and then there are also hoops that players need to jump through.

Despite all of these shortcomings I still feel there is a game that pushed Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to its limits. No, this isn’t a new game and it’s also not a game that appeared on the Wii. The game is Metroid Prime Hunters and was released on the Nintendo DS in March 2006.

So why was this game so special? Yes the game used friend codes so lets get that out of the way right now. This game, however, was the first Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection title to feature online voice chat. Friends could talk to one another before and after matches to help determine all of the available settings.

Speaking of settings Metroid Prime Hunters had plenty. Not only did the game feature seven unique characters to play as, but the game also had 26 multiplayer stages and seven different game types. All of which could be played online.

Metroid Prime Hunters also allowed for players to gain Rivals after facing random people in random worldwide matches. Even though you couldn’t communicate with your Rival, if both agreed after a match you could view each other’s records, and even meet up to face one another again.

Metroid Prime Hunters stored many different records and would keep players notified of their friends and rivals records. These records include Wi-Fi Win Record, Wirelesss Win Record, Connection History, Win Ratio, Win Streak, Lucky Arena, Favorite Weapon, Headshot Kills, Favorite Mode, Biped Kills, Alt-Form Kills, Kill Streak, Wi-Fi Play Time, Wirelss Play Time, Total Game Time, Hunter Of Choice, and the game would tell you how many matches you’ve had against the player and how many you’ve won. These stats would be updated each time you and the other player connected to one another, and maybe (I don’t recall fully) if you were both online at the same time.

These stats, at the time, would also be uploaded to NintendoWiFi.com. From there players could log in and compare their Metroid Prime Hunters stats with the people added to their friends list. The website also, at the time, featured a leaderboard showing the players with the top stats in each category from around the world as well as a more traditional leaderboard that showed the players who were winning the most.

Unfortunately actually seeing how this game was integrated into NintendoWiFi.com is no longer possible. The website that was up and running which displayed all of these statistics went down in November 2008.

Metroid Prime Hunters was by no means a perfect game. Many criticize how the single player is one of the worst Metroid games. With that said I feel that Metroid Prime Hunters clearly delivered in its fantastic multiplayer both online and offline. To this day I think it’s one of the best multiplayer experiences on the Nintendo DS and is still the best use of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service ever.

Do you agree with me or do you think there is a game that pushed Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection further than Metroid Prime Hunters? Follow me on Twitter @KingNintendoFan and let me hear about it.

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Nintendo Katamari

Dylan Duarte — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:52 +0000

Looks like the Prince took a roll through the Mushroom Kingdom! And Hyrule. And the world of Pokemon. And Metroid. There’s even a Tetris block in there!

I really can’t tell if artist Tom Preston loves Nintendo or really, really hates them and wants to crush all of their properties up into a little ball.