Nintendo Power Issue 229: Moon Clues?

[Firus]

So anyone who has subscribed to Nintendo Power or has picked up the most recent issue (v229, the June 2008 issue) has probably seen the moon on the last page. They said "Can you find the clues we've hidden in the moon?" meaning either they're laughing at everyone attempting to find something, or there's something hidden.

What have you guys found? I searched the Internet and found one clue that stood out; that it's a Pokeball. I think it makes sense; 3rd in the Diamond/Pearl series anyone?

But I wanted to get your opinions also. We probably won't decipher it anyways, but we might as well try.

P.S. I'll try to scan the picture and put it in later so those who don't have access to it can observe it as well.

 

[antimatter]

hang on, i found an image on penny arcade. no scanning required. i've seen an angel and a P like in the Mother series in the moon.
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=27726&page=14
here's the link, don't want to hotlink the image.

 

[IWontGetOverTheDam]

I kind of see a leaf with a circle taken out of it. Could it be the Animal Crossing logo?

 

[SkylerOcon]

http://nsider2.com/forums/what-s-the-moon-clue-in-Nintendo-Power-t188640.html&pid=2282172&st=16

Got something here.

However, Nintendo said it was a third party, so they better not be making the same mistake they did with the Zelda CD-I game.

Other than that, I would guess Castlelvania.

http://n-europe.com/news.php?nid=11765

N-Europe has a theory.

Other than that, all I have to say is that nobody knows. If anybody does know, please tell me as I'm dying to know too.

 

[antimatter]

http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=55243
course, earthbound and super mario rpg have esrb virtual console ratings already, but they're not coming out anytime soon.

 

[IWontGetOverTheDam]

earthbound and super mario rpg have esrb virtual console ratings already, but they're not coming out anytime soon.

Well, now, you don't know that. Maybe they'll be announced with the next few VC games.

 

[antimatter]

and brawl will get DLC.
edit: what I meant was that Super Mario Rpg has been rated for months now, and it still isn't out. so the same will likely happen for Earthbound, considering Nintendo's lack of consideration for the American Earthbound fans.

 

[jmlee337]

I'd like to point out a few things:
-Firstly, its not just a picture of *a* moon, its a picture of *the* moon, I've compared it to the picture of the moon at Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon) in photoshop by resizing, rotating, and overlaying, as far as I can tell, all of the features are identical.
-This suggests that the relevant features in the picture are the tint (red) and rotation (about 100° CC compared to the Wikipedia picture, I'm not sure if there's a common or standard depiction of the moon as far as rotation goes, though).

These two points lead me to believe that the secret game could possibly be not a remake or VC release, but a *sequel* to Majora's Mask.
-In an ad for the original game, a similar red representation of the moon is used.
-Also, OoT was released Nov. 23, 1998, and MM was released Oct. 26, 2000, just under two years seperation. Twilight Princess was released Nov. 19th, 2006, if a MM sequel were to be released in the coming months, the timing from TP would be almost identical to the timing between Oot and MM (This isn't what I'd call "proof", but it is another point for my argument).
-Lastly, what happened to Navi? Maybe her disappearance will be explained with a MM sequel.

 

[~N9NE~]

No one wants to know what happened to Navi.

 

[SkylerOcon]

In case nobody paid attention...

THEY SAID IN THE MAGAZINE THAT THIS HAD TO DO WITH A THIRD-PARTY RELEASE. NO MORE OF ZELDA, EARTHBOUND, OR ANY OTHER NINTENDO TITLE.

That is all.

 

[antimatter]

As we head into summer, expect things to heat up in the pages of Nintendo Power. July's Issue will include big updates on Ghostbusters, Sonic Chronicles, and Time Hollow. We may even have a surprise or two. Can you find the clues we've hidden in the moon? See you in 30!

there are third party games listed there, but nowhere does it say those are the only possible things next issue.

 

[Spire]

I'd like to point out a few things:
-Firstly, its not just a picture of *a* moon, its a picture of *the* moon, I've compared it to the picture of the moon at Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon) in photoshop by resizing, rotating, and overlaying, as far as I can tell, all of the features are identical.
-This suggests that the relevant features in the picture are the tint (red) and rotation (about 100° CC compared to the Wikipedia picture, I'm not sure if there's a common or standard depiction of the moon as far as rotation goes, though).

These two points lead me to believe that the secret game could possibly be not a remake or VC release, but a *sequel* to Majora's Mask.
-In an ad for the original game, a similar red representation of the moon is used.
-Also, OoT was released Nov. 23, 1998, and MM was released Oct. 26, 2000, just under two years seperation. Twilight Princess was released Nov. 19th, 2006, if a MM sequel were to be released in the coming months, the timing from TP would be almost identical to the timing between Oot and MM (This isn't what I'd call "proof", but it is another point for my argument).
-Lastly, what happened to Navi? Maybe her disappearance will be explained with a MM sequel.

This would be the apex of the Zelda franchise, and given that Nintendo said that they have been working on the next Zelda since pre-TP release, they may finally announce something. The PS3 is winning the anticipation of fans over so far this year, so Nintendo may release info on a new Zelda to hype people up before E3 (which is in July now, and that may be too long of a wait for info of new games). On the contrary, this seems very unlikely.

Nintendo would not dedicate an entire issue to an old game like Earthbound or SMRPG. Of course they would get recognition in the magazine, but not as the featured article.

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl came out about a year ago, so one year later, they may announce the third entry in the 4th-generation of the series. It is a moon, and both Cresselia and Darkrai are related to the moon, so perhaps depicting the moon as a Pokeball may allude to the significance of the two Pokemon (or Giratina for all we know). Anyways, I can't wait for the next issue.

EDIT: Wait a minute, I just remembered... the new Fatal Frame is based around the Moon and the color "yellow". Although this moon is orange, it may be about Fatal Frame. That would kick all sorts of ***.

 

[Firus]

In case nobody paid attention...

THEY SAID IN THE MAGAZINE THAT THIS HAD TO DO WITH A THIRD-PARTY RELEASE. NO MORE OF ZELDA, EARTHBOUND, OR ANY OTHER NINTENDO TITLE.

That is all.

In case you recently had a concussion...

As we head into summer, expect things to heat up in the pages of Nintendo Power. July's issue will include big updates on Ghostbusters, Sonic Chronicles, and Time Hollow. We may even have a surprise or two. Can you find the clues we've hidden in the moon? See you in 30!

They listed 3rd party titles...but the clues probably don't have to do with those titles, it has to do with one we don't know. They didn't even say 3rd party, so saying that it has to be a third party game is just as flawed logic as saying that the fact that the moon is red means it has to do with blood or death in some way. Where's the substance for that remark?

Any other bright comments?

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl came out about a year ago, so one year later, they may announce the third entry in the 4th-generation of the series. It is a moon, and both Cresselia and Darkrai are related to the moon, so perhaps depicting the moon as a Pokeball may allude to the significance of the two Pokemon (or Giratina for all we know). Anyways, I can't wait for the next issue.

...Do you ever NOT have an insightful, reasonable, awesomely-reasoned comment?

I didn't even think about the significance of the fact that it's a moon, I just said, "Hey, Pokeball!" and moved on from that.

I will jump for joy if it's the third D/P installment. On the other hand, you'd think that Serebii would've heard news of it by now if it were coming out...they usually know this stuff way ahead of time. But I'm still crossing my fingers.

 

[Spire]

...Do you ever NOT have an insightful, reasonable, awesomely-reasoned comment?

I didn't even think about the significance of the fact that it's a moon, I just said, "Hey, Pokeball!" and moved on from that.

I will jump for joy if it's the third D/P installment. On the other hand, you'd think that Serebii would've heard news of it by now if it were coming out...they usually know this stuff way ahead of time. But I'm still crossing my fingers.

You can start the "Spire III" fan club if you want Honestly though, I think we're on the right track to decoding this. Of course they're not going to put something blatantly impossible to figure out, that's why they asked us to do so. Why give a riddle that no one can solve in a whole month until it is finally answered? Let us not omit anything reasonable and continue the excavation of this image.

 

[Firus]

You can start the "Spire III" fan club if you want

I might have to do that. I'll definitely have to if GameFreak uses your ideas for the next Pokemon game. Then I'll have to worship you like a God!

Honestly though, I think we're on the right track to decoding this. Of course they're not going to put something blatantly impossible to figure out, that's why they asked us to do so. Why give a riddle that no one can solve in a whole month until it is finally answered? Let us not omit anything reasonable and continue the excavation of this image.

Agreed, unless they somehow find it humorous to send us on a wild goose chase for something that's not there (I thought about a possible April Fool's prank, but it's a little late for that) then it won't be impossible to figure out. I mean, there are obvious irregularities in the picture; it's only a matter of what we see there and what's actually there. We can just keep speculating until next month, though it will drive me crazy if I can't figure out what the moon was hinting towards when I get the next issue...

 

[Spire]

I might have to do that. I'll definitely have to if GameFreak uses your ideas for the next Pokemon game. Then I'll have to worship you like a God!



Agreed, unless they somehow find it humorous to send us on a wild goose chase for something that's not there (I thought about a possible April Fool's prank, but it's a little late for that) then it won't be impossible to figure out. I mean, there are obvious irregularities in the picture; it's only a matter of what we see there and what's actually there. We can just keep speculating until next month, though it will drive me crazy if I can't figure out what the moon was hinting towards when I get the next issue...

They better make me into a Pokemon if so!

Here is a quote from the Player's Pulse section, "We know of a few big third-party titles already, but unfortunately we're sworn to secrecy. We'll be able to fill you in on one of those games next month, though - and it's a shocker!"

Fatal Frame right there. A third-party "shocker". I'm a fan of the series, so I'm happy

 

[SkylerOcon]

They're constantly saying through the magazine that they've recieved word on amazing new third-parties, but they're sworn to secrecy.

The moon obviously has to do with clues for those. I mean, there are no super-amazing-under-cover-first-party titles right now. If that was so, NP would be talking about those as well.

 

[antimatter]

the keyword is "SURPRISE". we don't expect another new first party game, but it might be possible.

 

[SkylerOcon]

Chances are against it, however. So just don't get your hopes up for one.

 

[Yeniths]

I see a moon, am i doing something wrong?

 

[Deleted member]

Found 'em on NeoGaf.

XD at the one below:

 

[Viroxor]

I see an Arwing. Does anybody else see it? No? Must be because I'm seeing what I want to see.

I think it's just to keep people thinking for a month while they actually gather legitimate information.

 

[antimatter]

i just read somewhere about the third pokemon game being announced, called platinum, but it's probably just a rumor.

 

[Manny G.]

I see an Arwing. Does anybody else see it? No? Must be because I'm seeing what I want to see.

I think it's just to keep people thinking for a month while they actually gather legitimate information.

Yes i see it must be.................................STAR FOX WII finaly.

 

[Dan McNinja]

Hmm...

I thought the "see you in 30" thing was a bit odd.

Tell me, what's on page 30 of that issue?

 

[antimatter]

nice username.
holy $hit, you're brilliant. page 30 is an article about harvest moon's two new games.

 

[Dan McNinja]

It makes even more sense when you think about the fact that they didn't change anything about the features of the moon, they just tinted it red. In other words, it's a harvest moon.

Not much of a surprise, though.

Of course, I could still be wrong. Maybe there is something in there.

 

[Mr.GAW]

I heard there was a map of the Golden Sun Universe on the Moon.

 

[SkylerOcon]

If it's harvest moon I'm going to be pissed.

It's going to be another dumbed down casual gamer piece of crap for the Wii. I hope it isn't Harvest Moon.

 

[Mini Mic]

We have a full orange moon here tonight, wonder if that's a sign

 

[XACE-K]

All I know is that it's a Wii games. It says somewhere in the article about Wii Fit.

 

[Darkslash]

They said it was a game not mentioned in this issue. As Previews of Sonic unleashed and Harvest moon were in this issue i doubt it would be those 2 games.

 

[antimatter]

thank the lord, there's hope yet.

 

[Cowbox]

If it doesn't turn out to be a new Golden Sun, I will be sorely annoyed.

 

[Pink Reaper]

Am I the only one who noticed that the darker half of the moon(the right half) looks sort of like a head of something......idk lizardish/monsterish?

 

[Dbsg]

Ok I got my Nintento Power today (issue 230) and well its just a new Castlevania game for DS. In the letters section it said that your not really gonna find the clue but the moon was the only clue visible. In a certain part of the moon it says castlevania but you have to magnify it like 200 times. If I can I'll put up pics later.