In what is quickly becoming the norm, Nintendo launched several "fake" websites in a viral marketing promotion for "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes" (Nov. 15, GameCube). The two websites, Channel51.org and OrbisLabs.com are vastly different. Channel51 is run by a Samantha Manus from Sumas , WA. Samus anybody? She is a top scientist (of course) who is using the site to expose conspiracy theories and "secrets hidden within secrets". The site talks of UFO's, the Chupacabra, and Sci-Ops. Also, you can watch four brief and grainy quicktime movies of what appears to be "Metroid Prime 2" gameplay. OrbisLabs purports to be a weapons development company whose signature product is the "battle sphere." The only mystery on this site is what username and password to use to sign in. If you have any ideas, post them here.

Also, Nintendo recently announced that "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes" has gone gold and will be ready to ship on Nov. 15.

I truly enjoyed the "Metroid Prime" and I'm forward to a brand new adventure.