Nintendo is warning players away from Metroid: Other M's potentially game-breaking locked door bug in Sector 3, but if it's too late for you and your save file, you're going to have to mail away for a fix.

Responding to Kotaku this morning about the bug, Nintendo of America says they have identified a door in Metroid: Other M that remains red and locked, making it impossible for players to advance in the game.

They point out that their support website now tell people how to avoid the issue:

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.

If you didn't have the forethought to go to Nintendo's support page before running into the bug, Nintendo has your back... sort of.

"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, 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."

I'll save you the extra mouse click. Here's how you fix the solution. Hint, it's almost the same way they're doing it in Japan:

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. Representatives are available from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (PST) seven days a week.

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source - http://kotaku.com/5649086/nintendo-asks-players-bug-stuck-in-metroid-other-m-to-mail-them-their-save-files?skyline=true&s=i

I really really hope that their next system will allow for some sort of a patching system so games can be fixed (or even enhanced) after you get your hands on them...

they CAN update it right? i mean is it very different from the way Rockband's DLC is?

From what I understand they can't patch the game, what they can do is fix your save file (which you need to send them).

Well having to mail off save data sucks but at least there's an easy way to avoid the issue from happening (as long as you're aware of it beforehand).

Thank you for posting this. I am grateful to know about this bug before getting caught in it. I have horrible memories of the Canon Room bug in LOZTP where I got caught after completing about 75% of the game and I had to restart it. Thanks again!!

I think this solution is laughable at this time and period. But that's just me talking. No offense here...

I prefer "laughable" solutions (when they solve the problem) over no solution. Sure, a patching system would have been the way, but since there isn't one, theres nothing they can do at this stage but offer solutions like this, which is better than not doing anything.

I would agree if they actually put a HDD in their system. Considering they only have 500MB of internal flash memory patches aren't possible.

What they should have done is allowed you to copy your save to an SD card, download an application for PC, run it on your SD card and have that fix the save only to copy it back to the Wii. That would have been a nice fix.

At least Nintendo is nice enough to fix the problem if you want to wait and you don't even have to send in the Wii. Most companies would just say screw you. I also live right next to the repair facilities, so it is a 2 hour fix for me if I get stuck

i dont think it can work!

well at least their actually doing something.