Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Since Elevated: the Development Story of Super Smash Bros. Melee, new findings have been discovered about the development of Melee. We've uncovered the archived Hal Labs Diaries blog and translated some blog posts and a post-launch dev interview. We also look back at some of the old news articles from 2001 covering the game, and I interview Jonathan Metts, former editor of Nintendo World Report / Planet GameCube, as he recalls his experience at E3 2001. We also look at what Sakurai has revealed in the stories from his YouTube channel and the new information that's come to light from the Melee proposal documents, original artwork from the opening movie storyboard, etc.
00:00 - Introduction
01:07 - Unused Content
02:57 - HAL Labs Diary Entries
10:12 - Melee Dev Team Interview
15:33 - New Info From Sakurai's Channel
18:58 - Early Planet GameCube Coverage
30:08 - Interview with Jonathan Metts
54:04 - Post-Release Melee Info
58:43 - GDC 2008 Melee/Brawl Comparison
Whole Jonathan Metts Interview: youtu.be/dd9aeh3ALo4
HAL Diaries blog: https://dvdv.kim/4dXHVvQ
Sysdolphin: https://dvdv.kim/3AIXjOs
Melee Dev Interview: https://dvdv.kim/3X2M4YM
E3 coverage: https://dvdv.kim/3yXFBWQ
Johnny's E3 2001 Audio Diaries: https://dvdv.kim/3MvLa1L
Melee on Nintendo World Report: https://dvdv.kim/3MoZfOD
SSBM the Cutting Room Floor: https://dvdv.kim/3gPOWVq
Project Dolphin GameCube discovered by Consolevariations: https://dvdv.kim/3Z4C97m
SmashCollector who helped me find some links: https://x.com/SmashCollector
Chief Neif who told me about the hidden strawberry: https://x.com/ChiefNeif
Takemoto's post: https://x.com/takemoto_taizo/status/1033830216987078656
Videos used:
The 20 Year History of Nintendo World Report: https://dvdv.kim/4e5AJ0V
Melee Japanese Commercials: https://dvdv.kim/4e3kHV6
Melee Promo Disc Demos and Movies: https://dvdv.kim/3yVAdDM
GDC 2008 Sakurai Interview: https://dvdv.kim/3AK1BVR
Narita airport footage: https://dvdv.kim/4dGpCvy
Sakurai at GDC 2008: https://dvdv.kim/3X4QBK3
Sakurai's videos:
Melee design document Job Dial: https://dvdv.kim/3XliIWQ
Smash Bros. DOJO!!: https://dvdv.kim/3T5UgGc
Melee: https://dvdv.kim/3XIITEs
Brawl: https://dvdv.kim/4cMOPTA
E3/Event Footage:
Space World 2000 game footage: https://dvdv.kim/3XxL0h3
Clean B-roll game footage: https://dvdv.kim/3YXrNX4
E3 2001: https://dvdv.kim/3XnHBkA
Melee E3 footage: https://dvdv.kim/4g2fvTo
Nintendo Booth Footage: https://dvdv.kim/3T7vJk8
E3 2001 Sizzle Reel: https://dvdv.kim/3T3TSIv
Hyper Magazine Melee E3 2001: https://dvdv.kim/3nBYZie
Space World 2001 Raw Tapes B-Roll: https://dvdv.kim/3TcdVo3
GameWave (ゲームウェーブ): https://dvdv.kim/3T3TWrJ
Music used:
(Melee Soundfont) Super Smash Bros. OST - https://dvdv.kim/4cJbWi3
Relaxing Nintendo 64 Video Game Music in bedroom - https://dvdv.kim/3Z71lKz
Various music tracks from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Outro Music Credit: "Resting Place" by Garrett Williamson youtube.com/watch?v=D618zXwvH5Y
DISCORD► discord.gg/gyrNHAwHK8
TWITCH► twitch.tv/davidvkimball
PATREON► patreon.com/davidvkimball
MERCH►davidvkimball.com/merch
#SSBM #E32001 #hallaboratory
Since Elevated: the Development Story of Super Smash Bros. Melee, new findings have been discovered about the development of Melee. We've uncovered the archived Hal Labs Diaries blog and translated some blog posts and a post-launch dev interview. We also look back at some of the old news articles from 2001 covering the game, and I interview Jonathan Metts, former editor of Nintendo World Report / Planet GameCube, as he recalls his experience at E3 2001. We also look at what Sakurai has revealed in the stories from his YouTube channel and the new information that's come to light from the Melee proposal documents, original artwork from the opening movie storyboard, etc.
00:00 - Introduction
01:07 - Unused Content
02:57 - HAL Labs Diary Entries
10:12 - Melee Dev Team Interview
15:33 - New Info From Sakurai's Channel
18:58 - Early Planet GameCube Coverage
30:08 - Interview with Jonathan Metts
54:04 - Post-Release Melee Info
58:43 - GDC 2008 Melee/Brawl Comparison
Whole Jonathan Metts Interview: youtu.be/dd9aeh3ALo4
HAL Diaries blog: https://dvdv.kim/4dXHVvQ
Sysdolphin: https://dvdv.kim/3AIXjOs
Melee Dev Interview: https://dvdv.kim/3X2M4YM
E3 coverage: https://dvdv.kim/3yXFBWQ
Johnny's E3 2001 Audio Diaries: https://dvdv.kim/3MvLa1L
Melee on Nintendo World Report: https://dvdv.kim/3MoZfOD
SSBM the Cutting Room Floor: https://dvdv.kim/3gPOWVq
Project Dolphin GameCube discovered by Consolevariations: https://dvdv.kim/3Z4C97m
SmashCollector who helped me find some links: https://x.com/SmashCollector
Chief Neif who told me about the hidden strawberry: https://x.com/ChiefNeif
Takemoto's post: https://x.com/takemoto_taizo/status/1033830216987078656
Videos used:
The 20 Year History of Nintendo World Report: https://dvdv.kim/4e5AJ0V
Melee Japanese Commercials: https://dvdv.kim/4e3kHV6
Melee Promo Disc Demos and Movies: https://dvdv.kim/3yVAdDM
GDC 2008 Sakurai Interview: https://dvdv.kim/3AK1BVR
Narita airport footage: https://dvdv.kim/4dGpCvy
Sakurai at GDC 2008: https://dvdv.kim/3X4QBK3
Sakurai's videos:
Melee design document Job Dial: https://dvdv.kim/3XliIWQ
Smash Bros. DOJO!!: https://dvdv.kim/3T5UgGc
Melee: https://dvdv.kim/3XIITEs
Brawl: https://dvdv.kim/4cMOPTA
E3/Event Footage:
Space World 2000 game footage: https://dvdv.kim/3XxL0h3
Clean B-roll game footage: https://dvdv.kim/3YXrNX4
E3 2001: https://dvdv.kim/3XnHBkA
Melee E3 footage: https://dvdv.kim/4g2fvTo
Nintendo Booth Footage: https://dvdv.kim/3T7vJk8
E3 2001 Sizzle Reel: https://dvdv.kim/3T3TSIv
Hyper Magazine Melee E3 2001: https://dvdv.kim/3nBYZie
Space World 2001 Raw Tapes B-Roll: https://dvdv.kim/3TcdVo3
GameWave (ゲームウェーブ): https://dvdv.kim/3T3TWrJ
Music used:
(Melee Soundfont) Super Smash Bros. OST - https://dvdv.kim/4cJbWi3
Relaxing Nintendo 64 Video Game Music in bedroom - https://dvdv.kim/3Z71lKz
Various music tracks from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Outro Music Credit: "Resting Place" by Garrett Williamson youtube.com/watch?v=D618zXwvH5Y
DISCORD► discord.gg/gyrNHAwHK8
TWITCH► twitch.tv/davidvkimball
PATREON► patreon.com/davidvkimball
MERCH►davidvkimball.com/merch
#SSBM #E32001 #hallaboratory
