It started earlier this week with a Surfer Girl rumor. (Item #4, not #3 in which she says she likes me.)

The rumor stated that the Nintendo-owned Retro Studios, makers of some of the best-reviewed games of all time, was losing top employees and could be in trouble.

Then Shacknews reported yesterday that three top “Metroid Prime” Retro team members had just left the company, but said Retro was not shutting down.

Readers e-mailed me, asking if I could look into these reports. I checked with Nintendo PR for a Retro status update, figuring that the Shacknews report had brought things beyond the realm of rumor. Not so.

Retro fans, I don’t think you need to panic. But Nintendo’s not saying that. A spokseperson responded to my inquiry by nothing that “Nintendo doesn’t comment on rumor.”

So, if you’re a Retro fan, how do you find out if the studio’s doing okay? Your guess is as good as mine.

Wait ’til E3?