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NWR Interactive => TalkBack => Topic started by: Karl Castaneda #2 on January 24, 2006, 12:57:48 PM

Title: Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: Karl Castaneda #2 on January 24, 2006, 12:57:48 PM
Well, not yet. Japanese gamers can mark their calendars for April 20th, though.

Mother 3 (or EarthBound 2 in North America) has been in development for a very, very long time; after a number of years some fans even considered it vaporware. Fortunately, gamers starved for info were finally thrown a bone this past November. However, even though the game was confirmed to still exist, creator Shigetsao Itoi was reluctant to give a release date.    


Until today, that is, when Itoi updated his website to let everyone in on the news: Mother 3 is hitting Japan on April 20th of this year. That's right; in a mere three months, Japanese gamers (and importers) will be able to get their hands on the RPG that's been a "work in progress" for over ten years. According to the Starmen translation, Itoi had this to say:    


Mother 3's release date has been set. It will be April 20th, 2006 (Thursday). At least it's spring. It'll go on sale before the start of Golden Week. We'll be doing an official announcement pretty soon, but this is the "final" date. Once the release date is set, there are no more additions of new specs or anything like that. We'll no longer be able to fiddle around with anything in the game, unless it's something especially important. It makes me a little sad, but I can't be selfish. Since it's GameBoy Advance software, that naturally means that you'll also be able to play it on the Nintendo DS that everyone's so crazy about these days.    


4/20/2006. Get ready, folks.

Title: RE: Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: nickmitch on January 24, 2006, 01:04:34 PM
All I want to know is: When will it be released elsewhere?
Title: RE: Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: Karl Castaneda #2 on January 24, 2006, 01:05:01 PM
I predict Lik-Sang will make a bajillion dollars.
Title: RE: Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: Artimus on January 24, 2006, 01:05:16 PM
I hope they release the GBA version of 1 & 2 here...
Title: RE: Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: Ian Sane on January 24, 2006, 01:13:23 PM
On one hand it's good to see that this game isn't dead.  But on the other hand we'll probably never get to play it so this news is moot.

Maybe Nintendo will consider some sort of localization if Earthbound sells well on the Rev download service.  But right now I doubt a GBA game is going to get localized.  Plus you figure they would have ported Mother 1+2 if there were considering porting this.  Oh well.  Those of you who can read Japanese are going to be happy anyway.

This reminds me.  What ever happened to that third F-Zero GBA game?  I think it was called F-Zero Climax.  I remember reading it had a track editor.  Although I don't think there's tons of demand for it (why did they release THREE F-Zero games on the GBA) it's still somewhat of a bummer that we miss out on a track editor feature.  Was it released in Japan?
Title: RE: Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: Karl Castaneda #2 on January 24, 2006, 01:32:34 PM
I'm not so sure about that, Ian. After all, Drill Dozer (from Game Freak of Pokemon fame) was localized, and it's a GBA game. And if Nintendo has enough gravitas (thanks, Colbert Report) to release Electroplankton, even online, is that hard to imagine that they'll release a game in a series that's tallied up such a rabid fanbase in the states?
Title: RE: Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: Ian Sane on January 24, 2006, 02:02:22 PM
You're right.  It's entirely possible.  I just think that since Mother 1+2 wasn't localized that Nintendo probably doesn't think Earthbound is worth localizing.  The double pack in Japan was released while the GBA was still current.  They could have localized it during the peak of the GBA's popularity.  If they were going to localize this new game logically they would have released the double pack.  Why would one game sell and not the other, right?

It could happen but I don't think anyone should be assume that it will.  Assume it won't and then if it happens it will be all the sweeter.
Title: RE: Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: Karl Castaneda #2 on January 24, 2006, 02:07:01 PM
You raise a good point. Maybe Nintendo didn't feel that a compilation was worth localizing? I'm pretty much pulling that out of my ass, but it's the only reason I can think of. It's something to look into, I think...
Title: RE: Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: Pale on January 24, 2006, 03:08:16 PM
You never know with Nintendo, they could just be saving Earthbound for some future event in North America.  Mother 1&2 would sell well to fans like us, but it definately doesn't have a lot of cover charm if you know what I mean.  It's possible they want to spark Earthbound love here in the states with a newer game, be that Mother 3 or something even newer (Rev RPG?).

I dunno, it's just as possible they don't ever plan on bringing the series stateside again... who knows.  I'm still lucky/unlucky enough to have never played Earthbound and it is easily my most anticipated Rev download.  
Title: RE: Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: Bloodworth on January 24, 2006, 04:10:23 PM
Quote
What ever happened to that third F-Zero GBA game? I think it was called F-Zero Climax. I remember reading it had a track editor. Although I don't think there's tons of demand for it (why did they release THREE F-Zero games on the GBA) it's still somewhat of a bummer that we miss out on a track editor feature. Was it released in Japan?


You mean this F-Zero Climax?
http://www.planetgamecube.com/reviews.cfm?action=profile&id=542
I'm a big F-Zero fan, but I felt it was rather meh.  It probably never got localized since it was sub-par for the series and more of a TV show tie-in.
Title: RE: Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: KnowsNothing on January 24, 2006, 04:14:15 PM
I was severely let down with Earthbound.  Love the art style and quirky characters, and the music kicks ass, but man that battle system sucked.  Perhaps I should have given it more time, I never got far because I was too disgusted with the game to go further.

But I'm still excited for this, it's weird.
Title: RE: Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: Bill Aurion on January 24, 2006, 04:30:29 PM
I am disgusted at KN's battle system...I'm never playing him again!

(Seriously, WHAT!?  Earthbound > YOU)
Title: RE: Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: ib2kool4u912 on January 24, 2006, 04:34:07 PM
This is all some huge elaborate stoner joke.
Title: RE:Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: Mario on January 24, 2006, 07:41:03 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Bloodworth
Quote
What ever happened to that third F-Zero GBA game? I think it was called F-Zero Climax. I remember reading it had a track editor. Although I don't think there's tons of demand for it (why did they release THREE F-Zero games on the GBA) it's still somewhat of a bummer that we miss out on a track editor feature. Was it released in Japan?


You mean this F-Zero Climax?
http://www.planetgamecube.com/reviews.cfm?action=profile&id=542
I'm a big F-Zero fan, but I felt it was rather meh.  It probably never got localized since it was sub-par for the series and more of a TV show tie-in.


It has the best music of all F-Zero games though.
Title: RE:Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: couchmonkey on January 25, 2006, 04:12:41 AM
I thought Nintendo had a hand in bringing Tales of Phantasia to North America?  If so, maybe Nintendo is looking to extend the GBA's life in any way possible, which would hopefully mean localizing this.  

I know it's a long shot, but with a game actually out there to be localized, maybe I'll get in on some comic books.  It's a bit of a gap between "MAKE EARTHBOUND 64" and "Please translate this finished game to English".

Edit: spllign
Title: RE: Mother Finally Gives Another Birth
Post by: nickmitch on January 25, 2006, 12:54:23 PM
I think a compiliation would probably be sold like Electroplankton. That game was mostly for people who would've already heard of it anyway and a Mother 1+2 would be in the exact same boat.