MOTHER/EarthBound series

Itoi is a Copyrighter, so Its expected he'd keep the MOTHER copyright for himself.

Edited by Demongodofchaos2 on Feb 10th 2022 at 10:56:55 AM

Like everyone else, I would love to hear the reason why Nintendo keeps sitting on Mother 3. Is it really just disinterest in it, not enough financial benefit to release, music/content copyright issues?

They did the same with Xenoblade and relented with fans petitioned for a worldwide release, and now Xenoblade is turning into a successful series for Nintendo. So why not Mother 3?

In regards to the Operation Rainfall titles, those were already getting English releases in Europe via NoE. (Hence why Xenoblade utilizes UK voice talent.) That was a major reason why those particular titles were chosen: much of the work was already being done to bring them to the West, so the movement just needed to convince Nintendo that a North American release needed to be done as well, rather than convince them of the larger task that is starting the process of localization to begin with.

Edited by RacattackForce on Feb 10th 2022 at 12:05:48 PM

WMG: It's not because of them. Western society made it very clear that transphobia is still a-okay. To say nothing of how western Europe still treats the Romani so the racial slur the Ma******* are based on is still okay. At this point, it has to be something else.

Yeah I feel like Nintendo being against transphobia is mostly wishful thinking. Remember the stuff that got into Breath of the Wild?

Edited by Moth13 on Feb 10th 2022 at 1:21:47 PM

Okay, so as someone who hasn’t played much of BOTW, what did that game do in regards to LGBT people?

I think a part of why Nintendo probably doesn’t want to localize Mother 3 would be because they don’t want to risk offending Westerners, judging by how they altered Mr. Game and Watch’s Forward Smash attack in Ultimate to remove the feather he originally had.

On a side note I should definitely play Earth Bound on Switch.

Edited by powerpuffbats on Feb 10th 2022 at 12:34:47 PM

There a mission to get into an all lady town by effectively dressing in drag

Specifically getting the clothes involves a character who the game makes some bad jokes about.

And isn't one of the town's NPC's extremely flamboyant, specifically the guy who builds your house?

I think another reason we could throw onto the pile is that Earthbound isn't really an active franchise. Mother 3 was the last game, and with no plans for more, Nintendo might not see any benefit in localizing an old RPG from 2006 when it wouldn't be setting the groundwork for the potential sales of a future entry.

I think if the game had come out even a year earlier, Mother 3 would have been localized no problem. 2006 was just too late in the GBA's lifespan for NoA/NoE to care about bringing it over at the time (DS was out for two years at that point and it was a known success), so it missed the boat just like Rhythm Tengoku and bit Generations.

Yep. Not the first time Zelda made some of its side characters Camp Gay, and it probably won't be the last.

Edited by RacattackForce on Feb 10th 2022 at 2:54:57 PM

Technically the guy who built your house probably died decades ago, but he could’ve been Camp Gay too

Reggie Fils-Amie's new book is out and the audio version contains an extra interview by Geoff Keighly where Reggie brings out some more information on Mother 3, including that he had conversations with Iwata and porting the untranslated Japanese version to the American and European Wii U eShops if Iwata hadn't passed and the Wii U did better.

I understand the initial decision to not localize it between bad release timing and EarthBound selling poorly, but you'd think they'd consider an official international release after all this time and fan clamoring. Especially since I don't think localizing it would be that expensive even if they didn't use the fan translation.

Edited by Karxrida on May 3rd 2022 at 11:07:00 AM

It's so weird how they bring life back to other games easily, but Mother 3 makes them hesitant.

Just release the damn game, already. Earthbound flopped initially and now it's considered a cherished and popular game.

Have a Pollyanna cover.

Started replaying Mother 3 with the goal of getting all the achievements on it's RetroAchievements page

I imagine the ones for opening all the gift boxes and 16 hit comboing all the songs are gonna be hard, also if it's anything like my time I tried 100%ing EarthBound on RetroAchievements I can only imagine the enemy drop ones are gonna be difficult too.

I saw a meme that made me frown, it was a meme about FINALLY localizing a Mother game... and it was Earthbound Beginnings. I must be THE ONLY PERSON who doesnt go gaga for Earthbound and Mother 3 but LOVE Mother 1.

This cover is so epic.

Edited by AegisP on Oct 28th 2023 at 10:55:54 AM

My friend is the same way! Beginnings is her favorite of the trilogy.

I kind of wish Ness and Lucas' amiibos used their Ultimate renders. I prefer those compared to High Five Lucas and Phoeness Wright.

I need to go back and actually finish Earthbound Beginnings. I only got as far as the second Melody.

Only in my latest Mother 3 playthrough did I realize that if you backtrack back through the cave leading to Drago Plateau Alec will guide you backwards

There's so many small details that are easy to miss

Mother 3 is out on Nintendo Switch Online today!...in Japan.

...They know what they're doing at this point, don't they?

Yes, they do, they also announced plushes of Lucas, Claus, Duster, and Kumatora.