History Trivia / MOTHER

* NewbieBoom: The ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}'' fandom got a sudden surge of new members when the game ''[[KeepCirculatingTheTapes finally]]'' got rereleased on the Wii U. At one point it was ''the'' most downloaded UsefulNotes/VirtualConsole game on the Wii U, which resulted in many newcomers to the series, with some being people who likely never heard of the game at that point. This has notably caused some friction between [[OldGuardVersusNewBlood those who were in the cult fandom before it gained a wider audience]], as not only are the newbies more willing to point out the flaws in ''[=EarthBound=]'', they've even started to criticize ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'''s flaws upon finding out about it, which considering the game was considered a SacredCow by those who were in the cult fandom...
* NoExportForYou: For a while, the series as a whole is possibly ''the'' most infamous example of this trope in all of video games. Only ''MOTHER 2'' was released in America back in the day, under the name ''[=EarthBound=]''. Europe got it even worse, as ''none of the three games'' were ever released there. [=EarthBound=] then proceeded to become a case of KeepCirculatingTheTapes for years until it eventually got another rerelease during the ''UsefulNotes/WiiU'' era, which also finally brought the series to Europe. Then, on June 14, 2015, the first game ''finally'' got an international release under the name ''[=EarthBound=] Beginnings'', nearly ''26 years'' after it came out in Japan. Only time will tell if ''Mother 3'' will at last be able to finally avert this trope officially (albeit for this one, an UpdatedReRelease at the very least) in the future...

** Prior to the development of the GBA version of ''MOTHER 3'', an installment for the UsefulNotes/NintendoGamecube was being considered, [[https://nintendoeverything.com/nintendo-and-namco-discussed-a-potential-earthbound-game-for-the-gamecube-concepts-shown/ with some concepts for a felt-like art style being created]]. The project quickly died due to Itoi having little interest at the time.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: The series' own name. The first game was planned to be released as ''Earth Bound'', but the second game removed the space... although no one seemed to agree whether it was ''[[CamelCase EarthBound]]'' or ''Earthbound'' (an actual word). The game itself went with the former, but the original Player's Guide used the latter even in the more recent [[http://earthbound.nintendo.com/playersguide/ online version]]. It wasn't until ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' that the former spelling was standardized in official sources, but the latter still pops up on rare occasions. If you don't believe that, check out Creator/ShigesatoItoi's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxjOnl_Xkjo announcement]] for "''Earthbound''" ''Beginnings''.

* TheWikiRule: [[https://www.wikibound.info/ WikiBound]], and the Wikia [[http://earthbound.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page EarthBound Wiki]].
** [[https://it.wikibound.info/wiki/Pagina_principale Italian Wikibound]]

* DoingItForTheArt: Oh, yes. There is an absolutely ludicrous amount of detail in these games, especially the later two.

** In all three games, the main character has an absent parent -- Ninten and Ness's fathers are always away at work, while [[spoiler:Lucas' mother is mauled to death by the Mecha Drago]]. According to Itoi, the decision to do this was inspired by his experiences growing up without a father, which influenced his decision to name the series after a Music/JohnLennon song about the same subject.

* WriteWhoYouKnow: Some characters in the series are based on people that Itoi knew in real life. Among others, Tony in ''[=EarthBound=]'' was inspired by gay members of Itoi's friend group, while the Magypsies in ''MOTHER 3'' were based on his gender nonconforming friends.

* NewbieBoom: The ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' fandom got a sudden surge of new members when the game ''[[KeepCirculatingTheTapes finally]]'' got rereleased on the Wii U. At one point it was ''the'' most downloaded UsefulNotes/VirtualConsole game on the Wii U, which resulted in many newcomers to the series, with some being people who likely never heard of the game at that point. This has notably caused some friction between [[OldGuardVersusNewBlood those who were in the cult fandom before it gained a wider audience]], as not only are the newbies more willing to point out ''VideoGame/EarthBound''s flaws, they've even started to criticize ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'''s flaws upon finding out about it, which considering the game was considered a SacredCow by those who were in the cult fandom...

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Prior to the development of the GBA version of ''MOTHER 3'', an installment for the UsefulNotes/NintendoGamecube was being considered, [[https://nintendoeverything.com/nintendo-and-namco-discussed-a-potential-earthbound-game-for-the-gamecube-concepts-shown/ with some concepts for a felt-like art style being created]]. The project quickly died due to Itoi having little interest at the time.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** ''MOTHER 3'' was originally planned for the SNES, subsequently developed for the Nintendo 64DD, then just the Nintendo 64, and [[DevelopmentHell eventually]] completed for the GBA; shedding international release plans, 3D graphics, two tentative subtitles, four story chapters, at least three playable characters, and who knows what else along the way.
** Prior to the development of the GBA version of ''MOTHER 3'', an installment for the UsefulNotes/NintendoGamecube was being considered, [[https://nintendoeverything.com/nintendo-and-namco-discussed-a-potential-earthbound-game-for-the-gamecube-concepts-shown/ with some concepts for a felt-like art style being created]]. The project quickly died due to Itoi having little interest at the time.

* QuoteSource:
** SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments

* ColbertBump: The series has gotten more than a few fans of indie [=RPGs=] after their creators have cited the games as a major source of inspiration, especially Toby "Radiation" Fox, creator of ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' and Austin "Dingaling" Jorgenson, creator of ''VideoGame/{{Lisa}}''.

* ShortLivedBigImpact: The series consists solely of three games and a CompilationRerelease, yet has been cited as a major influence by a large number of creators across media, from indie developers (most notably ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' creator Creator/TobyFox) to let's players (e.g. LetsPlay/{{Chuggaaconroy}} and LetsPlay/StephenPlays) to ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' creators Creator/TreyParkerAndMattStone. The series' nontraditional approach to the RPG genre also had a noticeable influence on later bigger-name games in the field, with urban settings, offbeat writing, and deviations from and expansions upon the gameplay template ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' set becoming an increasingly prominent element in series from ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' to ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' to Nintendo's own ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' [=RPGs=].