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Earthbound Petition Making A Difference?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the one-less-signature-would-have-made-it-31337 dept.

Thanks to Nintendojo for their story regarding Shigeru Miyamoto's positive reaction to an online petition about the Earthbound games. Miyamoto, discussing the series (soon re-released for GBA in Japan) in an interview with Official UK Nintendo Magazine, says "We had high hopes for Earthbound, the Super NES version, in the US, but it didn't do well... You might not know this, but there was a petition in the US, a 'Please make Mother 3 [an Earthbound sequel]' petition and it got about 30,000 signatures! After that, we thought 'Wow... Earthbound fans are really solid'." The petition in question was put together by the fansite Starmen.net, and Video-Fenky previously got hold of a copy, commenting on the "testament to the Mother fanbase's... deep-seated devotion to the game they love."

32 comments

  1. 1st post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    woo, 1st post

  2. Earthbound for SNES Rocks by Gr33nNight · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I still own this game, and while the graphics are not up the par with the likes of Final Fantasy, it just didnt matter. The game was just fun, plain and simple.

    It was one of the few RPGs that actually made me laugh, and I am definately looking forward to the prequel to appear on the GBA.

  3. Earthbound's Popularity... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ...probably increased after he appeared in a Super Smash Brothers game. People had to wonder who the heck this character was, did a search on him, and either found a copy of the original game or downloaded a ROM.

    1. Re:Earthbound's Popularity... by shoptroll · · Score: 1

      Yep. My sentiments exactly. Man were those the days.... FF2, Zelda, FF3, EB, CT, Mario RPG, Harvest Moon. Mmmmm... I'm fairly sure the remake will hit here. Nintendo would be foolish not to right now, given the appeal of RPGs and the only Nintendo RPG goin right now is Pokemon (and that is dying too)... That doesn't count Square Enix's RPGs, i'm talking 1st party developed.

      --
      Insert Sig Here
  4. This game sucks... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    ...thats why it never made it in the US. Its shitty japanese pop culture garbage. I am ashamed to think that any citizen of the United States enjoys it.

    1. Re:This game sucks... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      Before someone mods you out of existence... Which game are you referring to? Earthbound (Mother 2) or the original? I've never played it, but all the talk I hear about it is how much it captures the smaller details of life on earth, such as going to school, getting an allowance from your parents, etc. These are the small innovations it made that created it's fanbase. So why do you think it was pop culture? From what I recall I was a "geek" for playing games in the days of the SNES, so it seems incredibly contradictory to hear someone call an obscure RPG from the 16-bit era "pop-culture". What, specifically, did you think was so "pop" about this game?

    2. Re:This game sucks... by Allison+Geode · · Score: 1

      you didn't go to school in the game... in fact, sometimes when you'd call your mom, she'd tell you about how "the teacher came around again for you missing school, but don't worry, I gave her an excuse."

      you do, however, get money from your dad: when you beat monsters, you get experience, and the next time you call your dad, you get equivilent money from him, depending on the monsters you fought.

      there are a few pop culture references in the game, but mostly, the game is very childish humor ("you'll be so scared, you'll pee your pants! haha!", oh yeah, and sentient vommit monsters). the only pop culture reference I can recall probably wasn't even in the japanese version of the game: a guy asks you to "fill in the blank: a popular beatles song, ---terday. and you can answer yes or no...) for the most part, the humor doesn't rely on knowledge of anything. the humor just works, because its so wierd and stupid, its funny.

    3. Re: This game sucks... by Man+In+Black · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      Its shitty japanese pop culture garbage.

      I completely agree, and I personally think that Earthbound (the SNES version anyways, haven't played the others) is the most overrated game I've ever played. It contains just about every Japanese-RPG cliche every invented (while inventing some new ones), and the whole feel of the game is so Japanese that I find it almost unplayable. Most of the dialog didn't even make any sense to me (Do Japanese people really act that childish? Or is that what passes for humor in Japan? I've lived in Canada my whole life, so I seriously don't know... Canadian girls certainly don't burst into tears when they don't get their way)... Perhaps someone will reply saying that I "didn't get" the game, or that I can't appreciate it or something to that effect... frankly, I'm glad that I "don't get" the game.

      I'd always heard that it was such a good game, so I was happy to find a copy of it in a pawn shop (for a pretty decent price too), so I was willing to give it a go. By the time I found out that the second city was called Twoson (the first city being called Onett), I realized just how much I would dislike the game. What a dissappointment. From that point on, I've made it a point to warn people not to buy the game unless they know damn well what they're getting into. If new versions come out, I'll be sure to warn people against getting them too.

      To be completely honest, I've always thought that all these Japanese RPG's (Final Fantasy, Grandia, etc) were shite. However, if someone can point me towards petitions for a new version of Dungeon Master, or an Ultima 4 remake, I'd be more than happy to sign it!

      I'm sure I'll be modded back to the stone age for not liking this game, such is the fanaticism of moderators around here. Oh well, my karma can take the hit.

      --
      -"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -EH
    4. Re: This game sucks... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Do Japanese people really act that childish?
      I dunno, but I imagine Japanese children probably do.
    5. Re: This game sucks... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm sure I'll be modded back to the stone age for *fill in the blank*

      Pity I just ran out of points, because there's nothing I love more than moderating down anyone who says that.

    6. Re: This game sucks... by I(rispee_I(reme · · Score: 1

      The next towns were called Threed and Fourside, which I found (and find) hilarious. Another great thing is instead of fighting dragons and goblins, the battles in the game are more along the lines of, "The New Age Retro Hippie Approaches.", and, "You engage the Annoying Old Party Man." It's definitely a nonconventional twist on the standard RPG, and this fact is why most players either love or hate it.

    7. Re: This game sucks... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      If new versions come out, I'll be sure to warn people against getting them too.
    8. Re: This game sucks... by IIRCAFAIKIANAL · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Every reason you cite why it sucks is what made it so good. The game was a satire of the generic RPG. Hence all the cliches, the naming of the towns alluding to the linearity of the game, etc. It was also a throwback to NES rpgs, hence the simplistic graphics.

      Also, the main characters were children. I'm Canadian too and I see little Canadian girls (and boys) burst into tears sometimes.

      This game has always polarized people, but it bothers me that you would warn them against it when you admit you don't even like Japanese RPGs in general. I despise sports games, but I don't tell people "skip Madden, it sucks" because it isn't to my tastes. If anything, you should say, "I don't like Japanese RPGs - go ask someone that does." I know people that don't like Japanese RPGs and loved this game *because* it was a good parody of the Japanese RPG style.

      That said, both Ultima 4 and Dungeon Master have been remade. Ultima 4 was redone with VGA graphics and a MIDI soundtrack. Someone else has reprogrammed Dungeon Master in Java, but the graphics aren't enhanced.

      I'm sure I'll be modded back to the stone age for not liking this game, such is the fanaticism of moderators around here. Oh well, my karma can take the hit.

      The Law of Inverse Slashdot Moderation strikes again! :)

      --
      Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel.
    9. Re:This game sucks... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, which Mike are you? Mike Mentalist or Mike Hawk?

    10. Re: This game sucks... by Man+In+Black · · Score: 1

      Every reason you cite why it sucks is what made it so good. The game was a satire of the generic RPG.

      I've been told that about this game before, but it just never feels like satire to me... Instead, I just get the feeling that they decided to call it a satire after they realized how the game turned out. Obviously, that's not the case, but I can never seem to shake that feeling that I get from the game. It's like watching a B-movie where the directory was thoroughly convinced that it would be a blockbuster.

      You're definitely right about this game polarizing people though. There are very few people that think the game is "pretty good"... everyone seems to think it's either one of the best games ever made, or a steaming pile of hog fat. I still don't think Earthbound is a game that most people would like. Very few of my friends are into RPG's, and I can't imagine that this would be the game that would draw them into the genre. Any supposed humor content would definitely go over their heads (Hell, I've been playing video games for years and it apparently goes over my head).

      The Law of Inverse Slashdot Moderation strikes again! :)

      Funny how that works sometimes... I've made other outbursts that somehow got modded up to +5 that I certainly didn't expect. This one is already marked as Flamebait as I write this though, so it's not looking good.

      --
      -"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -EH
  5. Nintendo Power article by neostorm · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I can't remember the exact issue, but in a Nintendo Power magazine I recall seeing scratch-n-sniff stickers for Earthbound. It was Nintendo's original marketing strategy for the game. "The first game to interact with different human senses" or somesuch.
    You were directed to keep the stickers handy while playing, and at key moments in the game smell them to have a more interactive experience.
    Very strange.

    1. Re:Nintendo Power article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
      I hear goatse.cx is gearing up for a similar marketing bonanza.

      Can't wait.

    2. Re:Nintendo Power article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      acctually the slogan for the game (which came with the scratch and sniff cards in the players guide that was also included in the giant box EB came in) was "This game stinks"

    3. Re:Nintendo Power article by Gr33nNight · · Score: 1

      The banana sticker rocked.

  6. Er... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    "testament to the Mother fanbase's... deep-seated devotion to the game they love."
    Helloooooooooo, Freud.
    1. Re:Er... by Hedonist123 · · Score: 1
      YOu idiot, they aren't printed on any... oh wait, I get it... haha, yeah.

      hed.

      --
      http://goldysmom.blogspot.com
  7. online petitions by ameoba · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Too bad that most online petitions are worth less than the paper they're printed on.

    --
    my sig's at the bottom of the page.
  8. One of the best games ever made.... by WapoStyle · · Score: 3, Interesting
    ....was Earthbound on the SNES. It's a very solid RPG that really throws a curve with it's content. You can tell the developers had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs when making this game...the "New Age Retro Hippy" anyone? How about the Runaway Five? That cool little Blue's Brothers style band. Everything about Earthbound was so different than any other RPG of it's time. It's no wonder it didn't do so well...people don't like different. As I recall it came in a monsterous box with the Official Nintendo Players Guide bundled with the game.

    I hope Nintendo decides to release their upcoming Mother1+2 on the GBA in the US, I've long since lost my SNES cart and would love to be able to play the first game in the series.

    1. Re:One of the best games ever made.... by MMaestro · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Ah yes, I remember the monsterous box. That was no doubt a serious turn off for some buyers considering what went through my head when I saw it. Being an uninformed gamers when I was young (I wasn't subscribed for Nintendo Power and the internet wasn't a good source back then) I thought the game was some kind of light gun game or an add-on for the Super Scope. The box was bigger than my chest and almost as big as my younger sister. A serious turn off for my parents, who of course held the ultimate decision on what game(s) to buy.

      Looking back on the game (ie. played an emulated version) I can see that it was a great game, but it was insanely radical compared to the extremely, by today's standards, traditional RPGs of the time.

    2. Re:One of the best games ever made.... by Gr33nNight · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I still have that box, with the strategy guide. Yes, it is huge, but so was the game (in terms of length, not a huge cart).

    3. Re:One of the best games ever made.... by showdax · · Score: 1

      Actually, it was a smash (heh, pun,) hit in Japan. It was like a crazy cult phenomenon... though in America... well that was a bit different.

      --
      --- March, milde, march!
  9. Go Home by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    Your mother is *crying* for you.

  10. Troll -1 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    "If new versions come out, I'll be sure to warn people against getting them too."

    Well, you're just a god damn American Hero aren't you. You haven't even seen the new game yet and you're already "Preaching to the Masses" against it. I have no idea where you got all these misconceptions of this game from, and rather doubt you played past the beginning.
    "Do Japanese people really act that childish?"

    Well, gee. When the characters you play in a game are kids, I guess they might act a little childish. In most of your post you make this game sound like a 'Hello Kitty' clone of something. WTF? Did you really play any of this game or just see an opportunity to Troll?
    Troll -1. No karma for you!
  11. Orignal Mother or Earthbound.. by darkmayo · · Score: 1

    The orginal cart was translated by a group a few years back. If you ever wanted to play the orginal its out there and understandable if you don't know Japanese.

    --
    "I am a kernel in the linux army"
    1. Re:Orignal Mother or Earthbound.. by shoptroll · · Score: 1

      Ummm... No. The game was originally translated by NINTENDO in the late 80's but wasn't released with the SNES that close to hitting the states... What's been floating around the 'net is a copy of the cart that NOA would've probably used as a master but someone won it at an auction or something and Neo Demiforce reimbursed them for it, and also paid them money since the owner didn't want to have it dumped in order to keep the price up on it. Of course Neo Demi. had to do a little bit of hacking (just the title screen and dummy some hardware verifications to make sure the system is legit). And for what it's worth. I still have EB, the player's guide, the cards (although they don't smell anymore), and I've been reading SM.net before the very 1st petition and when they were earthbound.net (at least 5 years ago!)

      --
      Insert Sig Here
  12. First time ever? by Hackie_Chan · · Score: 1

    Isn't this the first time ever that an online petition has been taken seriously?

    --

    What's so bad about being lazy? What if there was a war and nobody showed up?
  13. FYI... by Gothic_Walrus · · Score: 2, Informative

    The character that appeared in the Super Smash Brothers games is known as Ness. Earthbound is just the game's title.

    --
    Goo goo g'joob.