I could argue with other examples of massively successful outdated games, but it's a decent point. But this is basically for the fans.

You're implying avoiding making unnecessary sequels and not running a series into the ground is a bad thing? I'm glad it's done after 3, they can't top it and they really shouldn't try.

I'm quickly getting annoyed at bringing up the same point. They did this with Xenoblade and the Last Story, two new IPs. And don't tell me being a new IP is somehow an improvement, Nintendo fans love the sequels, even compared to other fanbases. They could not care less about new IPs, yet it succeeded somehow.

For you, "unnecessary" sequels that sell wonderfully are awful. For the business, it's profitable, which believe it or not, is good.

He wrote it in the 90s though. He basically allowed Nintendo to develop a game around the story he wrote a decade before. From what I've read the sales were on par with the previous games.

There never seemed to be an increase in interest in the series, even in Japan. Which is why I don't understand how some people would think it could be successful in the United States.

No, I just mean it's nice that a series can just be done instead of automatically getting sequels just because it made money.

Your ability to make excuses for people is unrivaled. Anything can be improved upon, and you're naive to think otherwise. Games evolve and franchises are best when made to be successful.

Where it is now, Earthbound is a failure of a franchise. How much you're in love with the games makes no difference.

I'm quickly getting annoyed at bringing up the same point. They did this with Xenoblade and the Last Story, two new IPs. And don't tell me being a new IP is somehow an improvement, Nintendo fans love the sequels, even compared to other fanbases. They could not care less about new IPs, yet it succeeded somehow.

1. Nobody would know Earthbound is a sequel to anything. Again you vastly overestimate how many people recognize, or care about this franchise.
2. Those games were released in one region, sales were cautiously watched, petitions were signed, and then a year later they were released. (What is this similar to, oh yeah the cautious approach I said they would have to take with EB..)
3. Those games are modernized. They can appeal to an average consumer. EB is not a modern game, very few franchises have survived using those age old gameplay mechanics and there's a reason why: there's no interest in it any more.

You can compare Earthbound to anything you want. The fact is it's in its own completely unique situation and if it were as easy as to make successful as you believe, it would have been done already.

Or perhaps you're just so much more intelligent than all of the R&D teams designed to measure consumer interest. That's always a possibility.

There are songs in Pokemon Black and White that sound like songs in Mother 3.

Another thing to note is that the stories in both games involve brothers who fight over a dragon which can split into a lighter half or a darker half depending which brother awakens it, and when one of them win, he unifies the land in his own image.

These connections possibly hint at some sort of remake.

while I do think Earthbound is cool and Mother 3 has my favorite story in gaming, I've long stopped caring about it seeing any level of success in America. My point is that I think it would succeed, nothing more nothing less.

Again, all of this assumes that the average consumer is relevant. The average consumer did not buy Xenoblade Chronicles. It does not matter what the average consumer wanted, this was a game made for a niche gaming fanbase. And it succeeded. They should take an ultra cautious approach, of course they should. But if you're arguing it wouldn't succeed, ultimately both of us have assumptions, with yours being based on Nintendo never making a decision that went against something that would ultimately make a profit (this would be so far from their worst decisions btw) and mine being based on the hope that the fanbase does exist (which it does), or more importantly would buy it. And I'll admit, I've seen a series that in theory had enough fans completely fail to sell enough. I think that describes every other internet darling anime for example.

I don't really know why I bothered with this really. I've put more and more time into caring about silly niche games, but this discussion is going nowhere and it's just becoming people yelling at walls.

mayhaps, but it's probably just some cute references.

I swear you do not retain anything you read from my posts.

Okay new direction: If it is so blatantly obvious that this would be a success, why has it not happened?

Well, my point is that from my understanding of the fanbase and looking at other niche games that less people know exist, it would succeed. I'm not saying anything more than that really. And I'll admit my logic is basically "more people know these games exist compared to other successful niche games and more people like them." Why it hasn't is because it's still a risk that backfired spectacularly when they tried it in 1995, the fan campaigns to prove otherwise involved PK Calln (a campaign to call NOA about either the series in general or Mother 1 and 2 on the GBA) and apparently because after the campaign ended...they obviously stopped calling, NOA took that as a sign that there wasn't enough interest and because of the many things in Earthbound in particular that NOA could potentially get sued for and regardless of how unlikely that would happen NOA doesn't want to chance that. The last one in particular is very justified and almost certainly the main reason. It's honestly why I think people should just give up on bringing Earthbound back to America in some form, because NOA won't and shouldn't risk that.

I just want to say that whatever happens, that if Nintendo pulls a rant-triggering move such as them not following up with it at all or it's just Japan-exclusive, I won't be as surprised as it being said in 2009 when they wouldn't release it at all.

If anyone one of them is being remade, it better at least be 3.

Agreed. I like both Mother 1 and 2, but they don't hold a candle to most games I've played. PMD and Ys are way better IMO

That's not really what he meant. He just meant nobody really knows about the series. Which I don't agree with. I can't be the only ones who looked up NESS and Lucas from Super Smash Bros...or checked out their trophies...

I agree with his other points but saying there is no fan demand is ridiculous as there it's probably the most fan demand a niche game can get while anyone can still even possibly call it niche.

Though the part of the video I have here as an example here doesn't mention "millions" in the fanbase, is it still a small fanbase?

Go to 23:21

/Me backs away from thread slowly...

It won't bite, I hope...

but it's already over so...?

Fans also seem to ignore the fact that Japan hasn't had any form of Mother either since the GBA game back in 2006.