Normally, I would be outraged, but considering that it has legal issues, I can understand. It doesn't mean it won't come, but now I'm not sure if we'll see it.
However, while Nintendo did call Earthbound ESRB rating a mistake, the game still has an ESRB rating. It's right here: http://www.esrb.org/ratings/search.jsp
Before calling me an liar, type in "Earthbound" and I'm sure you'll find results.
At least we have something to hold on to. I think they took it off by either accident or by the demands by people who have no hope of ever seeing the game on the Virtual Console. Either way, unless the game has another sort of proof like an OFLC rating, confirm that it will never be on the Virtual Console, or finally gets released on the Virtual Console, the page should remain down.
Normally, I would be outraged, but considering that it has legal issues, I can understand. It doesn't mean it won't come, but now I'm not sure if we'll see it.
However, while Nintendo did call Earthbound ESRB rating a mistake, the game still has an ESRB rating. It's right here: http://www.esrb.org/ratings/search.jsp
Before calling me an liar, type in "Earthbound" and I'm sure you'll find results.
At least we have something to hold on to. I think they took it off by either accident or by the demands by people who have no hope of ever seeing the game on the Virtual Console. Either way, unless the game has another sort of proof like an OFLC rating, confirm that it will never be on the Virtual Console, or finally gets released on the Virtual Console, the page should remain down.
First off, what legal issues? The music sample thing? That was bullcrap. It didn't even make sense. How is it that they got away with releasing it before, but now all of a sudden it would be an issue? And it's not like it had full songs, just samples that kinda sorta sounded like songs other people had made. Believe me, if that was rge issue, a lot of other games would've been sued already for similar reasons.
Secondly, we know the rating is there. Apparently that was the mistake. It was never supposed to be rated for the wii.
Normally, I would be outraged, but considering that it has legal issues, I can understand. It doesn't mean it won't come, but now I'm not sure if we'll see it.
However, while Nintendo did call Earthbound ESRB rating a mistake, the game still has an ESRB rating. It's right here: http://www.esrb.org/ratings/search.jsp
Before calling me an liar, type in "Earthbound" and I'm sure you'll find results.
At least we have something to hold on to. I think they took it off by either accident or by the demands by people who have no hope of ever seeing the game on the Virtual Console. Either way, unless the game has another sort of proof like an OFLC rating, confirm that it will never be on the Virtual Console, or finally gets released on the Virtual Console, the page should remain down.
First off, what legal issues? The music sample thing? That was bullcrap. It didn't even make sense. How is it that they got away with releasing it before, but now all of a sudden it would be an issue? And it's not like it had full songs, just samples that kinda sorta sounded like songs other people had made. Believe me, if that was rge issue, a lot of other games would've been sued already for similar reasons.
Secondly, we know the rating is there. Apparently that was the mistake. It was never supposed to be rated for the wii.
The legal issues is primarily the music. Some are so similar that if the game was released on the Virtual Console, Nintendo would be at risks for lawsuit up their ass. I also read that there was a graphical similarily with a character that would need to be changed. Nintendo only got away once because just six years ago, Earthbound was an obscure game that few people remembered. Now the game is very well-known and I believe some of the bands that the game has similar music with know the game as well. Also, they don't need a Virtual Console release in order to sue Nintendo. Even if Nintendo officially said the game would never hit the Virtual Console, they are still at risk at being flooded with lawsuit.
And IF the ESRB rating was a mistake, they should get rid of it so we'll know it is a mistake.
Anyone with an SNES who is interested in the game should find a way to try it out (whether by borrowing it or by other obvious means I won't describe). If you enjoy it, wait until the holiday season is over, and the game will generally go for about $50, which is no more than most new games go for. Any retro gaming enthusiast knows that age is not an accurate indicator of quality or value.
If you don't have an SNES, well, I guess this isn't too helpful.
I actually had a second copy back when the Wii just came out. I sold it assuming the game would be on VC very soon. I really wish I hadn't now. With all the talk of it on these boards, could have started a loaning system, passing it out for users to pay shipping, try once, and pass on to the next guy. Not going to risk my only copy now though, sadly.
@Adam: Either way, if Earthbound never makes it's way on the Virtual Console, the franchise is screwed and the series will once again become obscure, only more permanently.
I am glad that I have an SNES and $60 now, now I have to either wait for a few months to get it or spend it all on Wii Point Cards.
Normally, I would be outraged, but considering that it has legal issues, I can understand. It doesn't mean it won't come, but now I'm not sure if we'll see it.
However, while Nintendo did call Earthbound ESRB rating a mistake, the game still has an ESRB rating. It's right here: http://www.esrb.org/ratings/search.jsp
Before calling me an liar, type in "Earthbound" and I'm sure you'll find results.
At least we have something to hold on to. I think they took it off by either accident or by the demands by people who have no hope of ever seeing the game on the Virtual Console. Either way, unless the game has another sort of proof like an OFLC rating, confirm that it will never be on the Virtual Console, or finally gets released on the Virtual Console, the page should remain down.
First off, what legal issues? The music sample thing? That was bullcrap. It didn't even make sense. How is it that they got away with releasing it before, but now all of a sudden it would be an issue? And it's not like it had full songs, just samples that kinda sorta sounded like songs other people had made. Believe me, if that was rge issue, a lot of other games would've been sued already for similar reasons.
Secondly, we know the rating is there. Apparently that was the mistake. It was never supposed to be rated for the wii.
The legal issues is primarily the music. Some are so similar that if the game was released on the Virtual Console, Nintendo would be at risks for lawsuit up their ass. I also read that there was a graphical similarily with a character that would need to be changed. Nintendo only got away once because just six years ago, Earthbound was an obscure game that few people remembered. Now the game is very well-known and I believe some of the bands that the game has similar music with know the game as well. Also, they don't need a Virtual Console release in order to sue Nintendo. Even if Nintendo officially said the game would never hit the Virtual Console, they are still at risk at being flooded with lawsuit.
And IF the ESRB rating was a mistake, they should get rid of it so we'll know it is a mistake.
I still find that really hard to believe, but something tells me neither of us are exactly experts on the subject, so it would pointless for use to argue any further.
As for the ESRB rating, why go through more unnessecary paperwork just to get rid of it when you could just leave it alone? If they ever decide to release it on the Wii, then they won't have to have it re-rated.
Just a thought, but I think the rating may be there because Super Smash Bros. Brawl was supposed to come with a demo of Earthbound, but they took it out at some point.
@Adam: Either way, if Earthbound never makes it's way on the Virtual Console, the franchise is screwed and the series will once again become obscure, only more permanently.
No, lots of people have known who Ness is since Smash Bros., he isn't going anywhere.
Actually, a lot of Smash players used to think Ness was made up especially for the game or just had no clue and didn't care to look him up. I've had to correct this too many times, both in person and on forums. Lucas arrived on the scene with the same problem.
But either way, if the series is not available commercially, that would certainly be obscure enough. I have my ways of playing the games and have no problem using any method necessary to get access to them if Nintendo of America won't provide that access themselves, but it is a shame that it isn't being made available to new audiences.
Oh well, nothing to do about it. Back to playing Earthbound on my SNES for now. I'd love to someday have only one console next to my TV just for convenience, but this set-up is fine enough. Don't have to worry about changing the cartridge, at least, since it's my only SNES game. I'm trying to finish the whole trilogy again before the year ends. It's amazing how an RPG whose story does not change over time can still be fun to replay every single year.
@Tony: Exactly, which gives me hope for an Virtual Console release. However, like Mickeymac said, it could have been a mistake.
@Mickeymac: You are right that neither of us are experts on the issue, but Adam and Stuffgamer1 are. You do have a point with the second paragraph. And you might be right with the third paragraph.
@Digiki: Ness and Lucas will remain well-known for a very long time. I was talking about the franchise in general.
Well, I'd hardly call myself an expert. I don't have a law degree. But I do know a thing or two about music as a musician myself, and this video is hard to argue against. As for the graphical and textual problems the game has been said to have, I think these are exaggerated and more easily remedied with minor touch-ups or simply excused as parody. The music is a much more difficult thing to get around, I think, and even though some songs are maybe one or two notes off, and a couple are not copyrighted, others are outright sampled (Moonside) and many are just too close, if not note-for-note.
As for the Brawl demo, I don't remember the timing of the ESRB rating being pulled, but it's possible; however, that doesn't prove anything, unfortunately. The reason it was pulled from Brawl is certainly the same reason they presumably pulled the rating: wary lawyers.
It should be noted, however, that one of the more obvious musical rip-offs, the drugstore theme ("Humoresque of a Dog," best song title ever), is actually on the Brawl soundtrack in US and Japan. But I think the sheer quantity of Beatles rip-offs in the original game would be enough to get Earthbound in trouble if it were released on VC, assuming the Beatles' lawyers noticed it somehow.
I understand the issues i'm just wondering why it is no longer on the list since it was there for ages and to my knowledge nothing has since reduced earthbound's already low chances of a rerelease
@ganondwarf16: I think the reasons why it's no longer there is either A) it was taken down by accident or B) they finally took down the page because many fans wanted it down due to legal issues surrounding it.
@Adam: This is so not good news. If that video (Although unlikely) reaches over a million views, someone from the Beatles or there legal team could see it and file a lawsuit at Nintendo. To be safe, should we contact The Beatles about this or at least someone from there legal team?
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