I have never tried the game before but it sounds like the holy grailof SNES gaming. With this much hype everywhere you got me wanting the game. Thanks a lot.
Dragons are cool~ Wii FC: 8902 4871 6029 9319 http://backloggery.com/ninten
[19:48] Ninten: lz, your avatar is weird. [19:48] Ninten: Reggie is like..."Duh, no Mother series for you Americans!" [19:49] lz2010: That was the point Ninten ;)
With all respect to all the people that posted here, this really has gotten tired, the Earthbound talk goes nowhere every time someone starts something, the facts are there, everything else is pure speculation. Period. It's the same with the Goldeneye subject, if there's a huge possibility or a tiny chance for these games to get a proper official VC release we won't know, only the parties involved know, and if they're not telling anything they have their motives. We can only suck it up and move on.
@rustythekid: There is a difference. We already know that Goldeneye007 is almost certain to not get an Virtual Console release. With Earthbound, we really don't know what's really happening.
Actually, I have news. Earthbound is coming out next Monday. I'm keeping it in my closet until then, at which point I'll take it out and put it in my SNES.
Dragons are cool~ Wii FC: 8902 4871 6029 9319 http://backloggery.com/ninten
[19:48] Ninten: lz, your avatar is weird. [19:48] Ninten: Reggie is like..."Duh, no Mother series for you Americans!" [19:49] lz2010: That was the point Ninten ;)
Here is my thing on EarthBound, it's Virtual Console release, and legal issues.
In the latest issue of Nintendo Power, Nintendo really teased us during their "250 things we love about Nintendo" list. Checking in at #237: "The Ultimate Cult Hit," speaking of EarthBound for the SNES. It complimented it's story, characters, and graphics and spoke of Ness' involvement in the Super Smash Bros. series. It ends with the phrase "...but these loyal fans crave more." This can lead to two assumptions if Nintendo will call out the fan base like that.
1: Another EarthBound game is likely making the attempt to be in the works. 2: One of the two console EarthBound games, NES (1) or SNES (2) are being worked out for Virtual Console.
That said, let's move onto it's Virtual Console release. I honestly believe it will happen this year before the month of July. Don't ask my my reasoning, but I really think it's going to be sooner rather than later.
What about the third point, though, the legal issues? The issue was reported by Starman.net, a loyal EarthBound fansite with no official connection to Nintendo or anyone who worked on either of the three EarthBound games. They stated a report which was unsourced to any official website or publication. In the US, any visual refferences WERE edited out to begin with, such as the Blues Brothers or American Red Cross references. Meanwhile, the music got off scott free. Why? Because the music industry steals from one another to begin with. Rap music sounds like rap music, pop music sounds like pop music, country sounds like country, faux blues sounds like faux blues, and the Beetles sound like whatever people want to hear.
If there were legal action to be taken against EarthBound, I honestly don't see why there isn't legal action taken against every artest against every other artist ever. It's a wonder our court systerms haven't backed up to the point in which the Phoenix Wright 3-day system has to be implimented. If we're going to be nitpicking on two consecutive notes at the begining, I have some news for you: There are only so many notes to go by and one of them, if I understand correctly, is actually copyrighted by the Disney corporation, D-sharp or D-flat I believe. The possible combinations of two notes to begin any given song, not including rests or holds, is less than 1000, if I understand correctly. There are FAR more songs than that out there. I have over 3,000 on my iPod right now.
So what I'm getting at is that Starman is FAR from official, the music thing isn't enough to warrent lawsuits (just look at what the WWE does when they re-release Pay-Per-Views on DVD or the Married with Children seasons after about the 4th one on DVD), and that isn't enough reason to prevent EarthBound's re-release.
What would be, however, is it's poor sales the first time around here in the US. Fanbase or not, Nintendo has the numbers from the last time and it isn't pretty. Not to mention that it's lock in the 1990s may make it a little dated today for it's stylings in their view. Nintendo was heavily dissapointed by EarthBound and they may be a little gunshy, even through a digital medium. Heck, I think they still have a warehouse full of EarthBound 1 (Mother 1) cartridges that never shipped or got completed that they don't know what to do with.
But I'm not giving up hope, especially after the Nintendo Power article, and it's not the first time they've teased EarthBound fans by spelling out EarthBound. Nintendo WANTS to bring it out, but they are a business and they have to work with other companies to come out with games too. It can't just be the all Nintendo show... even if that's what sales often show in the disc department for Wii. We are close, I can feel it... are you willing to hang on just a little bit longer?
It's a VC game. Sales are not a concern. It costs them almost nothing. You're reading way too much into a nothing. They said Earthbound fans crave more. They do! That doesn't mean they're going to get it. You can't just write off the music as a non-issue because musicians supposedly steal from each other all the time when they get sued all the time just the same.
@Smash Fan, I remember that. I've been quoting that for years now. But that has nothing to do with what we were talking about though unless Iwata is actually Itoi in disguise. Someone said Itoi claimed it is coming for VC, and we want a source for this claim.
Here is my thing on EarthBound, it's Virtual Console release, and legal issues.
In the latest issue of Nintendo Power, Nintendo really teased us during their "250 things we love about Nintendo" list. Checking in at #237: "The Ultimate Cult Hit," speaking of EarthBound for the SNES. It complimented it's story, characters, and graphics and spoke of Ness' involvement in the Super Smash Bros. series. It ends with the phrase "...but these loyal fans crave more." This can lead to two assumptions if Nintendo will call out the fan base like that.
1: Another EarthBound game is likely making the attempt to be in the works. 2: One of the two console EarthBound games, NES (1) or SNES (2) are being worked out for Virtual Console.
Nintendo Power is a different company from Nintendo of America. They have no control over what happens to the Mother series, only the creator, HAL Inc., and Nintendo does.
That said, let's move onto it's Virtual Console release. I honestly believe it will happen this year before the month of July. Don't ask my my reasoning, but I really think it's going to be sooner rather than later.
It might happen, but it's very unlikely in North America and damn near impossible in Europe. We might see Earthbound in June for North America and a few months before in Japan, but this is just speculation. While I do predict in 2010 release in North America, I doubt we'll see it until December of this year or later or until it's one of the last first-party titles they can bring out.
What about the third point, though, the legal issues? The issue was reported by Starman.net, a loyal EarthBound fansite with no official connection to Nintendo or anyone who worked on either of the three EarthBound games. They stated a report which was unsourced to any official website or publication. In the US, any visual refferences WERE edited out to begin with, such as the Blues Brothers or American Red Cross references. Meanwhile, the music got off scott free. Why? Because the music industry steals from one another to begin with. Rap music sounds like rap music, pop music sounds like pop music, country sounds like country, faux blues sounds like faux blues, and the Beetles sound like whatever people want to hear.
You are very wrong here. The Mother fanbase are very intelligent compared to most. They know that similar musics can result in unwanted lawsuits and Starman.net did have contacts with a few of Nintendo's employeees. They know as much if not more then Nintendo on the situation. While I will wait for the official statement by Nintendo on it's release, since similarities in musics aren't confirmation of no VC releases, Starman.net have excellent evidence for us to be concern and even be scared about this. Also, copyright has gotten a lot stricter in the past fifteen years since the game was release. If the game was released today, it would be faced with many potential lawsuits. So a Virtual Console release would be dangerous to Nintendo unless they have actually solved the legal issues. Oh and they didn't get all visual references out. One character looks similar to T-Man.
If there were legal action to be taken against EarthBound, I honestly don't see why there isn't legal action taken against every artest against every other artist ever. It's a wonder our court systerms haven't backed up to the point in which the Phoenix Wright 3-day system has to be implimented. If we're going to be nitpicking on two consecutive notes at the begining, I have some news for you: There are only so many notes to go by and one of them, if I understand correctly, is actually copyrighted by the Disney corporation, D-sharp or D-flat I believe. The possible combinations of two notes to begin any given song, not including rests or holds, is less than 1000, if I understand correctly. There are FAR more songs than that out there. I have over 3,000 on my iPod right now.
Leave Disney out of this. They don't give two stars about Earthbound, especially since I have yet to see any music similarities with Disney musics. We should be worried about other companies Earthbound does have with similar musics. And like I said, copyrights have gotten a lot tougher, which is currently affecting it's VC release.
So what I'm getting at is that Starman is FAR from official, the music thing isn't enough to warrent lawsuits (just look at what the WWE does when they re-release Pay-Per-Views on DVD or the Married with Children seasons after about the 4th one on DVD), and that isn't enough reason to prevent EarthBound's re-release.
You are right about Starman.net not being official. however, the legal issues surrounding it is present. Music similarities is enough to put Nintendo under mountain of legal lawsuits.
What would be, however, is it's poor sales the first time around here in the US. Fanbase or not, Nintendo has the numbers from the last time and it isn't pretty. Not to mention that it's lock in the 1990s may make it a little dated today for it's stylings in their view. Nintendo was heavily dissapointed by EarthBound and they may be a little gunshy, even through a digital medium. Heck, I think they still have a warehouse full of EarthBound 1 (Mother 1) cartridges that never shipped or got completed that they don't know what to do with.
Sales do not mean anything. Look at Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen. The game was never released in Europe originally and sold only 25,000 in the USA (Less then Earthbound). And guess what? It's now available in all regions for the Virtual Console (Not mentioning South Korea here) for a measly 800 points (900 if you don't live in Japan or North America). However, they still have to pay $15,000 just to get it rated (At least according to the ESRB), so you are paying money to get a game released regardless. There is no free money when making or re-releasing a game.
However, you helped me give me ideas. Why not that Nintendo release games from there past consoles again? Old ones that we enjoy, so maybe that can help with an VC release of Earthbound.
But I'm not giving up hope, especially after the Nintendo Power article, and it's not the first time they've teased EarthBound fans by spelling out EarthBound. Nintendo WANTS to bring it out, but they are a business and they have to work with other companies to come out with games too. It can't just be the all Nintendo show... even if that's what sales often show in the disc department for Wii. We are close, I can feel it... are you willing to hang on just a little bit longer?
This part I agree with. Even with the legal issues presented, I still am holding my breath for this game being release. As a matter of fact, I believe we'll get it sometimes in 2010. While the copyright problem is going to hurt a VC release of the game, there are many evidences support the games release. I might not be the most patience gamer, but I do not give up hope easily with Virtual Console games,
I personally think we'll see Earthbound in some form on the Virtual Console, but it is not guaranteen. There is an few areas I agree with you, but your arguements are mostly flawed. While nobody knows if we'll see Earthbound on the Virtual Consoles, there are evidences that support and evidences that goes against it's VC release. All we can do is hope for an Virtual Console release of the game.
@MarkyVigoroth: Where is the evidence? Give us some sort of source or we will not believe you. please watch your language. -- TBD
Nintendo Power is a different company from Nintendo of America. They have no control over what happens to the Mother series, only the creator, HAL Inc., and Nintendo does.
It still has to get approval from Nintendo to make it through publication. It's not like they're putting in whatever floats their boat.
It might happen, but it's very unlikely in North America and damn near impossible in Europe. We might see Earthbound in June for North America and a few months before in Japan, but this is just speculation. While I do predict in 2010 release in North America, I doubt we'll see it until December of this year or later or until it's one of the last first-party titles they can bring out.
We've had EarthBound in the US before and it can happen again. With Virtual Console, production in Europe is excessively possible as well. EXCESSIVELY. Low shipping costs.
You are very wrong here. The Mother fanbase are very intelligent compared to most. They know that similar musics can result in unwanted lawsuits and Starman.net did have contacts with a few of Nintendo's employeees. They know as much if not more then Nintendo on the situation. While I will wait for the official statement by Nintendo on it's release, since similarities in musics aren't confirmation of no VC releases, Starman.net have excellent evidence for us to be concern and even be scared about this. Also, copyright has gotten a lot stricter in the past fifteen years since the game was release. If the game was released today, it would be faced with many potential lawsuits. So a Virtual Console release would be dangerous to Nintendo unless they have actually solved the legal issues. Oh and they didn't get all visual references out. One character looks similar to T-Man.
For all we know, those contacts could be the janitor. I could tell you I have contacts in BandiNamco and tell you on my website that a Tales of Symphonia sequel that focuses on Lloyd and Sheena's quest for the Exspheres will be released as a Wii exclusive is in the works. Starman is a FANSITE. Period. What's more, I have not detrimented the Mother fanbase's intelligence, but I will say that fans, and their websites, can get egar and even take things out of context. Just look at Capcom's statements over this past week. As for legal issues once more, there is a stature of limitations as well. If Nintendo only less than a decade ago re-released this game on GBA as part of their Mother 1+2 compillation, why hasn't Nintendo been sued yet? What's more, that one HAD several references retained in it. (Of course, if Blues Brothers and American Red Cross are just copyrighted in the US and not registered worldwide, that'd answer that question and this statement ends here)
Leave Disney out of this. They don't give two stars about Earthbound, especially since I have yet to see any music similarities with Disney musics. We should be worried about other companies Earthbound does have with similar musics. And like I said, copyrights have gotten a lot tougher, which is currently affecting it's VC release.
This isn't about Disney, that was just an example.
You are right about Starman.net not being official. however, the legal issues surrounding it is present. Music similarities is enough to put Nintendo under mountain of legal lawsuits.
You still shoudln't take Starman at it's word about this. We don't know their contacts, they aren't the greater gaming press, they're just some of the most dedicated fans to their fandom subject. It should be applauded, but they're no more insiders on EarthBound than I am an insider on Tales of Symphonia... sadly.
Sales do not mean anything. Look at Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen. The game was never released in Europe originally and sold only 25,000 in the USA (Less then Earthbound). And guess what? It's now available in all regions for the Virtual Console (Not mentioning South Korea here) for a measly 800 points (900 if you don't live in Japan or North America). However, they still have to pay $15,000 just to get it rated (At least according to the ESRB), so you are paying money to get a game released regardless. There is no free money when making or re-releasing a game.
However, you helped me give me ideas. Why not that Nintendo release games from there past consoles again? Old ones that we enjoy, so maybe that can help with an VC release of Earthbound.
These are business. Sales are EVERYTHING. Ogre Battle wasn't made by Nintendo. It was made by Quest, who has merged with Square who has merged with Enix to form SquareEnix. Two different companies, two completely different animals in terms of sales mentality. Nintendo is a bit mroe gunshy while SquareEnix will take a poor-selling game that they know was critically well-recieved and try again at it's success. Case in point, Ogre Quest on Virtual Console.
This part I agree with. Even with the legal issues presented, I still am holding my breath for this game being release. As a matter of fact, I believe we'll get it sometimes in 2010. While the copyright problem is going to hurt a VC release of the game, there are many evidences support the games release. I might not be the most patience gamer, but I do not give up hope easily with Virtual Console games,
We've been struggling with this "legal issue" for almost a year now and it's safe to say Nintendo's been at it longer than that. It's clear the fans want it, it's clear that they know the fans want it (part of the blame for the discontinuation of the fan's most wanted Virtual Console games, I'd suggest), and it's clear that it isn't a game that Nintendo wants to just shuffle under the mat and forget about. Yes, the Super Smash Bros. Brawl omission hurts these chances in some eyes, but not these eyes. Don't forget, EarthBound remained relatively quiet in the US-side of things when SSBB was coming forth, but things have become louder since, right? It isn't over yet, boys and girls and we will have a happy ending.
You are a random person; Starmen is a site that has long been devoted to the series and gone to unprecedented lengths to promote the game locally and try to get all versions of the games brought over to the US. You cannot compare yourself to them as if it were the same. The fact that you would doubt the credibility of their source and suggest a janitor is utterly ridiculous. There is no motivation whatsoever for a rabidly loyal fan site to turn on a dime and maliciously make up rumors about a series they have been so optimistic about for years and years, but you? Who knows who you are or what your motivations are. You have no known history with the series to us.
Your comments about Mother 1+2 demonstrate an unfortunately common and major misunderstanding about copyright law. Different countries care more or less about this. Japan is almost entirely indifferent about the copyright of foreign intellectual property. They use unlicensed music all the time in games, TV, advertising, etc. In the US, the opposite is the case. Even for songs that Nintendo probably would not lose in court over, they would still go to court, and the legal department wants to avoid this altogether. Going to court on this scale for Nintendo is very costly whether they win or lose.
All I'm saying is that even a fansite, which you can't debate that it is or isn't, isn't very credible as opposed to an official source. Yeah, a fansite has a fine track record and a history of accuracy. That's fine. All I'm saying is that for something of this scale is best left to an official source, not a fansite with mystery sources.
Nintendo of Japan already said that it's not gonna happen because of the music issue. If Nintendo of Japan says no, the fist of the gods says no. It's just a rule.
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Nintendo of Japan has not openly commented on it to the public, V8. All we have is an unconfirmed source via Starmen, whether you trust that or not. There's certainly no better explanation at the moment or a reason to distrust them, so I'll stick with that explanation for now, myself.
@Adam: I tried e-mailing Nintendo of America about this and how they could get Tetris Attack on the Virtual Console without involvement from Tetris Inc. Here is the message they sent back:
"Hello,
First I want to say that we do read each email and your comments are forwarded to the appropriate departments for feedback purposes. That said, while I would like to be able to address your concerns and questions about the possibility of Earthbound and Tetris Attack appearing on the Virtual Console, the information you seek is simply not available. Our email resources are geared to consumer service needs such as repair and troubleshooting information. While we can relay announced release dates and general game information, you likely know that Virtual Console games aren't something that gets announced ahead of time.
Sincerely, R.M. Ricketts Nintendo of America Inc.
Nintendo's home page: http://www.nintendo.com/ Power Line (Automated Product Info): (425) 885-7529 "
So let's what they generally said. They are forwarding this question to the correct department, they are unsure about Earthbound and Tetris Attack on Virtual Console, I used the wrong consumer service box to email them, and Virtual Console games aren't usually announced ahead of time. So yeah, we haven't gotten much from here.
I think I remember a comment in "Earthbound Central" about Itoi promising that he will bring Mother 2 to the Virtual Console, but I am still struggling a bit to find ANYTHING related to this. I am pretty sure that at least said text exists at least SOMEWHERE in the Internet, though...
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Topic: UNofficial discussion if Earthbound will be made available on the Virtual Console.
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