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Difference between revisions of "EarthBound (series)"
From WikiBound, your community-driven EarthBound/Mother wiki
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|first=''[[EarthBound Beginnings|EarthBound Beginnings/Mother]]'' (1989) | |first=''[[EarthBound Beginnings|EarthBound Beginnings/Mother]]'' (1989) | ||
|latest=''[[Mother 3]]'' (2006, Japan only) | |latest=''[[Mother 3]]'' (2006, Japan only) | ||
|games=''[[EarthBound Beginnings|EarthBound Beginnings/Mother]]''<br>''[[EarthBound|EarthBound/Mother 2]]''<br>''[[Mother 3]]'' | |games=''[[EarthBound Beginnings|EarthBound Beginnings/Mother]]''<br>''[[EarthBound|EarthBound/Mother 2]]''<br>''[[Mother 1+2]]''<br>''[[Mother 3]]'' | ||
}} | }} | ||
The '''''EarthBound''''' series, also known as the '''''Mother''''' series in Japan ('''マザー''' ''MOTHER''), is a series of role-playing video games published by [[Nintendo]]. There are three games in the series. ''[[EarthBound Beginnings]]'', ''[[EarthBound]]'', and ''[[Mother 3]]'' have been released on the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and Game Boy Advance respectively. Only Mother 3 has been released exclusively in Japan. The franchise debuted in Japan on July 27, 1989 with ''Mother'' (''EarthBound Beginnings'' in English) for the [[Family Computer]]. In North America and Europe the series debuted with ''EarthBound'' (''Mother 2'' in Japan), released in North America on June 5th, 1996 for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], then later in Europe on July 18, 2013 for the [[Wii U]]. Characters, music, weapons, and locations from the series also appeared in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, with Ness and Lucas being playable characters. | The '''''EarthBound''''' series, also known as the '''''Mother''''' series in Japan ('''マザー''' ''MOTHER''), is a series of role-playing video games published by [[Nintendo]]. There are three games in the series. ''[[EarthBound Beginnings]]'', ''[[EarthBound]]'', and ''[[Mother 3]]'' have been released on the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and Game Boy Advance respectively. Only Mother 3 has been released exclusively in Japan. The franchise debuted in Japan on July 27, 1989 with ''Mother'' (''EarthBound Beginnings'' in English) for the [[Family Computer]]. In North America and Europe the series debuted with ''EarthBound'' (''Mother 2'' in Japan), released in North America on June 5th, 1996 for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], then later in Europe on July 18, 2013 for the [[Wii U]]. Characters, music, weapons, and locations from the series also appeared in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, with Ness and Lucas being playable characters. | ||
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==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
[[File:Ness Onett.png|thumb|150px|''EarthBound'''s modern-day setting sets it apart from other traditional RPGs released during that time]] | [[File:Ness Onett.png|thumb|150px|''EarthBound'''s modern-day setting sets it apart from other traditional RPGs released during that time.]] | ||
The series' Japanese title, ''Mother'', was inspired by a song of the same name by {{wp|John Lennon}}. The lyrics of "Mother" deal with Lennon's experience of growing up without a father. EarthBound creator Shigesato Itoi chose this name for his project because his own father was absent through much of his life. This theme is addressed in the first two ''Mother'' games, in which the main protagonist's father is never seen and only makes an appearance as a voice on a telephone. Itoi also felt the title of ''Mother'' was especially fitting as this game series is more feminine than other RPGs. <ref | The series' Japanese title, ''Mother'', was inspired by a song of the same name by {{wp|John Lennon}}. The lyrics of "Mother" deal with Lennon's experience of growing up without a father. EarthBound creator Shigesato Itoi chose this name for his project because his own father was absent through much of his life. This theme is addressed in the first two ''Mother'' games, in which the main protagonist's father is never seen and only makes an appearance as a voice on a telephone. Itoi also felt the title of ''Mother'' was especially fitting as this game series is more feminine than other RPGs. <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UOLj1-q67U&ab_channel=DidYouKnowGaming%3F EarthBound - Did You Know Gaming? Feat. Chuggaaconroy]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved June 12, 2020.</ref> | ||
The origin of the name ''EarthBound'' is currently unknown, | The origin of the name ''EarthBound'' is currently unknown. However, initially the localization team considered using the title ''Mother'' overseas, until the name ''EarthBound'' was filed and then chosen. The name "''SpaceBound''" was also considered, though it ultimately was scrapped likely to avoid misleading players into thinking the game involved space travel or combat. | ||
==Franchise history== | ==Franchise history== | ||
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On June 15th, 2015, the game was released for the first time internationally to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the series in North America, the game was given the official title ''EarthBound Beginnings''. Similar to Japan, the game received positive reception, with critics praising its originality story, and its music. However, the game did receive criticism for its difficulty and balance issues. | On June 15th, 2015, the game was released for the first time internationally to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the series in North America, the game was given the official title ''EarthBound Beginnings''. Similar to Japan, the game received positive reception, with critics praising its originality story, and its music. However, the game did receive criticism for its difficulty and balance issues. | ||
With the success of Mother, Shigesato Itoi began to work on a sequel for the Super Famicom, ''Mother 2''. However the game featured numerous delays with development taking 5 years, with the game nearly facing cancellation. | With the success of ''Mother'', Shigesato Itoi began to work on a sequel for the Super Famicom, ''Mother 2''. However the game featured numerous delays with development taking 5 years, with the game nearly facing cancellation. | ||
However, the project was saved when veteran programmer Satoru Iwata joined the development team, making the ''Mother 2'' project now a joint effort by Ape and [[HAL Laboratory]] (HALKEN at the time), separate studios based at separate locations (employees would regularly have to travel between studios to work). The game was then completed and released in Japan in August 1994. It was then released in North America on June 5th, 1995. While the game was a success in Japan, it received poor reception in America. During the time of ''EarthBound''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s release, the RPG genre was generally unpopular in the west (this eventually changed with the release of ''{{wp|Final Fantasy VII}}''), and the game was criticized for having simple, cartoonish graphics as opposed to advanced graphics that were more appealing at the time. ''EarthBound''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s unusual marketing campaign, "this game stinks", was also thought to be a cause for the game's failure in America. These poor sales prevented the game from being released in PAL regions. | However, the project was saved when veteran programmer Satoru Iwata joined the development team, making the ''Mother 2'' project now a joint effort by Ape and [[HAL Laboratory]] (HALKEN at the time), separate studios based at separate locations (employees would regularly have to travel between studios to work). The game was then completed and released in Japan in August 1994. It was then released in North America on June 5th, 1995. While the game was a success in Japan, it received poor reception in America. During the time of ''EarthBound''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s release, the RPG genre was generally unpopular in the west (this eventually changed with the release of ''{{wp|Final Fantasy VII}}''), and the game was criticized for having simple, cartoonish graphics as opposed to advanced graphics that were more appealing at the time. ''EarthBound''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s unusual marketing campaign, "this game stinks", was also thought to be a cause for the game's failure in America. These poor sales prevented the game from being released in PAL regions. | ||
