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Difference between revisions of "EarthBound (series)"
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[[File:Ness Onett.png|thumb|200px|left|[[Ness]] in [[Onett]] in ''[[EarthBound]].]] | [[File:Ness Onett.png|thumb|200px|left|[[Ness]] in [[Onett]] in ''[[EarthBound]].]] | ||
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 critical and commercial 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 the advanced graphics that were more appealing at the time in games such as ''{{wp|Killer Instinct}}'' and ''{{wp|Chrono Trigger}}''. ''EarthBound'''s unusual, expensive (and satirical) marketing campaign, "this game stinks", is also thought to be one of the leading causes for the game's failure in America, which was styled after the slime-based gross-out humor of the 90s, primarily displayed in {{wp|Nickelodeon}} shows such as ''{{wp|The Ren & Stimpy Show}}''; multiple sources also received numerous complaints about the ad campaign and its foul-smelling scratch and sniff stickers than any other ad campaign that year. | 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 critical and commercial 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 the advanced graphics that were more appealing at the time in games such as ''{{wp|Killer Instinct}}'' and ''{{wp|Chrono Trigger}}''. ''EarthBound''{{'}}s unusual, expensive (and satirical) marketing campaign, "this game stinks", is also thought to be one of the leading causes for the game's failure in America, which was styled after the slime-based gross-out humor of the 90s, primarily displayed in {{wp|Nickelodeon}} shows such as ''{{wp|The Ren & Stimpy Show}}''; multiple sources also received numerous complaints about the ad campaign and its foul-smelling scratch and sniff stickers than any other ad campaign that year. ''EarthBound''{{'}}s poor American sales prevented the game from being released in PAL regions. | ||
[[File:Ness | [[File:SSB Ness Artwork.png|thumb|right|Ness in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' for the [[Nintendo 64]].]] | ||
Despite this, the game began to receive recognition because of Ness, the protagonist of ''EarthBound'', receiving representation in the 1999 [[Nintendo 64]] title ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and its successors. Because of this, the game began to receive a large following on internet fan sites such as Starmen.Net | Despite this, the game began to receive recognition because of Ness, the protagonist of ''EarthBound'', receiving representation in the 1999 [[Nintendo 64]] title ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and its successors. Because of this, the game began to receive a large following on internet fan sites such as Starmen.Net (originally EarthBound.Net.) and EarthBound Central. Retrospectively, the game became a massive success, with critics calling it not only one of the best RPGs of all time, but also the most original. The game received praise for its quirky humor, and its many parodies of American culture. The Wii U Virtual Console release of the game was the first time the game was released in PAL regions, it was one of Nintendo's most popular downloadable games of all time. | ||
[[File:Tazmily-Square.png|thumb|220px|[[Flint]] standing in the Idobata Square in [[Tazmily Village]] from | [[File:Tazmily-Square.png|thumb|220px|[[Flint]] standing in the Idobata Square in [[Tazmily Village]] from ''EarthBound 64''.]] | ||
After the release of ''Mother 2'', Itoi began on a sequel to the game, ''Mother 3'' (named ''[[EarthBound 64]]'' by western fans, and ''Mother 64'' by Eastern fans). The subtitle used in the Japanese game was changed several times during development, with one being ''Forest of the Chimera'' (森のキマイラ), but the most common one being ''Fall of the Pig King''. Initially planned for the Super Famicom, where development was halfway completed, development actually began on the [[64DD]] disk drive add-on for the [[Nintendo 64]], where it was planned to be a launch title for the add-on in {{wp|Japan}}. When the disk drive's repeated delays made its future as a viable commercial accomplishment uncertain, the development moved to the N64 console with its cartridge-based format. ''EarthBound 64'' featured 3D graphics as opposed to the 2D art style from the previous 2 games. However, the development team faced many difficulties, forcing the game to have numerous delays across the years of the N64 lifespan. One of the biggest difficulties was how Itoi and his team were inexperienced with developing 3D video games, which was eventually alleviated with outside help and the assistance of the team which worked on HAL's ''{{bp|Pokémon Stadium}}''. While development was steadily progressing along at a healthy pace, further developmental progress would have meant taking away much-needed resources from Nintendo's upcoming console, the [[Nintendo GameCube]]. Additionally, the team also struggled with reducing the scope of the game to fit the Nintendo 64's hardware limitations, with Itoi considering reducing entire sections of the game’s story into a series of images and music. After more delays, the game was officially cancelled in August 2000, with Itoi citing that he did not want to make anything other than "something truly special" in addition to the project becoming too complex with its interest in 3D graphics. | After the release of ''Mother 2'', Itoi began on a sequel to the game, ''Mother 3'' (named ''[[EarthBound 64]]'' by western fans, and ''Mother 64'' by Eastern fans). The subtitle used in the Japanese game was changed several times during development, with one being ''Forest of the Chimera'' (森のキマイラ), but the most common one being ''Fall of the Pig King''. Initially planned for the Super Famicom, where development was halfway completed, development actually began on the [[64DD]] disk drive add-on for the [[Nintendo 64]], where it was planned to be a launch title for the add-on in {{wp|Japan}}. When the disk drive's repeated delays made its future as a viable commercial accomplishment uncertain, the development moved to the N64 console with its cartridge-based format. ''EarthBound 64'' featured 3D graphics as opposed to the 2D art style from the previous 2 games. However, the development team faced many difficulties, forcing the game to have numerous delays across the years of the N64 lifespan. One of the biggest difficulties was how Itoi and his team were inexperienced with developing 3D video games, which was eventually alleviated with outside help and the assistance of the team which worked on HAL's ''{{bp|Pokémon Stadium}}''. While development was steadily progressing along at a healthy pace, further developmental progress would have meant taking away much-needed resources from Nintendo's upcoming console, the [[Nintendo GameCube]]. Additionally, the team also struggled with reducing the scope of the game to fit the Nintendo 64's hardware limitations, with Itoi considering reducing entire sections of the game’s story into a series of images and music. After more delays, the game was officially cancelled in August 2000, with Itoi citing that he did not want to make anything other than "something truly special" in addition to the project becoming too complex with its interest in 3D graphics. | ||
