News Articles
Monday14th Jul 2014
Nintendo Download 17th July (Europe)
EarthBound reduced, shoot 'em up action, GBA Kirby and more
It's Monday morning, which means European gamers can see what treats await in this week's Nintendo Download Update. There are some interesting options, with some new games, another Game Boy Advance title and some particularly enticing discounts. Let's get to the details. Wii U eShop:...
Wednesday9th Jul 2014
News EarthBound 20th Anniversary Figures Seeing Release in Japan
The third coolest set of figures you can buy
While the Famicom RPG Mother is celebrating its 25th anniversary (a fact Starmen.net is honoring throughout the month), its Super Famicom/SNES sibling Mother 2, known as EarthBound in the West, is turning the big 2-0 this year in Japan as well. To commemorate two decades of EarthBound, toy company Takara...
Wednesday26th Feb 2014
News Princess in Another Castle Launches First Trailer and Indiegogo Campaign
Showing that kids can't do what they want, but can imagine anything
Earlier this year we brought you the news that film-maker Kennedy Baruch was following up his award winning Escape movie with a feature-length film called Princess in Another Castle; we then spoke to him in detail about the project. He explained the core idea behind the film:...
Saturday18th Jan 2014
News Book Focused on EarthBound's Development and Localisation Shut Down by Nintendo
Marcus Lindblom: "I have no desire to rock the boat with Nintendo at all"
Marcus Lindblom was the primary translator and localisation expert for iconic Super NES title EarthBound, and since its emergence on the Wii U eShop last year he's spoken a fair amount about his work on the project. It's emerged, however, from an interview with
Wednesday18th Dec 2013
News Designer Creates a 3D Model of Onett from EarthBound
Prompts dreams of a HD game
When it comes to inspiring video game culture Nintendo is arguably top of the class, and one game — among many — that can inspire impressive levels of fan devotion is Super NES RPG EarthBound. Its release on the Virtual Console this year caused a frenzy of excitement after years of waiting, satisfying waiting retro...
Wednesday20th Nov 2013
News Signed EarthBound Cartridge to Be Auctioned Off for Cancer Patient
“For James”
EarthBound is all about strong bonds; not only within the game but also its fan community. There is nothing that may demonstrate this point more fluently in recent days than the story of a special EarthBound cartridge that will soon be auctioned off during the EarthBound Bash marathon. The cartridge began in the hands of James...
Monday11th Nov 2013
News Fangamer Announces Earthbound Charity Event
Weekend marathon of the timeless RPG for a good cause
Fangamer has been hinting at something big and Earthbound-related for a while now, which should come as no surprise to those who know the company. They wear their passion for the cherished Mother series on their sleeves, so using this love to raise money seems like the perfect marriage...
Friday30th Aug 2013
News Nintendo Has "Nothing To Announce" Regarding Mother 3 Localisation
Earthbound Wii U release won't pave the way for future ports
Earthbound coming to the Wii U Virtual Console was quite an event — fans had been asking for the game since the days of the original Wii. Given the tremendous exposure surrounding the launch of the game, you might assume that Nintendo would want to explore the possibly of bringing other...
Saturday24th Aug 2013
News Marcus Lindblom - Writing the English Script for EarthBound Was a Giant Step
But it was worthwhile
Writer and EarthBound designer Shigesato Itoi is a cultural icon in Japan and a name well known among longtime fanatics of the game. But the text from the English version of the game came from other, mostly unsung sources. Marcus Lindblom, who chiefly shouldered EarthBound’s localization writing, has had a chance to shine on...
Tuesday30th Jul 2013
News Shigesato Itoi Elegantly Explains What EarthBound Means to Him
"What is the video game, Earthbound?"
While we normally open any article with an introduction setting context, in this case we're going to keep it brief and say that Nintendo's Official EarthBound webpage has a wonderful piece of writing from the game's creator, Shigesato Itoi. It should be mandatory reading for fans of the game, and perhaps those...
Tuesday23rd Jul 2013
News EarthBound Translator Shares Insight Into Preparing a Cult Classic for the West
"It’s really a glass half full kind of game"
With EarthBound's arrival on the Wii U Virtual Console last week, many gamers can finally gain an insight into why the SNES title has accumulated such a vocal fan-base, despite its modest Western sales — it didn't even reach Europe — when it was originally released. It's a game lauded for its charm,...
News Nintendo Comments On EarthBound's Inflated Pricing
"Different games will be offered at different prices"
As you're probably aware, EarthBound hit the Wii U Virtual Console last week. This SNES classic was one of the most-requested titles during the Wii era, and many believed it would never see the light of day in the west. Thankfully Nintendo surprised us all, and not only that, they produced a...
Friday19th Jul 2013
News South Park Creators Cite Earthbound as a Major Inspiration for Their Own Game
Praise from all corners
South Park: The Stick of Truth is an RPG based on the adult cartoon series, and one that's had a troubled and challenging development history to date. It is coming, though, and is a project with the full involvement of series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. During a panel at Comic-Con, the two writers behind the...
Thursday18th Jul 2013
Nintendo Download 18th July (North America)
Earthbound at last, Friday monsters, Shantae and more
So, after a shock Earthbound reveal and Nintendo Direct Mini, here's your Nintendo Download update, North America. We have a good idea what many of you will be downloading right away, but there are some other tempting goodies on the way to both Wii U and 3DS, so let's get to it. Wii U Virtual...
News Earthbound Arrives on the Wii U eShop Today
Available in North America and Europe right now
Update: Earthbound is available now in North America, with the $9.99 download including a digital version of the original's strategy guide that has been optimised for the GamePad. As the UK eShop news tab promised, the title is now also live in Europe for £6.99 / €9.99. Original Article: So,...
Monday15th Jul 2013
Nintendo Download 18th July (Europe)
Earthbound, Shantae, attacking Guild monsters, reduced Virtue and more
Update: EARTHBOUND!!! Original Article with updated entry: It's Monday, and as is now tradition Nintendo Download fans in Europe find out what's on the way in this week's update. There are some long awaited and potentially intriguing arrivals this week, along with a few price...
Saturday8th Jun 2013
News New Collection of Video Game Books Gets The Go-Ahead After Smashing Kickstarter Goal
Earthbound and Super Mario Bros. 2 both feature
A new set of books based on video games is set to be published after the team behind it smashed through their goal on a recent Kickstarter campaign. The series - known as Boss Fight Books - will feature five books based on historic and groundbreaking video games - two of which are on a Nintendo...
Thursday23rd May 2013
News EarthBound Listing Materializes on Amazon UK
You cannot grasp the true form of Amazon’s listing
We already know that the kooky SNES RPG EarthBound is making its long overdue appearance on the Wii U Virtual Console in Europe and North America sometime this year. Then what’s up with this odd listing for the game on Amazon UK? It may just be a placeholder for a download code, but the £44.99...
Tuesday30th Apr 2013
News Shigesato Itoi Says Mother 4 Would Be "Impossible"
Might as well be blunt about it
While EarthBound fans may be jubilant about the game making it to the Wii U Virtual Console, its creator, Shigesato Itoi, has taken to Twitter to announce there will be no future installments in the series. When asked by a fan on the social networking site if he would consider making Mother 4, his response was simple...
Saturday20th Apr 2013
News EarthBound Delay May Not Have Been Caused By Music Licensing Issues After All
The full soundtrack will be included
EarthBound will soon be making its way to the Wii U Virtual Console, which incidentally will be up and running next week after the upcoming system update. It seems to have taken an absolute age for Nintendo to release a downloadable version of the game and several rumours naturally cropped up as to why it's been...
News Shigesato Itoi Thanks EarthBound Fans For Their Support
"Thank you for all the requests. They made me very happy."
One of the most popular announcements that took place during the recent Nintendo Direct was the confirmation that EarthBound would be making its way to the Wii U Virtual Console. Fans of the game - known as Mother 2 in Japan - have been clamoring at Nintendo to release a downloadable...
Wednesday17th Apr 2013
News Believe, People - EarthBound Is Coming To The Virtual Console At Last
The wait is finally over
Nintendo fans have been clamouring for a Virtual Console release of the SNES RPG EarthBound ever since the Wii launched, but during today's Nintendo Direct the happy news was finally delivered: Shigesato Itoi's seminal title is coming to the Wii U Virtual Console. Launched in Japan as Mother 2, a North American release...
Wednesday20th Mar 2013
News Earthbound Creator, Shigesato Itoi, Gearing Up to Play SNES Classic in Live Stream
Watch and be jealous of Japanese gamers
Earthbound — or Mother 2: Revenge of Gyiygas in Japan — is one of those titles that's permanently on the agenda for some retro gamers; its absence in the West is a continual source of disappointment. With apparent licensing issues keeping the critically acclaimed classic off the Wii Virtual Console, the...
Thursday20th Dec 2012
News EarthBound Creator Confirms Something Is In The Pipeline
Looks set to be a re-release
The EarthBound series, known as Mother in Japan, has only ever had one game released in North America way back in 1995 when EarthBound (Mother 2) emerged on the Super Nintendo. The game has a large cult following in North America and is incredibly popular in Japan. Creator of the series, Shigesato Itoi, has confirmed...
Friday10th Aug 2012
News EarthBound's Virtual Console No-Show Could Be Down To Sampling Issues
Not music to our ears
Hirokazu Tanaka — better known as "Hip Tanaka" — is something of a legend in Nintendo circles. He was with the company in the very early days, creating the sound effects for games like Donkey Kong, and would later find fame composing soundtracks for classics such as Metroid, Balloon Fight and Wr
Tuesday3rd Aug 2010
News New World Record as Earthbound Completed in a PK Flash
6 hours, 38 minutes and 16 seconds, to be precise
Earthbound is highly regarded, and rightly so: even to this day it captivates gamers the world over (apart from many in Europe, where it was never released.) One gamer who loves it more than most is speed runner Chris Corsi, who just set the Twin Galaxies-approved World Record for the fastest...
Tuesday24th Nov 2009
Podcast NLFM Episode 1 - Open For Business!
We kick off our first game/chip music podcast with YMCK, Anamanaguchi, Metroid Metal and more!
Welcome to the first episode of NLFM, the new monthly Nintendo Life podcast focused on music from and inspired by video games! We feel game and chip music doesn't get the credit it deserves a lot of the time, so we decided to kickstart our own show...
Monday11th May 2009
News Speed Gamers Blasting Through Mother Series For Charity
Money raised will go to breast cancer foundation
Between Child's Play and The Speed Gamers, gamers have raised quite a bit of money for charities. This weekend, that trend continues with one of Nintendo's most acclaimed (and desired) series' at the center. Starting at 6 p.m. CST on May 15th and going for 72 hours, The Speed Gamers will play through...
Tuesday5th May 2009
News New Copy Of Earthbound Sells For Over $1000 On eBay
Don't you wish you'd have kept your copy sealed now?
A new and factory sealed copy of the cult SNES RPG Earthbound has sold for over $1000 on auction site eBay, proving once and for all that video game collectors aren't scared of the credit crunch. Seller dave2236 bagged a whopping $1,025.01 for the minty-fresh copy of the game. To give you some...
Monday16th Feb 2009
Rumour EarthBound Not Coming to Virtual Console
You're no doubt aware that the much wanted EarthBound was ESRB rated quite some time ago. Nintendo has never particularly done much with the Mother series outside Japan, only releasing EarthBound in the US and for the most part just letting people wonder where Ness from Super Smash Bros. was from. Obviously, when the ESRB rating appeared, many people got excited that one of the biggest cult classics ever could possibly be rereleased on VC.
Sadly, it appears that this is not going to happen now. As yo...
