Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Guy hacks marriage proposal into Earthbound]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/02/guy-hacks-marriage-proposal-into-earthbound/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/02/guy-hacks-marriage-proposal-into-earthbound/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/02/guy-hacks-marriage-proposal-into-earthbound/#comments Video game-themed proposals certainly aren't new, but when a reaction is as genuine as Liz's -- who was just proposed to via an in-game message hacked into Earthbound by Matt -- it must be shared. Best of luck, you two!

Continue reading Guy hacks marriage proposal into Earthbound

JoystiqGuy hacks marriage proposal into Earthbound originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsearthboundlizmarriagemattnintendopcproposalweddingwiiThu, 02 Dec 2010 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[You're bound to look sharp in these Earthbound duds]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/27/youre-bound-to-look-sharp-in-these-earthbound-duds/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/27/youre-bound-to-look-sharp-in-these-earthbound-duds/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/27/youre-bound-to-look-sharp-in-these-earthbound-duds/#comments
We may raise our snobby noses as we pass by cosplayers at conventions, but once a year it becomes socially acceptable for us to embrace our inner theater student and don a disguise. Being people who spend quite a bit of time writing about or playing video games, we tend to err on the side of nerdery when it comes to Halloween outfits (shocking, we know). The folks at Fangamer coax this urge all the more when they release a full outfit of Earthbound's hero, Ness, on their site. Considering the striped "Shirtness," the accompanying "Earth Bounder" (the yo-yo) and the guarantee that it'll arrive before Halloween, the $54.99 asking price seems almost acceptable. Almost.

[Via Kotaku]

JoystiqYou're bound to look sharp in these Earthbound duds originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosplaycostumeearthboundfangamerhalloweennessTue, 27 Oct 2009 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Mother has been earthbound for 20 years, bound for US just as long]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/mother-has-been-earthbound-for-20-years-bound-for-us-just-as-lo/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/mother-has-been-earthbound-for-20-years-bound-for-us-just-as-lo/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/mother-has-been-earthbound-for-20-years-bound-for-us-just-as-lo/#comments
Twenty years ago today the original Mother was released for the Nintendo Famicom in Japan. Since then, the Japanese have continued to receive more of Mother's lovely RPG gameplay and storytelling, while other lands have been Earthbound with vague rumors of official releases and fan translations.

EarthBoundCentral has compiled a sweet little homage to the series -- check it out after the break. And keep wishing upon a star that Mother finds its way outside Japan ... one day.

[Image]

Continue reading Mother has been earthbound for 20 years, bound for US just as long

JoystiqMother has been earthbound for 20 years, bound for US just as long originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthboundmotherMon, 27 Jul 2009 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthbound auction ends at a sky-high price]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/earthbound-auction-ends-at-a-sky-high-price/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/earthbound-auction-ends-at-a-sky-high-price/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/earthbound-auction-ends-at-a-sky-high-price/#comments A recent auction for a new-in-box copy of Earthbound revealed a level of Earthbound fandom rivaling Starmen.net (of which the high bidder was probably a frequent visitor!) The boxed SNES game, originally acquired by eBay seller dave2236 for $25, ended up selling for $1,025.01, or 128.17 times what a Virtual Console download would cost.

The big cardboard box that Earthbound came in was never "factory sealed" in the traditional sense, so unlike most "sealed" games, it would be possible to (carefully) open and play this game and look through the player's guide without causing any physical damage. But we can guarantee that will not happen.

[Via GoNintendo]

JoystiqEarthbound auction ends at a sky-high price originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 May 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthboundebayretrosnesTue, 05 May 2009 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Level-5's ROID service opens June 1 with suspiciously Earthbound-esque game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/26/level-5s-roid-service-opens-june-1-with-suspiciously-earthbound/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/26/level-5s-roid-service-opens-june-1-with-suspiciously-earthbound/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/26/level-5s-roid-service-opens-june-1-with-suspiciously-earthbound/#commentsLevel-5 has announced that its ROID digital distribution service will launch in Japan on June 1, two months later than originally announced at TGS. The service's mobile game distribution service will be available first, with the PC-based service following soon after.

A Famitsu article about the service reveals one shockingly familiar-looking game. There's no information about what it actually is, but, as the caption asks, "could it be that RPG?" There's very little actual chance of it being Earthbound, but it is possible that Level-5 lured creator Shigesato Itoi into creating an unofficial sequel. Level-5 is full of surprises!

Gallery: Level-5's Roid

JoystiqLevel-5's ROID service opens June 1 with suspiciously Earthbound-esque game originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital-distributionearthboundlevel-5mobilepcroidThu, 26 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Starmen: Earthbound will never come out on Virtual Console]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/starmen-earthbound-will-never-come-out-on-virtual-console/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/starmen-earthbound-will-never-come-out-on-virtual-console/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/starmen-earthbound-will-never-come-out-on-virtual-console/#comments The insane-for-Earthbound fansite Starmen.net claims to have some insider information about the problems behind Earthbound's no-show on the Virtual Console. The site is very serious about getting the game out somewhere, going to extreme steps for publicity. So we don't think it would lie about something of as much grave importance as the game's ESRB rating.

According to a new writeup on the site about the state of VC Earthbound, it's not coming. Like, ever. Legal issues, mostly with music licensing due to the preponderance of references to other works in the soundtrack, keep the game from being approved by Nintendo of America's legal department. And according to Starmen's source, the ESRB rating -- about which we rejoiced back in May -- was a mistake. A clerical error that nobody cared enough to correct. The ESRB went and rated the game, thinking that Nintendo wanted them to.

We're not entirely satisfied with this story. It handily explains why we haven't seen Earthbound in North America, but what about Japan? There didn't seem to be legal issues around the Mother 1&2 GBA release, and Earthbound is actually popular enough there to sell on the Virtual Console.

JoystiqStarmen: Earthbound will never come out on Virtual Console originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthboundesrbrpgstarmenvirtual-consoleMon, 16 Feb 2009 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Brownie Brown interested in DS version of Mother 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/brownie-brown-interested-in-ds-version-of-mother-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/brownie-brown-interested-in-ds-version-of-mother-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/brownie-brown-interested-in-ds-version-of-mother-3/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The lack of a localized Mother 3 on the Game Boy Advance must rank as one of Nintendo's more heinous crimes, but that's not to say they can't get out of our bad books. All it would take is, oooh, let's say a DS version of the classic RPG and A MILLION DOLLARS. Or, y'know, just the game.

And look, Nintendo, Mother 3 co-developer Brownie Brown is happy to indulge us! Speaking to Siliconera, company President Shinichi Kameoka said Nintendo just needs to give the go-ahead. "If we were asked to make [a DS version of Mother 3]," he said, "then we would definitely like for fans abroad to play the game."

The ball is very much in Nintendo's court, then. Until they take a swipe at it, there's only one way to sample (and fully comprehend) Mother 3's myriad delights.

JoystiqBrownie Brown interested in DS version of Mother 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brownie-brownearthboundgbaitoimothermother-3portremakerpgshigesato-itoiWed, 21 Jan 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Give us Earthbound already]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/wii-warm-up-give-us-earthbound-already/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/wii-warm-up-give-us-earthbound-already/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/wii-warm-up-give-us-earthbound-already/#commentsFiled under:


Seriously, how long have we been waiting for this? The ESRB rated the game for the Virtual Console back in May and we haven't heard anything since. Why is that? Who wants to download the game via Virtual Console as bad as we do?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Give us Earthbound already originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthboundrpgsnesWed, 10 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: VC 2008]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/wii-warm-up-vc-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/wii-warm-up-vc-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/wii-warm-up-vc-2008/#commentsFiled under:


There's been a lot of Virtual Console releases this year (been keeping up?), and we were wondering which were among your favorites? We've received Secret of Mana, Super Mario RPG, and River City Ransom, to name a few. So, which sit at the top of your list for this year? Sure, we were hoping we'd have another to consider, but let's not dwell on that.

JoystiqWii Warm Up: VC 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008earthboundriver-city-ransomsecret-of-manasuper-mario-rpgvcvirtual-consoleWed, 03 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Show and Tell: One dedicated community]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/show-and-tell-one-dedicated-community/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/show-and-tell-one-dedicated-community/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/show-and-tell-one-dedicated-community/#commentsFiled under:


We've been talking a lot about Mother 3 recently, and for good reason: the fan community is one of the strongest around, and they function without even a scrap of official love. Still, they soldier on, translating games, and, even better for us in this space, they make things.

Of course, a fan translation is about the biggest DIY project we could feature here, but we've already done that. Instead, let's talk other things Mother, and by that, we mean crafts and similarly fun and frivolity. Take the tour of our picks, or just jump right into the gallery below.

Show and Tell is all about fan stuff, so long as it's Nintendo-related. We love to see your collections, your crafts, your frosted creations, your t-shirts and swag of all sorts.Just snap a few pictures, tell us what's up, and send it all to showmeit [at] dsfanboy [dot] com. We'll take care of the rest. Not a handy type, but found something neat? Send us a link instead.

JoystiqShow and Tell: One dedicated community originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftsearthboundjoystiqfeaturesmotherTue, 21 Oct 2008 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Mother 3 fan translation complete, ready for download]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/mother-3-fan-translation-complete-ready-for-download/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/mother-3-fan-translation-complete-ready-for-download/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/mother-3-fan-translation-complete-ready-for-download/#commentsFiled under: , ,

After two years of development (and an endless string of tipsters keeping us up-to-date on every update on the project), the Mother 3 Fan Translation version 1.0 is now available for download, so English-speaking gamers without fluency in Japanese can enjoy the title. You'll need a copy of the Mother 3 ROM (also known as Earthbound 2) to use the patch, as well as your own copy of the imported game for legal purposes, moral clarity and a sense of contentment for supporting the franchise despite Nintendo's insistence to not bring it stateside.

In other news, Earthbound for Wii (possibly Virtual Console) is still rated by the ESRB, and since May 2nd that's all we know about it.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

JoystiqMother 3 fan translation complete, ready for download originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthboundfan-translationMacmothermother-3PCFri, 17 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mother 3 fan translation available this week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/mother-3-fan-translation-available-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/mother-3-fan-translation-available-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/mother-3-fan-translation-available-this-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



After almost two years of hard slog, Starmen.net's Mother 3 fan translation patch has finally been completed, and will be released at the end of this week ... a whole month ahead of schedule! That's according to the latest blog entry on the project's site, in which team member Mato records that, "Testing's pretty much over now. Some bugs did turn up over the last few days, but they were all minor and quickly remedied. Some really hard-to-spot typos were also found and fixed."

Joyous news indeed, though the patch will require a few other things before it's of any use: namely a slot-2 flashcart, a GBA emulator, and -- cough -- an entirely unauthorized ROM copy of the Japanese game. While we don't condone piracy, a western localization of Mother 3 doesn't exactly look likely at this stage, and we do condone passionate fan projects such as this one. Hit up this FAQ to learn more, and don't forget to check out some beautiful, Anglicized Mother 3 screens.


[Thanks, Joel!]

JoystiqMother 3 fan translation available this week originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brownie-brownearthboundfan-translationhal-laboratoryitoimothermother-3patchrpgshigesato-itoistarmenTue, 14 Oct 2008 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthbound cubeecraft is out of this world]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/31/earthbound-cubeecraft-is-out-of-this-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/31/earthbound-cubeecraft-is-out-of-this-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/31/earthbound-cubeecraft-is-out-of-this-world/#commentsFiled under:

Even with its ESRB rating, we can't help but be skeptical about Earthbound descending onto the Virtual Console. While we'd like nothing more, it seems too good to be true that Starmen.net's hard-fought battle to get the game on the VC would finally end in victory. As we've also mentioned, an ESRB rating does not necessarily equate to a Virtual Console release.

Since all we can do now is wait and see, we have to find Earthbound related ways to keep ourselves busy. Aside from playing games like Smash Bros., we thought we'd try our hand at some Earthbound cubeecraft (aka papercraft). Is it just us, or does Mr. Saturn look rather swank when shaped like a cube?

Gallery: Awesome Nintendo papercraft

Super Nintendo Paper SystemMake your own NES ZapperDS Lite gets 'Liter,' less functionalThis Thwomp won't crush youTiny Wii, paper style

[Via GoNintendo]

JoystiqEarthbound cubeecraft is out of this world originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 31 May 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftscubeecraftearthboundmr-saturnnesspapercraftSat, 31 May 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The dirt on Cave Story DS, Cave Story-engraved DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/the-dirt-on-cave-story-ds-cave-story-engraved-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/the-dirt-on-cave-story-ds-cave-story-engraved-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/the-dirt-on-cave-story-ds-cave-story-engraved-ds/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Praised by almost everyone who's played the freeware PC title, Cave Story is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the "Metroidvania" genre, a polished action platformer embellished with endearing characters and a catchy soundtrack. No matter how many times we're reminded of the fact, it always astounds us that the game was designed and developed by a single programmer, Daisuke Amaya, or Pixel, as he's more commonly known.

As you might should know, homebrew developer Ravenworks has been working on a DS port for Cave Story. As it turns out, however, Pixel doesn't own a Nintendo DS, so it would be unlikely that he'd be able to play the port once it's completed. In fact, he hasn't owned a handheld or home console since the Nintendo 64! Isn't it a crime nowadays for gamers in Japan to not own a Nintendo DS?

To keep Pixel out of jail, Ravenworks and the rest of the "All Things Studio Pixel (ATSP)" LiveJournal community raised $410 and put together a care package of handheld treats as a "thank you" for the DS-less developer's work. Here's everything the group purchased and sent:
So, how did Pixel take to the package? You can read his reaction, as well as the community's reasons for picking those two particular games for their offering, past the post break! We also used this effort as an excuse to catch up with Ravenworks on Cave Story DS's progress.

Gallery: Pixel's Cave Story-engraved DS

Continue reading The dirt on Cave Story DS, Cave Story-engraved DS

JoystiqThe dirt on Cave Story DS, Cave Story-engraved DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 May 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casecave-storycavestoryDoukutsu-Monogatariearthboundgame-center-cxjoystiqfeaturesmetroidvaniamotherpixelportravenworksTue, 13 May 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Joystiq Mother's Day Weekend 2008]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/the-joystiq-mothers-day-weekend-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/the-joystiq-mothers-day-weekend-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/the-joystiq-mothers-day-weekend-2008/#comments Happy Mother's day! We were so happy to play ... by gaming hours on Earthbound on our dusty ol' Super Nintendo console. Wait ... wrong mother? Oh well. (Image credit: protozoider) Check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
Japanese hardware sales, April 28 - May 4: Mothers in gaming edition
This Week in Review visits LittleBigPlanet
Weekly Webcomic Wrapup looks up at the stars

News
Gears of War 2 gameplay footage debut
BioWare drops 10-day validation from Mass Effect PC
EA wants you to "Skate It" on Wii and DS
EA takes out $1 billion loan for Take-Two acquisition
Facebreaker trailers: Meet the pugilists
Miyamoto: Ocarina of Time could have been in first-person perspective
Gamecock's Wilson announces candidacy for ESA president
Amazon and Gamestop offering God of War III pre-orders, claim March 2 release

Rumors & Speculation
Rumor: Kid Icarus Wii details, concept art revealed

Culture & Community
GamePolitics speaks with federal game bill sponsor, ESA deems bill unconstitutional
Ikea'nt believe it: A fully functional giant NES controller/coffee table
Spend Mother's Day playing games with mom

JoystiqThe Joystiq Mother's Day Weekend 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 May 2008 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dailyrecapearthboundmotherSun, 11 May 2008 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Are you down with EarthBound?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/wii-warm-up-are-you-down-with-earthbound/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/wii-warm-up-are-you-down-with-earthbound/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/wii-warm-up-are-you-down-with-earthbound/#commentsFiled under:


Inspired by the profile of the insane EarthBound fan community Starmen.net, we thought we would ask our audience directly: Are you an EarthBound fan? If so, how did you come by your fandom? Did you get the SNES game at launch? Maybe you discovered the game later? Or did the constant Mother series evangelism on the Internet (including the work of Starmen) turn your eye toward the series?

Of course, there's also the (very likely) possibility that Ness's appearance in the Super Smash Bros. series ignited your fandom. That works too, as does love for Dragon Quest's gameplay.

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Are you down with EarthBound? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 May 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthbounditoirpgsnesFri, 09 May 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A history of zealous Earthbound fandom]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/a-history-of-zealous-earthbound-fandom/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/a-history-of-zealous-earthbound-fandom/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/a-history-of-zealous-earthbound-fandom/#commentsFiled under: ,

Members of the Mother series fan site Starmen.net may be celebrating now, with Earthbound recently rated on the ESRB's web site, but just getting to that tenuous victory (as Ys I & II can affirm, ESRB rating is not the same as a Virtual Console release) has been the culmination of years of agonizing effort and constant campaigning that may not have actually had anything to do with the news.

Shacknews has posted a great retrospective of Starmen's 11-year campaign to get something related to Earthbound to happen outside of Japan, from a Game Boy Color release of Mother to localized versions of Mother I & II on the DS to (of course) a U.S. version of Mother 3. They've carried out insane plots like creating a beautiful book of fan works to show Nintendo how much they care about the series. Nintendo's response has ranged from politely dismissive to nonexistent, though the feature reveals that somewhere within Nintendo, Starmen's efforts were at least attracting attention.


JoystiqA history of zealous Earthbound fandom originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 May 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthboundmotherrpgshigesato-itoistarmenThu, 08 May 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[EarthBound rated by ESRB for the Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/earthbound-rated-by-esrb-for-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/earthbound-rated-by-esrb-for-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/earthbound-rated-by-esrb-for-the-wii/#commentsFiled under: ,


Mother fans, rejoice! EarthBound, also known as Mother 2 and the only game of the series to be released in the US, has been rated by the ESRB for the Wii. While that seems to be a good indication the game is bound for the Virtual Console, we're not going to make that leap without an official confirmation from Nintendo. Besides, given the rabid fan base of the game here, we're half-serious when we say we suspect Nintendo might consider selling the game unchanged for $50 on a disc. We guarantee it would sell like gangbusters.

An ESRB rating is the only outside hurdle the Nintendo-owned property to putting it on the Virtual Console (if that's the route they take). Now wouldn't that make for a clever Mother's Day gift, hm?

[Via VC-Reviews; thanks, Jango311]

JoystiqEarthBound rated by ESRB for the Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 May 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthboundesrbmothernintendovirtual-consoleWiiFri, 02 May 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthbound gets rated by the ESRB]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/earthbound-gets-rated-by-the-esrb/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/earthbound-gets-rated-by-the-esrb/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/earthbound-gets-rated-by-the-esrb/#commentsFiled under: ,


We hope you have a fresh pair of underwear on, because you're about to suffer a heart attack: Earthbound has been rated by the ESRB for Wii. That pain in your chest? That's your heart exploding. Welcome the sensation. It's a sign of victory!

Now that the game has been rated by the ESRB, it's likely to show up on the Virtual Console sometime in the immediate future. We'll settle for no less than this Monday, but in all probability, we won't be that lucky. Stay tuned to Wii Fanboy in the coming weeks for an announcement on when you can spend your money on this Virtual Console game.

[Thanks, Brandon!]

JoystiqEarthbound gets rated by the ESRB originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 May 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthboundesrbrpgsnesFri, 02 May 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[For awesome NES mods, just add legends]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/for-awesome-nes-mods-just-add-legends/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/for-awesome-nes-mods-just-add-legends/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/for-awesome-nes-mods-just-add-legends/#commentsFiled under:



Thanks to its largely flat surface, the NES doubles up as an ideal canvas for those wishing to spruce up their consoles with a custom paint job. Of course, you also need artistic ability, which is where we fail hideously, and eBay user hellokitty11111111111 (yes) excels.

Well, "excels" most of the time, anyway. The quality of these mods does vary a little -- we're not big fans of the Kid Icarus design -- but we do absolutely love the Earthbound, Super Mario Bros. 3, and (highly topical) River City Ransom examples. Are they worth (up to) $149.99, though? At a stretch, we'd be tempted. There's more past the break, complete with auction links.

Continue reading For awesome NES mods, just add legends

JoystiqFor awesome NES mods, just add legends originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artcastlevaniacraftsearthboundebayghouls-n-ghostskid-icarusmariomega-mannespaintingpunch-outretroriver-city-ransomsnesspy-huntersuper-mario-bros-3Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mother 3 translation seven months away [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/mother-3-translation-seven-months-away/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/mother-3-translation-seven-months-away/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/mother-3-translation-seven-months-away/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Celebrating Mother 3's release in Japan two years ago today, Starmen.net co-founder and fan-translation project lead Tomato posted an update on the unofficial localization's outlook. With ten months of work already behind them, the team predicts that the completed English patch (GBA ROM required) still needs about seven months of hacking, script editing, and testing.

While that may sound like a long time, keep in mind that some fan-driven translations can take years before they're finished, and that's if they even make it past the first months of work before dissolving. Besides, it's not like Nintendo of America is rushing to translate the RPG.

To help you deal with the wait, Tomato has posted ten minutes worth of video showing the team's progress, all of which you can watch above! So close, and yet so far away!

[Update 1: Corrected Mother 3's age -- two years old. Thanks, ShadowX!]
[Update 2: Straight from the horse's mouth.]

JoystiqMother 3 translation seven months away [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brownie-brownearthboundfan-translationhal-laboratoryitoimothermother-3patchrpgshigesato-itoistarmenSun, 20 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[2008's April Fools' DS pranks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/2008s-april-fools-ds-pranks/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/2008s-april-fools-ds-pranks/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/2008s-april-fools-ds-pranks/#commentsFiled under:

Oh man, is that Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime over there, bringing you a giant bag of popcorn? It must be your lucky day!

Too bad it's April Fools' Day! You're not getting any popcorn at all! Nope, it's just another bag of the usual stuff -- disappointment, regret, and the simple pain of living.

Rather than spend your day weeping over missed opportunities and movie snacks, why not peruse our collection of April Fools' Day DS pranks? We've gathered up all of this year's handheld shenanigans we could find around the internet, providing you a concentrated punch of lulz to counteract Reggie's kick to your head.

Click Reggie for popcorn! ->

Joystiq2008's April Fools' DS pranks originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ace-attorneyapril-foolsdeviantartearthboundelectionhentaihoaxjoystiqfeaturesmothermudkipn64opalpokemonpoliticspopcornreggiespace-invaderstaitoyahooTue, 01 Apr 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Square Enix thanks pirates for playing FFCC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/11/square-enix-thanks-pirates-for-playing-ffcc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/11/square-enix-thanks-pirates-for-playing-ffcc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/11/square-enix-thanks-pirates-for-playing-ffcc/#commentsFiled under:

Mere hours after Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates hit store shelves today, pirated copies of the game appeared in the shady corners of the internet, posted for all the picaroons out there to download and transfer to their flashcarts.

Twenty minutes or so into the ARPG, however, many of those pirates found themselves greeted with this "Thank you for playing!!" screen and unable to progress. Players have the option of restarting the game from the last save point and playing on, but the screen reappears at random intervals. Clever!

Why not lock pirates out before even loading up the game, you ask? Well, this way, they can try out Ring of Fates, eventually reforming their criminal ways and buying it if they find the experience enjoyable. Also, anyone dumping the game for distribution wouldn't notice this bit of programming unless they played a significant portion of it first.

Though this method isn't 100% effective, as some brands of carts are unaffected and hackers will likely find a workaround by day's end, it's certainly cute! Pirates should feel thankful that this isn't even half as malicious as Earthbound's anti-piracy measures.

JoystiqSquare Enix thanks pirates for playing FFCC originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arpgcrystal-chroniclesearthboundfinal-fantasyflashcartmotherpiracysquare-enixyarrTue, 11 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mother 3 battle clips snuck up from behind!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/mother-3-battle-clips-snuck-up-from-behind/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/mother-3-battle-clips-snuck-up-from-behind/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/mother-3-battle-clips-snuck-up-from-behind/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Unwilling to compromise on the quality of its project for the sake of a quick release, the Mother 3 fan translation crew has been tweaking every setting and smashing every bug in its path to releasing an English patch for the Earthbound sequel. In addition to posting regular updates on the programming process, the team has put up screenshots and videos from its work so far, like the Flint vs. Mischievous Mole movie above. We can't wait to try out that rhythm combo system ourselves!

On a disappointing note, the project's FAQ now states that the translation group no longer has plans to put out the patch before Super Smash Bros. Brawl's North American release, even with the Wii game's delay to early March. It's a painful wait, we know, but at least you'll get a few bonuses* that aren't in the Japanese game, like this secret enemy in the clip after break.

*provided that you have a flashcart/emulator and, uh, the Mother 3 ROM

Continue reading Mother 3 battle clips snuck up from behind!

JoystiqMother 3 battle clips snuck up from behind! originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brownie-brownearthboundfan-translationhal-laboratoryitoimothermother-3rpgshigesato-itoistarmenThu, 14 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dojo update: A flood of assist trophies]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/dojo-update-a-flood-of-assist-trophies/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/dojo-update-a-flood-of-assist-trophies/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/dojo-update-a-flood-of-assist-trophies/#commentsFiled under: ,


For those of you who're wondering where there usual dojo update is, know that up until release, all of the dojo updates can be considered as spoilers. So, we're tucking all of the info past the break. Head within at your own risk.

Continue reading Dojo update: A flood of assist trophies

JoystiqDojo update: A flood of assist trophies originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dojoearthboundmetroidsmash-bros-brawltinglezeldaWed, 06 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dojo update: Ness]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/dojo-update-ness/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/dojo-update-ness/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/dojo-update-ness/#commentsFiled under: ,


Unless you haven't really been paying attention, the inclusion of Ness in Super Smash Bros. Brawl is going to come as news to you. You might even see this as a spoiler, and if that is the case we apologize. But we're pretty sure most of you would like to know how Ness stacks up against Lucas. Well, hit up the gallery below for side-by-side comparisons of their move sets.

And, if you want to know how to unlock Ness, hit up the "Read" link below. We don't want to take the chance of spoiling anything else for you.


JoystiqDojo update: Ness originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dojoearthboundnesssmash-bros-brawlFri, 01 Feb 2008 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Three Smash Bros. Brawl characters confirmed?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/three-smash-bros-brawl-characters-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/three-smash-bros-brawl-characters-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/three-smash-bros-brawl-characters-confirmed/#commentsFiled under:


Courtesy of a new Japanese video for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, we get confirmation that Ness of Earthbound fame will be making his way back into Brawl. Not only that, but popular character Jigglypuff from Pokemon will be making a return to the field of combat as well. Oh, and the fun doesn't stop there as Lucario, from Pokemon Diamond & Pearl, also gets confirmed as a playable character. We just hope that the inclusion of Lucario doesn't mean that Mewtwo is getting the axe.

Head past the break for another screen cap from the video confirming Ness is in the game.

Continue reading Three Smash Bros. Brawl characters confirmed?

JoystiqThree Smash Bros. Brawl characters confirmed? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthboundjigglypufflucarionesspokemonsmash-brossmash-bros-brawlsuper-smash-bros-brawlMon, 21 Jan 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo accidentally confirms Lucario, Ness, Jigglypuff for Brawl]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/nintendo-accidentally-confirms-lucario-ness-jigglypuff-for-bra/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/nintendo-accidentally-confirms-lucario-ness-jigglypuff-for-bra/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/nintendo-accidentally-confirms-lucario-ness-jigglypuff-for-bra/#commentsFiled under: ,


A small slip-up on the Nintendo of Japan website has revealed three previously unannounced characters in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Fan favorites Ness and Jigglypuff will be returning from the previous Smash Bros. titles, while the pokémon Lucario will also be joining the ever-growing ranks.

Nintendo of Japan recently posted a 5-minute video explaining the many features of Brawl. In one section of the video, the sticker-collecting feature is shown off. A small set of icons along the bottom shows which character can equip each sticker, and originally showed small icons depicting Ness, Jigglypuff, and Lucario.

Nintendo of Japan has since updated the video, conspicuously whiting out these icons and effectively assuring us that this is "for real." More than simply confirming new characters, this news also confirms that the Brawl roster will exceed those characters announced on the official blog, which is just good news for everybody. Check out the original, unedited footage after the break. The icons appear very briefly around 4:20.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Nintendo accidentally confirms Lucario, Ness, Jigglypuff for Brawl

JoystiqNintendo accidentally confirms Lucario, Ness, Jigglypuff for Brawl originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Jan 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brawlbreaking-newsbreakingnewsearthboundpokemonsmash-bros-brawlsmashbrosbrawlssbbsuper-smash-bros-brawlWiiMon, 21 Jan 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dojo update: Fight above Corneria all over again]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/dojo-update-fight-over-corneria-all-over-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/dojo-update-fight-over-corneria-all-over-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/dojo-update-fight-over-corneria-all-over-again/#commentsFiled under: ,



That shot of the Great Fox can mean only one thing. Well, two things, actually. Firstly, it means that the dojo is back, and that our mornings have some purpose once more. Secondly, it means that Brawl will include yet more Super Smash Bros. Melee stages, to accompany the return of Hyrule Temple.

Corneria, Yoshi's Island, Onett, Brinstar, and Rainbow Ride are the returning stages, with Corneria comfortably our favorite of the revived bunch. It's also worth nothing that Brawl's total number of confirmed stages is now 25, with (we'd estimate) another dozen or so dojo updates left to add to that total. And, in the unlikely situation you ever get bored of those, you can always make your own.


JoystiqDojo update: Fight above Corneria all over again originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dojoearthboundlylat-warsmetroidsmash-bros-brawlssbbstar-foxsuper-mario-64Yoshis-IslandMon, 07 Jan 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Dojo update: New Pork City?! Get a rope!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/dojo-update-new-pork-city-get-a-rope/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/dojo-update-new-pork-city-get-a-rope/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/dojo-update-new-pork-city-get-a-rope/#commentsFiled under: ,



Mother 3 fans are getting everything but the actual GBA game with Super Smash Bros. Brawl -- Franklin Badges, Lucas as a playable character, and now, New Pork City, one of several memorable locations from the Earthbound sequel. The massive arena is one of the game's largest, putting to rest worries that the game wouldn't have any Hyrule-Temple-sized battlegrounds.

New Pork City boasts among its attractions a swinging boat and a stage-specific menace. Before you preview the screenshots at the Dojo, be warned that there are some Mother 3 spoilers scattered around the images. You can also watch a 2D tour of the metropolis after the post break.


Continue reading Dojo update: New Pork City?! Get a rope!

JoystiqDojo update: New Pork City?! Get a rope! originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dojoearthboundmothermother-3new-pork-citysmash-bros-brawlsmashbrosbrawlMon, 15 Oct 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[We bet this Mother 3 shirt is awesome]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/02/we-bet-this-mother-3-shirt-is-awesome/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/02/we-bet-this-mother-3-shirt-is-awesome/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/02/we-bet-this-mother-3-shirt-is-awesome/#commentsFiled under: ,


Since we've never been given the opportunity to play Mother 3, we aren't really able to gauge the thematic radness of Edit Mode's new Mother 3 "Emergency" shirt. Still, just as we know that all shirts sold on The King of Games are awesome, we have an inherent knowledge that everything about this shirt is wonderful, except the $50 price tag. We know that the design is pretty nice, and that the warning text on the back is adorable.

The other new Mother shirt, featuring a logo for "The Sharks," comes from Mother 2 a.k.a. Earthbound, and is therefore easily verifiable as being great. You can totally pretend you're in an arcade-occupying, hula-hoop wielding gang led by a smilin', knifin' Frank Fly.

[Via GAME Watch]

JoystiqWe bet this Mother 3 shirt is awesome originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthboundmothermother-3mother3shirtthe-king-of-gamesTue, 02 Oct 2007 14:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Smash Bros. Brawl adds Mother 3's Lucas]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/smash-bros-brawl-adds-mother-3s-lucas/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/smash-bros-brawl-adds-mother-3s-lucas/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/smash-bros-brawl-adds-mother-3s-lucas/#commentsFiled under: ,


Wouldn't you have loved to have been there on Super Smash Bros. Brawl audition day?

"Hi, my name is Lucas, but you may know me from Mother 3."
"So, no one in America has any clue who you are, right?"
"Umm, yes. That is technically correct. Yeah."
"Do you have any special powers?"
"Well, I look kind of like Dennis the Menace."
"You're hired!"

For our part, we're forever going to pretend that newly announced brawler Lucas from Super Smash Bros. Brawl is actually Power Glove and radical haircut sporter, Lucas Barton from The Wizard. In the biz, that's known as an upgrade.

JoystiqSmash Bros. Brawl adds Mother 3's Lucas originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthboundmother3nintendosmashbrosssbbsupersmashbrosbrawlWiiMon, 01 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Yo mama so cheap, you can buy her at Play Asia for $14.90]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/yo-mama-so-cheap-you-can-buy-her-at-play-asia-for-14-90/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/yo-mama-so-cheap-you-can-buy-her-at-play-asia-for-14-90/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/yo-mama-so-cheap-you-can-buy-her-at-play-asia-for-14-90/#commentsFiled under: ,



If you caught our interview with Starmen.net's Reid Young, you already know that the chances of Nintendo of America ever bringing EarthBound's GBA sequel, Mother 3, to the states are slim to none. As depressing as that reality might be, you shouldn't let it stop you from experiencing one of the most endearing RPGs ever released.

There are several walkthroughs and guides available to assist you with the game's Japanese text, and, from now until next Tuesday, import shop Play-Asia will be selling copies of Mother 3 for only $14.90, less than a third of its standard price! What more do you need to convince you to pick this one up?

[Via CAG]

JoystiqYo mama so cheap, you can buy her at Play Asia for $14.90 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthbounditoimothermother-3play-asiarpgTue, 11 Sep 2007 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Itoi and Iwata continue their dinner conversation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/05/itoi-and-iwata-continue-their-dinner-conversation/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/05/itoi-and-iwata-continue-their-dinner-conversation/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/05/itoi-and-iwata-continue-their-dinner-conversation/#commentsFiled under: ,


Normally, dinner conversation doesn't translate into a multi-part feature, but most dinners don't include Nintendo president Satoru Iwata and novelist/Mother creator Shigesato Itoi. Three more segments of the "interview" have been posted on Itoi's site, called "View Things over Someone Else's Shoulder," "Something Special about Mr.Miyamoto," and "On Management: 'Enhance your Strength.'"

The first two parts continue the de facto theme of the conversation, which is talking about how awesome Shigeru Miyamoto is, but the third part is most interesting to us, as it deals with Iwata's management style. Somehow, during the discussion, Iwata manages to omit any mention of his "yelling at NOA about Brain Age" tactic.

JoystiqItoi and Iwata continue their dinner conversation originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthbounditoiiwatamotherWed, 05 Sep 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Iwata and Itoi talk shop over dinner]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/01/iwata-and-itoi-talk-shop-over-dinner/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/01/iwata-and-itoi-talk-shop-over-dinner/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/01/iwata-and-itoi-talk-shop-over-dinner/#commentsFiled under: ,

Perhaps inspired by our recent interview with Starmen.net's Reid Young, Shigesato Itoi, best known in video game communities for his work on EarthBound and the Mother series, posted a few English-translated notes from a conversation he had with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata six months ago over supper.

Itoi and Iwata spent a great deal talking about Shigeru Miyamoto, as Japanese developers/designers are wont to do, discussing his belief of ideas being "something which solves multiple issues at once." Though the two chums didn't chat much about past projects or games, there are still ten more portions of the roundtable that Itoi promises to release over the next two weeks. We'll make sure to notify you if we hear of any megatons.

JoystiqIwata and Itoi talk shop over dinner originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Sep 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dinnerearthboundideaitoiiwatamiyamotomotherSat, 01 Sep 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Fanboy interviews Starmen.net's Reid Young (part two)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/29/ds-fanboy-interviews-starmen-nets-reid-young-part-two/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/29/ds-fanboy-interviews-starmen-nets-reid-young-part-two/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/29/ds-fanboy-interviews-starmen-nets-reid-young-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



If you didn't catch the first half of our two-part interview with Reid Young, co-founder of Starmen.net, an online community for all lovers of the Mother series, make sure to check it out when you have a chance. We discussed a number of topics -- what makes the series stand out from other RPGs, why EarthBound (Mother 2) failed to sell in the U.S., and how Starmen.net is building awareness on the games with its EB Siege and Earthbound Anthology campaigns.

Reid also took some time to update us on what our chances are of ever receiving a western localization for Mother 3, whether or not we'll receive EarthBound on the Virtual Console soon, and the current status of the Mother 3 fan translation project. As an admirer of creative and heartfelt games, you owe it to yourself to read the rest of our interview past the post break.

Continue reading DS Fanboy interviews Starmen.net's Reid Young (part two)

JoystiqDS Fanboy interviews Starmen.net's Reid Young (part two) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browniebrownearthbounditoijoystiqfeaturesmothershigesatoitoistarmenWed, 29 Aug 2007 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Fanboy interviews Starmen.net's Reid Young]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/28/ds-fanboy-interviews-starmen-nets-reid-young/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/28/ds-fanboy-interviews-starmen-nets-reid-young/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/28/ds-fanboy-interviews-starmen-nets-reid-young/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You can't have a proper discussion on the Mother series without bringing up the enthusiasm of its stateside fans; the two are entangled, strands wrapping around each other to make up the DNA of Starmen.net, the most devoted video game community online.

Since EarthBound's (Mother 2) SNES release in 1995, Nintendo of America has, for the most part, ignored the title and its cult following. Combating Nintendo's apathy towards bringing the rest of the games to the U.S., the Starmen.net crew pooled its resources and talents together to conceive the EarthBound Anthology, a 250-plus-page collection of fan-created work and a chronicle of Mother's history.

Starmen.net co-founder Reid Young sat down with us to talk about EarthBound and the anthology -- its production, ambitions, and success at catching the video game media's attention. Read on past the post break for the first in a two-part interview on Mother's past, present, and, hopefully, future.

Continue reading DS Fanboy interviews Starmen.net's Reid Young

JoystiqDS Fanboy interviews Starmen.net's Reid Young originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthboundjoystiqfeaturesmotherstarmenTue, 28 Aug 2007 19:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Get Out and download this game!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/31/get-out-and-download-this-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/31/get-out-and-download-this-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/31/get-out-and-download-this-game/#commentsFiled under:

Jao describes Get Out, his first homebrew release for the DS, as a "Pac-Man-like game," but it's really more stealth-based than wakka-wakka-based.

Players have to escape their classrooms without being spotted by patrolling teachers. Sneaking out becomes harder with each level as the number of instructor sentries and their walking speed increases. To aid you in your noble quest, empty desks are available for you to duck into if you see one of the teachers headed for your row.

Though it doesn't seem like much was put into its presentation, what with the lack of a soundtrack and the sprites being ripped from Earthbound, the simplicity and accessibility make for a very entertaining diversion. Plus, you can't argue with its price -- absolutely free!

Get Out is one of over two dozen entries for Dev-FR's homebrew coding competition. Make sure to try out the many other fine applications and games that've been submitted, especially Plop Invaders!

JoystiqGet Out and download this game! originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthboundgetoutjaomotherstealthTue, 31 Jul 2007 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtually Overlooked Week: Jason's picks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/13/virtually-overlooked-week-jasons-picks/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/13/virtually-overlooked-week-jasons-picks/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/13/virtually-overlooked-week-jasons-picks/#commentsFiled under: ,

You've seen it before.
Virtually Overlooked has taken over Wii Fanboy! All this week, members of the staff will be outlining their personal picks for future Virtual Console releases.
Growing up with gaming is an interesting thing these days. Many of you are part of the first generation that was quite literally born into a household with a gaming console, as I was. In my experience, if you start off in life gaming hard, you don't stop. Therefore, in the very near future, I will able to ask a random middle-aged man if he wants to go play Guitar Hero 4, and it won't be totally weird.

Who am I kidding? This isn't Japan, and that guy will probably think I am, in fact, totally weird. But man, screw those non-gamers. The hardcore, like you and I, have tons of gaming memories, and thus we frequently long for the games of yore to be released on the Virtual Console. But they have not yet appeased my feral hunger, and thus do I lay these games out in a commanding fashion for Nintendo's minions to take note.

You, of course, may gaze as well.

Continue reading Virtually Overlooked Week: Jason's picks

JoystiqVirtually Overlooked Week: Jason's picks originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blastburgercorpsdensetsuearthboundmakersmanamarinamischiefmotherrarerarewaresecretseikensiliconspacestationtimevalleyvoweekWed, 13 Jun 2007 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: SMAAAASH!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/03/wii-warm-up-smaaaash/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/03/wii-warm-up-smaaaash/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/03/wii-warm-up-smaaaash/#commentsFiled under:


We've got a very simple question for you today: who's your favorite existing Super Smash Bros. character? Is it Ness, or one of the many inferior filler characters they put in so everyone wouldn't just pick Ness?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: SMAAAASH! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 03 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brawlbrosearthboundnessnintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiismashsmash brosSmashBrosssbbsuper smash brosSuperSmashBroswiiSun, 03 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST