The Entertainment Software Rating Board [Official Site - Thanks Andrew!]

The man responsible for the Mother series of role playing games, known as Earthbound in the West, Shigesato Itoi, has made a handful of appearances on the TV show Iron Chef, poetically evaluating the culinary skills of master chefs from around the world. If you've ever wondered how a famous writer/game designer would judge a vicious bell pepper battle, your curiosity can easily be satisfied by clicking the play button. This clip comes courtesy of the YouTube surveying prowess of the Select Button forums.

This is my personal theory, but all living creatures bear the task of passing down their DNA through reproduction. To reproduce, there's the necessity to show your superiority. The individuals who can do this well are the ones that were able to pass down their DNA... So I think it's natural for us to try to show that we're better than others. That's why we tend to compare our strengths with other people's weakness. This happens in any type of social organizations, such as in companies.

I'm always envious when people show off their really cool game related objects that their partners make for them be it cakes, crafts and other objet d'art. My ex's hatred of video games knew no boundaries and I probably would have received a million dollar check for my birthday before anything game related. So I will sit here and seethe with jealousy over Lauren's sweet Earthbound DS case, lovingly handcrafted in the lost art of needlepoint. The recipient of this awesome gift was her fianc on the occasion of the Baby Jebus' birthday. Congratulations, man, you've got yourself a keeper. Flynn De Marco

Lostmitten's DS case [Wonderland]

You know, it's a testament to how amazing Earthbound is that even something this gleefully incompetent fills me with pining for more innocent, carefree gaming days. I think you probably have to adore Earthbound to get it though: the digging through the trash for food, the battle noises, the simplistic victory crescendo. I just can't wait to see how they handle Mr. Saturn. Florian Eckhardt

Previously: A Mother Film Years In The Making

Back in 1995, Shigesato Itoi's Mother 2 (known as "Earthbound" in the West) was released for the SNES in America. The film made a huge impact on young Robbie and Jeff Benson, who set off to make a feature film of the game. They didn't get very far. One of the Bensons adds:

We hadn't gone far before we gave up. In the last year however, we dusted off the tape and decided to continue the otherwise unsatisfying 3 minute video.

The result is fascinatingly silly and worth a view for the kids' age progression and sensibility shift alone. Plus, the battle scenes are pretty annoying, just like in the Mother/Earthbound games. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Sodoshiraso Blog]

CNET has a bizarre little slideshow of the top-eleven vaporware titles, with the mysterious inclusion of those who are no longer vaporware (Prey is #3). I think someone is confused about the definition of "vaporware", despite the literal definition being pasted above the article itself.

Here're their complete picks:

1. Duke Nukem Forever
2. The Phantom Game Console
3. Prey
4. Starcraft Ghost
5. Sam and Max: Freelance Police (listed as cancelled...whuh?)
6. PlayStation 3 (say what?)
7. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (this is getting ridiculous)
8. Team Fortress 2 (jesus christ)
9. Fallout 3 (I actually hope this is true; I don't want to see Bethesda fuck my sunshine on this one)
10. Earthbound 64/Mother 3

In fact, I think the only actual vaporware items on that list are the Phantom, DNF, and maybe Fallout 3. Although the latter doesn't really count because it hasn't been cancelled or delayed; it's barely even been announced. Get the fuck out of my comic book shop, CNET. Eliza Gauger

See list here [CNET, not sure where I got this link]

Earthbound-like RPG Contact for the DS is odd. It should be. The game is courtesy crazy Japanese game studio Grasshopper Manufacture, who also brought us Killer7. The game is getting English localization thanks to publisher Atlus. Game site Siliconera talked with Tomm Hulett, the game's localization director:

I'm not sure why it didn't do well in Japan, though I do suspect its release just before the highly anticipated Mother 3 had something to do with it. However, Contact's US release will be the only wackiness infusion American Earthbound fans get for a while, so we can at least corner that demographic. I also think most of the DS users in this country are still gamers (as opposed to Japan, where a large majority are non-gamers), so there should be more people who will appreciate the humor featured in Contact. Which isn't to say non-gamers won't enjoy Contact; they totally would.

Is it me or did Tomm contradicted every single thing he said? Regardless, cool game and worth picking up if you are into RPG and even if you're not. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Siliconera]

Joystiq put a little skip in my step and a happy bumblebee in my tummy with the announcement that there's a fairly believable rumor floating around about Mother (aka Earthbound) and the DS:

There are three games in the Mother trilogy — Earthbound is technically Mother 2 — so the compilation could include the first two titles, the latest two titles (Mother 3 was released in Japan for GBA earlier this year), or all three titles. So far, only Earthbound has been released in the US.

And many of us have only Earthbound it on emulation, I'd venture. I was utterly charmed when I did, despite my general dislike of menu-based RPGs. I will keep a little hope alive that this rumor comes to fruition. Eliza gauger

More here [Joystiq]

An arm tattooed with characters from Mother (Earthbound)? Yep. The ink is still fresh as it was done a week ago. The tattoo artist said this was one of his more "unusual tattoos." This was found on *surprise* LiveJournal. Go figure. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [LiveJournal]
More Here [Photobucket] Thanks, LWG!

Here's a look at the Mother 3 game that never was. The title was original planned for the Nintendo 64, but was canned. Rumor has it that the cancellation was due to janky 3D modeling, but this clip looks pretty good. The title eventually found its way to the GBA, finally getting a release earlier this year. Brian Ashcraft

Here in one article are all the sad stories of these doomed games, with a trace of hope squeezed in here and there:

Still, Telltale decided to make a new game from scratch with Purcell. In fact, Game Tap announced at E3 this year that the new Sam and Max game will be released as episodic content via its network (again, a pretty funny trailer was released at the show). So while Freelance Police may have died, Sam and Max will return.

I'm a little disappointed to see the new Sam and Max is all 3d. I would love to see a return to the gorgeous cartooning that LucasArts used to use for those games.

And we're still hearing about DNF now and then, too! Although at this point, we've been waiting so long and hoping so hard that anything they give us will simply not be enough.

We have gone too long un-Duked, you and I. There is probably nothing for it. Eliza Gauger

The Best Games Never Published [Twitch Guru]

A Japanese fella with loads of free time and Maya skills to boot has rendered the 2D Mother 3's world in 3D. Neat stuff, and even the battle scenes (which I abhor) look great. Still haven't finished Mother 3 yet (I'm slow, sue me), but I am totally lovin' the GBA title. In fact, because it is a Game Boy Advance title, I perhaps am enjoying the experience even more. It's intimate. Personal. Wonderful. Brian Ashcraft

GameCube Mother 3 Images Here via 4CR

Game designer, t-shirt designer, TV commentator, copywriter, tomato juice bottler. Mother (Earthbound in America) creator Shigesato Itoi does it all it seems. (And does it damn good.) In an sit down with the online Ping Magazine, Itoi sums up his M.O. by saying:

In short, what I do is all based on an idea of 'self-judgment.' I feel lost when people give the final judgment about my work. I've done all the persuasion, presentation, and negotiations myself, but then the judgement makes it feel like 'my life is over!' kind of thing. That isn't productive for either side, my clients or me, so I wanted to do something where I could make the judgment about my own ideas. And I wanted to learn from my own mistakes.

Interesting interview. Interesting interviewee. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Ping Mag] via Jean Snow

The bad news? Like Polish nude beaches and Hitler, its only coming to Europe.

The official Nintendo Magazine UK is forecasting a December release date for Europe, pretty much making this the last great game of note to be released for the declining GBA system. But hell, what a swan song!

However, with the GBA being region free, the important thing is we're getting an English translation, at the very least. You can always import!

Earthbound 2 in Europe Only

Mother of all Mother games Shigesato Itoi has announced that Mother 3 will be the last installment in the series.

"There's not going to be a Mother 4," the famed designer says.

No wonder he's ready to call it a day. Mother 3 has been ten years in the making and has achieved an almost mythic status among fans. I'm playing through it now and enjoying it; do realize there's no way any game can meet a decade of pent-up expectations, however. Fingers crossed that Nintendo will announce a localized version at E3.

Interview Here [1101]

Today, the feverishly anticipated Mother 3 drops here in Japan. The game has received solid scores from Famitsu, getting a 10, 8, 8 and a 9 respectively. The mag also says the RPG is the most wanted title in Japan. Dubbed Earthbound in the West, the latest installment in the Mother series is currently Japan-only.

Yesterday In Den-Den Town [Senaka Blog]
Itoi Speaks! [Kotaku]

Mother's mother Shigesato Itoi has posted an interview on his site, Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun. What did he have to say? Three years ago, when he was in Kyoto on business, Itoi took a cab with Nintendo's Satoru Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto, who asked if it would be possible to put Mother 3 on Game Boy Advance. (Not "Aren't you going to make it?" or "Please make it.") Happy, Itoi responded that it was possible. And thus, Mother 3 for the GBA was born. He goes on to talk about taking a month, finding himself and knocking out the script. Further interviews are planned with Itoi revealing more about the creator and the game, which swoops into Japanese retailers this Thursday.

Interview Here [1101]

The lovely Kou Shibasaki gets all emotional in an ad for the Game Boy Advance title Mother 3. I dig Shibasaki. I dig Mother. But, this dreary commercial in which she talks about the RPG's emotional power is the pits.

Learn About Kou [Unofficial Page]

A special made-to-order "Mother 3 Deluxe Box" is being offered as a pre-order, beginning March 1st. The box will contain the game software, a Mother 3 micro and a Franklin Badge. The set will go for 18,000 yen (around $165).

EarthBound loving Starmen.net has done all non-Japanese speakers a huge favor and translated the Mother 3 site. That means that every time the site is updated, folks can check it out in English. Go ahead. Thank 'em.

Mother 3 English Site [Starmen] Thanks, Anthony!

Here's a peak at the resident genius Shigesato Itoi's long-awaited Mother sequel for the GBA. The groundbreaking RPG series is known as EarthBound in the West and follows a psychic boy out to save the world. The carrot-roping Mother 3 screens come via the game's tease site and look like delicious fun.

Open Presents [Official Site] Thanks, James!