Mother 3/Earthbound 64 (lost build of unfinished Nintendo 64/64DD video game; 1999): Difference between revisions
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{{InfoboxLost | {{InfoboxLost | ||
|title=<center> | |title=<center>Earthbound 64</center> | ||
|image=EarthBound 64 Mother 3 comparison.png | |image=EarthBound 64 Mother 3 comparison.png | ||
|imagecaption=Comparison of ''EarthBound 64'' and ''MOTHER 3''. | |imagecaption=Comparison of ''EarthBound 64'' and ''MOTHER 3''. | ||
|status=<span style="color: | |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
}} | }} | ||
The game had a lengthy and troubled development cycle, starting on the Super Famicom shortly after the release of Earthbound in 1994 but later moving to the 64DD. After the 64DD was cancelled, development was moved to the N64. | '''''EarthBound 64''''' (also known as ''MOTHER 3'' in Japan, but not to be confused with the GBA game of the same name) was a cancelled sequel to the 1994/1995 Super Famicom/SNES game ''MOTHER 2''/''EarthBound'' (respectively). The story follows Lucas, Claus, and Flint, a family of three who lost their mother/wife, Hinawa. | ||
==Production== | |||
===Initial Development and Cancellation=== | |||
The game had a lengthy and troubled development cycle, starting on the Super Famicom shortly after the release of Earthbound in 1994, but later moving to the 64DD. After the 64DD was cancelled, development was moved to the N64. Two more problems emerged from this, however: Shigesato Itoi and his crew had little to no experience with 3D titles, and without the aid of the 64DD, the game had many constraints such as time and memory. Eventually, the title was pushed back until it was finally cancelled in 2000. At the time of the game's cancellation, Satoru Iwata estimated the game's completion at 30%, while Shigeru Miyamoto estimated it at 60%, which was clarified to mean the game was about 60% coded but only about 30% playable.<ref>[https://yomuka.wordpress.com/2013/08/18/earthbound-64-cancellation-interview-itoi-miyamoto-iwata/ Translated cancellation interview with Shigesato Itoi, Shigeru Miyamoto, and Satoru Iwata.] Retrieved 12 Aug '16.</ref> | |||
A playable demo was available at Spaceworld 1999, which was the closest thing the game had to any public release. Players praised the rhythm combat system, graphics, and music. The series' rolling HP/PP meter was confirmed to make a comeback.<ref>[http://earthboundcentral.com/2013/07/post-spaceworld-earthbound-64-in-dengeki-64/ Article about the 1999 Spaceworld demo.] Retrieved 14 Aug '16.</ref> | A playable demo was available at Spaceworld 1999, which was the closest thing the game had to any public release. Players praised the rhythm combat system, graphics, and music. The series' rolling HP/PP meter was confirmed to make a comeback.<ref>[http://earthboundcentral.com/2013/07/post-spaceworld-earthbound-64-in-dengeki-64/ Article about the 1999 Spaceworld demo.] Retrieved 14 Aug '16.</ref> | ||
===GBA Development=== | |||
Despite its cancellation, this was not the end for ''MOTHER 3''. A few years later, after a ''MOTHER 1+2'' commercial, it was announced that ''MOTHER 3'' was in the works, and the final game was later released in 2006. Rather than the 3D graphics used in the Nintendo 64 version, ''MOTHER 3'' returned the series to its 2D sprite-based roots. The basic plot and many of the characters overlapped between the two versions, but there were some redesigns and changes, one of the biggest ones being that Claus was no longer a playable character. Shigesato Itoi also stated in an interview that the story was originally going to be much darker and would "betray the player."<ref>[http://mother3.fobby.net/interview/m3int_07.html Translated interview with Shigesato Itoi after the release of ''MOTHER 3''] Retrieved 12 Aug '16.</ref> | Despite its cancellation, this was not the end for ''MOTHER 3''. A few years later, after a ''MOTHER 1+2'' commercial, it was announced that ''MOTHER 3'' was in the works, and the final game was later released in 2006. Rather than the 3D graphics used in the Nintendo 64 version, ''MOTHER 3'' returned the series to its 2D sprite-based roots. The basic plot and many of the characters overlapped between the two versions, but there were some redesigns and changes, one of the biggest ones being that Claus was no longer a playable character. Shigesato Itoi also stated in an interview that the story was originally going to be much darker and would "betray the player."<ref>[http://mother3.fobby.net/interview/m3int_07.html Translated interview with Shigesato Itoi after the release of ''MOTHER 3''] Retrieved 12 Aug '16.</ref> | ||
Unfortunately, even the final release of ''MOTHER 3'' was never released outside of Japan, although the game has been translated into English and many other languages by fans. | Unfortunately, even the final release of ''MOTHER 3'' was never released outside of Japan, although the game has been translated into English and many other languages by fans. | ||
Brendan Sechter, a playtester who worked on the GBA version of ''MOTHER 3'', confirmed in an interview that a prototype of ''Earthbound 64'' exists. He was able to play most of the first chapter of the game, but the game crashed afterwards. Sechter believes the prototype is either still in the possession of Brownie Brown or has been transferred to Hal Laboratories or Nintendo.<ref>[http://earthboundcentral.com/2010/12/interview-with-a-mother-3-debugger/ Interview with Brendan Sechter] Retrieved 12 Aug '16.</ref> Although there are occasional rumors of fans owning prototype copies, there has been no credible evidence of this so far, and the game's composer Shogo Sakai has | ==Original Version Availability== | ||
< | Brendan Sechter, a playtester who worked on the GBA version of ''MOTHER 3'', confirmed in an interview that a prototype of ''Earthbound 64'' exists. He was able to play most of the first chapter of the game, but the game crashed afterwards. Sechter believes the prototype is either still in the possession of Brownie Brown or has been transferred to Hal Laboratories or Nintendo.<ref>[http://earthboundcentral.com/2010/12/interview-with-a-mother-3-debugger/ Interview with Brendan Sechter] Retrieved 12 Aug '16.</ref> Although there are occasional rumors of fans owning prototype copies, there has been no credible evidence of this so far, and the game's composer Shogo Sakai has denied composing some music purportedly from the prototype that has been posted to YouTube.<ref>[http://earthboundcentral.com/2014/01/rumors-of-an-earthbound-64-prototype/ Article about the purported prototype music on YouTube] Retrieved 12 Aug '16.</ref> | ||
==Gallery== | |||
<div style="margin:0 auto; text-align: center;"> | |||
<div style="width:320px; display:inline-block; margin-right:25px; margin-bottom:0px;"> | |||
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_yieBcg2oM|320x240|center|''EarthBound 64'' Spaceworld '99 trailer.|frame}}</div> | |||
<div style="width:320px; display:inline-block; margin-right:25px; margin-bottom:0px;"> | |||
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pvom4bc1Y8|320x240|center|''MOTHER 3'' and ''Earthbound 64'' comparison.|frame}}</div> | |||
</div> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:Lost video games]] | [[Category:Lost video games]] | ||
Revision as of 10:29, 23 June 2017
Comparison of EarthBound 64 and MOTHER 3.
Status: Lost
EarthBound 64 (also known as MOTHER 3 in Japan, but not to be confused with the GBA game of the same name) was a cancelled sequel to the 1994/1995 Super Famicom/SNES game MOTHER 2/EarthBound (respectively). The story follows Lucas, Claus, and Flint, a family of three who lost their mother/wife, Hinawa.
Production
Initial Development and Cancellation
The game had a lengthy and troubled development cycle, starting on the Super Famicom shortly after the release of Earthbound in 1994, but later moving to the 64DD. After the 64DD was cancelled, development was moved to the N64. Two more problems emerged from this, however: Shigesato Itoi and his crew had little to no experience with 3D titles, and without the aid of the 64DD, the game had many constraints such as time and memory. Eventually, the title was pushed back until it was finally cancelled in 2000. At the time of the game's cancellation, Satoru Iwata estimated the game's completion at 30%, while Shigeru Miyamoto estimated it at 60%, which was clarified to mean the game was about 60% coded but only about 30% playable.[1]
A playable demo was available at Spaceworld 1999, which was the closest thing the game had to any public release. Players praised the rhythm combat system, graphics, and music. The series' rolling HP/PP meter was confirmed to make a comeback.[2]
GBA Development
Despite its cancellation, this was not the end for MOTHER 3. A few years later, after a MOTHER 1+2 commercial, it was announced that MOTHER 3 was in the works, and the final game was later released in 2006. Rather than the 3D graphics used in the Nintendo 64 version, MOTHER 3 returned the series to its 2D sprite-based roots. The basic plot and many of the characters overlapped between the two versions, but there were some redesigns and changes, one of the biggest ones being that Claus was no longer a playable character. Shigesato Itoi also stated in an interview that the story was originally going to be much darker and would "betray the player."[3]
Unfortunately, even the final release of MOTHER 3 was never released outside of Japan, although the game has been translated into English and many other languages by fans.
Original Version Availability
Brendan Sechter, a playtester who worked on the GBA version of MOTHER 3, confirmed in an interview that a prototype of Earthbound 64 exists. He was able to play most of the first chapter of the game, but the game crashed afterwards. Sechter believes the prototype is either still in the possession of Brownie Brown or has been transferred to Hal Laboratories or Nintendo.[4] Although there are occasional rumors of fans owning prototype copies, there has been no credible evidence of this so far, and the game's composer Shogo Sakai has denied composing some music purportedly from the prototype that has been posted to YouTube.[5]
Gallery
References
- ↑ Translated cancellation interview with Shigesato Itoi, Shigeru Miyamoto, and Satoru Iwata. Retrieved 12 Aug '16.
- ↑ Article about the 1999 Spaceworld demo. Retrieved 14 Aug '16.
- ↑ Translated interview with Shigesato Itoi after the release of MOTHER 3 Retrieved 12 Aug '16.
- ↑ Interview with Brendan Sechter Retrieved 12 Aug '16.
- ↑ Article about the purported prototype music on YouTube Retrieved 12 Aug '16.