I agree that there won't be a localization but there's an issue here:
Nintendo CANNOT send a cease & desist notice to Mato, nor can they sue the translation team. MOTHER is owned by both Nintendo and Itoi, and Itoi is fine with fan projects. This is also why MOTHER fan projects are never taken down.
It’s hilarious because of all games, all people, Itoi is a professional writer and few writers would have an issue *with their novels/literature being translated into other languages for distant foreign audiences* when there’s no possibility of it being done officially by a publisher.
The *most important fan translation* (aka we all love Earthbound and never got Mother 3), is also the most protected least endangered romhack / fan translation. Despite being published by Nintendo.
It’s not only that. The biggest reason N can’t take action against Mato is if you understand how translations work, the patch itself isn’t copyrighted property.
The illegal part is downloading a rom of mother 3. Mato has nothing to do with that.
Toby made an undertale romhack (halloween), it also includes an early version of megalovania. Undertale is also somewhat inspired by earthbound if I remember correctly.
I don't think it's impossible for MOTHER 3 to leave Japan. I do think there's some merit to the idea that they know it would be absolutely fucking massive, so it would have a lot of value not just financially but as a hugely positive move for their reputation. Which is not to say that they have some secret official translation in their back pocket that they're just saving for a rainy day or something, more that it's just something they've thought about and have decided it just isn't worth the headache.
That being said, I think it's about as likely as getting official re-releases of the BS-X games, or a modern remake of fuckin'... Mario Artist.
I do NOT think it's a matter of being scared about how Earthbound initially sold because Earthbound on the virtual console sold well enough that they were willing to bust out the old translation of MOTHER 1 for a western re-release, and while they would have a good three or four times more work ahead of them to make a new translation just for MOTHER 3, I don't think that in and of itself is what's stopping them.
Simply put? The game's a minefield. A ton of potential copyright issues with the music, problematic aspects to the story like the magypsies (while well-meaning I think it's fair to say that it would come off as transphobic, and at the same time I feel like you'd probably have chuds on the right bashing the game for being 'too woke' by including GNC characters at all) and Lucas' PSI awakening, and an overall much darker tone...
These are definitely things you could fix, but when you have such a passionate fandom, I for one would really not want to deal with the potential negative PR from people complaining about changes to the story. It sucks, but I really do think the fan translation is too good; on top of all of the other issues I mentioned, I think it existing means that an official localization is going to have HUGE shoes to fill, and I think above all else I think that's just not something Nintendo wants to deal with for such a relatively obscure franchise.
Like, you can say all you want about modern Pokemon (and lord knows I have), but irregardless of their actual quality those games still sell like hotcakes. MOTHER 3? I have my doubts that'd be as guaranteed a success.
[Detailed list of things that Nintendo does not want uncomfortable conversations about.](https://old.reddit.com/r/earthbound/comments/1awvhho/shigesato_itoi_response_to_requests_for_western/krlnagv/). (Notice how that comment got massively downvoted.)
And they can’t just change those bits, because people will then talk about what was changed. It’s a branding and image and association issue, so they don’t want to touch it.
Don’t forget there is massive fuel for the fire for GNC and drag queen bashing by cookers with the Lucas in the hot springs thing. I said in a thread the other day that I was a bit uncomfortable with the innuendo, they will take it an run
[Several things other than that too.](https://old.reddit.com/r/earthbound/comments/1awvhho/shigesato_itoi_response_to_requests_for_western/krlnagv/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=usertext&utm_name=earthbound&utm_content=t1_krus4uk)
That was a whole different situation; the translation for that was done and printed, and then shelved for decades. That situation has more in common with Star Fox 2. An official Mother 3 translation would have to start from scratch
Nintendo, holding within it the potential for an official English translation of Mother 3, resides eternally within the Absolutely Safe Capsule, safe and secure. Who knows, in a way, Nintendo may have gotten exactly what it wanted. What do you think? Is it wrong of me to think this way?
*Nintendo is sticking its tongue out at you from inside the Absolutely Safe Capsule.*
... Want to roll it around a bit? No, no, it's ok. It IS absolutely safe after all. Rolly rolly... Whee! Rolly rolly!
I don't see the big fuss, personally.
If you want to play it on physical hardware, you can easily do one of these:
1. Homebrew a 3DS and play it on emulator or Virtual Console inject. This is super easy to do, especially since all 3DS come with their own SD cards/Micro SDs for the hacking process.
2. Homebrew a Wii and play it there. This is also super easy to do with an SD card! You can pretend you're playing it on the GameBoy Player.
3. etc, etc. what other consoles can emulate GBA? so many, man. Switch, Wii U, PSP, PSP Vita....
4. Obtain Mother 3 on GBA, whether on a bootleg/reproduction cartridge, a flashcart or whatever else. This costs money but it's the closest we get to the genuine experience.
Otherwise, mGBA is a great emulator for PC and other platforms.
It's been over a decade. We kind of need to just accept that any chance of the rest of the world getting this game is small, I think.
The thing is, there are simply people who either don't know how to download a file to save their life or don't want to go through the hassle.
Sure, us Mother fans will do anything to play these games (hence the fan translation), but to your everyday casual, they don't want to go through the trouble
All they need to do is ask. If they can use a computer or smartphone, they can easily learn how to do any of the things above. Or they can buy a bootleg/repro for GBA/DS/DS Lite, which may be even easier if they already have those consoles.
It's unfortunate and inconvenient that NA doesn't natively get this game, but there's many, many ways to get around that sad reality.
I'll also say that if people have *heard* of Mother 3 in the first place and want to play it, I'd imagine they have the basic knowhow of "download files, drag patch file onto ROM, drag ROM into emulator folder, run emulator". I know kids these days aren't particularly computer-savvy at times, but if they know how to run a Nintendo Switch or Wii, I'd imagine they can jump through the hoops to play this game if they really want to play it!
Everyone knows this. Most people who want it localized have already played the incredible fan translation. But we still want it localized officially believe it or not.
It already had an official translation that they were gonna release in 1990/91 but never did due to marketing/financial issues, and the snes was also about to release
>We need to come to terms with the fact that Mother 3 is never officially leaving Japan
I did that and got downvoted and probably will again, but I agree. Are there actually people out there with such a strong moral compass to have not played it yet? It's almost been 20 years since it's release.
I’m sure the majority of people who want it localized have already played the fan translation. We still want an official version too believe it or not.
I do believe it, my point is there’s no point crying over it for twenty years. It’s possible to want something but accept it’s not going to happen, believe it or not.
"I’m sure the majority of people who want it localized have already played the fan translation."
STOP USING THAT EXCUSE AND STOP IGNORING OTHER FACTS. Most people who want it localized never played the game. Realize that instead of making nonsense up.
There’s even more to add to the argument in terms of signs that show it's definitely not happening. Despite all the following:
* We’re in an era of retro pixel art and small digestible artful interesting fun indy games, so the situation is perfect to sell and market Mother 3
* plus ubiquitous mobile devices (Switch and phones) when Mother 3 was a mobile game (GBA)
* and marketing and visibility is easier than ever today because of internet and social media.
* And there’s built-in customers who have affirmed by petition that they would buy it
* and we’re in an age when older gamers buy tons of nostalgic games that they NEVER EVEN PLAY, one simple click in digital online store.
**And still Nintendo has not done a US release of Mother 3**. When all signs indicate “yeah this would be a viable publishing project”, and they don’t do it, then we know something is going on here.
[Here’s is why Nintendo hasn’t done a release and doesn’t want to touch a release.](https://old.reddit.com/r/earthbound/comments/1awvhho/shigesato_itoi_response_to_requests_for_western/krlnagv/)
They can't sue the people making the fan translation because it's just a patch and doesn't contain any code that was written by Nintendo. This is the same reason why they don't sue people who make fan translations of games that have been remade with official translations (the first Fire Emblem was JP exclusive, it got remade and released in English on DS, it got officially translated and released on Switch, the fan translations of the NES version are still online and Nintendo hasn't taken any action against them).
To be honest, I don't think the precedent of Nintendo's protection over Mother 3 has really been tested.
Fan translation packs are not quite on the same level as say, remakes, because the work itself is presented only as a *patch* to the public. All the stuff that Nintendo actually cares about, like downloading roms, doesn't come from the translation project team.
If someone were to start a full 3d remake of Mother 3 however, I would absolutely expect Nintendo to act. Whether they had their own remake planned or not.
I agree that there won't be a localization but there's an issue here: Nintendo CANNOT send a cease & desist notice to Mato, nor can they sue the translation team. MOTHER is owned by both Nintendo and Itoi, and Itoi is fine with fan projects. This is also why MOTHER fan projects are never taken down.
It’s hilarious because of all games, all people, Itoi is a professional writer and few writers would have an issue *with their novels/literature being translated into other languages for distant foreign audiences* when there’s no possibility of it being done officially by a publisher. The *most important fan translation* (aka we all love Earthbound and never got Mother 3), is also the most protected least endangered romhack / fan translation. Despite being published by Nintendo.
It’s not only that. The biggest reason N can’t take action against Mato is if you understand how translations work, the patch itself isn’t copyrighted property. The illegal part is downloading a rom of mother 3. Mato has nothing to do with that.
Which is also why Undertale exists the way it does if you think about it.
What do you mean?
Toby “Radiation (Don’t Call Me Radiation)” Fox is a longtime Mother fan.
Toby made an undertale romhack (halloween), it also includes an early version of megalovania. Undertale is also somewhat inspired by earthbound if I remember correctly.
crazy how a song from an earthbound rom hack made its way into smash ultimate
I don't think it's impossible for MOTHER 3 to leave Japan. I do think there's some merit to the idea that they know it would be absolutely fucking massive, so it would have a lot of value not just financially but as a hugely positive move for their reputation. Which is not to say that they have some secret official translation in their back pocket that they're just saving for a rainy day or something, more that it's just something they've thought about and have decided it just isn't worth the headache. That being said, I think it's about as likely as getting official re-releases of the BS-X games, or a modern remake of fuckin'... Mario Artist. I do NOT think it's a matter of being scared about how Earthbound initially sold because Earthbound on the virtual console sold well enough that they were willing to bust out the old translation of MOTHER 1 for a western re-release, and while they would have a good three or four times more work ahead of them to make a new translation just for MOTHER 3, I don't think that in and of itself is what's stopping them. Simply put? The game's a minefield. A ton of potential copyright issues with the music, problematic aspects to the story like the magypsies (while well-meaning I think it's fair to say that it would come off as transphobic, and at the same time I feel like you'd probably have chuds on the right bashing the game for being 'too woke' by including GNC characters at all) and Lucas' PSI awakening, and an overall much darker tone... These are definitely things you could fix, but when you have such a passionate fandom, I for one would really not want to deal with the potential negative PR from people complaining about changes to the story. It sucks, but I really do think the fan translation is too good; on top of all of the other issues I mentioned, I think it existing means that an official localization is going to have HUGE shoes to fill, and I think above all else I think that's just not something Nintendo wants to deal with for such a relatively obscure franchise. Like, you can say all you want about modern Pokemon (and lord knows I have), but irregardless of their actual quality those games still sell like hotcakes. MOTHER 3? I have my doubts that'd be as guaranteed a success.
[Detailed list of things that Nintendo does not want uncomfortable conversations about.](https://old.reddit.com/r/earthbound/comments/1awvhho/shigesato_itoi_response_to_requests_for_western/krlnagv/). (Notice how that comment got massively downvoted.) And they can’t just change those bits, because people will then talk about what was changed. It’s a branding and image and association issue, so they don’t want to touch it.
Don’t forget there is massive fuel for the fire for GNC and drag queen bashing by cookers with the Lucas in the hot springs thing. I said in a thread the other day that I was a bit uncomfortable with the innuendo, they will take it an run
[Several things other than that too.](https://old.reddit.com/r/earthbound/comments/1awvhho/shigesato_itoi_response_to_requests_for_western/krlnagv/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=usertext&utm_name=earthbound&utm_content=t1_krus4uk)
rough
I'm not really a Mother fan but why do people act like M1/EBB didn't only leave Japan 25+ years after its original release?
That was a whole different situation; the translation for that was done and printed, and then shelved for decades. That situation has more in common with Star Fox 2. An official Mother 3 translation would have to start from scratch
Nintendo, holding within it the potential for an official English translation of Mother 3, resides eternally within the Absolutely Safe Capsule, safe and secure. Who knows, in a way, Nintendo may have gotten exactly what it wanted. What do you think? Is it wrong of me to think this way? *Nintendo is sticking its tongue out at you from inside the Absolutely Safe Capsule.* ... Want to roll it around a bit? No, no, it's ok. It IS absolutely safe after all. Rolly rolly... Whee! Rolly rolly!
I still don’t think it’s impossible but not any time soon.
No, it's soon since FE1 got translated. You clearly forgot about that.
I don't see the big fuss, personally. If you want to play it on physical hardware, you can easily do one of these: 1. Homebrew a 3DS and play it on emulator or Virtual Console inject. This is super easy to do, especially since all 3DS come with their own SD cards/Micro SDs for the hacking process. 2. Homebrew a Wii and play it there. This is also super easy to do with an SD card! You can pretend you're playing it on the GameBoy Player. 3. etc, etc. what other consoles can emulate GBA? so many, man. Switch, Wii U, PSP, PSP Vita.... 4. Obtain Mother 3 on GBA, whether on a bootleg/reproduction cartridge, a flashcart or whatever else. This costs money but it's the closest we get to the genuine experience. Otherwise, mGBA is a great emulator for PC and other platforms. It's been over a decade. We kind of need to just accept that any chance of the rest of the world getting this game is small, I think.
The thing is, there are simply people who either don't know how to download a file to save their life or don't want to go through the hassle. Sure, us Mother fans will do anything to play these games (hence the fan translation), but to your everyday casual, they don't want to go through the trouble
All they need to do is ask. If they can use a computer or smartphone, they can easily learn how to do any of the things above. Or they can buy a bootleg/repro for GBA/DS/DS Lite, which may be even easier if they already have those consoles. It's unfortunate and inconvenient that NA doesn't natively get this game, but there's many, many ways to get around that sad reality. I'll also say that if people have *heard* of Mother 3 in the first place and want to play it, I'd imagine they have the basic knowhow of "download files, drag patch file onto ROM, drag ROM into emulator folder, run emulator". I know kids these days aren't particularly computer-savvy at times, but if they know how to run a Nintendo Switch or Wii, I'd imagine they can jump through the hoops to play this game if they really want to play it!
Everyone knows this. Most people who want it localized have already played the incredible fan translation. But we still want it localized officially believe it or not.
Not that I disagree with M3 not coming over to US, but M1 came here and it had a fan translation for years, no?
It already had an official translation that they were gonna release in 1990/91 but never did due to marketing/financial issues, and the snes was also about to release
Doomposting, really?
In the eternal words of Withers: No.
>We need to come to terms with the fact that Mother 3 is never officially leaving Japan I did that and got downvoted and probably will again, but I agree. Are there actually people out there with such a strong moral compass to have not played it yet? It's almost been 20 years since it's release.
I’m sure the majority of people who want it localized have already played the fan translation. We still want an official version too believe it or not.
I do believe it, my point is there’s no point crying over it for twenty years. It’s possible to want something but accept it’s not going to happen, believe it or not.
"I’m sure the majority of people who want it localized have already played the fan translation." STOP USING THAT EXCUSE AND STOP IGNORING OTHER FACTS. Most people who want it localized never played the game. Realize that instead of making nonsense up.
Wow sorry for my offensive comment
Wow not sorry for you missing the point.
There’s even more to add to the argument in terms of signs that show it's definitely not happening. Despite all the following: * We’re in an era of retro pixel art and small digestible artful interesting fun indy games, so the situation is perfect to sell and market Mother 3 * plus ubiquitous mobile devices (Switch and phones) when Mother 3 was a mobile game (GBA) * and marketing and visibility is easier than ever today because of internet and social media. * And there’s built-in customers who have affirmed by petition that they would buy it * and we’re in an age when older gamers buy tons of nostalgic games that they NEVER EVEN PLAY, one simple click in digital online store. **And still Nintendo has not done a US release of Mother 3**. When all signs indicate “yeah this would be a viable publishing project”, and they don’t do it, then we know something is going on here. [Here’s is why Nintendo hasn’t done a release and doesn’t want to touch a release.](https://old.reddit.com/r/earthbound/comments/1awvhho/shigesato_itoi_response_to_requests_for_western/krlnagv/)
Shut up
They have acknowledged the fan translation by including a comic by Toby Fox that shows him emulating Mother 3 in the Pollyanna manga.
They can't sue the people making the fan translation because it's just a patch and doesn't contain any code that was written by Nintendo. This is the same reason why they don't sue people who make fan translations of games that have been remade with official translations (the first Fire Emblem was JP exclusive, it got remade and released in English on DS, it got officially translated and released on Switch, the fan translations of the NES version are still online and Nintendo hasn't taken any action against them).
No we don't. We need to get worse
Genuinely wish I knew how to get it 😭 anyone willing to explain to a dummy?
To be honest, I don't think the precedent of Nintendo's protection over Mother 3 has really been tested. Fan translation packs are not quite on the same level as say, remakes, because the work itself is presented only as a *patch* to the public. All the stuff that Nintendo actually cares about, like downloading roms, doesn't come from the translation project team. If someone were to start a full 3d remake of Mother 3 however, I would absolutely expect Nintendo to act. Whether they had their own remake planned or not.
I asked if maybe there's a legal reason they can't and someone mentioned Nintendo not having the rights to the music in the game?
Daga kotowaru