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Done and done: Mother 3 fan translation is complete! photo

We told you it was coming, and we just wanted to give you a heads up: the Mother 3 fan translation project is complete!

"After more than 13 years of waiting, the sequel to EarthBound is now in English!" writes Tomato. "We tried our very best to make a worthy translation, and I think we came close to hitting that mark. With any luck, the translation will seem just as "strange, funny, and heartrending" as the original Japanese version."

You'll need a ROM of the game to use the translation patch, which means you should buy it and rip your own, of course. Not paying for stuff is bad, and as the folks behind the translation put it: "It’s not cool to brazenly pirate stuff! Itoi, Nintendo, HAL, and Brownie Brown worked hard on this game."

Alrighty then ... Mother 3 English translation GET

[Via Jackal27's cblog]








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46 comments | showing # 1 to 46
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xollner's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 11:49
xollner
I know what I'm doing this weekend
Jonathan Holmes's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 11:52
Jonathan Holmes
For those who don't already know, Mother 3 is waaaaaay more plot intensive than Earthbound. It has one of the most dramatic storylines I've ever expecience in a videogame.

For serious people, if you like RPGs, you have to play this game.
Miguelcar808's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 11:54
Miguelcar808
Now is a good time to have a RetroforceGO! mother\earthbound themed show
chickennoodlespraypaint's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 11:58
chickennoodlespraypaint
liiiiike omg! i was just going to blog about this but you beat me to it! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
J03yyz's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 11:59
J03yyz
oh my god i dont believe it
The Tormented's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:01
The Tormented
Well, seems like I will pass the next few weeks playing this on my PSP. Goodbye social life...
Perry Simm's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:09
Perry Simm
OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD
Stella Wong's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:11
Stella Wong
YES!!! So happi!
Fusiontr's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:13
Fusiontr
I've yet to finish Earthbound
I fail :(
byrc's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:15
byrc
um i'm sorry to bring this up, but the act of modifying copyrighted material is copyright infringement aka "PIRATING".

Creating a translation patch isn't illegal, but the act of copying a legit copy so to modify with a translation patch is an act of piracy.

So all you self-righteous jackasses saying that you should pay for a "second hand" game because you don't condone piracy should shut the fuck up.

Just because you bought the original CART does not mean you have the right to modify it with a translation patch. To do it you must make a copy, and unfortunately you only have the legal right have in possession 1 copy of the CART.

If you don't believe me, read up on it. Nintendo has explicitly stated that owners of game cartridges do not have the right to make backups and is considered copyright infringement if you do so and are subject to fines and imprisonment.

Sorry thats how the current law works.


Amazing how doing something you think is harmless is actually a felony.
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:19
king3vbo
FUCK YEAR
Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:25
Excel-2011
Let's see what all the excitement is about.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:26
Holyetheline
Hell yeah.
byrc's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:29
byrc
One more thing, I love the emulation and translation scene. Thanks to them I got to play tons of snes rpgs in highschool. I was one of those unlucky few who got a genesis instead of snes for christmas as a kid.

My point was that I hate it when people want to rationalize their actions. Playing games on an emulator is an act of piracy, live with it. Why do you think translation groups don't give access to pre-patch games, but just the patch? Because the patch itself isn't illegal to have in possession. Having a patched copy is illegal and is considered piracy.

Before anyone makes the stupid point that you can just patch the original cart, I want to say, you're an idiot. You can't do that. You actually have to make another copy. Do to how cartridges work, you can't patch the game while in the original cart. You can of course reprogram an empty cartridge, but hat again is an act of copying (PIRACY).

No matter what you do, you're committing Piracy.

Buying the game off of ebay doesn't benefit the creators or the copyright holders, only the douchebag selling the game at 10x the market value.

Basically you're paying someone so you can pirate a game. I don't know about you, but that sounds utterly ridiculous.
MisterMingo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:29
MisterMingo
I can't wait for more final boss rape allusions!!

But no, really, I have a huge boner over this news.
AltDelete's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:29
AltDelete
OH MAN OH MAN OH MAN
naia-the-gamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:30
naia-the-gamer
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
Brilliam's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:38
Brilliam
ease the fuck up, byrc. nick was using fucking sarcasm.

you see, people on this site use that kind of overwraught sarcasm as a clever jab at how much you legally need to cover your ass whenever you even mention something vaguely ilegal. in fact, everyone on the internet does it. it's a "thing."

welcome to destructoid, you're an angry nerd retard.
Cataract's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:40
Cataract
I love everything right now. I'm so happy!
HarassmentPanda's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:42
HarassmentPanda
@byrc

We all know the related legal issues, but in this case many people just don't care. The battle to get a sequel to Earthbound in the states has been going on for years and it seems this is the only way most people are ever going to get to play this game.

I imported a NEW copy of Mother 3 from Japan. I'll buy a localized copy of Mother 3 if Nintendo ever releases one in the US. No one here is so disillusioned that they believe downloading a ROM and patching it isn't illegal. The suggestion of buying a cart is merely a moral choice in no way intended to save anyone's hide if the FBI comes knocking on your door.

Get over yourself and allow the people that have been waiting over a decade for an Earthbound sequel to enjoy this moment.
Jacobgray's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:52
Jacobgray
I have three things to say. Yes, yes, and oh hell yes. I imported a copy of this quite a while back and couldn't for the life of me get into it for lack of understanding. Very good news.
jedcred's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 12:59
jedcred
@byrc

http://www.betanews.com/article/House_Bill_Seeks_to_Exempt_Backups_from_DMCA_Violation/1172619649

As I understand it, it doesn't matter what Nintendo says; fair use states that making backup copies for archival purposes is legal, as long as copy-protection schemes are not violated. Last I checked, the cart media did not a copy-protection scheme employ.

Certain rights cannot be surrendered no matter what a EULA says (your soul, for instance, is still your soul, no matter how many times you sign into WOW :). However, a way to use those backup copies is not a guaranteed right.

Modifying a software that you own is also your right, as long as it is not for public display. Reselling that software, however, is not your right.

Releasing software to modify legally obtained software is not illegal. Releasing software to modify illegally obtained software is not illegal either. At least, not yet.

At the end of the day, we know that a large portion of the people who download this patch will not buy the game, nor donate to the fan translators (me? I'm waiting for Earthbound 2 for the VC). That doesn't make anything the fan translators have done illegal at all. The people around them, however, is a different story...

What this really will change (eventually, hopefully) is the spread of the idea that we live in a global community. Regions are artificial creations that only cause issue like this to exist, and perpetuating the artificial nature of them (as Sony has finally given up region-locking its games for the PS3, which makes importer's lives that much more legal) is just a really backwards way of thinking in a rapidly changing world. I may not benefit from this particular patch, but more power to those that put their time and effort into such endeavors.

Also, I don't believe the United States is under any obligation to protect the copyright for a work registered in Japan and not the US, unless the US registration of the copyright for Earthbound 2 included all future systems and such. AFAIK on that one.
CBunn's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 13:04
CBunn
Meh, they will probably find some religious quote in it and delay it.

/bitter
welkstar's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 13:09
welkstar
Yay!
mix's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 13:18
mix
Where can you buy it from?

Or is it all NOT rom getting?
Kinji's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 13:23
Kinji
Awesome! I've been waiting for this, it should also keep me occupied during all those days I booked off work because of Little Big Planet.
Captain_Spanky's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 15:00
Captain_Spanky
It was amazing playing through in Japanese and using a script translation. In English will be a million times better. I was pretty damn impressed that I could get the gist of the story most of the time before I checked the translation, purely because of body language, animation and music.
SWE3tMadness's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 15:20
SWE3tMadness
I've never tried doing ROMs or anything on my computer, but I may just have to import this and give it shot. Just to see what all the fuss is about. :D
eternalplayer2345's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 15:37
eternalplayer2345
Today is like the best day ever. Huge love goes out to the translation team
*fuzzy pickles*
JiR INC's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 15:38
JiR INC
thank you very much ;)
Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 15:50
Dan CiTi
"Only 1m20s to Suck It Up!" plays in your head manually.
AlucardX24's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 16:16
AlucardX24
Makes me so proud to be a member of Starmen.net. It's been a wonderful seven years!
Gen Eric Gui's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 17:39
Gen Eric Gui
I'm already NOT playing it.

Amazing. Simply amazing. Nintendo is losing points by the SECOND for not having released this in the states.
The Grudge's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 18:08
The Grudge
I want!!!!
But first things first. I need to finish Mother 1.
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 19:06
Darren Nakamura
@byrc: The Mother 3 translation team has on their site that you should buy official merchandise to give money to the creators of the game.

I too am against piracy, and I understand that the copy of Mother 3 that I bought off of eBay isn't sending the money to Nintendo, but when the friggin' game is out of stock, and out of print, there's nothing more I can do to justify having a ROM and then patching it with a translation.

I would do anything in my power to play a totally legal version of this game, while giving the money to the creators, but Nintendo is making it impossible to do just that.
ZekeThePlumber's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 19:10
ZekeThePlumber
Well, there's something for me to do while waiting for LBP!

Thanks for nothing Big N.
Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 19:14
Excel-2011
I was expecting ten times the number of comments by now.
zockroach's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 19:49
zockroach
amazing. amazing. amazing.
SalvaPot's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/17/2008 23:59
SalvaPot
I have just bought Kirby Super Star Ultra, Final Fantasy IV and Animal Crossing dor DS on the toys r us
BUT I DONT PK-FUKCING CARE IM GOING TO PLAY THIS GAME ALL NIGHT LOOONG!!!!
jackal27's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/18/2008 02:25
jackal27
Hey! Thanks for giving my blog cred! I'm so excited to play this, I'm trying to find the best emulator to play it on, haha.
Solivagant's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/18/2008 04:36
Solivagant
This isnt about a console shooter? Wait, a news piece that's about a great community project?! What happened, folks? Where's my console shooter news?
Superfluous Moniker's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/18/2008 08:48
Superfluous Moniker
Sweet, had been visiting their site weekly for updates for the last year...

I've barely put the game down since I got home from work yesterday, already on Chapter 3, heh.

As for emulators, VBA-M is the only one I've seen that can handle the fire scene early in the game without slowdown, although there is an issue with the music speeding up in the menus on occasion. It's totally playable though.
Zen Albatross's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/18/2008 10:07
Zen Albatross
FINALLY!! <3<3

Mad-crazy props to the translators and coders. You guys are a true testament to fan devotion and public service.
Nameless Monster's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/10/2009 22:31
Nameless Monster
Already finished it three times. Now I'm waiting for my MOTHER 3 Handbook. Darn those delays!
Kitsune Baka's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2010 20:29
Kitsune Baka
@ Byrc - I agree with the "So all you self-righteous jackasses saying that you should pay for a "second hand" game because you don't condone piracy should shut the fuck up" part, but you still sound just as self-righteous as you're accusing the "pirates" of being.

@Jedcred - I think the point Byrc was trying to make is just that buying the cartridge doesn't change squat, Nintendo even says that in their homepage in the FAQ about emulators. In their eyes, if you buy a second hand cartridge of Seiken Densetsu 3 before applying Neil Corlett's patch to a Rom, it's still a crime. Gay as it may be, that's how they are.

Personally I couldn't give to squirts. When it comes to big new games like that guy in Australia or whatever who uploaded a copy of SMB Wii, sure I can see a reason to flip out. But when its a game from 10 or 15 years ago that they've shown no interest in licencing to add to the Virtual Console, f-ck it.

Those fan-translation teams put just as much work and soul into their translations as the people who coded those games back in the 90's, you'd think that they would just accept it as tribute, not go all Lars Ulrich / Prince on people. If they wanted to -slow- piracy, they should maybe try releasing more stuff to the VC, stuff we didn't get that we should've like Mother 3, or Secret of Mana 2, or Terranigma, or the SFC version of Tales of Phantsia (GBA version sucked, sorry...) but I won't hold my breath.

The VC is a joke to them here and in Japan too, they don't even have the aforementioned titles on the service in their country or origin. Why would they waste any time and effort on something so old that only a niche of obscure fanatics would appreciate, when there's new games to market?
Kitsune Baka's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2010 20:48
Kitsune Baka
Dexter345: "I would do anything in my power to play a totally legal version of this game, while giving the money to the creators, but Nintendo is making it impossible to do just that."

If you want to play these older unreleased games but you're also a moralist (or you fear for your freedom) then yer stuck between a rock and a hard place. You can either wait for Nintendo to licence the game to put it on the VC so you can play it through legal channels, or you can throw caution to the wind and do it the other way. It would be -NICE- of them to licence some of those aforementioned games (most importantly SD3/SoM2) since if they did I would go right out and buy a Wii and the points so I could play it. Heck they could probably do a better font job than Niel's team did and they could set the title screen for what it was SUPPOSED TO BE, instead of some romaji title. But this is just unlikely to ever happen, even after a massive fan campaign they'd probably still just ignore us all but then hold out that "But if you play it illegally, we'll track you down and sue you" part.
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