Sure, some might stare a bit cockeyed at the EarthBound fan community, but you can't say they're not resourceful, dedicated, and above all, tenacious. Proof positive: over 250 pages of devotion bound in one book, the EarthBound Anthology.
When the news dropped of the Mother3.org/Starmen.net collaboration, I mentioned something of the Starmen EB Siege project, an endeavor for which the EarthBound fan community was raising a pretty substantial sum of money (now over $7,500). FedEx dropped the fruits of their labor into my lap this morning: a metric ton compilation of artwork, music, and media by members of the EarthBound fan community.
The EarthBound Anthology chronicles the saga of Shigesato Itoi's Mother series and its commercial flop in North America, background information on the franchise, sales data and the myriad campaigns waged by Starmen.net and the fan community to bring EarthBound back to North America. The weighty text portion of the anthology ends with a proposal: the time is ripe for a revival, and there's a mighty audience waiting for Nintendo to capitalize on the opportunity. Driving the point home are 200+ pages of fan art and four DVDs loaded with fan games, music, videos, performances -- it's an absolute avalanche of content.
The goal of EB Siege is to extend the reach of the community out towards would-be allies to the cause, media, developers, and Nintendo itself and communicate their message: that this is a series, beyond all others in Nintendo's catalog, that should not be swept aside. Even if EarthBound ain't really your thing, you have to recognize Starmen.net's gesture as one that goes beyond the standard-issue objections by most of the internet ("biological web shooters!? Quick, to petitiononline.org!"). More than a simple fan DVD or 'zine or somesuch, the EarthBound Anthology is an extremely well-designed, terribly comprehensive love-letter to the fan community and a clear message to Nintendo that they won't soon forget.
Check out the pictures in the gallery. Big thanks to Starmen's Reid for the hook-up.
Contest:
4:14 PM on 07.06.2007
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Keep pushin'!
P.S. Hey Linde, can I have that anthology after you're done looking through it, and coercing Nintendo to make another Mother installment? :D
It's a shame that Nintendo can't make a deal with them to take a percent of the profits or something, because I would pay a lot of money for it.
If you have a wii, add starmen.net as your friend. wii@starmen.net
Earthbound Anthology, not Mother
Linde, I am now more jealous of you than any other man. I had been dying to get my hands on one of the old ones and now you sit before me with this masterpiece.
...although I'd prefer some more Mother.
Nintendo needs to know that people beyond starmen.net also like this game. These weirdos aren't crazy bcause they're crazy... they're crazy because they have every right to be, because EARTHBOUND IS JUST SO DAMNED GOOD.
And yes, I am one of those weirdos. Long live starmen.net and long live anyone else who loves earthbound as much as they do.
Poems About Friendship
Sales Taxes
The Krup Law Group
When I visit Orlando, Florida later this week I'll be sending a lot of time at the Orlando Hotel playing these types of titles. Maybe I'll get into some golf, as Florida is known for the wonderful courses.
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