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Earthbound Coming to Wii U Virtual Console in NA / Europe
- Thread starter Jamix012
- Start date
It's not rate at all, there are like 60 auctions up on eBay every day.
It's just really expensive because so many people want it and are willing to pay more than the other guy for it.
Hopefully the skyrocketing price will settle down a bit.
It's easy to lose yourself in your own niche in the internet and think it the status quo. For example, I'm shocked at all the "what is the big deal?" posts in this thread.
But seriously, Nintendo finally acknowledging EB outside of Japan is great news for the franchise. Here's hoping they consider Mother 3 VC worldwide.
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
Finding a $75 copy of Earthbound is amazingly fucking rare. That is literally not an option for 99% of people, 'cause you're not finding one that cheap without a massive amount of luck. When I found a copy at a local play for $130 I was beyond ecstatic.
Davey Cakes
Member
A 20 year old game with a lot of history behind it and a passionate fan community. Never seen the light of day in Europe before either, which is finally being rectified.
Context, people.
They're out there and you just need to know where to look. Paying anything above 100 bucks for it is a complete rip. Even 100 is pushing it especially if it's just the cartridge. The sellers know this, but they also know you all will cough up a testicle for it.
Douche McBaggins The 3rd
Junior Member
I don't know if this is good or bad. Is the best announcement for the Wii U an ancient super nintendo game that is just emulated? How about some original games? And why is this only on the Wii U virtual console? Why not on the 3ds portable where I'm sure many more people would prefer to play an rpg. Though in all fairness, a wii u and an earthbound download is probably pretty close to the cost of a complete earthbound cartridge. Though that cartridge will retain its value for the future while this console will eventually be seen at fleamarkets for 50 bucks in five years give or take.
You'd think a company with a back catalog like Nintendo would realise this, but nope.
DimmuBurgerKing
Member
Gonna fight Lord Belch on the john on my Wii U gamepad.
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
I'd be down with that. It would be interesting to see Earthbound, a game that features a slanted version of the US, have a sequel made by people from the U.S. Maybe it could feature a country called "Sunriseland" that is an American theme park version of Japan?
Bought in a heartbeat.
Master Nairb
Member
Very exciting. Now everyone though actually has to buy it or they'll really start ignoring us the next time we want something.
Yeah, with like 4 million (or more) shipped to stores that never sold unfortunately. I remember going into old EB's and seeing bins full of unsold copies.
You're so full of shit. Just go on eBay and sort by SOLD listings and all of the recent auctions have been near 200 dollars for CARTRIDGE ONLY.
Davey Cakes
Member
Original games are coming and everyone knows it. The system has Virtual Console as a feature so, what, Nintendo should never talk about it and mention in-demand VC games?
Earthbound's NA/EU release is a delicious tidbit. People are still expecting bigger things from Nintendo in the upcoming months in regards to Wii U, but we're allowed to celebrate the small victories.
This was mostly a 3DS Direct anyway. Nintendo were just nice enough to include some Wii U info as well. There will be more Wii U goodness in future Directs and E3!
Chittagong
Gold Member
LOL, haha, no what really??!
Amazing. I don't know how to troll this!
Amazing. I don't know how to troll this!
slightconfuse
Banned
This is not mother 3 but ill take it
Do you have anything to back that number up?
Zippedpinhead
Member
Do I really have to buy a Wii U to get my earthbound fix?
This is a game I want to play again, and though I own an SNES copy, I would rather just let that one sit...
Nintendo! Why could this not get resolved three or four years ago and it be on the Wii virtual console as well?
This is a game I want to play again, and though I own an SNES copy, I would rather just let that one sit...
Nintendo! Why could this not get resolved three or four years ago and it be on the Wii virtual console as well?
Dude, I posted earlier there is an indie store down here in Ft Lauderdale that has a copy for 75. I saw it a couple weekends ago.
And 200 bucks for it is an assramming.
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
There is absolutely zero chance there were anywhere near 4 million copies shipped to stores. Link to the Past sold about 4.6 million units world wide and was one of the biggest releases on the system. You're telling me you think Nintendo made almost as many copies of Earthbound in the US as they sold of Zelda world wide?
Yup its not like this game is widely available to everybody, people being happy about this is no different then people being happy about Duck Tales remake.
eudaemonic
Member
Did not expect this to happen. Good on them!
NoA to acknowledge Mother/Eartbound is what everyone wanted
IMO, not the best way to do it.
Background looks like PSI Rockin'
Davey Cakes
Member
This has been a lingering question, definitely. No one knows why Mother 2/EB was featured in Smash Brothers Brawl's "Masterpieces" section in Japan but was never released on JP Wii VC.
The Hermit
Member
I didn't expected this kind of reaction here, when most of us are very informed about games and stuff, but this is not just an old rom of a snes game.
Until now, NOA and NOE has been denying its very existence, even removing the demo that was o Super Smash Brawl and not releasing said rom on the Wii VC.
This is the megaton. That it opens the possibility of other stuf from this franchise to be localized.
Until now, NOA and NOE has been denying its very existence, even removing the demo that was o Super Smash Brawl and not releasing said rom on the Wii VC.
This is the megaton. That it opens the possibility of other stuf from this franchise to be localized.
They had to have come awfully close. The game was advertised out the ass in GamePros and EGM's when I was a kid. It was being severely pushed as Nintendos hopeful new popular series here in the US and fell damn hard. Even the pack in scratch n sniff stickers and game guide didn't help it.
So because you posted something that makes it true?
What do you think is more accurate of the market value of a cartridge of Earthbound, your crappy little indie store with one copy for 75 or eBay with all the recent sold auctions in the past 30 days being sold for ~200?
Shadow Hog
Member
Anecdotal evidence does not make for a convincing argument.
CrashPrime
Member
Wii U + Earthbound VC download = Cheaper than Earthbound on cart.
I ain't even mad.
I ain't even mad.
SonicMegaDrive
Member
Nah, Earthbound had a decent print run, but it was far less than a million.
Closer to 75,000-100,000, actually.
Nice avatar!
And yes I was going to say, I wonder how they got around whatever music and/or copyright and/or censorship issues were holding it back. I never thought I'd see the day this sort of announcement popped up.
It does if you yell loud enough, I suppose!
Totally
Wow that really helps me.
not
Absolutely. I dont bullshit on here.
The crappy indie store. Your Ebays and Amazons sell it at those crazy prices because the sellers arent idiots. They know the hardest of the hard desire the game and will pay whatever price for it even though it isnt worth anywhere close to that amount. Finding a copy isn't like picking gnat shit out of pepper.
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
They absolutely came nowhere close to producing 4 million copies in the US. Thinking so is absolute insanity or showing that you have no clue how much games sold back then.
Here are some numbers quickly pulled from wiki:
- Zelda - 4.61 million worldwide
- Dragon Quest VI - 3.2 million in Japan
- Final Fantasy VI - 2.55 million in Japan
- Final Fantasy V - 2.45 million in Japan
- Final Fantasy IV - 1.44 million in Japan
- Chrono Trigger - 2.7 million shipped (may also include Playstation numbers)
Those are some of the top selling RPG's on the system, ever. There were also only 9 games in the history of the SNES to sell 4 million or more. Look at that data and explain to me why on earth you would think Nintendo would make 4 million copies of Earthbound for the US market?
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