EarthBound 64 Still on the Way!
Hmm... That's odd, in the March issue of Nintendo Power, EarthBound 64 isn't on the Release Forecast list.. But, here in April's issue, there's EarthBound 64 clear as day on the forecast list.
When The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time was announced, Nintendo put this RPG on the front burners and leaving many other RPGs including EarthBound 64 on the back burners. Nintendo didn't release much news on EB 64 after the Zelda announcement because they [Nintendo] didn't want to take the flare away from Zelda.
Another reason that loyal EB fans were worried was because Shigesato Itoi had reportedly left the EB 64 project because of the change in which EarthBound would be ported, changing from the 64DD to cart. The also caused the release date to be constantly changed.
Finally another reason that EB 64 is taking so long to come out is with the game having a non-linear style, featuring 12 chapters to the game. Enabling many playable characters. (Similar to Final Fantasy 6) Also, this game will test the N64's ability to process of 3-D texture mapped polygons.
All and all, I believe that these are the main reasons that EarthBound 64 is taking so long to be released. I'm sure there are others, however, this can be a positive for fans. It shows that Nintendo wants to release a top notch RPG able to out perform the Final Fantasy series and other popular PSX titles. So even though we have to wait a while for Earthbound 64, I'm positive it will be worth the wait.
Other notables is that Pokey is a confirmed character in the game as well as Flint and Lucas. Ness and other Mother 2 characters are said to be in it, but nothing is for sure. Also, there hoping to get the game released by the 4th quarter of this year, if not early 2000.
Sources:
EarthBound 64 HQ
IGN64.com
"The Legacy Behind the Game" by EBounding
RPGamer
Hmm... That's odd, in the March issue of Nintendo Power, EarthBound 64 isn't on the Release Forecast list.. But, here in April's issue, there's EarthBound 64 clear as day on the forecast list.
When The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time was announced, Nintendo put this RPG on the front burners and leaving many other RPGs including EarthBound 64 on the back burners. Nintendo didn't release much news on EB 64 after the Zelda announcement because they [Nintendo] didn't want to take the flare away from Zelda.
Another reason that loyal EB fans were worried was because Shigesato Itoi had reportedly left the EB 64 project because of the change in which EarthBound would be ported, changing from the 64DD to cart. The also caused the release date to be constantly changed.
Finally another reason that EB 64 is taking so long to come out is with the game having a non-linear style, featuring 12 chapters to the game. Enabling many playable characters. (Similar to Final Fantasy 6) Also, this game will test the N64's ability to process of 3-D texture mapped polygons.
All and all, I believe that these are the main reasons that EarthBound 64 is taking so long to be released. I'm sure there are others, however, this can be a positive for fans. It shows that Nintendo wants to release a top notch RPG able to out perform the Final Fantasy series and other popular PSX titles. So even though we have to wait a while for Earthbound 64, I'm positive it will be worth the wait.
Other notables is that Pokey is a confirmed character in the game as well as Flint and Lucas. Ness and other Mother 2 characters are said to be in it, but nothing is for sure. Also, there hoping to get the game released by the 4th quarter of this year, if not early 2000.
Sources:
EarthBound 64 HQ
IGN64.com
"The Legacy Behind the Game" by EBounding
RPGamer