A Single Mother: EarthBound, Shigesato Itoi, Stubborn Nintendo and a Cult Following Over One Game!

In 1995 the only game in the Mother series was released in English. Despite low sales, EarthBound had a lot going for it and still does...(Chapter Markers and more below…)

Episode information
GTV 189 “A Single Mother" Season 10 Episode 6
Original Airdate: May 11, 2025
Produced April 17-30 May 7-10, 2025
Recorded at Butsudan Studios and edited on my 14” MacBook M1 Pro! Edited and produced with Photoshop, Final Cut Pro and on occasion Topaz Video and Photo AI. All paid for with Gainful Employment™ while riding the train to work and home, back and forth, day after day, and lunch breaks too!

0:00 GTV ID: No Crying Where Available
0:04 Prologue: A Flash of Memory
0:50 Act 1: I Believe in You
9:40 CM 1: Mother - At Last Complete (Japan, 1989)
10:12 Act 2: Buy Something Will Ya!
20:47 CM 2: Mother 2 - For Adults, Kids and Your Sister Too (Japan, 1994)
21:19 Act 3: Somewhere, Someday
30:16 CM 3: Mother 3 - Strange, Funny and Heartrending (Japan, 2006)
30:48 Epilogue: The End

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Partial Transcript

Earthbound was the brainchild of Shigesato Itoi, a celebrity in Japan. One who’s status made him a household name long before Earthbound. His fame is hard to explain or quantify. Perhaps he is most well known for his commercials, having produced dozens of advertisements that are still remembered today. Or it could be his authorship, writing multiple tomes of essays and short stories. He even writes the Japanese editions of the “I Spy!”

It could be his television appearances - where Shigesato Itoi has been a mainstay often appearing as a host or commentator, while taking in occasional character roles. He even provided the voice of Tatsuo Kusakabe (the father of Mei and Satsuki) in the film My neighbor Totoro.

So how did Shigesato Itoi, a modern day Renaissance Man come to make a video game in the first place? He was naturally a fan of them!!

When Mother was released on July 27, 1989, The Family Computer was its peak
Backed by a very life like ad campaign, that strangely, was not handled by Itoi, Mother exceeded expectations - Selling over 400,000 units and standing as the 3rd best selling FC game in Japan for 1989!

That kind of impact drew the attention of Nintendo of America.

No one ever knew, but Nintendo had big plans for Earth Bound in 1991. An 80 page strategy guide was in the works, as well as a full soundtrack album for the game! Something that was commonplace in Japan but unheard of in America! Not to mention that yet again a lengthy RPG was getting an English translation. So why did so much effort go into a game only to never sell it?

CMs Furnished By: Game CM Collection, Other clips by: Game Escape, CM Mania, Switch On, and Nintendo both past and present.