How a copywriter’s personal grief helped birth a cult classic
In short: In 1989, a Japanese copywriter pitched a radical idea to Nintendo: a role-playing game set in the modern United States instead of a fantasy realm. Despite initial rejection and skepticism, the project became a landmark of gaming history by blending standard RPG mechanics with a contemporary, offbeat parody of Americana.
Shigesato Itoi, a copywriter with no prior gaming experience, conceived the idea for Mother (later known as EarthBound Beginnings) after playing Dragon Quest II. He wanted to move away from medieval fantasy because he lacked knowledge of the era, finding a contemporary setting more compelling. The game's narrative follows a boy named Ninten who investigates paranormal events using his great-grandfather's psychic research. Itoi sought to blend standard RPG mechanics with a modern-day framework. He specifically wanted to create a game that would personally move the player emotionally.
To ground this, he envisioned a world where players used hospitals for healing and baseball bats for combat, parodying Americana and Western culture. The development was fraught with tension. The setting features offbeat parodies of late 20th-century American life, including towns, deserts, and swamps. Players encounter bizarre enemies like robots, aliens, and brainwashed humans. Instead of traditional dungeons, the party explores warehouses and laboratories. The game utilizes a first-person battle system triggered by random encounters.
Shigeru Miyamoto initially rejected Itoi's pitch, "ESP1," questioning if a non-industry professional could "pull it off." Miyamoto eventually green-lit the project but demanded Itoi write his own documentation and simplify the concept. To accommodate Itoi's desire for a volunteer-like atmosphere, a studio called Ape was founded in March 1989. Despite the development team's skepticism that the game would be a The studio's name and logo were inspired by the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Itoi's personal life, specifically his mother's absence during his childhood, deeply influenced the title's naming. He also drew inspiration from Steven Spielberg's films and John Lennon's music. Despite the team's doubts, Itoi forged an intimate bond with the developers to complete the project.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: EarthBound Beginnings
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