Information:
Back in 1990, Nintendo announced EarthBound to be released on the NES console. Claiming it be done in 1991 (as seen in a small Nintendo Power article), the title was dropped suddenly for unknown reasons. Most likely because the SNES was just being released and this game would not sell well. However, an unknown amount of prototypes were developed for final testing. Somehow they found their way out of Nintendo of America. Some possible theories are that they were given away as gifts to developers and translators of the game, or they could have been taken by other NoA employees. The truth on how they were leaked remains unknown.
The Prototype NES EarthBound Cart finally made its way to a group of ROM translators named Neo Demiforce . After a long process they were finally able to release what is now known as EarthBound Zero. This is the very unofficial ROM release of the NES Prototype EarthBound.
For more in depth information on the history of this prototype and how it surfaced as a ROM, check out ShadowX's Origin of EarthBound Zero: The Interview and EBounding's The Legacy Behind The Game in the Articles section. Also, you really should take a look at LostLevels.Org for a very in depth look at the EarthBound NES Prototype.
The back of the cartridge has 3 stickers reading:
- NES PACKET 23
-
To: Hiro Yamada / International
RE: Send to Mr. Yamauchii c/o NOCL for Evaluation
Title: Earthbound
Date: February 21, 1994 Due: March 15, 1994
Property of Nintendo of America Inc.
- TK-69
How To Get:
- eBay*
Images:
Prototype Cart - EarthBound NES NP Article
