Proto:EarthBound

This page details one or more prototype versions of EarthBound.

  This prototype is documented on Hidden Palace.

This article has just been started and needs the article basics added. Help us out and add them.

This article is a work in progress. ...Well, all the articles here are, in a way. But this one moreso, and the article may contain incomplete information and editor's notes.

To do: There's more.

On May 30, 2020, an American prototype of EarthBound was found and dumped by Stephan "Archon1981" Reese. The prototype is dated March 27, 1995 - almost three months before the game's American release.

Differences

Intro/Title Screen

US Proto	US Final

The "EARTH BOUND" text is higher in the prototype.

US Proto	US Final

The font for the copyright info is different in the prototype, as it shares the same font used on Mother 2's title screen, while the final US release opted for a smaller, anti-aliased font. The background color is a slightly different shade of indigo in the prototype. The positioning of the logo is slightly lower than the final version.

To do: Cover all other corrupted anomalies, and maybe provide a patch fix for them later.

Overworld Sprites

US Proto	Japan/US Final

It is currently unknown how this happened, but in this build, a few of the visual aspects of the game have become slightly corrupted, such as that one sprite with Ness in his pajamas, which instead pulls from his bike spriteset.

Japan/US Proto	US Final

The red cross on the nurse's hat is still left in the prototype.

US Proto	Japan/US Final

One of the sailors had different sprites in the prototype.

US Proto	US Final

The pencil and eraser statues had slighty different sprites in the prototype.

Japan/US Proto	US Final

The Saturn Valley ATM machine in the prototype still has "CD" written on the top.

Japan	US Proto	US Final

While Ness still appears as a nude in Magicant, a smile was added in the prototype, before it was replaced with a copy-pasted version of Ness's pajamas sprite in the final US release.

NPC Dialogue

To do: 206/1405 done. Do the rest.

See below for the dialogue entries for NPCs. Control code differences not included.

No	US Final	US Proto	Comment
002	*Uh huh... Uh huh... *You sound like a real whiner to me. *Don't get lippy, or I'll kick your butt!	*Uh huh...Uh huh... *You sound like a real whiner to me. *Don't get lippy, or I'll kick your butt!	The final adds spaces after ellipses. This change is prevalent throughout the script. Further instances are omitted.
005	*Frank has an incredibly powerful weapon. *If you get your hands on it, I bet you can stand against any enemy.	*Frank has an incredibly powerful weapon. *If you get your hands on it, you can stand against any enemy.
006	*When you buy an item that should be equipped, *do you bother to actually equip it? *Heh eh, I gave a hint to my own enemy... *I'm such a rockin' dude! *I obviously have total confidence in my own abilities. *So...are you ready to get it on, Spanky? *The magic butterfly made [NAME] relax.	*When you buy an item that should be equipped, *do you bother to actually equip it? *Heh eh, I gave a hint to my own enemy... *I'm such a rockin' dude! *I obviously have total confidence in my own abilities. *So...are you ready to get it on, Spanky? *The magic butterfly made [NAME] relax.
0010	*Woof! Woof! *(I'm Ruffini the dog. *I'm being possessed by the spirit of the game designer... *Do you see the window showing HP and PP at the bottom of the screen? *When you go to a store that has equippable items, *this window will either flash, look normal or become black. *If you are allowed to equip an item, and it is stronger than your current item, *the window will flash. *If the item's power is equal to, or less than your current equipped item, *the window looks normal. *If you can't equip an item, the window is black. *#Ruff# I thought you'd like to know. *Now it's time to become a regular dog again...)	*Woof! Woof! *I'm Ruffini the dog. *I'm being possessed by the spirit of the game designer... *Do you see the window showing HP and PP at the bottom of the screen? *When you go to a store that has equippable items, *this window will either flash, look normal or become black. *If you are allowed to equip an item, and it is stronger than you current item, *the window will flash. *If the item's power is equal to, or less than you current equipped item, *the window looks normal. *If you can't equip an item, the window is black. *#Ruff# I thought you'd like to know. *Now it's time to become a regular dog again...)
0020	*Beeeep...* answered the phone. *Hello, it's your dad. *“Work to exhaustion when you're young...” *Have you ever heard of a weird saying like this? *Just remember, I'm always behind you 100%. Don't be afraid. *I know that you're brave. You can do it! *Don't forget to call me periodically during your adventure. *I can make a record of your progress when you call me. *Oh yeah, I deposited $30 into your bank account. *Do you have your ATM card? *Withdraw your money from any cash machine and buy whatever you need. *Good Luck, m'boy! I feel like such a hero! *What? Well, the father of a hero, at least. Wa ha ha! *Slam! Beeeeeeeep!	*Beeeep...* answered the phone. *''Hello, it's your dad. *''Work to exhaustion when you're young...'' *Have you ever heard of a weird saying like this? *Just remember, I'm always behind you 100%. Don't be afraid. *I know that you're brave. You can do it! *Don't forget to call me periodically during your adventure. *I can make a record of your progress when you call me. *Oh yeah, I deposited $30 into your bank account. *Do you have your ATM card? *Withdraw your money from any cash machine and buy whatever you need. *Good Luck, m'boy! I feel like such a hero! *What? Well, the father of a hero, at least. Wa ha ha! *Slam! Beeeeeeeep!	Double quotes in the prototype are just two single quotes. In the final, the script uses two dedicated characters for double quotes. This change is prevalent throughout the script. Further instances are omitted.
0058	*Our nightly rate is not cheap, *but we have clean sheets, and the rooms are secure. *I'm sure you understand that this keeps us very busy.	*Our nightly rate is not cheap, *but we have clean sheets, and the rooms are secure. *I hope you understand that this keeps us very busy.
0061	*You look like you'd be a real target for the Sharks. *You'd better be careful.	*You look like a real target for the Sharks. You'd better be careful.
0064	*Do you actually think you can just come up and talk to me anytime you want?	*Do you think you can come up and talk to me anytime you want?
0081	*Some suspicious-looking kids are hanging out in the woods north of the library. *I wonder if they are members of the Sharks. *To stop the spread of the gang, someone should shut down their gathering places, *don't you think? *I've started a movement *that will stop all of the bad influences on the children of Onett. *I call it the “Fresh Breeze Movement.” Hum de dum dum...	*Some suspicious-looking kids are hanging out in the woods north of the library. *I wonder if they are members of the Sharks. *To stop the spread of the gang, someone should shut down their gathering places, *don't you think? *I'll start a movement that will stop all of the bad influences on the children of Onett. *I'll call it the ''Fresh Breeze Movement.'' Hum de dum dum...
0085	*Hey hey hey! I'm Mayor B.H. Pirkle. It's so nice to meet you. *You beat up the town bullies, *punched them out big time, kicked their butts, bit their heads off, *spit in their eyes, and made them wet their pants. *Then you forced them to promise not to make any more trouble. Thank you! *What? You want a key to the touring entertainers' shack? *For someone as great as you, giving you the key could help keep the town peaceful. *However, if you encounter a dangerous situation, *please don't ask me to take any responsibility. *I'll be able to avoid any responsibility, right?	*Hey hey hey! I'm Mayor B.H. Pirkle. It's so nice to meet you. *You beat up the town bullies, *punched them out big time, kicked their butts, bit their heads off, *spit in their eyes, and made them wet their pants. *Then you forced them to promise not to make any more trouble. Thank you! *What? *You want a key to the touring entertainers' shack? *For someone as great as you, giving you the key could help keep the town peaceful. *However, if you encounter a dangerous situation, *please don't ask me to take any responsibility. *Do you think I'd have to be responsible for any trouble?
0086	*In the next election, please give a speech supporting Mayor Pirkle. *Hee hee hee.	*In the next election please give a speech supporting Mayor Pirkle. *Hee hee hee.
0088	*City Hall is to the east. You know, where the sun rises!	*City Hall is to the East, you know, where the sun rises!
0089	*I moved here from the way, way, way away next town. *In the next town, there is the... what is the [NAME]?... *uh... Polar Star preschool. *The preschool is at 's house. * uses... what is it called?... uh... magic.	*I moved here from the way, way, way away next town. *Her mother has the...what is the [NAME]?...uh...Polar Star pre-school. *The pre-school is at 's house. * uses...what is it called?...uh...magic.
0093	*(Please take my son along. *He may look like a regular, small mouse, *but he can lead you to an exit if you're lost in a maze.)	*(Please take my son along. *He may look like regular, small mouse, *but he can lead you to an exit if you're lost in a maze.)
0099	*..... ..... ..... * It's useless talking to him now.)	*..... * ..... * ..... * It's useless talking to him now.)
0103	*I recently read a book titled “Our Convenient Society.” *It said that our modern society demands *that there always be an ATM in hotels and drugstores. *Just knowing that is convenient! *I'm glad I read the book... *I can't believe I didn't know this stuff. *I'll check whether or not we have an ATM in our drugstore...	*I recently read a book titled ''Our Convenient Society.'' *It said that our modern society demands *that there always be an ATM in hotels and drugstores. *Just knowing that is convenient! *I'm glad I read that... *I can't believe I didn't know that. *I'll check whether or not we have an ATM in our drugstore...
0107	*I'm researching “Giant Step.” *It's located north and west of Onett. *I heard it possesses a special power!	*I'm researching ''Giant Step.'' It's located in the Northwest position of Onett. *I heard it possesses a special power!
108	*I can't believe I saw it with my own eyes. *I was staring out the window and there it was, just fluttering there... *I'd only seen it in the encyclopedia before. *What was it? *A Magic butterfly! *If you get close to a Magic butterfly, all your cares fly away, *just like a fluttering butterfly. *Yep, yep! *That's the effect of the legendary Magic butterfly. *I love talking about it! *Ooops! *Sorry about the outburst... *I got carried away with all the talk about lovely butterflies...	*I can't believe I saw it with my own eyes. *I was staring out the window and there it was, just fluttering there... *I'd only seen it in the encyclopedia before. *What was it? *A magic butterfly! *If you get close to a Magic Butterfly, all your cares fly away, *just like a fluttering butterfly. *Yep, yep! *That's the effect of the legendary magic butterfly. *I love talking about it! *Ooops! *Sorry about the outburst... *I got carried away with all the talk about lovely butterflies...
0120	*I had a dream about you, and you were traveling with a cute girl. *If the dream comes true, say hi to her for me. *After all, I'm single...	*I had a dream about you, and you were traveling with a cute girl. *If the dream comes true, say hi to her. After all, I'm single...
0121	*I'll give you my [ITEM], *I know you've wanted it for a long time. *It's the best cap for someone really brave like you.	*I'll give you my [ITEM], I know you've wanted it for a long time. *It's the best cap for someone really brave like you.
123	*Oh! *You woke me up... *Pokey! I've been looking all over for you... *You see, Pokey got scared and ran away... *Well, I'm glad that you're okay at least... *Let's go home now. I bet Mom and Dad are worried sick about us. *Geez! Sometimes I wonder which one of us is the real big brother.	*Oh! *You woke me up... *Pokey! I've been looking all over for you... *You see, Pokey got scared and ran away ... *Well, I'm glad that you're okay at least... *Let's go home now. I bet mom and dad are worried sick about us. *Geez! Sometimes I wonder which one of us is the real big brother.
0126	*[NAME], I'm doing watch-out duty for the hideout. *Can you take over?	*[NAME], I'm staking out the hideout. Can you take over?
0128	*A library is a nice place to learn stuff. *I got a lot of info about EarthBound. *You can borrow maps for nothing!	*A library is a nice place to learn stuff. *I received a lot of info about EarthBound. *You can borrow maps for nothing!
0131	*A girl named [NAME] lives in Twoson. *Her mother runs a preschool out of their home. *I can't remember the name of the school, but I heard [NAME]'s really special. *Why is she special? *I forgot to ask. Oh, well...	*A girl named [NAME] lives in Twoson. Her mother runs a pre-school out of their home. *I can't remember the name of the school, but I heard [NAME]'s really special. *Why is she special? *I forgot to ask. Oh, well...
0143	*The road to Twoson is closed. *You can't just squeeze through road blocks, either! *Onett is famous for roadblocks!	*The road to Twoson is closed. *You can't walk through a road block, either! *Onett is famous for roadblocks!
0144	*Don't talk to me! I'm on duty. *Until I have Chief Strong's permission, I can't let you through!	*Don't talk to me! I'm on duty. *Until I have Chief Strong's approval, I can't let you go!
0145	*..... *...I'm Frank. You are? *C'mon, can't you at least say your [NAME]? *“Fail-proof” Frank can't be beaten. *Puff, puff, puff And this is “Frankystein Mark II.”	*... *...I'm Frank. You are? *C'mon, can't you at least say your [NAME]? *''Fail-proof'' Frank can't be beaten. *Puff, puff, puff And this is ''Frankystein the 2nd.''
0150	*Onett police are infamous for closing roads if something is going on. *We are going for the world record...	*Onett police are infamous for closing roads if something is going on. *We are going for the Guinness World Record...	"Guinness World Record" reference removed, which is in the original Japanese script.
0156	*Clear out. Get out of my way. Clear out. Get out of my way. Clear out. Get out of my way. *Clear out. Of way out get my *Whoops, my mistake... I mean “get out of my way!”	*Clear out. Get out of my way. *Clear out. Get out of my way. *Clear out. Get out of my way. *Clear out. Out get of way my. Whoops, my mistake... *I mean ''get out of my way!''
0159	*That meteorite looks different than usual. *It's strange and marvelous... as well as mysterious... ooooo!...	*That meteorite looks different than usual. *It's strange and marvelous...as well as mysterious...ooooo!...
0197	* There are still lots of fires burning here and there. It's HOT!)	* There are still lots of fires burning here and there. *It's HOT!)
0206	*If this is a sign of what lies below, I just need a little time. *My destiny is to find and dig up the buried treasure. *I'll eat garlic and work out to help strengthen myself. *Go home now. You're getting in the way of my work. *You may start to get greedy thoughts...	*If this is a sign of what lies below, it's just a matter of time. *My destiny is to dig up the buried treasure. *I'll eat garlic and workout to help strengthen myself. *Go home now. You're getting in the way of my work. *You may start to get greedy thoughts...

Battle Text

No	US Final	US Proto	Comment
005	*[USER] spies on [TARGET]!	*[USER] spies on [TARGET]!	The space before the linebreak was removed.
065	*[USER] stole a [ITEM] in the confusion of the battle!	*[USER] stole a [ITEM] *in the confusion of the battle!
069	*[USER] stumbled, but fired a strange beam.	*[USER] stumbled, but fired a strange beam.	A lot of changes in the battle text were to adjust the linebreaking. Further instances are omitted.
177	*[USER] rayed a blast of [ITEM]!	*[USER] rayed a blast of [ITEM] out!
189	*[USER] put the [ITEM] on (CALL){6E}{E6}{C7}{00} nose! *[USER] searched for the smell of the magic truffle.	*[USER] put the [ITEM] on (CALL){6E}{E6}{C7}{00} nose! *[USER] searched for the smell of the magic mushroom.	"Magic mushroom" was changed to "magic truffle" to not be conflated with the hallucinogen.
207	*[USER] breathed in through (CALL){6E}{E6}{C7}{00} flute!	*The [USER] breathed in through (CALL){6E}{E6}{C7}{00} flute!
209	*[USER] became friendly and affectionate! *You backed off.	*[USER] became friendly and affectionate! *You backed off. still!
230	*[USER] scowled sharply!	*[USER] scoweled sharply!
266	*[USER] is scratching his head!	*[USER] is patting his behind!
273	*You cannot grasp the true form of [USER]' attack!	*You cannot grasp the true form of [USER]'s attack!
286	*Dear (stat){08}, How are you? *Since you left home on your journey, things have changed around here. *For example, I don't have as much laundry. *Also, we don't seem to eat as much as we used to. *I heard that you defeated some universal evil character--what was it, *Googi, or something like that? *Well, that sounds really great! I want to hear all the details, so hurry home, okay? *Tracy, (stat){03} and I are waiting for you. * Love, Mama)	*Dear (stat){08}, How are you? *Since you left home on your journey, things have changed around here. *For example, I don't have as much laundry. *Also, we don't seem to eat as much as we used to. *I heard that you defeated some universal evil character--what was it, *Googi, or something like that? *Well, that sounds really great! I want to hear all the details, so hurry home, okay? *Tracy, (stat){03} and I are waiting for you. Love, Mama)	For whatever reason, the letters are stored with the battle text. In any case, this letter entry adds an extra asterisk, as do the other letter entries.
298	*[USER] prayed from the bottom of her heart! *“Someone... can you hear me?! *Please, give us strength!”	*[USER] prayed from bottom of her heart! *''Someone... can you hear me?! *Please, give us strength!''	"Bottom" changed to "the bottom"

Ending

Japan/US Proto	US Final

The "To be continued" screen from Mother 2 is still left in the prototype.

Miscellaneous

• Some things are glitchy, not because it is a bad dump. It was dumped with a SuperNT and has been verified multiple times.

US Proto	US Final
Spark	Sparky

• King's character limit in the prototype had been reduced from 6 to 5, this was later reverted in the retail US release (and as a result, an extra letter had been added to King's 3rd name).

Japan/US Proto	US Final

• Scaraba is still called Scarabi in the prototype.

Japan/US Proto	US Final

• The original status icons for crying and cold are still left in the prototype.
• The anti-piracy features aren't implemented yet.

US Proto	US Final
Tarah Rama	Talah Rama

• Since the R and L overlap in Japanese, Talah Rama was named Tarah Rama in the prototype.

US Proto	US Final
Police Chief Strong	Captain Strong

• Captain Strong had a different name in the prototype.

US Proto	US Final
Smart food lunch	Brain food lunch

• The brain food lunch was named differently in the prototype.