[2003: pp. 10–11]
[Itoi's foreword:]
This was the Marvelous "Fruit of a Fanatic's Labors"
I consider myself someone with less yearning for the good ol' days than others have. I'll even let things like records and documents of work I was involved with be thrown away, one after another, figuring I won't care if it's gone forever. Which is why I get super troubled when someone asks me if they can borrow one of my works. I hear a lot of, "You mean even the writer doesn't have it at his place?" Well, no, I don't. I don't think I'll need it that much. Not that I'm grandstanding or anything, but I believe the work I'm doing now, and the work I'll be doing from here on out, are my best.
And yet, with MOTHER, no matter what I do, I can't break away from its world of memories. All these years I've continually found myself thinking, "Man, wasn't that great?" When you take into account my personal manner of grandstanding, I'm embarrassed to admit that, but I can't help myself: it is the truth, after all.
Even this book is an important volume of that MOTHER world. This feat had an editor by the name of Yoshie — who was possessed of an artisan's temperament — marvelously taking the helm, as well as the single-mindedly enthusiastic Oosawa and the like at Shogakukan, and finally the lovable, easily carried-away folks at my own Tokyo Shigesato Itoi Office, all working themselves senseless to achieve it. I dare say you couldn't make such a game book in this day and age. It would take too much time and money.
But I think it's great that we have such a book, this "fruit of a fanatic's labors". Both MOTHER and this official guide book were part of work, but I think anything with so much passion put into it you could call it fanaticism really takes a firm hold on people's hearts. I know how late I am in saying this, but to all of you who collaborated on this game and this book, and to you readers who firmly hold this game and book in high esteem, I give you my gratitude.
糸井重里
Shigesato Itoi
June 2003
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[Profile:]
Shigesato Itoi
Copywriter
Editor-in-Chief, Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun
1948
Born in Gunma Prefecture.
1975
Wins TCC (Tokyo Copywriter's Club)'s Rookie of the Year Award.
1979
Establishes Tokyo Shigesato Itoi Office, 1989 Establishes APE.
While still doing advertising copy, picks up creative activities such as game producing, songwriting and literary pursuits (verse, novels, essays).
1998–on
Founds his Internet Home Page, Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun (http://www.1101.com). Focusing on the reading contents, carries out various activities such as product planning and sales, and collaborations with other companies.
As of May 2003, his page hits number 700,000 daily.
Published writings include:
Charcoal Briquettes and Personal Computers (SEKAI BUNKA PUBLISHING INC.),
a collection of material to date from Hobonichi titled The Pretty-Much-Daily Itoi News Book (Kodansha Ltd.),
That's So Internet (PHP Shinsho) and his joint work with Yuuji Ikegawa, The Hippocampus (Asahi Press).
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[Thumbnails of MOTHER games and merchandise, from top to bottom, left to right:]
Family Computer
MOTHER
MOTHER Strategy Guide
Encyclopedia MOTHER
Super Famicom
MOTHER 2
Gyiyg Strikes Back
Game Comics
MOTHER 2
Gyiyg Strikes Back
Ness's Adventure Memoirs
Nintendo Official Guide Book
MOTHER 2
Gyiyg Strikes Back
Game Boy Advance
MOTHER 1+2
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[Video game chronology:]
1983
🔴 The FAMILY COMPUTER (Nintendo) is released.
1984
🔴 The FAMILY COMPUTER software title SUPER MARIO BROS. (Nintendo) makes record sales at more than 5 million copies.
1985
🔴 The FAMILY COMPUTER software title DRAGON QUEST (Enix) is released.
1986
🔴 The PC ENGINE (NEC Home Electronics) is released.
1988
🔴 The MEGADRIVE (Sega Enterprises) is released.
1989
🔴 The LCD handheld gaming device GAME BOY (Nintendo) is released.
The software title TETRIS (Nintendo) is a massive hit.
🔴 The FAMILY COMPUTER software title MOTHER (Nintendo) is released.
🔴 The MOTHER STRATEGY GUIDE (Shogakukan) is released.
🔴 The game guide book ENCYCLOPEDIA MOTHER (Shogakukan) is released.
1990
🔴 The SUPER FAMICOM (Nintendo) is released.
Software titles such as SUPER MARIO WORLD are also massive hits.
1991
🔴 The SUPER FAMICOM software title THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TRIFORCE OF THE GODS (Nintendo) is a massive hit.
1993
🔴 The J.LEAGUE is founded. The J.LEAGUE game, which features names of real players, is a hit.
1994
🔴 The SUPER FAMICOM software title MOTHER 2: GYIYG STRIKES BACK (Nintendo) is released.
🔴 The Game Comics book MOTHER 2: GYIYG STRIKES BACK – NESS'S ADVENTURE MEMOIRS (Shogakukan) is released.
🔴 The Nintendo Official Guide Book MOTHER 2: GYIYG STRIKES BACK (Shogakukan) is released.
🔴 The 3DO REAL (Matsushita Electric Industrial) is released.
🔴 The SEGA SATURN (Sega Enterprises) is released. 🔴 The PLAYSTATION (Sony Computer Entertainment) is released.
1996
🔴 The NINTENDO64 (Nintendo) is released. Launch titles include SUPER MARIO 64.
🔴 The GAME BOY software title POCKET MONSTERS RED/GREEN (Nintendo) is released.
1998
🔴 The DREAMCAST (Sega Enterprises) is released.
2000
🔴 The PLAYSTATION 2 (Sony Computer Entertainment) is released.
🔴 The GAME BOY COLOR software title POCKET MONSTERS GOLD/SILVER (Nintendo) is released.
2001
🔴 The GAME BOY ADVANCE (Nintendo) is released.
Launch titles include SUPER MARIO ADVANCE.
🔴 The NINTENDO GAMECUBE (Nintendo) is released.
Launch titles include LUIGI'S MANSION.
🔴 The song featured in the commercial for PIKMIN (Nintendo) is a massive hit.
2002
🔴 The X-BOX (Microsoft) is released.
🔴 The GAME BOY ADVANCE software title POCKET MONSTERS RUBY/SAPPHIRE (Pokémon) is released.
2003
🔴 The GAME BOY ADVANCE SP (Nintendo) is released.
🔴 The GAME BOY ADVANCE software title MOTHER 1+2 (Nintendo) is released.
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