• 

  

Last month, we asked a broader question: Twenty years later, what influence has MOTHER 3 had on the industry, and what future does it have? Our winning theory was from Squig, who discussed how MOTHER 3 relates to the real world — a world that isn’t always a caring place. Give it a read here! For June, Ostricho poses a new question: How did Brick Road’s transformation into Dungeon Man work? Who knows? Maybe you do, so write a submission and post it here.

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Want to test your mind and meddle? If so, this month’s riddles are right for you. For June, you get your pick between EarthBound riddles and Undertale/Deltarune riddles. Don’t forget that there are badges up for grabs. And even if you’re not after a badge, you might just enjoy the challenge. Riddles can be real headscratchers, but that makes them all the more satisfying to solve. Oh, and the best part? Unlike the mysteries of life, our riddles always have answers!

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Last month’s prompt was Wish. Do you wish to read our wonderful pair of submissions? Do you wish for fewer cheesy puns? This genie can only grant one of those requests, so head here to read last month’s MPP. The real magic lies in a Review, though, so consider putting your critic hat on and commenting on another user’s work. Xedic Zyvis brings us a new prompt this month: Reminiscence. Let’s make some good submissions so we can think fondly back on them later! Head over to the thread and give it a go.

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It’s an exciting month to be a fan of EarthBound Beginnings. The long-awaited EarthBound Beginnings Remake hack is finally here! Explore the world of this beloved title now reimagined for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System! For those of you that have been held back by the age of EarthBound Beginnings, this is a golden opportunity. Act now and make sure you’re among the first to play it. We also want to draw attention to a new written series by site user 1stAgent. In EarthBound: The Series, 1stAgent imagines the events of MOTHER 2 as it would be scripted for an animated television program. Three chapters are now available for you to enjoy.

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At long last, our MOTHER 3 20th Anniversary Funfest has come to an end. Thank you to all who streamed, created, participated, watched, and so much more! We’re happy to report that the funfest was a huge success in many regards. First, the funfest’s donation goal of $5,000 was not only met, but exceeded! We raised a whopping $7,553.11 and even more from the auction, which brought in $7,570 on its own. These funds will go to World Central Kitchen to help provide meals to people in need around the world. Once again, a huge thank you to all who donated and bid. The streams were a hit as well, with nineteen action-packed GPPs and two encore streams to celebrate our donation goal being met. We were so lucky to have our grand finale hosted by our very own site founder, Reid Young, as well as other friends from Fangamer. But if you couldn’t tune in, no worries because the VODs are available through their forum threads, Twitch, and coming soon to YouTube! If you have any questions or need help getting to the streams, don’t be afraid to send a PM to LadyTe. Last but not least, submissions poured in across all five categories. With twelve submissions, our Music category ranges from original compositions to tasteful arrangements. From Nana’s beach adventure to the true nature of Tazmily and even Stone-Sheet-Clippers, our lineup of ten Writing pieces is sure to bring you smiles and tears. The whopping thirteen Compart submissions cover the whole game, as do the various media in our six Handart submissions. And let’s not forget our lovely AudioViz submissions, two videos and a fully playable game! Thanks to all who submitted! You can show even more appreciation by checking them out yourself. All artists would love to see their work interacted with, so don’t hesitate to reach out with comments and compliments on the board!

Do you feel like you or someone else accomplished something that should be featured in the Starmen.net newsletter? Please contact maximuspinpoint, Ostricho, or Xedic Zyvis with your suggestion for a potential future feature.

Things are going to heat up even more in July (at least in the literal sense). We look forward to giving you another update then!

• 

  

Last month, we asked: Who’s leaving all the items around in EarthBound, and how? Our winning theory was from ItSkell, whose extensive analysis of the game's items argued the boxes were placed by Buzz Buzz's PSI. Check it out here!

For May, let’s take some time to reflect on MOTHER 3 and its twenty-year legacy. Twenty years later, what influence has MOTHER 3 had on the industry, and what future does it have? This prompt is taking a different approach. Let’s analyze the real-world effects of the game; you don’t need to be a big EarthBound “lore junkie” to participate.

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Check out the Riddles we’re running this month! We’ve got EarthBound Beginnings Riddles, MOTHER 3 Riddles, and Undertale/Deltarune Riddles. You know the drill: read the riddle, pick your brain, and see if you can figure out the answer. If you can’t, don’t worry because there will be hints added every day until a solution is provided.

The games that have riddles shift from month to month, so stay tuned. You never know for sure what will be on the calendar.

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The first week of this month saw the conclusion of the most recent mafia game, MOTHER: Apparitions. The game came down to the wire, with a final-three showdown between Xedic Zyvis, Deybrek, and Jeff’s Radio. Ultimately, though, one team had to take the crown, and the town threw out the final mafia member and won the game.

Keep your eyes peeled for future mafia signups. Eventually, something new will come out of the pipeline — and that’s when the endless conflict between the town and mafia will rage on once again.

• 

  

It’s been twenty years since MOTHER 3 released, and user SaxophoneDude celebrates the occasion with a special musical performance. Watch their orchestra play some of the game’s best tunes for yourself in this thread!

Additionally, Ostricho, JCJimmy, and Zonsai bring new updates in MOTHER: Origins and EarthBound: Faraway Skies. Follow along with these fanfiction series, which are complete with illustrations! It’s sure to tickle your mind and eye alike.

Oh, and do you like ROM hacks? You may have missed it, but thanks to the Jank Jam events, the PK Hack community has been ramping up its output. It’s never been easier to get started with EarthBound ROM hacking, but sometimes, people get hung up on little details and never quite finish their projects as a result. In a Jank Jam, the goal is to put together a short hack and get it out there in the world — no polish required! Check out what our users put together last month here.

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Last month’s prompt was Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. This monster of a word, ironically, refers to the fear of long words. Starmen.net users weren’t afraid, though. Read last month’s submissions and conquer your fear of long words! Then, post a review of someone else’s work if you don’t mind.

Xedic Zyvis strikes again with a new prompt: Wish. What do you wish to write about? Head over to the thread and give it a go.

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The biggest and busiest thing on Starmen.net right now is the MOTHER 3 20th Anniversary Funfest. We’ve got a variety of faces, both old and new, streaming their way through MOTHER 3 on our Twitch channel. What’s more, all the classic submission categories are open: Writing, Handart, Compart, and AudioViz. There is even a new Music section you can participate in!

If you win first prize in one of these categories, you’ll win some swag from Fangamer! This is a rare opportunity to potentially score a shirt, poster, or another cool piece of merch. So work those creative muscles, send in your fan works, and let’s keep this show going!

Do you feel like you or someone else accomplished something that should be featured in the Starmen.net newsletter? Please contact maximuspinpoint or Ostricho with your suggestion for a potential future feature.

We look forward to seeing you in the month of June! Who knows what the news cycle will bring around next time?

It's 2026 and do you know what that means? Yes, it is indeed MOTHER 3's 20th anniversary and our wonderful staff are here to celebrate that! To celebrate such an occasion, Starmen.net will be hosting a new and shiny Funfest in its honor! There is a lot to look forward to: we have volunteers streaming MOTHER 3, are hosting a charity auction with donation incentives, there's a fanworks contest with prizes!

If you are curious or want to get involved, go ahead and check out the Funfest board, aka, the DCMC 20th Anniversary Reunion Tour! There is a lot of fun to be had! Below, you will find some of the many wonderful submissions we have received so far. All submissions will be hosted on our front page over the course of the event, so consider submitting if you would like to see your work here!

(Fair warning: If you do not included a title for your works, you will be subjected to my creativity as I make one for you.)

• DCMC: Memorable Moment

  
  • by Local call Studio
  • .jpg

  I am not really a paper artist (pixel artist) but i drew this!

• Chillin’ in Saturn Valley

  
  • by Lav-199x
  • .jpg

  I made this with some oil pastels and pens and this is what...

• A Grave Sight

  
  • by Lav-199x
  • .png

  . . .

• The Hero We Deserve

  
  • by Lav-199x
  • .png

  I know it seems kind of stupid but if mR. sAturN pulls the needles...

• Stone Sheet Clippers

  • by ktpdremurr
  • forum post

  I wrote this poem, Stone Sheet Clippers. It gives some hints on....

• The Great Tradgedy Of Donald And...

  • by Lav-199x
  • google doc

  I just finished my submission that I wrote about the two mole brothers...

• Song I Imagine Would Play in...

  
  • by AmberluvsEarthBound
  • youtube

  i made a song!! with the Mother 3 soundfont

• SongThat Might Be a Bit Much

  • by AmberluvsEarthBound
  • youtube

  this is another song i made for the Starman.net Mother 3 20th Anniversary...

• Fate

  • by Agent Ape
  • .mp3

  I took viewer requests during GPP6! (I think Cumbersome Guys came out...)

• KumaDust

  
  • by Snakeshroom
  • .png

  thanks for making it canon imagawa i owe you a beer

• 

  

Last month, we asked: How exactly was the world destroyed before the events of MOTHER 3? Our winning theory was from ltSkell, who explained that perhaps the Nowhere Islands might have once been.... the Nowhere Mountains? Read their submission here, and a big thanks to everyone who participated.

For April, we’ve got a new topic for you to dig your teeth into. Who’s been leaving all these present boxes around in EarthBound? There are no wrong answers in Theories! Whether it’s a gripping, emotional story or a comedic commentary, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Head over to this month’s thread here.

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Last month, Riddles were full of neck-and-neck battles for their respective first-place positions! Congratulations to LadyTe, HCchicken, and Lav-199x for winning UT/DR, M3, and M1 Riddles. If you want a nice badge like theirs, don’t be shy and submit some guesses!

This month, for the first time in a long time, we have Riddles for all MOTHER games and Undertale/Deltarune. We’re offering EarthBound Riddles, hosted by Ostricho, MOTHER Riddles, hosted by Lav-199x and Drake Inferno, MOTHER 3 Riddles, hosted by maximuspinpoint, Undertale/Deltarune Riddles, hosted by the [BIG SHOT] Spamton himself, and new “TV Riddles”, covering twentieth-century television, hosted by Tenna. There’s a prize with your name on it, if you’re willing to try!

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Great news! We can confirm that a new mafia game is in the pipeline. The upcoming game will be a nine-player “mini mafia” setup taking place in the world of EarthBound Beginnings. Ninten and his friends embark on a cabin trip in the woods, only to discover that something’s amiss. Will they be able to see through the illusions and find the truth in MOTHER: Apparitions?

Keep your eyes peeled for this new opportunity to play mafia in the near future. There won’t be many player slots available, so when signups appear in General Discussion, time will be of the essence. Questions? Send a PM to user Ultimate-Gamer or LadyTe.

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Catch new chapters of long-running series on our Writing board. In MOTHER: Origins, there’s trouble as the heroes cross the swamp leading to Ellay. Teddy’s lost his mind to the alien’s brainwashing signal, and in his stead, the kids will have to rely on the assistance of... Lloyd’s dad? Can this grown-up weakling help them fight their way through the bogs leading up to the sprawling metropolis?

Meanwhile, in EarthBound: Faraway Skies, a young girl named Wren teams up with Aloysius Minch to frame Ness for cheating in a professional baseball game. The stakes are high, but the good news is that you’ll be safe and sound as you read about these scenarios from the comfort of your own home.

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Last month’s prompt was Remembrance. From a blank to a blank, this month’s submissions were certainly ones to remember. Have a minute? Read over last month’s submissions, and if you feel so inspired, post your Review of someone else’s work. By doing so, you’ll work towards our time-honored Review Badge! You are welcome to review prompt posts, Theories submissions, any of our ongoing fanfiction series, and more. Click here to learn more about reviewing.

This month, Xedic Zyvis continues to host. The prompt is Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. Feel inspired? Put pen to paper and share with us here!

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Keep an eye on the forum front page for a new board, because as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of MOTHER 3, a brand new funfest is soon to get started! For those of you scratching your head, a funfest is where we gather as a site to stream gameplay, submit fanworks, and earn prizes aplenty. More info will come out soon, but check out our Bluesky for some fun M3 facts leading up to the funfest.

Boots’ Avatar Frenzy continues! For those looking to get an avatar, head on over to the thread to earn your own! For those of you already holding an avatar, maybe it’s time for some spring cleaning and a fresh new avvie!

Do you feel like you or someone else accomplished something that should be featured in the Starmen.net newsletter? Please contact maximuspinpoint, Ostricho, or Xedic Zyvis with your suggestion for a potential future feature.

As always, we hope to see you around the forums this month. Catch you next month for another edition of the newsletter!

• 

  

Last month, we asked: What exactly was the technology that George stole from Giygas’s race? The winning entry goes to ItSkell, who provides an explanation that, surprisingly, relates to a hovering black crystal Ninten encounters at a specific tombstone. Read their deep dive here, and a big thanks to everyone who participated.

For March, we’ve got a new topic for you to dig your teeth into. Leder says that humans destroyed the world in MOTHER 3, but how exactly did they destroy it? Remember, there are no wrong answers in the Theories section. Give us a serious take on this topic, or spin a ridiculous yarn if that’s more your style. It’s up to you how you participate!

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Another month means more riddles and a fresh scoreboard for you to put your name on. Last month, LadyTe, HCchicken, and rakethelawn wiped the board in UT/DR, EB, and M3 Riddles, respectively. If you want to be this month’s winner, you’re in luck! For March, the site is offering Undertale/Deltarune Riddles, hosted by Tenna himself; MOTHER 3 Riddles, hosted by Ostricho; and EB Beginnings Riddles, hosted by Drake Inferno.

Here’s a special "trial" Undertale Riddle: “A smiling face / Or even cackling / This ambitious plant / Almost always attacking”. Think you know what it might be? Head on over and submit your guess for the "Newsletter Riddle" to score some points!

• 

  

After a month of excitement, Chopping Block has reached its conclusion — and what an ending! The town successfully hunted down two of the three mafia members. At that point, it was up to forum user PKFP to somehow stick the landing and outnumber the town. Against all odds, she pulled it off, emerging victorious from a battle among the last three players. She is now only the third in Starmen’s history to win as mafia in the final three. Because of this feat, PKFP walks away with a shiny new MVP badge.

Although Chopping Block is over, you can read the story and see how everything went down in the Mafia Archives. And keep your eyes peeled for new mafia games in the future! It’s only a matter of time before the next go-around is ready for sign-ups in General Discussion. Questions? Send a PM to user Ultimate-Gamer or LadyTe.

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The Writing board is ready to keep your eyes busy, too. In MOTHER: Origins, an EarthBound Beginnings novel on our Writing Board, Ninten and his friends have driven the alien invaders out of Youngtown and even had a telepathic episode with the Garrickson baby. Meanwhile, EarthBound: Faraway Skies — a series about two psychic kids and their Octobot buddy — returns after a hiatus! Both of these projects feature illustrations by the talented artist and forum user Zonsai.

Finally, why not swing by the PK Hack board and see what our resident ROM hackers have been cooking up? Though it’s a bit late for Valentine’s Day, love is still in the air when spring rolls around. May we suggest playing EpicSignal’s EarthBound Valentine's Day Hack? Help Ness deliver a lost Valentine’s card to Paula and figure out why Escargo Express deliveries have ground to a halt! If you need any help getting the hack set up, feel free to seek help on the PK Hack Board.

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This March, Monthly Prompt Posts returns! In this old Starmen.net tradition, you’re given a one-word prompt, and you’ll write a story, poem, essay, or article about the provided theme. It only takes a short while to participate, and by continuously submitting entries to this activity, you’ll eventually earn a snazzy badge. This month’s prompt is: Remembrance. To submit, head on over to this month’s thread.

We also want to encourage you to read and review other users’ submissions. By doing so, you’ll work towards our time-honored Review Badge! You are welcome to review prompt posts, Theories submissions, any of our ongoing fanfiction series, and more. Click here to learn more about reviewing.

• 

  

Avatar Czar Boots has an extra-special announcement: for a limited time, if you fulfill an avatar request over at the Fanvatar Thread, you’ll instantly earn the rights to your own avatar.

Normally, you need to fulfill four requests to earn these rights. This special event won’t last forever, so mosey on over and see what you can do. And if you already have avatar rights, now’s the time to request a new design!

That’s all this time, folks. Have a wonderful March, and we’ll see you when the next newsletter drops in the sunny month of April.

• 

  

Theories returns as a monthly activity on the Writing board. That’s right — you have all month to write your theory and submit it. This February, your topic is: What exactly was the technology that George stole from Giygas’s race?

A lot of people still say that George “stole PSI” from the aliens, but is this really true? It’s ultimately up to you to give us your two cents! It can be short or long, and it can be goofy or serious. You can participate in Theories however you want! And when March 1 rolls around, you’ll get to see whose theory was selected as the winner. With multiple badges up for grabs, you won’t want to miss the return of this long-time Starmen.net activity. You can participate in Theories however you want, and winning gets you a groovy Octopus Badge!

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For the first time in a long time, you’ve got your choice between three different riddles games! If you have never played Riddles before, give it a whirl. It’s actually quite simple. You’ll be given clues in the form of rhyme, and you’ll need to figure out what character, setting, or other aspect of the game is being alluded to. Earn points, compete against forum-goers, and go for gold!

Swing by the MOTHER boards to play EarthBound Riddles (hosted by Drake Inferno) and MOTHER 3 Riddles (hosted by Ostricho). Or, visit the Undertale board and play Undertale/Deltarune Riddles, hosted by none other than Tenna himself. The winner of Riddles gets a neat badge, and you can jump in with a guess at any time, so give them a try!

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The time-honored tradition of Starmen.net mafia continues with Chopping Block. This twelve-player mafia game is down to the final three players. Watch the action unfold and follow the story of Chef Penneziti, the disgraced television host who can’t seem to keep his contestants from vacating the show en masse.

What makes mafia so exciting is that it’s a deduction game and full narrative rolled into a single package. So, whether you want to follow the in-fighting or just need something else to read, Chopping Block has something for you. More mafia games are in the works, so keep your eyes peeled for signups later this year, which will be posted in General Discussion.

Questions? Send a PM to user Ultimate-Gamer or LadyTe.

• 

  

Starmen.net remains a gathering place for talented individuals within the fandom. Discover eye-catching art in our MOTHER fan art thread. Or explore MOTHER: Origins, an EarthBound Beginnings adaptation on our Writing board, where Ninten and his friends are currently exploring Youngtown. With the psychic child Trip Garrickson missing and the town besieged by flying saucers, something needs to be done before the other children are swooped off the map.

And speaking of EarthBound Beginnings adaptations, follow the long-running MOTHER Remake project, aiming to reconstruct this classic game in the EarthBound engine. With over a decade of development history, this reconstruction has been eagerly awaited by generations of Starmen.net users. The hack is posed to finally reach completion this summer and will surely make waves through the MOTHER community.

And that’s all for this month’s newsletter! We hope to catch you next month, but until then, enjoy some time on the forums!