Will EarthBound Ever Hit Virtual Console? Music Producer Hip Tanaka (Hirokazu) Says No... Very Unlikely Due To Music Samples Used In the Classic RPG *tears*

Will EarthBound ever hit Virtual Console? It has never been re-released digitally (legally that is) for any Nintendo Download service in any territory. And that's criminal.

But it sounds like the likelihood of it being re-released or not stems from the fact that the game features heavy samples used in its music. I don't see why they don't just re-release it, do you think anyone will really sue over samples? Maybe so... but I think it's so obscure that it's doubtful. Nintendo seems not to want to take that chance, but wouldn't the sales of it alone cover the "legal costs" if it did happen?

Either way, here is what "Hip Tanaka", who created the music in EarthBound and for many other classic Nintendo games including the eerie Metroid tunes and the catchy Balloon Fight music, had to say about EarthBound being re-released for Virtual Console (either 3DS, Wii, or Wii U).

"The sampling issue is a little sensitive, because... well, I don't know for sure, but it sounds like that is one of the reasons EarthBound is not able to come out in America. It's a topic we should probably avoid." - Hip Tanaka On Why EarthBound Has Yet To Be Re-Released

*cries*

You can read more in this amazing 1Up EarthBound Interview With Hip Tanaka.