Shigesato Itoi has reiterated that he will not make a fourth entry in the Mother series that spawned Earthbound.

In an interview with Game Watch Impress, Itoi said of Mother 3, "I thought I could do it, so I did it," but indicated that a fourth game would be "totally impossible."

This is not for technical reasons, but because Itoi lacks a sufficiently good idea for a fourth game.

He also said he doesn't want to wear the series out - comparing his feared outcome to the eventual descent into mediocrity that plagues many musicians.

"Among big-time popstars, if they, you know, put out ten albums, around the fourth album, they can't make very good songs," said Itoi.

Itoi is not worried by his lack of inspiration, however, saying he is "glad that video games are not [his] profession."

"If it was my job, I would've already made 4 and 5."

Japanese role-playing game Mother launched in 1989 for the NES, and was followed by Mother 2 (aka Earthbound) on SNES in 1994, and Mother 3 for GameBoy Advance in 2006.

The series has a considerable cult following, with a fan sequel currently underway.