Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Final Fantasy Type-0 fan translation could use some help]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/12/final-fantasy-type-0-fan-translation-could-use-some-help/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/12/final-fantasy-type-0-fan-translation-could-use-some-help/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/12/final-fantasy-type-0-fan-translation-could-use-some-help/#comments
Back in the day, used to be that when a game wasn't released in a certain area, that area never got to experience that game. After a year and a half of being on Japanese store shelves, Final Fantasy Type-O doesn't look like it's getting localized in the US. Luckily, a few fans are up to the immense task of translating the PSP RPG.

GBA Temp forum poster SkyBladeCloud has laid bare all his programming work on the Final Fantasy Type-O ROM on the forums, producing the above shaky-cam video of his work so far. He's not necessarily soliciting translators for assistance, but has made it much easier for fan translation to succeed by reverse-engineering a majority of the game engine. Now Japanese-fluent gamers can help make a translation a reality.

Final Fantasy Type-O launched on the PSP in Japan in October of 2011, at the tail-end of the PSP's life cycle. Type-O uses a hybrid battle system not unlike Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII and The 3rd Birthday - a mixture of turn-based and real-time action combat.

JoystiqFinal Fantasy Type-0 fan translation could use some help originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fan-translationfinal-fantasy-agito-xiiifinal-fantasy-type-0playstationpspsonysquare-enixtranslationTue, 12 Feb 2013 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mother 3 fan translation complete, ready for download]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/mother-3-fan-translation-complete-ready-for-download/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/mother-3-fan-translation-complete-ready-for-download/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/mother-3-fan-translation-complete-ready-for-download/#commentsFiled under: , ,

After two years of development (and an endless string of tipsters keeping us up-to-date on every update on the project), the Mother 3 Fan Translation version 1.0 is now available for download, so English-speaking gamers without fluency in Japanese can enjoy the title. You'll need a copy of the Mother 3 ROM (also known as Earthbound 2) to use the patch, as well as your own copy of the imported game for legal purposes, moral clarity and a sense of contentment for supporting the franchise despite Nintendo's insistence to not bring it stateside.

In other news, Earthbound for Wii (possibly Virtual Console) is still rated by the ESRB, and since May 2nd that's all we know about it.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

JoystiqMother 3 fan translation complete, ready for download originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthboundfan-translationMacmothermother-3PCFri, 17 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mother 3 fan translation available this week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/mother-3-fan-translation-available-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/mother-3-fan-translation-available-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/mother-3-fan-translation-available-this-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



After almost two years of hard slog, Starmen.net's Mother 3 fan translation patch has finally been completed, and will be released at the end of this week ... a whole month ahead of schedule! That's according to the latest blog entry on the project's site, in which team member Mato records that, "Testing's pretty much over now. Some bugs did turn up over the last few days, but they were all minor and quickly remedied. Some really hard-to-spot typos were also found and fixed."

Joyous news indeed, though the patch will require a few other things before it's of any use: namely a slot-2 flashcart, a GBA emulator, and -- cough -- an entirely unauthorized ROM copy of the Japanese game. While we don't condone piracy, a western localization of Mother 3 doesn't exactly look likely at this stage, and we do condone passionate fan projects such as this one. Hit up this FAQ to learn more, and don't forget to check out some beautiful, Anglicized Mother 3 screens.


[Thanks, Joel!]

JoystiqMother 3 fan translation available this week originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brownie-brownearthboundfan-translationhal-laboratoryitoimothermother-3patchrpgshigesato-itoistarmenTue, 14 Oct 2008 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Mother 3 translation seven months away [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/mother-3-translation-seven-months-away/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/mother-3-translation-seven-months-away/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/mother-3-translation-seven-months-away/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Celebrating Mother 3's release in Japan two years ago today, Starmen.net co-founder and fan-translation project lead Tomato posted an update on the unofficial localization's outlook. With ten months of work already behind them, the team predicts that the completed English patch (GBA ROM required) still needs about seven months of hacking, script editing, and testing.

While that may sound like a long time, keep in mind that some fan-driven translations can take years before they're finished, and that's if they even make it past the first months of work before dissolving. Besides, it's not like Nintendo of America is rushing to translate the RPG.

To help you deal with the wait, Tomato has posted ten minutes worth of video showing the team's progress, all of which you can watch above! So close, and yet so far away!

[Update 1: Corrected Mother 3's age -- two years old. Thanks, ShadowX!]
[Update 2: Straight from the horse's mouth.]

JoystiqMother 3 translation seven months away [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brownie-brownearthboundfan-translationhal-laboratoryitoimothermother-3patchrpgshigesato-itoistarmenSun, 20 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mother 3 battle clips snuck up from behind!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/mother-3-battle-clips-snuck-up-from-behind/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/mother-3-battle-clips-snuck-up-from-behind/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/mother-3-battle-clips-snuck-up-from-behind/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Unwilling to compromise on the quality of its project for the sake of a quick release, the Mother 3 fan translation crew has been tweaking every setting and smashing every bug in its path to releasing an English patch for the Earthbound sequel. In addition to posting regular updates on the programming process, the team has put up screenshots and videos from its work so far, like the Flint vs. Mischievous Mole movie above. We can't wait to try out that rhythm combo system ourselves!

On a disappointing note, the project's FAQ now states that the translation group no longer has plans to put out the patch before Super Smash Bros. Brawl's North American release, even with the Wii game's delay to early March. It's a painful wait, we know, but at least you'll get a few bonuses* that aren't in the Japanese game, like this secret enemy in the clip after break.

*provided that you have a flashcart/emulator and, uh, the Mother 3 ROM

Continue reading Mother 3 battle clips snuck up from behind!

JoystiqMother 3 battle clips snuck up from behind! originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brownie-brownearthboundfan-translationhal-laboratoryitoimothermother-3rpgshigesato-itoistarmenThu, 14 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jump Ultimate Stars translation project forked, anxious gamers hoping to spoon with new lead]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/jump-ultimate-stars-translation-project-forked-anxious-gamers-h/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/jump-ultimate-stars-translation-project-forked-anxious-gamers-h/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/jump-ultimate-stars-translation-project-forked-anxious-gamers-h/#commentsFiled under:

Localizing Jump Ultimate Stars, the acclaimed 2D fighter featuring hundreds of Shonen Jump characters, would be a licensing nightmare for any US publisher, so don't expect an official announcement for a US release any time soon. We've rested our hopes of ever playing the game in English on the fan-lead translation project instead.

But with over eleven months passed since the effort began, we've yet to see any public patches, and many are starting to worry that the project has stalled, doomed to sit around incomplete while interest dwindles. Deufeufeu, the same ROM hacker leading the FFTA2 translation team, has stepped in to kick the effort back into gear, forking the project and bringing some much-needed organization to the process.

Having already created a "working patch system," extracted all the game's text, and readied other elements important to the game's translation -- all within a week -- Deufeufeu promises to deliver a patch this weekend, with regular stable and unstable releases to follow. Bring your koma deck past the break for more Jump Ultimate Stars screenshots sprinkled with English text.

Continue reading Jump Ultimate Stars translation project forked, anxious gamers hoping to spoon with new lead

JoystiqJump Ultimate Stars translation project forked, anxious gamers hoping to spoon with new lead originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2dfan-translationfighterjump-ultimate-starsjuspatchromshonen-jumpThu, 10 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[FFIV fan translation patch for spoony bards]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/ffiv-fan-translation-patch-for-spoony-bards/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/ffiv-fan-translation-patch-for-spoony-bards/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/ffiv-fan-translation-patch-for-spoony-bards/#commentsFiled under: ,

Once again, we're delving into the ethically dubious practice of ROM hacking (and ROM having), this time for the Japanese release of Final Fantasy IV. Impatient fans have been translating the game's script since the 3D remake's release last month, and they have already released a "semi-final beta" translation patch with most of the description text now in English!

According to the group's progress table, only a few sections still need translation (e.g. monster descriptions, location names), so a full and final English patch doesn't seem too far off. A Translation Wiki is also available for those missing bits or for those of you who'd rather pass on using the patch altogether.

Square Enix has yet to announce its plans for Final Fantasy IV's release outside of Japan. Our best guess? Mid-to-late 2008.

JoystiqFFIV fan translation patch for spoony bards originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fan-translationffivfinal-fantasypatchremakeromrpgsquare-enixsquareenixtranslationThu, 03 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch the prologue of Mother 3 ... in English!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/watch-the-prologue-of-mother-3-in-english/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/watch-the-prologue-of-mother-3-in-english/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/watch-the-prologue-of-mother-3-in-english/#commentsFiled under:

We've informed you about the Mother 3 fan translation project before, and now it's time for you to enjoy some of the fruits of Starmen.net's labor. The project is not completed yet, but the team has at the very least finished translating and coding the prologue of the game. You can watch it in the video above (spoilers, obviously), without even having to worry about downloading any unauthorized ROMs or being involved with any yarrrrrring.

The video will also help you further acquaint yourselves with Lucas, who will be showing up as a playable character in one of Nintendo's most anticipated Wii games, Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

From what we've seen, Mother 3 has a certain charm about it, and we can see how fans would be so dedicated in their efforts to bring the game to English speakers. Now, if only Nintendo had the same dedication.

[Via Destructoid]

JoystiqWatch the prologue of Mother 3 ... in English! originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fan-translationmothermother-3romrpgstarmenMon, 17 Dec 2007 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fans equip FFTA2 editor for translation project]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/fans-equip-ffta2-editor-for-translation-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/fans-equip-ffta2-editor-for-translation-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/fans-equip-ffta2-editor-for-translation-project/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Translating Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift just became serious business, as the GBAtemp community has actually built an application around the project to streamline its script-editing process. With this sort of dedication and this new specialized editor, it won't be long before the team releases an English translation patch for, uh, people with pirated ROMs.

Though an official FFTA2 localization seems certain, Square Enix has yet to announce any plans to bring the SRPG stateside. Why not settle for Front Mission DS in the meantime?

JoystiqFans equip FFTA2 editor for translation project originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fan-translationffta2final-fantasy-tacticsgrimoire-of-the-riftivalice-allianceromsquare-enixsquareenixsrpgTue, 20 Nov 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One year later: Mother 3 fan translation project]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/one-year-later-mother-3-fan-translation-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/one-year-later-mother-3-fan-translation-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/one-year-later-mother-3-fan-translation-project/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Convinced that Nintendo has no intention of ever localizing Mother 3 for release outside of Japan, fans of the Mother/Earthbound series have been working on their own unofficial translation for the endearing RPG. The volunteer group has put a year's worth of work into the project so far and is celebrating that milestone with two releases:
  1. An anniversary video showing the game played with an English script. It's a preview of not only the team's progress, but of the bugs that still need to be addressed at this stage. You can watch the three-minute clip after the post break.
  2. An updated menu patch with the most up-to-date translations for Mother 3's menus and chapter titles. Of course, this menu patch and the eventual full translation patch require an unauthorized, completely illegal ROM copy of the game to be of any use. Yarr!
Clyde Mandelin's celebratory post at the translation team's page also details the interesting events that went on behind the scenes, covering how the One Piece anime temporarily halted production and why Magical Starsign's failure to sell in the US could've doomed Mother 3's chances of ever receiving an official localization. As Clyde jokes, the project's history really does read like a spy novel!

Continue reading One year later: Mother 3 fan translation project

JoystiqOne year later: Mother 3 fan translation project originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brownie-brownfan-translationmagical-starsignmagicalstarsignmothermother-3one-pieceromrpgstarmenTue, 13 Nov 2007 19:40:00 EST<![CDATA[FFTA2 fan translation project underway]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/ffta2-fan-translation-project-underway/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/ffta2-fan-translation-project-underway/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/ffta2-fan-translation-project-underway/#commentsFiled under: ,



Though Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift doesn't officially hit Japanese stores until tomorrow, forumers at the GBAtemp community have already managed to procure a copy and are working on translating its squiggly words. The motivated group has deciphered an impressive amount of cutscene conversations and menu items, overlaying shots from the SRPG with English text.

Even in its early state, this picture guide will be a huge boon to interested importers without any Japanese reading skills. Considering that Square Enix has yet to announce its plans for bringing Final Fantasy Tactics A2 to the states, this fan-backed effort may be the best way to play the game for a while.

JoystiqFFTA2 fan translation project underway originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fan-translationffta2final-fantasy-tacticsfinal-fantasy-tactics-a2grimoire-of-the-riftivalice-alliancesquare-enixsquareenixsrpgWed, 24 Oct 2007 18:40:00 EST