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[Mother 3 translator offers localized files to Nintendo for free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/mother-3-translator-offers-localized-files-to-nintendo-for-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/mother-3-translator-offers-localized-files-to-nintendo-for-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/mother-3-translator-offers-localized-files-to-nintendo-for-free/#comments With the recent announcement that Earthbound will be making its way to Nintendo's Virtual Console service, confirming that the publisher hasn't totally forgotten about the series, Mother 3 translator Clyde Mandelin saw an opportunity to extend an offer to Nintendo. Mandelin recently took to the Mother 3 fan translation blog to express his interest in seeing the Game Boy Advance game officially localized for North American audiences.

"I realize that localizing a game this size can cost a lot, so if it'll help in even the slightest, I'll gladly offer to let Nintendo use my text translation files for any use at all, completely for free," Mandelin wrote. "I'll even edit the files to fit whatever new standards are necessary (content, formatting, memory size, etc.), completely for free. I'll even retranslate everything from scratch if need be. Just whatever it takes to get an official release out."

Mandelin, along with a team of devout Mother 3 fans, launched a patch for the game in 2008 that translates the entire Earthbound sequel to English. Mother 3 was originally developed by Brownie Brown, a Nintendo subsidiary now known as 1-Up Studio.

"In the end, if localizing Mother 3 should ever come up in a Nintendo business meeting or whatever and someone brings up budget concerns or it costing too much, my hope is that someone will at least mention this offer too, even if it isn't accepted," he added.

JoystiqMother 3 translator offers localized files to Nintendo for free originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1up-studiobrownie-brownclyde-mandelinEarthboundGBAlocalizationmother-3nintendotranslationSun, 21 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST<![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[One of the hardest NES games ever translated to English]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/one-of-the-hardest-nes-games-ever-translated-to-english/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/one-of-the-hardest-nes-games-ever-translated-to-english/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/one-of-the-hardest-nes-games-ever-translated-to-english/#comments If you're a stone-cold psychopath whose masochistic gaming tendencies push you away from ... well, normal-people games and into the cold embrace of impossible games, then the unavailability of an English port for Takeshi's Challenge has probably been a sore point for you. We probably shouldn't encourage your self-destruction, but you should know that a few kind souls have translated the bizarre NES title for your localized enjoyment.

The localization comes from ROM modder KingMike (via Tiny Cartridge). Before looking into acquiring the game, though, we'd suggest you also find an English language strategy guide to help you, because this game was made by the Devil.

JoystiqOne of the hardest NES games ever translated to English originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emulatorjapanlocalizationnespcromtakeshis-challengetranslationThu, 29 Dec 2011 03:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers receiving fan translation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/devil-summoner-soul-hackers-receiving-fan-translation/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/devil-summoner-soul-hackers-receiving-fan-translation/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/devil-summoner-soul-hackers-receiving-fan-translation/#comments Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers is a game originally released back in 1997 for the Sega Saturn in Japan. It was a sequel to Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner, itself a game within the same Megami Tensei universe inhabited by the Persona series. Publisher Atlus has tried a few times to bring the title to the states, but Sony hasn't yet allowed it, so a group of fans calling itself "Devil Hackers" is working on a fan-made translation of the title, playable on the PSP.

You can watch a "teaser trailer" of the translation after the break -- but someone needs to translate the word "teaser" for the Devil Hackers, because it's thirteen minutes long. Assuming things work themselves out, fans interested in playing the game in English should get their chance soon.

Continue reading Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers receiving fan translation

JoystiqDevil Summoner: Soul Hackers receiving fan translation originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>devil-hackersdevil-summoner-soul-hackerenglishjapaneseplaystationportpspshin-megami-tenseisonytranslationFri, 31 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC: BioWare speaks up about Mass Effect 2's localization]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/bioware-speaks-up-about-mass-effect-2-localization/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/bioware-speaks-up-about-mass-effect-2-localization/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/bioware-speaks-up-about-mass-effect-2-localization/#comments "I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite store on the Citadel." - English

"Jestem dowódcą Shepard, a to jest mój ulubiony sklep na cytadeli." - Polish (machine translation)

In a GDC 2010 session entitled "Localizing Large RPGs," which forms part of an ongoing localization summit, BioWare localization project manager Ryan Warden eloquently explored the revered developer's process of adapting a huge, dialogue-driven game like Mass Effect 2 for alternative markets and languages. It may surprise you to learn that BioWare's processes are significantly more elegant than hiring an army of workers to copy and paste lines of text into Google Translate.

With 450,000 words and 30,000 lines of voice-over in the English version, Mass Effect 2 demanded an active approach in its translation to eight languages, including Russian, Czech and Spanish. "Trying to manage this scope is almost unfathomable," said Warden. "For BioWare titles, we don't have the luxury of waiting for the title to be fully complete before starting localization."

The concurrent process was designed to provide as much information and context to translators as possible, allowing them to focus on the job without having to request further information for each new conversation. BioWare compiled a complete localization kit, complete with a pronunciation guide (that's crow-guhn, not kroggin!), an IP glossary, a collection of translator Q&A documents and an extensive character database. "Any time that a translator spends time asking questions and waiting for feedback ... that's wasted time," Warden added. The goal, he said, was to "eliminate any doubt in the confidence of the translator."

Continue reading GDC: BioWare speaks up about Mass Effect 2's localization

JoystiqGDC: BioWare speaks up about Mass Effect 2's localization originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarechris-christougdc-2010localizationmass-effect-2Microsoftrpgryan-wardentranslationXbox-360Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Smile! Fatal Frame 4 fan translation available]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/18/smile-fatal-frame-4-fan-translation-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/18/smile-fatal-frame-4-fan-translation-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/18/smile-fatal-frame-4-fan-translation-available/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A dedicated team of homebrewers has done what Nintendo and Tecmo never did: translate Fatal Frame IV. A team at Fatal Frame fansite Beyond the Camera's Lens has released a patch that swaps out the Japanese text in the Tecmo/Nintendo/Grasshopper Manufacture-developed Fatal Frame IV: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse with its own translated English text and allows the Japanese disc to be loaded in other regions' Wiis. The best part? It runs from an SD card on any Wii -- no matter which region, and without the need for modding.

We suspect sites like Play-Asia and YesAsia are about to experience a significant increase in the number of orders for this 2008 survival horror game.

[Thanks, Antares Meketa!]

JoystiqSmile! Fatal Frame 4 fan translation available originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fatal-Frame-4Fatal-Frame-4-Mask-of-the-Lunar-EclipseGrasshopper-ManufacturehomebrewmodNintendoSurvival-HorrorTecmotranslationWiiMon, 18 Jan 2010 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Kojima's Policenauts now playable in English]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/kojimas-policenauts-now-playable-in-english/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/kojimas-policenauts-now-playable-in-english/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/kojimas-policenauts-now-playable-in-english/#commentsNow here's some Kojima-related news worth counting down to. The fan translation patch for Hideo Kojima's sci-fi graphical text adventure, Policenauts, is now complete and available for download. The game, originally planned for official release on the Sega Saturn in 1996, was never released in English by Konami, so a group of fans worked to localize and patch the files.

Policenauts is an adventure game in a similar style to Kojima's Snatcher, consisting of mostly still images with fully-voiced dialogue and a text-based menu interface. The game follows Jonathan Ingram, a one-time policeman on an extraterrestrial Earth colony, who drifted into space and returned to Earth 25 years later, having been saved by a "cold sleep" system in his suit. Following his return, he works as a private investigator and attempts to solve a murder and a mysterious disappearance.

The patch requires a copy of the Japanese PlayStation version of the game and a PlayStation that can play CD-R discs -- that's because you have to rip the game files, apply the patch, and then burn it to another disc. Finally, a reason to dust off that PlayStation you modded to play Beatmania ten years ago!

[Thanks, Mike]

JoystiqKojima's Policenauts now playable in English originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hideo-kojimajapankonamilocalizationplaystationpolicenautsps1retrotranslationMon, 24 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Welsh speakers wanted for game translation project]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/welsh-speakers-wanted-for-game-translation-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/welsh-speakers-wanted-for-game-translation-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/welsh-speakers-wanted-for-game-translation-project/#commentsRhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches is based on The Mabinogion, a collection of Welsh folklore. It would make sense to offer the adventure game in the Welsh language, right? Unfortunately, it doesn't make business sense, according to developer Arberth Studios, who estimates a cost of £16,500 to translate the approximately 30,000 words of text to Welsh.

"We have to try and translate this game into Welsh," Arberth's Noel Bruton told the BBC, "but there's just not enough Welsh speakers in the gaming market to justify the translation costs." The company is looking for volunteers to help translate the game, with the possibility of some unspecified compensation "if we made something out of the sales." Sure, it might basically be work for free, but it's really important for speakers of minority languages to have access to cultural materials -- plus it would be a pretty cool project for a Welsh school.

JoystiqWelsh speakers wanted for game translation project originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurearberth-studioslocalizationrhiannontranslationwelshwelsh-languageThu, 13 Aug 2009 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Atlus explains why it takes so long to localize a game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/23/atlus-explains-why-it-takes-so-long-to-localize-a-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/23/atlus-explains-why-it-takes-so-long-to-localize-a-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/23/atlus-explains-why-it-takes-so-long-to-localize-a-game/#comments
Atlus, publisher of fine niche games, has laid out a concise explanation of localization, answering the question: "Why does it take so long?" Atlus Editor Nich Maragos covers all the major steps, with timetables and explanations of each stop in the process. Our refined version goes like this:
  • Step 1: Familiarization (1-3 weeks) -- Play the game and understand context of written material.
  • Step 2: Localization (1-8 weeks) -- Depends on amount of text and if voice acting is required.
  • Step 3: Programming (4-6 weeks) -- All implemented by original developers.
  • Step 4: Quality Assurance (5-8 weeks) -- Bugs are natural side effect of localization, along with "test issues."
  • Step 5: Manufacturer Approval (3-8 weeks) -- "Internal testers go over the submitted master candidate."
  • Step 6: Manufacturing (3-5 weeks) -- Print, box and ship.
Even taking the most optimistic approach, it appears that localization takes a minimum of four and a half months. Hopefully that'll clear up the process for those who think it's as simple as switching a Word document with translated text.

JoystiqAtlus explains why it takes so long to localize a game originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atluslocalizationtranslationThu, 23 Jul 2009 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Impressions: Six-in-one Translator (DSiWare)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/impressions-six-in-one-translator-dsiware/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/impressions-six-in-one-translator-dsiware/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/impressions-six-in-one-translator-dsiware/#comments
While waiting in line to get our hands on Wii Sports Resort, a gentleman approached us, proposing a question that, when issued in the fine city of Los Angeles, would normally be cause for concern: "Wanna see something cool?" Our interest was piqued, and his Nintendo exhibitor badge assured us that we wouldn't be shivved, so we answered with an apprehensive "yes." The reward for our bravery was a quick look at the coolest app we've yet to see from the DSiWare service -- the Six-in-One Translator (tentatively titled, natch).

Translator is a neat little application. It's got a huge dictionary of words from six languages: English, Japanese, Spanish, French, Italian and German. You can enter in a word from one of those languages and find its definition in the other five -- but the impressive thing about it is the input method. Aside from the keyboard and handwriting methods you've seen before on Nintendo's handheld, you can use the DSi camera to take a picture of text you wish to translate, crop the image around the word using the stylus, then see it in five other languages.

In the brief demo we checked out, the user took a picture of a few characters in a Japanese menu. He highlighted the characters by dragging the stylus across them. The software quickly recognized the characters in a matter of moments, and provided their definition in the other five languages -- "consume," etc. If the full product works as well as the brief demo we saw, the Six-in-One Translator could end up being the software that justifies the very existence of the DSiWare platform.

JoystiqImpressions: Six-in-one Translator (DSiWare) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsiwaree3-2009NintendotranslationWiiThu, 04 Jun 2009 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: Motherly love]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/ds-daily-motherly-love/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/ds-daily-motherly-love/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/ds-daily-motherly-love/#commentsFiled under:


With the unofficial Mother 3 translation project having reached its goal -- that is, its achievable goal of a playable English version of Mother 3, not the successful shaming of Nintendo into releasing one themselves -- we thought it was a good time to link back to our interview with Starmen.net's Reid Young from last year. And also to talk about the Mother 3 translation project in general.

Has the work of the dedicated grassroots Mother 3 movement made you into a fan? Did they make you aware of the series for the first time? Have you been following the progress of the translation? If so, we imagine this is a time to celebrate. Perhaps most importantly, does all this talk about Mother put that Danzig song in your head?

JoystiqDS Daily: Motherly love originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brownie-brownmothermother-3rpgtranslationMon, 20 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exercise your Japanese with Wii Fit translation guide]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/28/exercise-your-japanese-with-wii-fit-translation-guide/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/28/exercise-your-japanese-with-wii-fit-translation-guide/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/28/exercise-your-japanese-with-wii-fit-translation-guide/#commentsFiled under: ,


If you happen to be one of the five people (okay, okay, ten) outside of Japan with a Japanese copy of Wii Fit and no idea how to read the language, then you're covered -- Charles Rodmell of NTSC UK has whipped up a handy translation guide for all the clueless importers out there. From syncing your Balance Board to figuring out how to get your yoga on, this guide has it all.

We're not really sure how many people (outside of reviewers) imported Wii Fit, but if you did, we salute you ... and want to know how much you paid in shipping.


[Via GoNintendo]

JoystiqExercise your Japanese with Wii Fit translation guide originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exergamingfitnessjapanesetranslationwii-fitFri, 28 Mar 2008 23:00:00 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[Translate! Ultimate Stars]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/translate-ultimate-stars/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/translate-ultimate-stars/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/translate-ultimate-stars/#commentsFiled under:


Jump Ultimate Stars is one of the most popular DS games with importers. Since it's a fighting game, it's not a huge deal to play Jump without knowing Japanese, but there are a lot of missions that may be difficult to figure out. Also, the game actually tries to tell a story, which is rare for a fighting game.

Abel Tamayo wrote in to tell us about a wonderful wiki project he's managing, called, appropriately enough, the Jump Ultimate Stars Translation Project. We've seen amazing fan translation projects from single translators, but never a project done in a collaborative wiki format. It's a great idea, one that will allow tragically busy people to help out. If you know Japanese, why not sign up? Translating a fighting game-- that's another rarity. SNK never bothered to do it.

JoystiqTranslate! Ultimate Stars originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bandaidsengrishimportsjapanesejastpjumpjump ultimate starsJumpUltimateStarsnintendonintendo dsNintendoDssnkstarstranslatetranslationultimatewikiMon, 11 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gyakuten Saiban 3 to include English translation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/gyakuten-saiban-3-to-include-english-translation/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/gyakuten-saiban-3-to-include-english-translation/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/gyakuten-saiban-3-to-include-english-translation/#commentsFiled under:


Recently, Capcom announced the third game in the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney series, Trials and Tribulations, was being localized for North America. Just like previous Gyakuten Saiban releases in Japan, native English brains won't be the only ones to benefit from the translation. Gyakuten Saiban 3 will be re-released in Japan as a budget title (approximately $25) with both the original Japanese and the English built-in. Fancy-pants importers can use this to score a copy of the game a month before its September North American release.

JoystiqGyakuten Saiban 3 to include English translation originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2007 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurebilingualcapcomdetectivedsgyakutensaibanhumorjapannintendophoenixwrighttranslationFri, 25 May 2007 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[English guide to Ouendan 2 menus]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/english-guide-to-ouendan-2-menus/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/english-guide-to-ouendan-2-menus/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/english-guide-to-ouendan-2-menus/#commentsFiled under: ,

Among its other many virtues, Ouendan owed a lot of its overseas hype and success to its undaunting language barrier. Despite the menus and manga panels being filled with Japanese text, importers were able to follow the rhythm title's illustrated screwball plots and quickly pick up its self-explanatory controls. Ouendan's recently-released sequel, Moeru! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2, likewise requires little-to-no familiarity with the Japanese language in order to enjoy the game.

Even with these assurances though, there are still many import-shy gamers who hide behind their mothers' skirts at the sight of kanji characters. Fortunately for them, the Platformers has translated Ouendan 2's menu selections, providing a visual guide with an overlay of English text. Most of the buttons and icons are obvious, but having a quick reference like this would be useful for first-time importers. Now there's no excuse for avoiding the cheer squad!

JoystiqEnglish guide to Ouendan 2 menus originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsenglishimportimportsinisjapanesekanjilanguagenintendonintendodsouendanouendan2rhythmtranslatetranslationFri, 18 May 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Laws in translation: Playable, English Wright demo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/laws-in-translation-playable-english-wright-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/laws-in-translation-playable-english-wright-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/laws-in-translation-playable-english-wright-demo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

English-speaking fans of the Phoenix Wright series got a bit of bad news when they heard the Japanese version of the upcoming fourth installment would not feature native English-language support, as previous releases have. Capcom added insult to injury with a tantalizing web demo of the game that is similarly Japanese-only. Oh, how those foreigners love to taunt us and our lack of multilingual skills!

Fear not, though -- a band of intrepid Wright fans over at court-records.net have taken the case, translating the demo bit by bit and posting the results for the English-speaking world to play. The translation only goes a few minutes deep so far, but you can follow along with the progress on the project blog. This is probably as close as most of us will get to enjoying more Wright until the likely localization is released months from now, so enjoy it while it lasts.

[Via DSFanboy]

JoystiqLaws in translation: Playable, English Wright demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4demoDSenglishfan translationFanTranslationfourgyakuten saibanGyakutenSaibanjapanesePCphoenix wrightPhoenixWrighttranslationWed, 04 Apr 2007 16:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Gyakuten Saiban 4 demo translation is a heroic effort]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/02/gyakuten-saiban-4-demo-translation-is-a-heroic-effort/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/02/gyakuten-saiban-4-demo-translation-is-a-heroic-effort/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/02/gyakuten-saiban-4-demo-translation-is-a-heroic-effort/#commentsFiled under: , ,


DS Fanboy pal Zachary Hinchliffe is powerfully awesome, and you can quote us on that. He's working with Croik of the Phoenix Wright fansite Court Records to translate the Japanese Gyakuten Saiban 4 Flash demo, which actually consists of part of the first case.

It's in a very early stage right now-- essentially, once you get past the intro and into gameplay, the text switches over to question-mark speak that is even less useful than the original Japanese dialogue, but you can at least watch the introduction. And you can set your bookmark now to play more as more gets translated, because we're sure you'll get to play this demo to completion in English before the game gets an English release.

JoystiqGyakuten Saiban 4 demo translation is a heroic effort originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomdemodsds liteDsLiteflashgs4gyakutengyakuten saibanGyakutenSaibanhousukelitelocalizationnintendonintendo dsNintendoDsodorokiodoroki housukeOdorokiHousukephoenixphoenix wrightPhoenixWrightsaibantranslationwrightMon, 02 Apr 2007 17:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Gyakuten Saiban (Phoenix Wright) 4 won't feature English translation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/28/gyakuten-saiban-4-wont-feature-an-english-translation/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/28/gyakuten-saiban-4-wont-feature-an-english-translation/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/28/gyakuten-saiban-4-wont-feature-an-english-translation/#commentsFiled under:

Impatient fans and savvy importers know that the Phoenix Wright games in Japan (Gyakuten Saiban) are released with both English and Japanese languages on one cart. But according to Play Asia, the fourth game in the series won't follow that trend. Written on the Gyakuten Saiban 4 product page in big bold letters are the foreboding words "Japanese language support ONLY".

Don't panic, this doesn't mean the game won't be localized. With importers jumping the gun and grabbing the Japanese copy before everyone else, Capcom is simply trying to ensure their localization efforts aren't going to waste.

[Via Siliconera]

JoystiqGyakuten Saiban (Phoenix Wright) 4 won't feature English translation originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomdsgyakutensaibanlawyernintendophoenixwrighttranslationWed, 28 Mar 2007 14:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Capcom blogger interviews Phoenix Wright localization staff]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/21/capcom-blogger-interviews-phoenix-wright-localization-staff/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/21/capcom-blogger-interviews-phoenix-wright-localization-staff/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/21/capcom-blogger-interviews-phoenix-wright-localization-staff/#commentsFiled under:

We just found out about the employee blogs that Capcom USA has on their website. One in particular, belonging to "Scarlett," is especially cool because it features an interview with a member of the Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Justice For All localization staff, Janet Hsu!

The interview provides some fairly interesting information about working at Capcom Japan, and about trying to make something as Japanese as Gyakuten Saiban make sense to American audiences. There's also the incredible statement from Ms. Hsu that she only took Japanese classes for about 2 years before coming to Japan. Certain members of the DS Fanboy Blogging Squad have taken much more Japanese than that and can't translate their way out of a paper bag. It's official: Janet Hsu is our new hero, and so are her colleagues JP Kellams and Brandon Gay.

[Via GameSetWatch]

JoystiqCapcom blogger interviews Phoenix Wright localization staff originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While most American gamers know Hideo Kojima as the man behind the blockbuster Metal Gear Solid franchise, the two games he worked on before breaking out with MGS are considered forgotten masterpieces. One, Snatcher, saw a limited U.S. release on the ill-fated Sega CD. The other, Policenauts, has never been available in English.

That seems poised to change, though, as Kojima fan-site Junker HQ has just announced the completion of a five-year project to translate the game's text. Only some technical work remains before the translation is released as a patch on the newly relaunched policenauts.net, currently targeted for the second half of 2007.

Theoretically, the patch will require a CD-R, an official Japanese version of the game and a modded PlayStation to work, but emulator-compatible ISOs are sure to leak out for the less scrupulous among us. While you wait, check out the game's Wikipedia entry to get some idea of what made the game so special.

[Via MetalGearsolid.org]

JoystiqFan-translation of Kojima's Policenauts nears completion originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EnglishHideo KojimaHideoKojimaJapanKojimaKonamiMetal Gear SolidMetalGearSolidPolicenautstranslationWed, 07 Feb 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Phoenix Wright: Justice For All translation is just fine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/26/phoenix-wright-justice-for-all-translation-is-just-fine/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/26/phoenix-wright-justice-for-all-translation-is-just-fine/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/26/phoenix-wright-justice-for-all-translation-is-just-fine/#commentsFiled under:

lawl.
According to some recent import impressions of the newly-remade-for-the-DS Gyakutan Saiban 2 (that's Phoenix Wright 2: Justice For All over here in America), the English translation stored on the Japanese cart seems to be the official translation that will be used here in North America. One of the biggest draws of the game was its extremely well-written and localized script, so many importers were wary that the English option from Japan would be a hack job of pain, suffering, and Engrish.

Worry not! The importer assures us that the writing is as goofy and hilarious as the original, so go ahead and import this sucker, qualm-free. He does mention a few rather glaring typos (which will certainly be fixed before American release), but if you can handle such trivial annoyances, than you can get your gavel on months before the rest.

JoystiqPhoenix Wright: Justice For All translation is just fine originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Oct 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AllEdgeworthFeyImportJapanJusticeKarmaLocalizationMayaPhoenixScriptTranslationTypoWrightThu, 26 Oct 2006 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Translated Itadaki Street scans]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/16/translated-itadaki-street-scans/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/16/translated-itadaki-street-scans/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/16/translated-itadaki-street-scans/#commentsFiled under:

Remember those recent Itadaki Street scans? Dedicated Nintendo fan and amazing translator CTU Kyoto has put them all into English for your reading pleasure. Now you can read all about the Volcano of Death and Jessica's "charming assets" without flipping back and forth through a kanji reference until you give up and toss it angrily through a window.

Maybe that last one was just us. Enjoy the updated scans, and thanks again, CTU Kyoto! Having some idea of the information packed into these sets gets us charged up over the game. Too bad it's not finished ... we're ready to throw down over WiFi.

JoystiqTranslated Itadaki Street scans originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dragon QuestDragonQuestDSItadaki StreetItadakiStreetJessicaLuigiMarioNintendoscansSquare EnixSquareEnixtranslationMon, 16 Oct 2006 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[New PSP in production?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/30/new-psp-in-production/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/30/new-psp-in-production/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/30/new-psp-in-production/#commentsFiled under:


An article featured on a Chinese gaming website details how a production company is working on a revised PSP. We've heard the rumors for a long time now, but Sony keeps on denying them. It would be great to see if Sony was simply bluffing... but alas, I don't read the language! So, if any of you Fanboys out there can translate this article, it would be great! Imagine having stars next to your name every time you comment. Wow!

[Thanks Joe Jordan, Via Go Nintendo]

JoystiqNew PSP in production? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Aug 2006 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chineseproductionpspredesigntranslationWed, 30 Aug 2006 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Frame City Killer killed; RPG to replace it in lineup]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/12/frame-city-killer-killed-rpg-to-replace-it-in-lineup/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/12/frame-city-killer-killed-rpg-to-replace-it-in-lineup/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/12/frame-city-killer-killed-rpg-to-replace-it-in-lineup/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Frame City Killer cancelled?If internet reports are to be believed, Frame City Killer has been cancelled, with an unnamed RPG replacing it in Bandai-Namco's roster of upcoming games.

We knew that FCK (as it's affectionately known in the gaming community) was having some problems -- with multiple delays stemming from poor graphics and inadequate content -- but most 360 owners expected the game to come out one way or another sometime later this year.

If you're a member of the Frame City Underground (the official fan community for the game), a pretty clear announcement in English has already been made. Check out the full text below. FCK ... we'll miss you.

[Thanks, murph, Blue_Six, & a tipster who'd like to remain anonymous; via Evil Avatar & GameFront]

See also:

Continue reading Frame City Killer killed; RPG to replace it in lineup

JoystiqFrame City Killer killed; RPG to replace it in lineup originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 May 2006 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>affectionately knownAffectionatelyKnownannouncementBandai NamcoBandai-NamcoBandaiNamcodelaydelaysE3e32006EnglishFCKFrame CityFrame City KillerFrame City UndergroundFrameCityFrameCityKillerFrameCityUndergroundinadequate contentInadequateContentJapaneselater this yearLaterThisYearmembermissmultiple delaysMultipleDelaysNamcoofficialofficial fan communityOfficialFanCommunitypoor graphicsPoorGraphicsproblemstranslationunnamedXbox-360Fri, 12 May 2006 12:39:00 EST<![CDATA[-eNCHANT arM- coming to America]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/02/enchant-arm-coming-to-america/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/02/enchant-arm-coming-to-america/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/02/enchant-arm-coming-to-america/#commentsFiled under: ,


From Software's RPG title [eM] -eNCHANT arM-, currently released in Japan, will be making its American and European debut this summer under the title Enchanted Arms. It's the first Japanese RPG to appear on the Xbox 360, and by the time it's released, Oblivion fans may well be looking for a new RPG to play.

IGN has previewed the game, describing it as an "eccentric, epic title rich with character, story, and an evolving combat system". While its review scores in Japan have been reasonably low, the quirky nature of Enchanted Arms may increase its worldwide appeal, paving the way for more Japanese titles to travel abroad.

Joystiq-eNCHANT arM- coming to America originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 May 2006 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360americaanticipatedenchant armEnchantArmenchanted armsEnchantedArmsjapannew releasesNewReleasesportreleasesrpgtranslationupcomingxbox 360Xbox-360Xbox360Tue, 02 May 2006 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[DS translator terrific for traversing Thailand]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/17/ds-translator-terrific-for-traversing-thailand/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/17/ds-translator-terrific-for-traversing-thailand/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/17/ds-translator-terrific-for-traversing-thailand/#commentsFiled under:

A pair of Nintendo commercials illustrates just how useful their new "traveler's notebook" translation software is when it comes to communicating to the people of a strange and foreign country. After a few taps on the touch screen, the DS displays a translated version of whatever message the young lady is trying to convey and is promptly shoved into the face of some hapless local. If that doesn't work, it can also read the sentence to you in a non-threatening electronic voice.

Allowing one to haggle a hat-seller or carefully avoid ordering food that might explode halfway down your throat are just more examples of how the DS is spreading its tendrils into the realms of non-gaming.

[Thanks yoorin!]

JoystiqDS translator terrific for traversing Thailand originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Apr 2006 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSDS LiteDsLiteNintendo DSNintendoDsThailandTranslationTravelMon, 17 Apr 2006 19:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese-English dictionary for DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/13/japanese-english-dictionary-for-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/13/japanese-english-dictionary-for-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/13/japanese-english-dictionary-for-ds/#commentsFiled under:

At the rate language tools are hitting the system, the DS may yet become an essential diplomatic tool for foreign ambassadors as they defuse tense border disputes and nuclear arnament talks. Of course, its ability to play proper games may be to the detriment of such situations, especially when the ambassador is too busy snaking his way through Mario Kart to notice two countries declaring war on each other.

The latest one to surface is this Japanese-English dictionary which can translate both ways, as well as accept kanji and kana symbols via stylus input. Throw in some fun quiz modes and a reasonably low price tag, and this program starts looking like a superior investment when compared to a professional electronic translator. The linked site provides an informative and more thorough analysis than that, so be sure to give it a read if you plan on visiting Japan soon. It's sure to come in handy when you need to ask, "Where might I find a Crystal Cocaine DS Lite?"

[Thanks Damian!]

JoystiqJapanese-English dictionary for DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Apr 2006 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSDS LiteDsLiteLanguageLanguage toolLanguageToolNintendo DSNintendoDsTranslationThu, 13 Apr 2006 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New DS games announced for Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/14/new-ds-games-announced-for-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/14/new-ds-games-announced-for-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/14/new-ds-games-announced-for-japan/#commentsFiled under:

Puzz Loop - Arcade VersionGamespot reports that three new DS games have been announced for release in the Land of the Rising Fun, one of which we already knew about and two more which caught us complete unawares. The surprise was so great that we actually fell out of our chairs. Stranger still is the fact that nobody around here even has a chair. No, all DS Fanboy posts emerge from a comfortable hammock tied between two concrete pillars deep within an underground parking garage.

It's a quiet place that allows us to enjoy games such as Shunkan Puzz Loop, a ported arcade Puzz-le game from the creator of Polarium. Scheduled for a March 2 release, the game has players erasing colored balls rolling down a spiral track towards the center of the screen. As any puzzle expert will tell you, the only way one can hope to eliminate evil balls is by firing good balls out of a cannon and aligning them in matching colored rows - this game does not break that honored tradition.

The other game is set apart from the others in the sense that it's not so much a game and more like a utility that may actually prove useful at some point in your life, possibly even saving it when you're inevitably faced with German gangsters asking for directions. Arriving in Chinese, Korean, Thai, English and German versions, Tabi no Yubisashi Kaiwacho allows the user to understand different languages via translated text displayed on the screen and blasted through the DS' speakers. When it releases sometime in March, this title will totally teach you how to talk, man.

JoystiqNew DS games announced for Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Jan 2006 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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