Fan Translation: Debate

    Fan translation of games has no less debate to it, but a slight advantage on the game company's side. It is hacking a game's font and table to make it readable to those of us who speak English. One reason may be that the Jap. game may use more technical limits of the hardware than the USA version. A great example of this is the first Phantasy Star game. The Jap. version used the FM capabilities of the Msater System, while us yankees ended up with standard musical fare form the system.

Phantasy Star 1 Japanese Music (22 sec.)                  Phantasy Star 1 English Music (40 sec.)

    Note the tempo is not exactly right on either, but it is close enough. Also, the Jap. version music is slightly distorted because the computer they were recorded on was not quite powerful enough to emulate a SMS with FM music and record at the same time. I fixed it the best I could. Take it ior leave it.

    Another reason pro is that a lot of RPG's were released in Japan only, while America was in a big side-scroller/action kick. We missed 2 Final Fantasies, 2 Phantasy Star side stories, 4 Dragon Ball Z games, the game considered a precursor to Resident Evil (Sweet Home), the best modern-day wacked-out RPG ever (Mother), a bunch of odd side scrollers, and that's just off the top of my head and only 8-bit games. The list could be way longer.

    The third reason is that many games were restricted to rules set in place by both American society and game companies *Nintendo*cough* that determine content in the games. Final Fantasy 4 (USA 2) has a dancing sequence involving stripping ( I have no confirmation how far), Final Fantasy 6 (USA 3) mentions an adult magazine ( no pictures). A lot of games had swearing in them, too (for goodness' sakes, even imported Sailor Moon videos have swearing!). It may not be a big deal, but editing games for different societies can leave some parts of games feeling empty and patched. At least Panic! (Sega CD) came over almost completely unchanged ( and got a MA-17 rating from Sega, for what would now be a T rating if re-released today.) There are web sites dedicated to the changes between Jap. and USA version games. This happens less often today, but the Resident Evil opening cutscene reveals it can still happen. (The cutscene was considered too gory for America and was cut but put in in another Director's cut.)

    Plus, the more games people experience, the more people want copies. This leaves open the possibilities for makers to bring sequels to countries where the first (or subsequent, in the FF series' case) game was never released. That will help the economy, which can always use a boost. And, by the way, this goes for translating into any language, not just English.

    Also, sometimes companies will translate a game very poorly. The fan translations can correct this. Not a major point, really.

    Now, on the con side, it violates the game makers' right to bring over the game themselves to the language the fans did. The game is still owned by the Corp, but how many corps. will bring over a 15-year old game for the NES? If one does, I am all for it. What do others think of this?

    Again, it is hacking, and that is illegal, but it is hard to prove the financial damage caused by this, and in America, money speaks louder than actions. (Okay, I am showing a bias, but this is more of an attempt of fairness than any video game company would show to you.) I only need a deeper understanding of the international intellictual property laws, if there are any.

Email me if you have other points