Ask Localization Megathread

[Xsilver]

I have a few questions relating to FFXI's localization versus the naming conventions of previous Final Fantasy games:

Why Inferno and not Hellfire for Ifrit's Astral Flow?(Is it because of the ESRB rating that you can't use "Hell"?.
Why Earthen Fury instead of Gaia's Wrath for Titan's Astral Flow?
Why Tidal Wave instead of Tsunami for Leviathan's Astral Flow? (Is it too sensitive in Japan to use Tsunami?)
Why Aspir instead of Osmose? (FF4/FF9)
Why Spirt Surge instead of Lancet(Dragon Sword) as it's called in the JP and FFV)
Why Sabre Dance instead of Sword Dance as in FFV?
Why Ryunohige instead of Dragon Whisker as in FF9/FFTactics?
Why Souleater instead of Darkness for DRK's job ability?


Also I'd like to mention that playing FFXI has helped me with my vocabulary. Here's a list of words from various FFXI cutscenes that actually showed up on the GRE exam I took two years ago. You guys must be either married to a Thesaurus all the time or have an outrageously masterful lexicon.

-Lilliputian
-Ambisinister
-Arcipluvian
-Wherewithal
-Cavorting
-Crestfallen-Despirited
-Pandiculation
-Constutional
-Recondite
-Bombastic
-Platitudes
-Paroxysm
-Candor
-Palavar
-Aphorism
-Levity
-Gumption
-Deleterious
-Minutia
-Daft
-Dearth
-Tumescent
-Acerbic
-Epicene
-Surly
-Din
-Deign
-Sanctimonious
-Surreptitious .
-Effusive
-Sordid
-Nonpereil
-Abstemious
-Redoubtable
-Lethologica
-Tarantism

[Martel]

I have a few questions relating to FFXI's localization versus the naming conventions of previous Final Fantasy games:

Why Inferno and not Hellfire for Ifrit's Astral Flow?(Is it because of the ESRB rating that you can't use "Hell"?.
Why Earthen Fury instead of Gaia's Wrath for Titan's Astral Flow?
Why Tidal Wave instead of Tsunami for Leviathan's Astral Flow? (Is it too sensitive in Japan to use Tsunami?)
Why Aspir instead of Osmose? (FF4/FF9)
Why Spirt Surge instead of Lancet(Dragon Sword) as it's called in the JP and FFV)
Why Sabre Dance instead of Sword Dance as in FFV?
Why Ryunohige instead of Dragon Whisker as in FF9/FFTactics?
Why Souleater instead of Darkness for DRK's job ability?

Whoever decided to leave this in the original JP, good call!

While the literal meaning may be the same, the western and eastern concepts of dragons are so very different that you don't get the same feeling from the names.

Heck, the classic western interpretation of a dragon doesn't typically even have what could be called whiskers. You say dragon whisker around a westerner and they're like... "Dragons have whiskers?"

Because of this, the name felt really silly to me when I first encountered it(which I admit, was a really long time ago.) It'd be kinda like finding some boots called snake's boots.(Not boots made of snake skin, but boots for a snake.) Evokes that, "Huh? what?" kinda feeling.

I think silly is not the feeling we want to get from the names of our legendary weapons.

But Ryunohige doesn't give me that feeling. And leaving it in JP links it to the eastern concept of dragons. Which are more symbols of power, good fortune, wisdom and benevolence. And do tend to have what can be seen as "whiskers", and "beards".

So thank you, localization team, for ignoring the precedent, and leaving it as Ryunohige. ^^

[Unelonborro]

I have a few questions relating to FFXI's localization versus the naming conventions of previous Final Fantasy games:

Why Inferno and not Hellfire for Ifrit's Astral Flow?(Is it because of the ESRB rating that you can't use "Hell"?.
Why Earthen Fury instead of Gaia's Wrath for Titan's Astral Flow?
Why Tidal Wave instead of Tsunami for Leviathan's Astral Flow? (Is it too sensitive in Japan to use Tsunami?)
Why Aspir instead of Osmose? (FF4/FF9)
Why Spirt Surge instead of Lancet(Dragon Sword) as it's called in the JP and FFV)
Why Sabre Dance instead of Sword Dance as in FFV?
Why Ryunohige instead of Dragon Whisker as in FF9/FFTactics?
Why Souleater instead of Darkness for DRK's job ability?

I'd love to be able to give you an explanation for these, but they are all way before my time, so I'd rather not provide false information. I would instead point to my above response concerning that different projects take different directions in where they choose to stick to precedent and where they choose something new.

[Karbuncle]

I have some questions that aren't why why nots.

When it comes to Thief, were there anythings the dev teams wanted to add based on previous FF titles but couldn't fit into the realm of XI? (Like stealing things from enemies hurting/killing them, ala Riku + Machine parts) Later you added Despoil, which felt like something you might have wanted THF to have from the beginning.

When it came to SMN, was there any debate on making it a heavily focused pet job vs making Summoner a nuking job and Summons perform more like traditional FF Titles, such as casting Magic and they would appear > do damage > Disappear like in other FF titles? Similar to how Alexander and Odin work. It just feels like Alex/Odin were maybe a remnant of what SMN could have been.

On the topic of RDM, did you ever think RDM would become the absolute king of Solo like it did at the 75 cap? Were you impressed by some of the things RDMs did back then? (especially one specific Taru). Also, when it came to RDM, did you envision it as a Melee-mage from the beginning or did you expect people to adopt it as a healer/support job it became today?

A non-job related topic. Did you guys ever consider adding "Limit Breaks" in the traditional sense, like in XIV, but to XI? I know we have Weaponskills and our 1hr abilities which could be construed as a type of limit break, but did you ever think or want to implement a Limit-Break type system in XI?

Lastly, You all do realize how much most of us here appreciate you and all the community team despite being the harbinger of bad news sometimes, yes? Cause we do. I do at least. Even if I get batsh*t sometimes like that guy in the movies whos like "hey buddy.." but secretely has a knife and sh*t and you're just like "smile and say yes to anything he asks" and even though he sounds friendly you know hes like, 10 seconds from snapping and screaming about potatoes eating his eyes while he stabs blindly in the dark.

[Unelonborro]

Hi Karbuncle,

I have some questions that aren't why why nots.

When it comes to Thief, were there anythings the dev teams wanted to add based on previous FF titles but couldn't fit into the realm of XI? (Like stealing things from enemies hurting/killing them, ala Riku + Machine parts) Later you added Despoil, which felt like something you might have wanted THF to have from the beginning.

When it came to SMN, was there any debate on making it a heavily focused pet job vs making Summoner a nuking job and Summons perform more like traditional FF Titles, such as casting Magic and they would appear > do damage > Disappear like in other FF titles? Similar to how Alexander and Odin work. It just feels like Alex/Odin were maybe a remnant of what SMN could have been.

On the topic of RDM, did you ever think RDM would become the absolute king of Solo like it did at the 75 cap? Were you impressed by some of the things RDMs did back then? (especially one specific Taru). Also, when it came to RDM, did you envision it as a Melee-mage from the beginning or did you expect people to adopt it as a healer/support job it became today?

A non-job related topic. Did you guys ever consider adding "Limit Breaks" in the traditional sense, like in XIV, but to XI? I know we have Weaponskills and our 1hr abilities which could be construed as a type of limit break, but did you ever think or want to implement a Limit-Break type system in XI?

These are all really good questions, but none of which I can provide any good insight into. Wish I could help!

[Karbuncle]

Hi Karbuncle,


These are all really good questions, but none of which I can provide any good insight into. Wish I could help!

Da...rn!

Ah well, I appreciate you getting to them , If I think of any more less old questions I'll pick your brain :3

[Poo]

Hi everyone,

I've shared with you all a few stories about Localization and the work we are involved in here, and a couple of you mentioned you enjoyed hearing my anecdotes. I've opened this thread so that you can ask me anything you like about the localization process, the work the we do, or whatever else you would like to chat about. Keep in mind that there may be some topics I cannot comment on, such battle content; job balance; future plans the team has; and other proprietary information, and depending on how busy I am I may not be able to respond to your questions right away.

Tell your friends and linkshell members and let's chat!

Regards,

Unelonborro
Localization Lead

Wow, I cannot begin to express my excitement regarding this thread!

I recently had a chance to whiz back through the level cap quests and I have to say...

The whole "brown mage" storyline had me rolling on the floor laughing.

How much of that is a direct translation? How much of it had to be ad-lib?

Brilliant!

[Unelonborro]

Wow, I cannot begin to express my excitement regarding this thread!

I recently had a chance to whiz back through the level cap quests and I have to say...

The whole "brown mage" storyline had me rolling on the floor laughing.

How much of that is a direct translation? How much of it had to be ad-lib?

Brilliant!

You know, I was talking with the two translators involved in that quest line just now, and they each claim amnesia. However, I can confirm that they took what the Japanese had and dialed it up to 11!

[Poo]

You know, I was talking with the two translators involved in that quest line just now, and they each claim amnesia. However, I can confirm that they took what the Japanese had and dialed it up to 11!

Thank you!

Too freaking funny.

[Selindrile]

That was an awesome read Grekumah, and I'm extremely amused and pleased by your use of the word "grokable".