Haurchefant's localization confuses players

I realize Haurchefant is localized and quite different from his JP version. But this localization is too different from how he acts physically and cutscene interaction, enough that it confuses players. There have been multiple threads asking "why is my character acting like this" in his cutscenes. Example

Yeah, this was a really strange localization decision to make, and it's one of the main reasons I want an 'un-localized' version of the script added to the game's language options...Not that the localization isn't great, excessive pop-culture references and all, but there really needs to be an option other than 'switch to Japanese text and muddle through all that kanji' for those of us who prefer a plainer translation.

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Originally Posted by Lukha

Yeah, this was a really strange localization decision to make, and it's one of the main reasons I want an 'un-localized' version of the script added to the game's language options...Not that the localization isn't great, excessive pop-culture references and all, but there really needs to be an option other than 'switch to Japanese text and muddle through all that kanji' for those of us who prefer a plainer translation.

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That would be a massive undertaking having two Localized English versions from the same team. With how much Koji and his team do for XIV I highly doubt they have time to go through and make two translations.

Why would it be two translations? I assume that the first step in any 'translation' process is an unaltered, literal, but grammatically correct translation? Especially since the translator and the editors aren't always (or usually) the same people? Just give us that to switch to, the same way you can switch the game client between English and German on the fly.

If they' are 'translating' the script directly into a 'localized' format, we have much bigger problems...but from what I've seen and heard of the localization team, they're too good at their jobs to do anything so unprofessional.

I much prefer the Japanese pervy Haurchefant rather than the somewhat blander english one.

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Originally Posted by Lukha

Yeah, this was a really strange localization decision to make, and it's one of the main reasons I want an 'un-localized' version of the script added to the game's language options...Not that the localization isn't great, excessive pop-culture references and all, but there really needs to be an option other than 'switch to Japanese text and muddle through all that kanji' for those of us who prefer a plainer translation.

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I think your best bet is to complain about stuff like this loudly so it doesn't happen so often in the future. I don't as many ability names in Heavensward were changed that dramatically (like War Cry -> Infuriate in 2.0), so they might be easing up on the more liberal translations.

There have been threads about their 'liberal' translations in the past, but somehow none of them got any mod attention, even the ones that reached huge numbers of posts. Which is silly, considering the insignificant things that get official responses, but SE just likes to ignore things they have no intent to address.

What those threads DO usually get is a ton of vicious response from people who love the localization and are mortally offended that anyone would ever consider criticizing it in any way, and then they get locked for flaming and ignored.

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Originally Posted by Lukha

What those threads DO usually get is a ton of vicious response from people who love the localization and are mortally offended that anyone would ever consider criticizing it in any way, and then they get locked for flaming and ignored.

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People tend to speak up in defence of something they like. It's not like the people in defence of the localization were the only "bad guys" in those topics. In the end, those discussions always end up with two sides that present their opinions as fact, and refuse to acknowledge anything the other side says.

Wait, people were confused about Haruchefant?

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Originally Posted by Velox

Wait, people were confused about Haruchefant?

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Eh, Haurchefant's localization is pretty much the only area that I agree was originally localized too differently from the JP material. I don't think that 2.0 portrayed him clearly as crazy for the WoL, and that this was rectified a few patches in to ARR. You'll note, though, that this topic is nearly a year old.

Yeah. I wish the localization team would stop taking so many licences with the characters. that's why the english dialogue rarely matches up with anything the characters are doing.

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Originally Posted by Chasely

Yeah. I wish the localization team would stop taking so many licences with the characters. that's why the english dialogue rarely matches up with anything the characters are doing.

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Nor does it match the JP version's story, I have to run to JP friends to understand some of the stuff that "localization" likes to change, such as Keeper of the Lake dialogues.

And then there's the super annoying fact that they act too liberal with changing the character's personalities.. such as the latest one in 3.1, it's like listening to a completely different person between the 2 versions.

Ambiguity and the none-linear translation is fine, but to end up having completely different understanding of the story is not.

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Originally Posted by TriColors

such as the latest one in 3.1, it's like listening to a completely different person between the 2 versions.

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What? Who? Is Pirate Guy different in the land of the rising sun?

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Originally Posted by Brannigan

What? Who? Is Pirate Guy different in the land of the rising sun?

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Just off the top of my head without rewatching the cutscenes

Spoilered for obvious reasons

Krile's, Thancred, all of Alphinaud's reactions, one of the people taking refuge, there's literally a 15secs JP line that got translated to a "thank you" and Matoya's attitude

3.1's changes to that returning character broke my heart.

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Originally Posted by TriColors

Just off the top of my head without rewatching the cutscenes

Spoilered for obvious reasons

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Lame. Actually, I think I remember the last thing you mentioned.