[Try it] Cutscene Audio > Japanese

[Vilhem]

Oh, this thread again.

All the classic buzzwords are even present! "Original JP Audio". "English subtitles" "English Dub" "JPs voice acting better" "More emotion" etc etc. This isn't anime, leave the anime logic where it belongs.

Fact: All four tracks were produced near simultaneously. So there's no "original JP audio". Furthermore, as someone above said, the English version of the game isn't a direct translation, but rather it's localized. (if you don't know the difference, a simple Google search will tell). This means the "English subs" aren't really subs at all. They've nothing to do with the Japanese audio, or any of the others for that matter. They adhere to the English localization only.

It's interesting how a lot of people claim that the JP audio is superior, when majority don't know the nuances of the language, yet I see things like "the emotion is so much better". The only things these people are responding to are the exotic foreign accents (like someone else mentioned above), and not the actual content. Fact of the matter is, MUCH LIKE THE ENGLISH VERSION, the JP audio is embellished and overacted and cheesy sounding. The fact that Yoshida made the remark about JPs switching to the English audio is a testament to that. They are ignorant about the nuances of English, much like NA's are ignorant to the nuances of JP, and therefore claim the foreign one sounds "better". This isn't just between JP/EN audio though...interestingly enough, a French friend of mine claimed the same thing about the FR audio...that it's cheesy, overly acted...so he switched to the English audio. lol


The problem with all four voice overs imo, isn't the acting itself, but rather, the way it was produced. The cut scenes were written with a textual output, not with voice acting in mind, so the voice acting is pretty much like they're reading an audiobook, not like an actual TV/movie script. Take..for example, when Minfilia uses transitional words such as "However..." Who actually speaks like that? Lol

Other things that are missing, aside from the clunky text, is the absence of proper body language and sounds. Simple things like "Ah!" or "oh" or a chuckle here or there, is missing..so we get a lot of awkward "readings" without any feeling in them, then more awkward silence as the cutscene shifts to the next voiced text. It's all just really really bad design.

There is a small part where Minfilia's FR voice actor did a small chuckle, which was even more jarring because while it sounded natural audio-wise, her body nor mouth reflected it XD So I do believe the voice actors in all four languages were limited by the design of the cutscenes themselves.

I hope that all made sense.

[Kule]

Oh, this thread again.

All the classic buzzwords are even present! "Original JP Audio". "English subtitles" "English Dub" "JPs voice acting better" "More emotion" etc etc. This isn't anime, leave the anime logic where it belongs.

Fact: All four tracks were produced near simultaneously. So there's no "original JP audio". Furthermore, as someone above said, the English version of the game isn't a direct translation, but rather it's localized. (if you don't know the difference, a simple Google search will tell). This means the "English subs" aren't really subs at all. They've nothing to do with the Japanese audio, or any of the others for that matter. They adhere to the English localization only.

It's interesting how a lot of people claim that the JP audio is superior, when majority don't know the nuances of the language, yet I see things like "the emotion is so much better". The only things these people are responding to are the exotic foreign accents (like someone else mentioned above), and not the actual content. Fact of the matter is, MUCH LIKE THE ENGLISH VERSION, the JP audio is embellished and overacted and cheesy sounding. The fact that Yoshida made the remark about JPs switching to the English audio is a testament to that. They are ignorant about the nuances of English, much like NA's are ignorant to the nuances of JP, and therefore claim the foreign one sounds "better". This isn't just between JP/EN audio though...interestingly enough, a French friend of mine claimed the same thing about the FR audio...that it's cheesy, overly acted...so he switched to the English audio. lol


The problem with all four voice overs imo, isn't the acting itself, but rather, the way it was produced. The cut scenes were written with a textual output, not with voice acting in mind, so the voice acting is pretty much like they're reading an audiobook, not like an actual TV/movie script. Take..for example, when Minfilia uses transitional words such as "However..." Who actually speaks like that? Lol

Other things that are missing, aside from the clunky text, is the absence of proper body language and sounds. Simple things like "Ah!" or "oh" or a chuckle here or there, is missing..so we get a lot of awkward "readings" without any feeling in them, then more awkward silence as the cutscene shifts to the next voiced text. It's all just really really bad design.

There is a small part where Minfilia's FR voice actor did a small chuckle, which was even more jarring because while it sounded natural audio-wise, her body nor mouth reflected it XD So I do believe the voice actors in all four languages were limited by the design of the cutscenes themselves.

I hope that all made sense.

Yep I agree with all of that. SE need to step up their localisation efforts in general. Been a huge downgrade since PS2 era for who knows what reasons. Even FFXIII had super dry acting.

[Remilia_Nightfall]

Yep I agree with all of that. SE need to step up their localisation efforts in general. Been a huge downgrade since PS2 era for who knows what reasons. Even FFXIII had super dry acting.

Are you sure they "need" to do that?

Keep in mind that developing games has a cost, and costs now are incredibly higher than how they were just a few years ago.

It's only reasonable to cut down costs where less "needed" - and unfortunately the localization process is not an essential part of a game like this.

After all, people will most likely play a MMO regardless of its translation, considering how many people skip dialogues altogether anyway because OMG NEED LEVELS.

[Vilhem]

This is also true. I almost feel like if they're just gonna half-ass the voice acting, they shouldn't include it at all. Having FOUR voiced languages spreads them even thinner. I think the game would do perfectly fine without it.

[Remilia_Nightfall]

This is also true. I almost feel like if they're just gonna half-ass the voice acting, they shouldn't include it at all. Having FOUR voiced languages spreads them even thinner. I think the game would do perfectly fine without it.

Well, you would be suprised by HOW MANY players do not speak English, even in 2014.

In some European countries, like French or Italy, people are used to have localized media all the time (movies in threatres are ALWAYS dubbed, for example). I can assure you that a game in one of those countries will sell A LOT less if it's not available in their local language.

Developers take this into account, and try to estimate whether localizing costs will be justified by an increase in sales. Of course, most people do not really understand quality - or are not bothered by the lack of it, as long as they understand what's being said. So, as long as the dialogues are understandable, everything is cool.

Sadly this is how the industry works nowadays :/

[Vilhem]

Yes, I'm aware of that. I've been a strong supporter on here about getting a Spanish version localized. Fact of the matter is, right now 4 languages are localized, and 4 voice overs were made, and while I do see the intent of this, the voice acting itself feels unfinished and clunky in general. The game text itself is just wonderful though (I've played a little bit of the French one and I do enjoy a lot of the subtle differences between the languages)

[Remilia_Nightfall]

Yes, I get what you mean.

Unfortunately I am not allowed to talk much about this matter, but I can say this: more often than not, localization processes are damn hard. The biggest issue? Time constraints. You have to deliver the product on time because the game is being released - and developers usually do not understand all the stuff that proper dubbing requires. It's not like dubbing movies - sometimes videogame dubbers do not even have cutscenes to refer to, basically working blindly.
This results in the VO being rushed because the developers want the final product on their desk, f*** quality, who cares.

Just sayin', cause it's not like localizers / dubbers are stupid and incompetent - they usually tend to do their best given the amount of resources they are granted, that's all.

[FJerome]

Fact: All four tracks were produced near simultaneously. So there's no "original JP audio". Furthermore, as someone above said, the English version of the game isn't a direct translation, but rather it's localized. (if you don't know the difference, a simple Google search will tell). This means the "English subs" aren't really subs at all. They've nothing to do with the Japanese audio, or any of the others for that matter. They adhere to the English localization only.

Yeah, this. I may prefer the Japanese voices but acting like the English track is somehow sullying the purity of the original story is stupid, the English localisation team is based in Japan and helps write the main script, the Japanese and English versions are equally "the original version".

[Remilia_Nightfall]

Yeah, this. I may prefer the Japanese voices but acting like the English track is somehow sullying the purity of the original story is stupid, the English localisation team is based in Japan and helps write the main script, the Japanese and English versions are equally "the original version".

I think most of the complaints concern the dubbin rather than the translation. The English translation has some very neat little gems.