Fire I, Fire II, Fire III

[Eloah]

This thread just went into overdrive, lol. Okay here is my insight that might help a few of these "issues" maybe, I dunno... just don't be mean, I'm a fragile lala.

When we inevitably get something like an upgraded firaga which should actually be called 'firaga II', and they just call it 'fire 6' or something. I mean, as stated, there are already people who don't realize the current spells aren't just straight replacements...whms who spam cure 2, anyone? The original scheme is set up so you know the spells have different effects at a glance.

You are correct, the current system is confusing in that regard because of what older and "newer" players are use to. The "modern" system of -, Ra, Ga, Ja doesn't state which is more powerful so you have to look into it. But, if something is labelled II, III, etc, anyone would think that it is better/more powerful, think iPhone, lol. In that regard the "English" Localization team failed to consider that. But we are missing one thing that might help us understand the reasoning a bit better. In the German and French versions of the game they follow their own/the modern system for spells, but what do they use for materia? That might help us understand things a little better. Because while we may not like the English system, it is consistent alongside the Japanese version. Are the French/German versions?

Nobody should lose sight of the fact that the localization and the Japanese content are released at the same time. Localizing a game while it's still being developed in Japan is actually much more difficult than a standard localization. Here's an explanation as to why from a person who actually works in Quality Assurance in the JRPG localization industry , she has a lot of interesting things to say on the subject. SE games have the added advantage of having their own full-time committed translation and quality assurance team (most localization companies do contract work) that's familiar with the series and its lore. But they still have very full plates and have been doing a impressive job getting things out the door the way they do.

You are half right, kinda. while the localization is done all at the same time, its not, everything created in Japanese, then localized into the other 3. Each localization team, there is a Japanese one, creates a part of the game, then that part is given to the other teams who localize it into their "native" language. There is an overarching premise created in Japanese, but sections of it are distributed to each team. And each team keeps a record of common things for a quick reference. I know Koji Fox made a post about it somewhere, I wish I could find it, T.T. I remember him stating that the English team created the Dragon lore, I think he created most of the beast languages. And I think he said the German team worked on 2.4 or some patch, and the French some major side quests, but don't quote me. The point is the game is not created in Japanese, its created in all 4 together and then combined and localized for each language.

I found the thread with one of his posts here, and an Interview here both refering to how the localization teams are more involved than we might think. It's mostly in regards to the English localization team, for obvious reasons, but I presume the German and French ones are equally involved.

OP here! Lots of interesting post I have read all of them and I think what many people don't realize is that the English localization of Final Fantasy XIV is a translation of the original Final Fantasy XIV which is Japanese. And in the Japanese game there is no FIRE I FIRE II and FIRE III. Its Fire, Fira, Firaga so my point here is that all this stuff about lore being attached to "why" is basically a cop out. There is no reason for this translation change.

Basically, the same thing as I stated in the above "quote" but I'll add you seem to be confusing Localization and Translation. I wont quote the dictionary, but if you look at it this way, in other Final Fantasy games Fire, Fira, Firaga, are translations, whereas Fire, Fire II, Fire III are localization. I agree the change is odd but they had their reasons, whether the players agree or not is up for debate, ie this thread, lol

Honestly OP and I don't mean to sound disrespectful to the localization team because over time I respect Koji Fox but the English version of the game has so many liberties not just in certain skill names like the magic spells but even from how the characters talk (the infamous Middy cutscene comes to mind) All that self learning Japanese paid off in the end, not perfect at reading it yet but you'll be amazed with the differences, only thing I'd keep from the English localization is the silly FATE names that reference movies.

How you feel about the Localization is your opinion and you are allowed to have it, but remember every decision has to get approval for each language, so they don't have as many "liberties" as you might think. Plus it is a Localization so things that work in Japanese wont translate well in the other languages and vice-versa. While some people were annoyed at the Middy cut-scene, most players liked it, and understood the message. From what I remember, the Japanese players were a little annoyed that it was so "obvious". There are plenty of pissed, Japanese, German, and French players out there as well, we just don't know about them as much, since this is an English forum. To date, the only thing that the English team has done "wrong" and has apologized for it, is the Haurchefant personality issue, and that is because that personality type does not exist in English, so it became a challenge for them to implement.

Dunno how something as simple as numbers could bite them in the rear. What would they call the inevitable Fire V and potential VI?

This is actually an extremely poorly thought out post on your part. It doesn't matter what the localization has to come up with to call a hypothetical tier 5 spell because the Japanese version of the game will literally be using one either way.

The English localization is the only one they thought would be too stupid to understand the correct names. There isn't an actual good reason, it was just a stupid decision they're too prideful to walk back.

Your questions are valid, but think of this, in all languages, when they do add, Fire V, VI, etc, whose system is better? In English the number just increases, simple. But in the other 3, problems might arise. In Japanese and German they have to add new suffixes or change the old ones, since the top tier usually was 4/Ja. And for French they have to add newer/cooler sounding words, Ultra Fire, Super Fire, etc. So whose system looks less "stupid" then?

Also I will add, I don't think the English, or any Team thinks their players are "too stupid" they have to make it appealing to their player base. Why do you think our abilities have so many Latin/mythical influences or use uncommon/rare words cause that's what appeals to us. I mean the Japanese abilities are all mostly in English, if we copied them we would feel underwhelmed. Adloquium, sounds cool, Encouragement Plan not so much; you can find more Here. I will say that while some make sense some are like, "why change it", but meh.

I dug up some old videos on proof that the current wording in the black mage spells are not how they were originally. Original FFXIV Black Mage spells

I watched the video and, yes the old abilities did use the -, Ra, Ga system. But, the battle system in that game is vastly different. The abilities that are shown, don't follow the current way the game plays, each skill appears to be its own thing, an upgrade over the previous spell, with Flare, Freeze, and Burst, being the Fire, Blizzard, Thunder AoE spells. Irony, the system we have now would of made sense in that game, lol. It could be possible that with the revamping of the battle system they will alter the names. Guess we'll find out in June.

[Yasuhiro]

but remember every decision has to get approval for each language, so they don't have as many "liberties" as you might think.

Oh, yeah I completely agree with that. I don't even think the FFXIV is even that bad there's worse localization companies out there and XIV's team are more professional with their approach (Looking at Nis America as contender of the decade for worst localization company) I'm over the Fire, Fire II, Fire III debate it's old news, what's done is done and when I'm playing it in English when I occasionally switch over it's just words to me in the end. I just feel at the time it was a "if it's not broken, don't fix it" kinda deal. People can treat is as a nice throwback to the English localized games on the NES and SNES among the many other throwbacks.