[Try it] Cutscene Audio > Japanese

[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 :/

[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.