Regarding the Localization of Haurchefant in the EN/FR/DE Versions of FFXIV

[Viridiana]

Replying to your points slightly out of order:

Don't misunderstand, I was just pointing out what made it a faulty translation, not attacking anybody, and encouraging them to do better and even to rework the translations we already have if it's a possibility.

I get that, and if I come across as hostile towards you it's because I'm very sarcastic, and sarcasm doesn't work well in text. So sorry if I come across as ruder than I intend. That said, the people I was replying to before you addressed me were definitely being very hostile to Corvi, and I don't think that's appropriate when he's coming forward to apologize. Now on to your main points:

As Cidel said, nope. Midgarsormr's intent in and of itself was completely different in the english version, he came off as almost malevolent and to many people, as just generally being a jackass.

This is a really easy claim to make after the fact, when you now know what was actually said in the japanese version.

I never got a malevolent vibe from him, and I know some other posters here feel the same way. As for the timeliness of my claim, my post history in the forum is publicly available. You can search for my posts at the time of 2.5 and see that I was saying much the same thing then. If you'd really like, I might even got bored and search for them myself.

Actually, everything I've read about the french version implies that regardless of his tone, his lines were still more accurate than in the english version. The french versions of even anime are actually very good at translations most of the time; it's the voices they choose that tend to make you cringe.

Possibly. I freely admit that I only have Corvi's statement in the OP to go on here, as I don't really talk to any FR players, I don't think. And we're agreed that 2.0 Haurchefant was going toned down too far in EN, so I wouldn't be surprised if the other languages were less toned down. But the fact remains that they were toned down because their respective Loc teams were concerned about player reaction.

We're talking about who the english version is very clearly catering to.

I don't think it's fair to place it all on the EN community. It'd be one thing if only the EN team toned down Haurchefant, or if it was done over objections of the other teams or something. But the three non-JP teams all got together and agreed (without approval, sadly) that he needed to be toned down. Unless you'd like to argue that the FR and DE teams are trying to cater to the NA market somehow?

I'm sorry, do you not know Thancred or something? He's the guy who, in a very early 2.0 Echo cutscene, is seen flirting with two women at the same time. He's also the same guy who, ever since 1.0, has been known to lavish countless women of all races with flowers and compliments. Also, nothing was "added in", it's content that was created in all versions at the same time and about which they just happened to make the decision to translate it right this time around.

Well, I meant "added in" as in "added to the game as a whole." That is, by the time the postmoogle quests and Thancred's disaster were coded, written, and translated, I think the Loc team had already realized their mistakes. I admit my earlier phrasing was unclear, though.

As for Thancred (and Longhaft) in general I think it generally comes down to the difference between things happening to NPCs versus to the PC. You're right that both these NPCs have reputations as a womanizer or a walking double entendre, but neither of them are really directed at the player character. I mean, most people laugh off Thancred's passes, but some people get upset at Longhaft's shtick. And the response to the Horse year Heavensturn event was...mixed. If their goal with the 2.0 quests was to minimize the people offended by Haurchefant's character, I can totally understand why they made the changes (again, went too far, though).

You just made a fool of yourself while proving my point. Corvinoobus explained what Haurchefant's character was meant to be received as, and you quoted my example of a trope that as a result of those intentions, was *not* used. Nice job tripping over your own feet there.

But...that's exactly my point. They chose not to use a trope because it's not something a NA audience would readily associate with heroes and allies. Unless you're saying that I was wrong when I said the trope didn't come up much outside of JP? If so, I'd say it depends how narrowly you define the trope. If the trope is just "lech/debauchee," then sure, it exists outside Japan. If it's supposed to be "ally who's a lech and hits on you hard," then I'm not so sure about its existence outside Japanese works. Granted, my overall knowledge of trope prevalence is far from extensive, so I'll concede the point about its prevalence; but the point about choosing not to use it still stands, I think.