This video does an alright job at explaining why the Localization is so different

[TheSuperior]

Mostly we just deal with the divergence Koji added for English. Like the entire personality of the character in my signature.

Oh, and the pain that is Ye Olde Urianger, ugh.

Sorry friend I have signatures disabled and all the better overall. And I love how Urianger speaks. As someone who grew up reading books way above my age range, I can relate and I love how they've come up with ways for him to use 100 words to say something that can be said in 2.

[Shibi]

Sorry friend I have signatures disabled and all the better overall.

No problems. It reads "やはり、お前は……笑顔が……イイ" (Localised to: 'a smile better suits a hero' or something like that).

And I love how Urianger speaks.

English is normally the odd one out, but in this case, it's far-and-away divergent from the other languages.

How he speaks isn't a localisation into all non-JP languages, English only. The other languages don't do it.

[SannaR]

No problems. It reads "やはり、お前は……笑顔が……イイ" (Localised to: 'a smile better suits a hero' or something like that).



English is normally the odd one out, but in this case, it's far-and-away divergent from the other languages.

How he speaks isn't a localisation into all non-JP languages, English only. The other languages don't do it.

That's because the other two localization teams felt using the more 1:1 was more suitable for their target audiences. Meanwhile the English team chose a style that made the localization be aimed at North America. It's not like the JP team doesn't also do this. Look at the Namazu, they used a different dialect than what they use for the majority of the game.

[Shibi]

That's because the other two localization teams felt using the more 1:1 was more suitable for their target audiences. Meanwhile the English team chose a style that made the localization be aimed at North America.

Given averages in scholastic achievement across all English Speakers, I still believe it's a pain they chose EME (Early Modern English) as the dialect for the man.

I'll warrant that it's done purely for flavour, not because this archaic form is more suitable to English Speakers - fluent or native - let alone those with lesser ESL skills.

Whilst I have little issue reading EME, time and time again the complaints on these fora, and in other places, show a significant number of native speakers do have issues with EME.

Taking this idea further, head off into the Localization (sic) forum and look at some of the common complaints about things like "corse" being a mistake. That single word, and how much confusion it causes, is enough to prove these choices were not made with 'more suitability for the target audience' as a reason.

It's not like the JP team doesn't also do this. Look at the Namazu, they used a different dialect than what they use for the majority of the game.

I don't have an isssssue with the beast-tribe-ones having unusal speech mannerisms. yes, yes. They are an adjunct to the story.

[SannaR]

Given averages in scholastic achievement across all English Speakers, I still believe it's a pain they chose EME (Early Modern English) as the dialect for the man.

I'll warrant that it's done purely for flavour, not because this archaic form is more suitable to English Speakers - fluent or native - let alone those with lesser ESL skills.

Whilst I have little issue reading EME, time and time again the complaints on these fora, and in other places, show a significant number of native speakers do have issues with EME.

Taking this idea further, head off into the Localization (sic) forum and look at some of the common complaints about things like "corse" being a mistake. That single word, and how much confusion it causes, is enough to prove these choices were not made with 'more suitability for the target audience' as a reason.



I don't have an isssssue with the beast-tribe-ones having unusal speech mannerisms. yes, yes. They are an adjunct to the story.

English steals from a lot of other places and languages. From my knowledge it's also the only one that has had a major vowel shift to the point that linguists have named it the great vowel shift. Then there is the various reasons why even though the majority of those who founded America were British subjects you have the obvious change in how things are spelled yet are the same word. I.e Color and Colour. Then look at how at least English that makes up the one used in the British Isle and Ireland. You have French, German and a tinge of Scandinavian(whatever survived from the Viking presence). Mixing in with Welsh, Gaelic and a little Latin.

Would you rather want him speak in Transatlantic? Which might not be as bad as the use of EME. I'm just glad they didn't feel the need to go full Chaucer.

[Raoabolic]

That's because the other two localization teams felt using the more 1:1 was more suitable for their target audiences. Meanwhile the English team chose a style that made the localization be aimed at North America

So the "localizers" think that NA is too immature and needs "liberties" thrown into the story to make it more palatable for what the NA team thinks the NA audience can handle? If you frame it like that then the NA localizers must think the NA playerbase can't handle the story without softening it and making pop culture jokes. That worrying at best and insulting at worst, lmao.

[SannaR]

So the "localizers" think that NA is too immature and needs "liberties" thrown into the story to make it more palatable for what the NA team thinks the NA audience can handle? If you frame it like that then the NA localizers must think the NA playerbase can't handle the story without softening it and making pop culture jokes. That worrying at best and insulting at worst, lmao.

Hi have you met Square? It's not the first time the company has dumbed down or softened things for its Western audience. It's how we ended up with Mystic Quest. It's how some of the differences in not only translation but game play difficulty happened in the earlier versions of the franchise. Heck it doesn't even just happen with SquareEnix but a few other Japanese game developers.

[Raoabolic]

Hi have you met Square? It's not the first time the company has dumbed down or softened things for its Western audience. It's how we ended up with Mystic Quest. It's how some of the differences in not only translation but game play difficulty happened in the earlier versions of the franchise. Heck it doesn't even just happen with SquareEnix but a few other Japanese game developers.

*looks at the picture of the double funeral of Square and Enix sitting on the mantle*
Yeah, I've met SE...



Though at least back then everyone was openly calling it censorship, not "localizing", and it was the western versions that got censored but that's not surprising if you think about it. Same puritans, different crusade, lol.

[SannaR]

*looks at the picture of the double funeral of Square and Enix sitting on the mantle*
Yeah, I've met SE...



Though at least back then everyone was openly calling it censorship, not "localizing", and it was the western versions that got censored but that's not surprising if you think about it. Same puritans, different crusade, lol.

Then I'm not sure why you're surprised that split keeps on happening. The NA continues to have a non 1:1 translation and localization while the European continues to get that 1:1 type of translation and localization. While also ending up being the port they use to make remasters of. As you can see with which versions they chose to go with when putting out the newest(er) versions of X and XII.