I think FFXIV should be more political actually

[Shistar]

My issue is that it was changed from the JP source to this. It comes off as pandering at the least and defacing the source's script at worst.

Localizers are not the writers of the JP script, you know, the origin of the game? Glad to know we are on the same page that it was a purely western change for no reason, I assume.

The JP writing team and the localizers are known to work hand-in-hand with these things, and many lore bits and ideas come from the localizing team themselves, actually. It's not a common thing considering how most games are made in their native language first and translated and localized later on for overseas releases, but keep in mind this is a 10+ year project where there have been multiple languages from the start. Working together from the get-go to ensure the JP text can be effectively localized is vital.

I don't have a problem with that change but as LGBT rep it feels empty when you can say they're not human as the excuse. Especially since they're probably the closest thing we get to trans characters in the MSQ and 7.3's now the third time they've added the creepy queer guy stereotype.

I personally interpreted along the lines of "these creatures are so far removed from anything human or 'natural' to us that they don't even operate under the same concept of gender presentation and pronouns as we do." Hell, they think torturing people by turning them into shrubs is entertaining, their "King" wears a frilly dress and pigtails, etc. It didn't strike me as queer, but more than just localizing their pronouns in a way that accentuates how they couldn't care less about what mortals consider appropriate, they're just out there doing their own thing. Considering how they're all dead children too (in the pixies' case at least, who are the creepiest ones imho followed by the frog people), I think their creepy focus was more centered around how children often lack the sense of empathy and Good vs. Bad actions that we learn as we grow. They're also simply canonically genderless, so using neutral pronouns for them makes sense

I know they are called Blue Hand in the JP script so why change it? Localization doesn't mean you openly change names. (Or perhaps it does since translating seems to be secondary to localizing a work)

It can mean that, in my opinion. There are many cases in which changing names helps people connect to those characters much easier, or straight up preventing players from dismissing them because they think their names are stupid.


Let's take Ghibli as an example as a failure of the localization team (I don't think they had any to be fair) and Laputa: Castle in the Sky. In Spain, they translated it as literally as possible (Laputa: Un castillo en el cielo), but in south America they ended up removing the Laputa part, because "la puta" literally means "the whore/prostitute" and it's just ridiculous. You have characters yelling "THE WHORE! " on a children's movie, which is not necessarily the end of the world and would obviously make them laugh, but that's not the intended reaction from the public. If they changed the name to something along similar lines but much more appropriate, kids can stop laughing their ass off and have an easier time connecting to the story itself. They somehow didn't know what Laputa sounded like in Spanish, even though literally anyone who understands the language would have immediately told them.


Pokémon does it all the time too, even to this day. All major Pokémon characters' names are localized for each language, while carefully keeping their original meanings/intentions intact. Let's take Dawn as an example of great localization in my opinion: Her name in Japanese is Hikari, meaning "Light". Fairly simple! in English, they chose to name her Dawn, keeping with the light theme while making it easy for kids watching the anime and playing the game to remember her name and connect to her. In Spanish is Maya, which could either be a variation of Maia (one of the seven stars of the Pleiades star cluster, in the Taurus constellation), or more likely as a reference to the Mayans, known for their worship of the sun.
The rest of names are as follows:
French: Aurore, after the northern lights.
German: Lucia, A name deriving from the latin word Lux, meaning "Light".
Italian: Lucinda, A name deriving from the italian word Luce, also meaning "Light". Or a variation of Lucia as well.
Korean:빛나 (Bitna), 빛 = "Light", or 빛나다 = "Shine"
Chinese: 小光 (Xiǎo Guāng), 光 = "Light"

Could they have just kept her as Hikari and call it a day? Yeah, but it would sound super foreign for everyone except japanese players, and be more difficult to remember than a name in their native language for their target demographic, children who likely don't know foreign languages. Also, I just think Blue Hand sounds a bit silly lol in JP, using english words is considered cool and stuff, but it really falls flat in English and sounds straight up silly in other languages. I think localizing it to the Illuminati is a bit of a stretch and would have preferred them to go the Pokémon localization route. The Illuminati also sounded a bit silly to me, but I'll take it.

[BunnyBrat]

There were politics in dawntrail. The main issue was the lack of conflict and bad writing.

[Xieldras]

Politics within the game, that make sense with the setting and is immersive: I like

I enjoyed Heavensward (even that one EW role quest about the consequences of changing governments and how it affects faith). I enjoyed Stormblood and the effects of the Garlean occupation on others. It felt real and intriguing.

I hated Dawntrail. It felt like pushing a character and themes in a setting that made no sense, over crafting a good story (also there was no lasting conflict). Plus, believe it or not, many do notice when IRL politics are being tacked on. It's a turn off personally when I do notice them.

[Exmo]

HW literally introduces a main antagonist who is the Catholic pope waging a holy war. He wears a great big pope hat and loves feudalism. It's fine to like it but let's be real

[Valkyrie-Veil]

Also, I just think Blue Hand sounds a bit silly lol in JP, using english words is considered cool and stuff, but it really falls flat in English and sounds straight up silly in other languages.

The “Blue Hand” is a reference to “The Black Hand,” the Sicilian Mafia. They’re supposed to be a goblin mafia, but the localizers thought people wouldn’t get the reference (despite The Godfather being a timeless movie), so they were localized as an illuminati-type organization rather than a mafia-type.

[Raoabolic]

The “Blue Hand” is a reference to “The Black Hand,” the Sicilian Mafia. They’re supposed to be a goblin mafia, but the localizers thought people wouldn’t get the reference (despite The Godfather being a timeless movie), so they were localized as an illuminati-type organization rather than a mafia-type.

The localizers think they are smarter than the core audience. A tale as old as time...

[Hallarem]

The localizers think they are smarter than the core audience. A tale as old as time...

Theres a guy in youtube comparing original Valkyrie Chronicles lines to the ones localizers did. One funny example in Japanese was one lady lamenting not being married or finding someone. It was translated into "Men are useless who needs em anyway" 10/10 would localize again.

At this phase FFXIV is so full of "left vs right" people. That SE should just make the new expansion full disney clownshow in another shard with Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. FFXIV online - The Keyblademaster Clownroulette 4. The sequel, the movie, the series, the game and from then on every expac is a sequel to Kingdom Hearts.

[Raoabolic]

Theres a guy in youtube comparing original Valkyrie Chronicles lines to the ones localizers did. One funny example in Japanese was one lady lamenting not being married or finding someone. It was translated into "Men are useless who needs em anyway" 10/10 would localize again.

At this phase FFXIV is so full of "left vs right" people. That SE should just make the new expansion full disney clownshow in another shard with Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. FFXIV online - The Keyblademaster Clownroulette 4. The sequel, the movie, the series, the game and from then on every expac is a sequel to Kingdom Hearts.

If you like those sorts of stories, you should look up the company called Working Designs. Even as a kid I was wondering why a fantasy world knew about Wheaties when a kid said something along the line of "I'm eating my Wheaties so I can grow big and strong like Dragonmaster Dyne!".

[Commander_Justitia]

Theres a guy in youtube comparing original Valkyrie Chronicles lines to the ones localizers did. One funny example in Japanese was one lady lamenting not being married or finding someone. It was translated into "Men are useless who needs em anyway" 10/10 would localize again.

At this phase FFXIV is so full of "left vs right" people. That SE should just make the new expansion full disney clownshow in another shard with Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. FFXIV online - The Keyblademaster Clownroulette 4. The sequel, the movie, the series, the game and from then on every expac is a sequel to Kingdom Hearts.

Basically Japan trying hard to subtly influence their population to make babies. RIP Abe
Meanwhile Europe is proudly on the same road like the decaying Roman Empire. Thanks all.

We play games to get distracted how stupid real life politics are, I hate if these localizers or storywriters or whoever - bring those politics in the game we like. Same with movies. Let fantasy story be a fantasy story, pure from the corrupted ideologies of real life.

[StormChase]

Meanwhile Europe is proudly on the same road like the decaying Roman Empire. Thanks all.

Why's my dog barking his head off?