Esperknight and Filler's PC-FX Translation Projects

[Filler]

Howdy! I'd just like to start by saying thank you for the support shown for the translation of Welcome to Pia Carrot that I worked on as translator. It was my sincere pleasure to have been able to work together with David Michel to release that patch for others to enjoy.

Being a big PC-FX fan I of course have a burning interest in translating additional PC-FX games. Reverse engineering enthusiast and fellow obscure Japanese gaming platform fan Esperknight and I have teamed up to start working on some more fun translation projects for the PC-FX. I normally hang around Romhacking.net but I wanted to post here in particular due to the nature of some of our projects so you guys can stay informed about the latest developments.

When Esperknight and I first began collaborating we started talking about the PC-FX. I love the system as I got to play a number of games on it in the mid-late 90's when it was contemporary and I was first learning Japanese. Esperknight had just been reading (watching?) Ah! Megami-sama so we decided to take a look at that first. EK was able to dump a script and start and initial script insertion. His work is really incredible.



I set to work on the script which is sitting at around 10% complete. Additional info about the Ah! My Goddess PC-FX translation project.

Additionally, EK started playing with Team Innocent. He even posted a great two part YouTube video on hacking Team Innocent detailing how he went about using Mednafen's debugging features to crack the games text handling.

I told you he's good. ;) Below is a shot of the awesome initial script insert that he succeeded in just the other day.



We haven't located all the text quite yet, but I've translated what we have so far. You can see more information about the Team Innocent PC-FX translation project here. NOTE: We may have a new page coming at some point if I ever finish it. I'm keeping some info on my projects page for now.

If you are still with me after all of that, I hope that at least some of you are looking forward to checking out the projects when they are done. I don't know if any of you follow translation projects ever, but they are normally a long affair. Script translations alone can take months to years to complete and the programming/reverse engineering is not easy. Bringing a project to completion takes hard work and dedication to the hobby. Not looking for sympathy, just trying to promote understanding.

We are actively looking at some other PC-FX projects but that's all I'm going to say for now.

[jlued686]

That's awesome! I can't wait to see more.

[DJLobo]

This is great news to hear! Didn't think there would be any other translations besides Pia Carrot, but two new ones is something I'm looking forward to seeing. Good luck to both of you on these new projects.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

Team Innocent translated would double my efforts to rejoin the PCFX clan!

[Filler]

Team Innocent translated would double my efforts to rejoin the PCFX clan!

Heh-heh, once you join there is no escape!

Thanks for the support guys. Esperknight just dumped a bunch more blocks of text from Team Innocent so I need to get translating. The good thing is that the larger block I already translated seems like it had a lot of the more mundane text in it so these scenario blocks I'm translating now are even more interesting.

I also just compiled a bunch of information on PC-FX games to use as a reference so we can get a better idea of what looks interesting on the system. I've been a fan for years but there are still a number of games on the system I haven't spent much time with. My sincere hope is that the bulk of the ire directed at the platform is because people cannot enjoy the games due to the language barrier and not due to them simply being unenjoyable. I'd go as far as to call it a belief in fact, one that I'm willing to put a lot of effort into proving correct.

[Filler]

Team Innocent is coming right along. I've translated another 6 blocks of script. Still 14 left out of an unspecified number to go, a couple of which are pretty large. Esperknight is looking at inserting a couple more blocks of text back into the game.

I'd like to take this opportunity to mention that if you know Japanese and like PC-FX games we'd love some additional help translating. Whether it's a project we are already working on or another PC-FX game of your choosing, as long as it's not prohibitively difficult to work with, we'd be interested in setting you up with a script to work on. I've also coded a custom translation memory/translation aid web application that I'd be willing to share with you to help with the process. EK is really skilled so chances are we could probably accommodate your request. If you've never considered translating a game script, it's a lot of hard work but it's fun and rewarding. It's way better than watching TV in your spare time. Let us know if you'd like to give it a try.

[Lum]

Expect me to sometime in the indeterminate future poke around and see who in the US has an unwanted PC-FX then.

[Filler]

Expect me to sometime in the indeterminate future poke around and see who in the US has an unwanted PC-FX then.

In regards to translating games or playing them? Excellent news either way of course.

[Keranu]

Exciting thread, can't wait to keep up with the updates! Would love to finally be able to play Team Innocent in English, and well, any PC-FX game translated!

[TrûMisery]

Games I would like to see translated for this great system are: Blue Breaker, Boundary Gate, Miraculum and Dragon Knight IV... not that I would complain about any other games being translated... Ah My Goddess would be high on the list had you not already started that one! Love that anime!

[SamIAm]

I briefly thought about making subtitles for the cutscenes in Zeroigar since it's such a badass game and it would be easy to recode the subtitled scenes to play on real hardware. However, I decided against it when I realized that everyone is saying exactly what you think they are saying anyway.

I'll consider working on a PC-FX game if I find one that really spins my jets. So far, the search continues...

Good luck with your projects, filler!

[NecroPhile]

Awesome, simply awesome!  Translated PC-FX games make me happy.

[Arkhan Asylum]

pfsht untranslated ones make me just as happy! 

even if I cant read em!

[Filler]

Thanks guys. I can't wait to have 2 PC-FX games under my belt.

I'll consider working on a PC-FX game if I find one that really spins my jets. So far, the search continues...

That would be awesome. I hope you find something you really love.

[Aggie Tsubi]

I think it's fantastic that you guys are working on translating PC-FX games. Thanks so much for your hard work. I usually stick to just playing games on their respective consoles, even if that means in Japanese, and despite that I only know a tiny bit of Japanese (very, very far fluent; most of what I can get out of Japanese games is reading katakana when it's used to represent English), I'm very good at getting through most types of games, even text-heavy stuff like RPGs. But there are some PC-FX games that really benefit from understanding them, and with the ability to play the patch on the real hardware, you can't beat that. I'm definitely going to burn a copy of Pia Carrot to go with my Japanese copy, and I'll be eagerly following your upcoming releases. I hope with these translations many more people will be willing to give the PC-FX a shot.

[Filler]

Thanks Aggie! It's been a while since I played the game on real hardware but it was pretty awesome to be able to do so. Let me know how it goes.

As for translations, Team Innocent is coming along. I've now translated 13 blocks with another 11 to go (possibly more depending). I'm up to a couple of larger blocks so they'll take a little doing but it should be fun. Also I felt a little like I was hijacking the last thread I was posting links to my video reviews and game play footage too so I guess I'll just edit this post and put them here for now.

Tonari no Princess Rolfee
Gameplay -

Review -

Fire Woman Matoi Gumi
Opening -

Madoka Shidou's Ending -

Review -

Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki FX
Review -

Minimum Nanonic
Review -

First Kiss Story
Review -

[Filler]

I worked on translating some Team Innocent this weekend. I'm slogging through a long block with some dense text currently. In between working on that I decided to tackle some of the smaller remaining blocks and finished off block 15, and 20-24. I have another 4 blocks to go after this big one (block 14) and that will be all the currently dumped blocks. There may be more, possibly a lot more. I don't know. These blocks need to be dumped by hand so it's hard to say, but I'm hoping that there isn't a lot more. I may be able to finish these last few blocks over the next couple of weeks.

[M1Savage]

I really enjoyed the Pia Carrot translation and was wondering how these other games are coming along? Thanks!

[Arkhan Asylum]

Sometimes I forget to read while playing Pia Carrot.  too many boobs

[thesteve]

ive played through pia carrot a few times and only found 1 error in the text

in the hotel lobby during the trip the menu options dont line up with buttons

[Samurai Ghost]

Hey guys, I actually do a lot of professional Japanese to English translation work for businesses (mostly catalogs, websites and the like), but I'd like to get into game translations one day. So if this project gets off the ground I might be able to translate for you guys as I'd like to have something to add to a portfolio. Especially starting in the spring when most of my schedule will be wide open. But if you can extract some scripts I could have a look at them any time.

[NecroPhile]

too many boobs

No.  Such.  Thing.

[geise]

No.  Such.  Thing.

Quoted for truth.

[Filler]

I really enjoyed the Pia Carrot translation and was wondering how these other games are coming along? Thanks!

Glad you liked Pia Carrot. I've been getting a lot of good feedback on it. I'm glad people like it. I've been translating the Ah! Megami-sama script recently. It's approaching 20% complete. WtPC2 for the PC is done on a first draft and I think I have someone to help play test as of yesterday so that should be coming right along. Team Innocent is stalled a little but mostly I'm just waiting on Esperknight to take another look at it and see if there is more script hiding in there. I'm excited to keep translating that one in particular.

Thanks to thesteve for the error report too. We aren't really actively maintaining that project so an update is probably not forthcoming but I appreciate the report just the same.

Hey guys, I actually do a lot of professional Japanese to English translation work for businesses (mostly catalogs, websites and the like), but I'd like to get into game translations one day. So if this project gets off the ground I might be able to translate for you guys as I'd like to have something to add to a portfolio. Especially starting in the spring when most of my schedule will be wide open. But if you can extract some scripts I could have a look at them any time.

Excellent! We have no shortage of scripts to be worked on PC-FX and otherwise. I'd love the help. If we can PM on this board I'll do so later when I get home. EDIT: FYI I emailed you at the email address associated with your forum account.

Edit:

No.  Such.  Thing.

Hear hear.

[Filler]

Some movement is beginning on Team Innocent again. I'm not quite sure where things stand yet but when a significant portion is playable we'd be interested in people to help playtest. It might be more accurate to call what we're looking for "context provision". I'd be interested in volunteers to play a rough draft of the script and either record video of their play, or grab screen shots with an auto-screenshot program (grabs automatically every 1-2 seconds kind of thing). This will give some context for the script and I'll re-write/edit the script and then probably have play testers make additional play-throughs to check the second draft and bugs. Anyone interested?

[Filler]

Still looking for alpha testers for this game. Reply to this thread, send me a PM, or use the contact on the project page or something if you're interested. The translation should be just about complete though in a 1st draft form. Looking for folks to play through and capture screenshots (automatically) or video footage to assist with editing.

Here is a preview video:

(Note on the video: We are having an issue with the lip animations currently. Working to get this solved. Lip animation is normal in the unpatched game)

[Keranu]

I'd be interested in testing. I have a PC-FX and a video capture card, but perhaps it would be better to use an emulator and screen capture software?

[esteban]

I don't have a PC-FX anymore, but, based on the progress here, it looks like I'll have to get PC-FX again.

[Filler]

@Keranu Thanks! We'd love the help. Take a look at your PMs.

[OtokonoZenyou]

I just wanted to say I love the work you guys have done and are doing! I just got into the PC-Engine scene after wanting one for quite awhile, and soon I plan to also purchase a PC-FX. Looking forwards to hearing great things!

[KiddoCabbusses]

Hi, new guy coming along, didn't find an "introduction" forum so I'll pop in here because the Pia Carrot fan translation was my initial inspiration to obtain a PC-FX. I'll be looking forward to future translations.

ive played through pia carrot a few times and only found 1 error in the text

in the hotel lobby during the trip the menu options dont line up with buttons

I think I've seen more than a couple instances of this, actually. If I could find some way to stream/upload a complete playthrough without any web censors getting on my case about it, I'd probably go spot them again.

There's also a particular case in the intro where due to the voice-acted dialog originally not having accompanying text, you're missing half the dialog in a scene. Is it possible to add a few more subs for Sayaka's lines there? (The chibi-sprite attract demo also has some shades of this, but not exactly as much or as important.)

Those (and my patching difficulties even after grabbing a real disc; Version that comes bundled with Can Can Bunny Extra DX, BTW, so maybe you can consider fan translating that sometime, too!) aside, though, it was great being able to play this on the real hardware.

[Filler]

Howdy Kidd. Thanks for popping by! I'm sure I've seen you on RHDN before. I appreciate the offer of bug reports for WtPC but I don't see us doing any more fixing on it at this point. I think We did a great job on it considering and the few remaining issues I chalk up to the charm of a fan translation.

However, you'll be pleased to know that WtPC2 is coming along quite well. I just posted a video for it on my personal channel a few days ago. You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/user/mjlF95 We were in the midst of play testing it in fact when we discovered that there is a lot of undumped/untranslated text. Esperknight just went back and found a bunch of the missing text. I need to verify it, and then translate it of course, and we'll restart the play testing at that point. You're welcome to join in the play testing if you are interested. I'm having folks capture video of a play through for each girl so far. PM me your email if you want and I'll add you to the list of testers. There are 2 active testers right now.

[neofan]

All these efforts with PC-FX translations are really awesome to see so many years later, especially given the fact these games were not really very popular in Japan. javascript:void(0);

I remember playing thru alot of the PC-FX catalog back-in-the-day with friends, with notebooks in-hand. Whoever wasn't playing was frantically scribbling notes so we could go back and try to translate/figure out what was going on.

Keep up the great work guys! This "internet" thing has connected us fans much better than back in 1994-1998, when games were new. I'm sure there are alot of fans, like me, with work started on PC-FX games that could help out.
As an "adult", I've picked up lots of PC-FX related items over the years. There were a TON of hint books made for FX games (mostly for the ones also released on PS or Saturn). Finding them all these years later, is so bittersweet. My favorite find was definitely the actors "script" for Cutey Honey FX, the thing is HUGE.

I would love to play Cutey Honey with the English text. Anybody else interested?

later gamers
-scotty

[Filler]

Glad to hear from someone else with fond memories of playing the PC-FX! Things certainly have changed, but even back then I remember looking up info on PC-FX games, and finding the system itself and the games via NCSXs website.

Those guides and other materials sound awesome! I normally have trouble reading them and I find online captures and stuff to be a bit more helpful, but they sure are beautiful and interesting to look at. I can't believe they published the script for Cutey Honey. I'd be interested in seeing that one translated but I think it would be one of the most challenging. Isn't that the one that is voice acted with no text displayed? It would need to be all fan dubbed, though I suppose if the paper script could be OCRed it would make the translation effort a whole heck of a lot easier. You don't happen to have some Japanese OCR software and a whole lot of time on your hands do you?

[KiddoCabbusses]

I can't believe they published the script for Cutey Honey. I'd be interested in seeing that one translated but I think it would be one of the most challenging. Isn't that the one that is voice acted with no text displayed? It would need to be all fan dubbed, though I suppose if the paper script could be OCRed it would make the translation effort a whole heck of a lot easier. You don't happen to have some Japanese OCR software and a whole lot of time on your hands do you?

IIRC, in-game the player character (Faceless anonymous player-avatar male) talks in text, while everyone else is voice-acted with no accompanying text.

Perhaps one could do a hack in the game to make text for the other characters appear?
That'd work pretty well for some of the other games where characters talk but only one is represented in text, too.

[Filler]

That is certainly another possibility. From a technical standpoint I'd have to assume that swapping out some audio files would be easier than triggering text display where there is none, but I guess it would depend on the person doing the technical work as to what approach they are most interested in trying.

[Ji-L87]

All these efforts with PC-FX translations are really awesome to see so many years later, especially given the fact these games were not really very popular in Japan.

Can I just chime in and say that it's indeed very cool to see these translations being worked on. I don't have a PC-FX and I'm still here reading about it.
That's how cool it is ; )

[SamIAm]

I'm no programmer, but with the PC-FX and its games, I think there would likely be enough RAM and other resources available at nearly any given time to run a modest subtitle program. I think there's a system font available and everything. The challenge is getting it to actually work. The good thing is that I suspect that once you get such a thing to work in one game, you could probably apply much of the same code and/or techniques to other games. That's why in the long run, custom subtitle programs will likely be the best way to go.

I made a fan dub for Xanadu II, and that game has fairly few characters, fairly few lines, and is logistically very easy to work with. Nonetheless, it turned out to be a huge undertaking. Twice the characters and twice the lines per character would be monstrous, and beyond that...well, you get the point.

[KiddoCabbusses]

I'm no programmer, but with the PC-FX and its games, I think there would likely be enough RAM and other resources available at nearly any given time to run a modest subtitle program. I think there's a system font available and everything. The challenge is getting it to actually work. The good thing is that I suspect that once you get such a thing to work in one game, you could probably apply much of the same code and/or techniques to other games. That's why in the long run, custom subtitle programs will likely be the best way to go.

I made a fan dub for Xanadu II, and that game has fairly few characters, fairly few lines, and is logistically very easy to work with. Nonetheless, it turned out to be a huge undertaking. Twice the characters and twice the lines per character would be monstrous, and beyond that...well, you get the point.

I'd imagine if Pia Carrot was fandubbed. ... ...

Oh, dear.

How would we get a large amount of girls willing to dub sexually-explicit dialog?

[thesteve]

the girls willing would surprise you

[SamIAm]

But do they have talent?

[thesteve]

its natural for most

[Filler]

Lol.

EDIT: BTW thanks for the support Ji-L87! I'm glad you've been caught up by the drama regardless of your status as a system owner. Love of the PC-FX transcends worldly possession.

[neofan]

Um... there already is a fan-dub for Pia Carrot (sorta), I've had it for years.
Of course I'm talking about the DVD from NuTech video. I'm certain the ladies in this production have no problems voicing explicit material (if they wanted to reprise their roles for the game).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B000P1U63A/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=2625373011&s=movies-tv

later gamers

[KiddoCabbusses]

I kinda doubt we'd be able to get enough money to hire actual porn stars to voice act, here.

... guess it wouldn't hurt to try to find their contact info and ask about it, though.

[Filler]

Hey guys. I know it's been a long time but I've finally gotten around to getting back to the important stuff like working on some PC-FX projects. 

FYI: The script for Oh My Goddess (Ah! Megami-sama) just reached 50% translation for the first draft.

Also, another translator did some more work on Team Innocent, and I've started playing through it a little to check the script and formatting. I still need to get back to that properly but I wanted to get AMG to the halfway point since I was so close.

[esteban]

Where have you been, filler?

Also, awesome necropost.

[Kommando1981]

Great to hear! How far along is Team Innocent?

[NecroPhile]

Woot!  It's always good to hear news of more PC-FX love. 

[jlued686]

Great news. Thanks!