English players cheated out of dialogue(?)

[VincentASM is too important to have a messed up name]

Took me long enough to realise... I'm assuming there's a few people who probably already know this, but...

Anyway, in the Japanese version, there were two variations of the game script- the script in Hard/Maniac mode was slightly longer than the one in Normal mode. The English localisation team, however, made a wise decision IMO to alter it so that all modes used the same script.

Now, I haven't played the English version, so up until now I assumed it used the Japanese Hard/Maniac script. Recently, Neofox's comment in the Strange FE9-pic topic made me look through the English script to check for a reference. I was kind of "WTF..." when I finally found out they used the Japanese Normal script.

After discovering this, I am quite disappointed to say the least. Aside from a few minor issues, I've always been a huge fan of the English localisations. I also like the majority of what they did for this game's script. However I can't say that I like what they "didn't do".

Here's both versions of Part 3 Prologue for those who want to compare. I haven't looked at many chapters, but if you imagine that for 43 chapters, then... : /

I was thinking of translating the extended script, but I just wanted to know if it's true that it was cut, and if people are interested at all.

[SlippyToasterTrooper_UK]

I remember asking this the moment RD came out though the only response I remember is all modes using the same script.

Thing is how long is radiant Dawns script...i'll estimate 300'000 words.

If as a translator project manager you were told it is going to be 650'000 words because you have to translate 90% of the script twice with minor differences (slightly different wording...the 10% is the new bits) for difficulty modes most of your consumers won't be playing in what would you do. The project manager went for doing the shorter version only...I would have picked the longer version but I can understand the games localisation came about at a very busy time for NOA so I guess some compromises had to be made. Plus the manager might have felt Fire Emblem has enough dialogue without adding to the heap or recieved feedback from IS that players found it was the case (from the same kind of feedback that whined about Maniac being impossible, cutting it from our PoR).

As for translations of an extended script. I've no interest in the full thing with the 90% of it the same. A summary of what I missed out on would be more interesting. Though given the differences such a thing might be more difficult than a straight translation.

[Time Mage]

Strange... I've read both versions of 3-P script, and rather than the extended being an... extended version of the normal one, it just seems they both have different things. For example, in the extended one, the Ike, Mist and Titania conversation prior to Ranulf's arrival is not present.

And maybe it's my imagination, but I think that some of the extra info of the extended script is present in the Spanish version (which basically looks based in the normal one). Maybe I don't remember correctly, or maybe it's just a slightly different translation of the normal script in Spanish, though.

[caleb723]

I actually remember this, and have always wondered why it didn't ever seem any different.  I do agree that I'd like a summary of what took place rather than the whole thing, but beggars can't be choosers, eh?

Thanks for clearing this up for me VincentASM.

[VincentASM is too important to have a messed up name]

Strange... I've read both versions of 3-P script, and rather than the extended being an... extended version of the normal one, it just seems they both have different things. For example, in the extended one, the Ike, Mist and Titania conversation prior to Ranulf's arrival is not present.

I seem to recall Mist and Titania appear at the end of Part 2 Endgame instead. Don't take my word for it though.

Also, I'd like to have done a summary, but yeah it's kind of tricky since the differences in script aren't always clear-cut and are all over the place.

I've also added Part 3 Chapter 1. It'll probably be a while until I work on another chapter.

[WyvernSageLord]

I seem to recall Mist and Titania appear at the end of Part 2 Endgame instead. Don't take my word for it though.

Actually, as long as it's been, my memory still serves. From what you were translating while RD was only out in Japan? Mist and Titania DID have dialogue at the end of Part 2, IIRC.

[chaosprophet]

   Thanks for the translations Vincent. Even if the new content is small it has some interesting details. And maybe is just me but I got the felling that the dialogue on the extended version is more war like...
    I'm dissapointed too. To think that we got a less detailed version of the story.

[gemini-saga]

I think is both parts to blame... the Localization team for not Translating the second version and the Japanese team to Make 2 versions...

Well I feel sad but I understand... >_> Although I want to kill them now...

[nahkampfbiber]

Wow... basically this had the potential to put the whole rushed storytelling I hated so much about FE10 to rest.
This is... I feel somewhat conned, now. 

I'd love to see more of the extended script (in whatever form you choose), even though there apparently aren't any huge differences (yet?).

[Crystalline Eliot]

Wow, I really didn't know that they used the same storyline for all modes, and picked the normal one ._.

That royally sucks in my opinion! Makes me wanna slap around the localization team Then again, I never have been too fond of the localizations, they have a funny way of handling things, and I'm one who likes raw direct translations. As you can probably tell, I'm also one of those who likes Japanese voices with subs too ;P

[Ayanami]

It's not just the shortened script, but also some of the music tracks were taken out of RD too, I believe. But for the localization team, maybe they didn't have the money to extend the game, but knowing this it is rather disappointing. But for the translation to be shortened in the game, it is a sign that also NOA probably either didn't approve it, or that they are lazy.