Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon is the title...thanx USK + US release 1st half 2009

[Starwolf_UK]

The USK is a rating board in Germany. They are probably most famous outside of Germany for their ratings completely butchering boxes (its like a 1 inch Diamond which in the case of a DS game takes up approx 25% of the space of the box in a DS games case).

Here is a link to the page but incase it gets taken down (Phantasy Star IV did ) here is an image.

So what does all this mean? Well the game will cpome out in Europe under the title of Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon. As for when? Ratings are no gurarentees of a game coming out soon only it is planned to come out* (aquiring a rating is one of the many steps required to release a game). Also, if we remember back to Advance Wars: Dark Conflict. The American version was titled Advance Wars: Days of Ruin and had a completely different English localisation...

*-Look at the Radiant Dawn rating for an example.

[VincentASM]

Glad to see some international movement finally : P

Anyway, I'm not a huge fan of the title, but at least it's not super long like the SSBB-translated title.

[hyde]

Although until now, the Fire Emblem games released in Europe have taken the American version and have worked further on that, changing only a few extra things. It'd be odd for them to take the Advance Wars: Dark Conflict route.

Well, not as much odd as unwanted.

[BlackFire]

Mmmm the name is a bit disappointing but anyway.

But still no news from the release date right?

[Superbus]

They can name is Fire Emblem: Look, It's Marth, You Fucking Brawl Playing Faggots for all I care. As long as it gets an international release.

[Jedor]

They can name is Fire Emblem: Look, It's Marth, You Fucking Brawl Playing Faggots for all I care. As long as it gets an international release.

Thats how they should advertise it, it'll be the most popular Fire Emblem american release yet >_>;

[Areth]

While I disagree with Superbus' choice of words, I do think that putting "Marth" somewhere in the title of this game could only be good for publicity.

Then again, maybe not. I remember the first time I heard about Marth in Melee, I thought it was kind of an odd name.

So I guess if you advertise the fact that this game features Marth, you're likely to attract everybody who plays Super Smash Bros and detract everybody else.

But I guess it doesn't matter that much, since "Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon" is likely to be the official title (and really has been likely ever since Brawl, what with the "Shadow Dragon Medley" and all...) Even so, I think that they could at least say on the back of the box something like "Join Marth on his quest to save..." er, whatever...

Did they do anything similar with the previous Fire Emblem games? I know I caught a very small mention of Ike on the back of the box of Path of Radiance, but what about the others?

Another thing, just out of curiosity, to those of you who are displeased with the subtitle "Shadow Dragon": What would you rather have called it?

[BlackFire]

Another thing, just out of curiosity, to those of you who are displeased with the subtitle "Shadow Dragon": What would you rather have called it?

Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light?

[Superbus]

How about... um, the name of this forum? Fire Emblem: The Dragon of Darkness and the Sword of Light? That's cut and pasted.

[Rakath]

I kinda feel any version of the full title is a bit wordy...

Ankoku Ryuu to Hikari no Ken and any full direct translation of the title would be more than needed. Shadow Dragon is fine...

I mean it'd get shorthanded anyway: FE11, FEDS, FESD, FEDD... it doesn't matter, its not going to stop us from buying it if the title isn't exactly as it is in Japanese (and it never will be).

[Starwolf_UK]

I forgot in my first post to make it clearer the US name could well be very different.

I think it is marketing departments that decide names and with Europe the name needs to be the same for the whole continent so no puns or alliteration (Kirby feels the brunt of this). Even when a name like "Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?" is perfectly fine in any language (though a bit long-winded and vesides we all shorten it to Brain Training) Nintendo of America decide to call it Brain Age...marketing is the only reason I can fathom for such a move. Conincidently, North America is the worst continent for Brain Training sales...

But this is Europe and Fire Emblem so there will be no marketing and poor availability (none in mainstream stores and "specialists" will have 3 copies at most on day 1)...at least as far as the UK goes.

As for dates...well NOE released their release list up to the end of this year and its not there. So any time after Janurary 2009 is potentially when it could land though consider that the same goes for Kirby Super Star Ultra and Super Mario Sluggers

[Jarod the dark mage]

hmmh.... It sounds rather dull if you ask me....   

[Time Mage]

Although until now, the Fire Emblem games released in Europe have taken the American version and have worked further on that, changing only a few extra things. It'd be odd for them to take the Advance Wars: Dark Conflict route.

Well, not as much odd as unwanted.

Why unwanted? Dark Conflict was really well translated, and much more accurately to the original Japanese script and tone than the American Days of Ruin, from what I've read. I'd prefer a fresh translation rather than one based on the American one, it's always for better (given a competent translator, which we do get).

[hyde]

Why unwanted? Dark Conflict was really well translated, and much more accurately to the original Japanese script and tone than the American Days of Ruin, from what I've read. I'd prefer a fresh translation rather than one based on the American one, it's always for better (given a competent translator, which we do get).

Is that so? I seem to remember we got the lesser translation ... must've been mistaken.

But in that case, I don't mind, .

[Starwolf_UK]

Is that so? I seem to remember we got the lesser translation ... must've been mistaken.

But in that case, I don't mind, .

The internet people whined about the translation being wrong (the unit names being most peoples biggest gripe and yes I'm confused too but I lived with it) and lesser etc before it was noticed the CO names and powers in the European release are closer to the Japanese version (making it another NOA lets rename everyone because...*) and it is the first translation (check the script in early Days of Ruin videos...particularly unit names) and has a proper logo (the days of ruin logo always felt like a cheap photoshop**)

The Gamefaqs script guide has both scripts in it so you can make your own comparisons.

*-e.g. Finn being called Waylon so NOA can do some used one Walin' Waylon pun. The same with Ed for some Willpower line...
**-Take the old Advance Wars logo (so much for Advance Wars reborn...), do a pointless outer glow to hide the jaggles then put days of ruin in some comic sans lookalike and surrent it in a black diamond. Dark Conflict has a rust effect arround its logo and more of a metalic feel which fits in more with the back of the box.

[Neofox]

Why unwanted? Dark Conflict was really well translated, and much more accurately to the original Japanese script and tone than the American Days of Ruin, from what I've read. I'd prefer a fresh translation rather than one based on the American one, it's always for better (given a competent translator, which we do get).

This is kind of off-topic, but do you happen to know where I can find the differences between the versions? I'm often told the plots of the two English versions are completely different in plot from the JP version, but I don't know for sure...

[Starwolf_UK]

This is kind of off-topic, but do you happen to know where I can find the differences between the versions? I'm often told the plots of the two English versions are completely different in plot from the JP version, but I don't know for sure...

The Gamefaqs script guide has both scripts in it so you can make your own comparisons.

Direct link

I seem to remember some Japanese text (CO names, Powers*) being in all versions of the game. I don't know if it is accesible though and the game isn't out in Japan yet.
*-The European names are direct translations of these which makes people believe the rest of the script follows a similar trend.

[Time Mage]

What Starwolf_UK said, plus the fact that Nintendo of America has a history of, hummm... "adding flavor" to the scripts in their translations. Examples are plenty in the first AWDS, with the "Blue Screen of Death" texts on Jugger's CO Powers, or Jake's one-liners in his victory screen, like "Owned!".

[Neofox]

What Starwolf_UK said, plus the fact that Nintendo of America has a history of, hummm... "adding flavor" to the scripts in their translations. Examples are plenty in the first AWDS, with the "Blue Screen of Death" texts on Jugger's CO Powers, or Jake's one-liners in his victory screen, like "Owned!".

What I personally care about in a translation is the story. Checking the two scripts, the story is exactly the same (unlike what was insisted to me), it's just worded differently. I don't care that it's different as long as the plot is the same.

They could rename Jeigan to Jeff and Rena to Nira for all I care, so long as the main goal is still to defeat the Dolum (or whatever) empire and slay the evil shadow dragon. Also, I thought all Jugger's dialogue was absolutely hilarious and found Jake to be an overall interesting character, thank you very much. I don't mind the changes since the goal is still to stop Von Bolt from gaining immortaility.

[Fer]

2009

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon: A reinvention of the original NES™ titles with revamped graphics and intuitive touch control, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon will finally introduce longtime fans to the stories that gave birth to the series nearly 20 years ago in Japan, while introducing the Fire Emblem franchise to a broader audience of strategy and chess fans. Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon also reveals the back story of Marth, the original lead character in the Fire Emblem series introduced and made popular in North America by the Super Smash Bros.® series of fighting games.