Tales of Hearts R localization confirmed (Winter 2014)

Lloyzerdk wrote:

I'm not sure how these could be dubtitles when the subtitles are longer or shorter than the time frame in which they're spoken.

I'm not sure either, but that's what it feels like.

I'm knowledgeable enough with Japanese to tell that those subtitles aren't entirely accurate with what's being said. Not as bad as actual dubtitles, but still somewhat jarring.

Wow, GG Japanophiles, you fucktards.

While there are certainly things to be upset about, you guys are reaaaaaally overreacting about the translation. Questionable arte names aside, the translation is really inline with other JRPG localizations. You always get lines that are greatly different from the original Japanese, usually to lengthen them or add "flavor" to the repetitive and generic lines you can honestly get a lot of in Japanese. I didn't see any dialog changes in those trailers I haven't seen in other Tales games. You just never notice because you're listening to a dub and have nothing to alert you that something's wrong.

So it's not really the translation in and of itself that's bad (or depending on your point of view, any worse than your average JRPG's), it's just jarring without a dub. Maybe it wasn't decided there wouldn't be a dub until after the translation was well underway, who knows.

I don't mind the localization of the dialogues to be honest, I always find myself liking localized dialogues more than a direct translations. But the lack of dub certainly killed the mood.

Especially that Hisui's line. I love how Hisui's being pretty playful with his comment in the localized text, definitely better than just being angry and serious like the original Japanese voicework. If Hearts R were dubbed, I'm pretty sure no one would even care about the discrepancies, other than the purist faction of course.

The 'arte translation and archiving' faction is a whole different faction than the purist though, they are allowed to have legitimate complains.

Shy Link wrote:

While there are certainly things to be upset about, you guys are reaaaaaally overreacting about the translation. Questionable arte names aside, the translation is really inline with other JRPG localizations. You always get lines that are greatly different from the original Japanese, usually to lengthen them or add "flavor" to the repetitive and generic lines you can honestly get a lot of in Japanese. I didn't see any dialog changes in those trailers I haven't seen in other Tales games. You just never notice because you're listening to a dub and have nothing to alert you that something's wrong.

So it's not really the translation in and of itself that's bad (or depending on your point of view, any worse than your average JRPG's), it's just jarring without a dub. Maybe it wasn't decided there wouldn't be a dub until after the translation was well underway, who knows.

I've played Legendia and Abyss undub and their translation while not perfect they actually meant what the japanese dub are saying and the diablogue itself flows pretty good with the dub. In HeartsR they are not even transliterate, it's just a bunch of words put together. In the opening sequence Inca says something like "Found you." not moths going to burn on something or other.

The game won't have a dub both Namdai(US and EU) stated it.

Arn wrote:

I've played Legendia and Abyss undub and their translation while not perfect they actually meant what the japanese dub are saying and the diablogue itself flows pretty good with the dub. In HeartsR they are not even transliterate, it's just a bunch of words put together. In the opening sequence Inca says something like "Found you." not moths going to burn on something or other.

I haven't watched the video for a while and I don't really know the full context of the scene but I remember the character saying "found you"/"I see you" in Japanese in such a way that it was as the character expected. In which case, if they were being lead into some sort of trap, "like moths to a flame" would be a perfectly valid localization - and better than being a literal translation in my opinion. But it all depends on the context, which I am not sure of as I've never played the game.

The way to translate, localize, is (supposed to be) different if you're translating for a dub or for a sub. What we're getting seems to be a dub translation, ignoring subtitling conventions, and that's why something seems off to some people. There would be no problem with the translation (well, aside from the fact that "moths to a flame" is kinda inaccurate here in this context) if we weren't getting a sub-only release...

How is a sub translation supposed to look, exactly?

It should at least be more accurate towards the japanese translation and not made up shit, I completly agree with adaptations and they are necessary most of the time but ut changing the dialogue to either exaggerated(Moths to fire yada yada) or getting out of context(Hisui stupid nonexistent joke before the battle with the Sandworm).

Also keep in mind that Inca is almost like a emotionless robot so trying to give some kind of feeling to her dialogues is awful.

Ok thanks Yume, that clears that up in that it wasn't even accurate to the context. Sounds like they decided to just "do it like we always do it" with the same teams and directors and such and then... not hand the script over to a dubbing team. Lame.

Edit: still gonna buy it to support more Tales games in the west, more JRPGs in the west, and more Vita localizations though.

So what this I'm hearing about no subtitles for the victory quotes?  That's just silly.

Lloyzerdk wrote:

Does Hearts R have an option to turn off voices for text cutscenes but have them be kept in battles and anime cutscenes?

Don't Tales games usually have that option?

Tenshigami wrote:

Edit: still gonna buy it to support more Tales games in the west, more JRPGs in the west, and more Vita localizations though.

The lack of a dub should not be a barrier to anyone with a Vita when we're getting the game in the first place. And I say that as a non-importer who would avoid going full Japanese when he could. But then we discuss the series production and watch Japanese animated adaptations, so it really should not be much for anyone here.

The lack of dub isn't the issue so much as how they've written the script in accordance with the lack of dub, honestly I'm only prioritizing getting this game -because- its my 2nd favourite Tales game and because its Tales in general. (I also have faith that it won't be bad....some faith)

DreamSword wrote:

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/06/11/tales-of-hearts-r-will-only-have-japanese-voice-overs.aspx

In other words it's cheaper to just use the voice clips that are already there rather than have people voice the characters the way they wrote them.

I'm thinking this is PR speak for "a dub was too expensive considering the Vita is selling like crap, so we just left the original voices in since licensing that track was cheaper than a full dub." If Sony's #jrpgvita thing made Sony go to Namco and ask for them to translate the game, they're not going to diss the sales of Sony's systems in so many words so as not to burn any bridges. I highly doubt a vocal minority of fans made them shoot the marketability of this already niche game in the foot.

ShivKH wrote:

The lack of dub isn't the issue so much as how they've written the script in accordance with the lack of dub,

I'm not surprised, sadly; yeah, that's gonna be rough.

Yet another explanation was given today for the lack of a dub today by Hideo Baba at Animecon.

He said a full dub would take more time and they wanted to get the game out as soon as possible. Still seems like they're trying to smudge the truth about cutting costs to me.

They might be in need for more money to develop Zestiria too. I'm pretty sure most people will be more pleased to buy a undubbed game.

So he basically admitted that the localization was being rushed? That explains alot.

Arn wrote:

They might be in need for more money to develop Zestiria too. I'm pretty sure most people will be more pleased to buy a undubbed game.

I for one would not be. I actually like to hear English voices.

Honestly, I'd rather they put their all in Zestiria.

And the news that Hearts R's gonna have Japanese audio is what made me change my mind from "not interested" to "okay maybe I'll buy it" *hides*

Zestiria will have dual audio? That's really awesome!

I don't care much for english dub because I think they don't really 'fit' on anime/japan games but it's not that I don't like them either(I don't like 6th gen FF games japanese dub and playing KH with japanese voices is terrible), also english is not my native language so I have a lot of trouble understanting most of the dubbed dialogue plus I always read faster than they speak so I usually only heard half of what is spoken.

No, not Zesty, I mean Hearts R. Though it's probably likely that Zesty will get DA *crosses fingers*

Yume Hanabi wrote:

No, not Zesty, I mean Hearts R. Though it's probably likely that Zesty will get DA *crosses fingers*

One of the European community managers mentioned that they were trying for it in Zestiria on a TalesFes stream. I don't think it would be an unreasonable assumption to think that they'll try to please everyone going forward, especially after the recent Hearts R backlash (not that I think a budget localization is indicative of what to expect from them in the future).

November 14 release date, but this may be the European release since it's on a Friday. Or the Gamestop exclusivity makes it a Friday release? The Namco and FB pages didn't have a separate release date for NA and EU like X2's.

One week before Pokemanz.

DylDawg wrote:

One week before Pokemanz.

Clever... well, if it is NOT the European date.
Why do I have to wait a week longer? *turns into a three year old*

DylDawg wrote:

One week before Pokemanz.

Good old Namco