Gaming PSP Utawarerumono english translation ???

[Nikokaro]

Does anyone know what happened to the translation project of Utawarerumono in english carried out by Blacklabel translation group? It is a tactical-rpg/visual novel with a moving and compelling storyline.
The game is identical to the PC version already translated into english by Mirrormoon. The author had initially thought of porting the text as it was directly to the PSP, which would have been more than enough and much easier to accomplish (as was done with Remember 11, Air and other PC novels). Instead he then decided to modify the text to make it more faithful to the original and complicate (and lengthen) the work. And now his website is no longer available and the project seems to have been abandoned for good, which is a pity because it required simply porting the already translated text as it was, with possible issues only of text spacing and alignment.
Can anyone tell me anything about this project?
Are there other people here interested in translating this wonderful game?

 

[Nikokaro]

Guys, forgive me this slight and almost "accidental" post bump, made only to ask again if someone has news to give me about the already mentioned old translation project.

 

[Kitsu-neechan]

the project was halted because the translator dissappeared midway the project.
the hacking is completed and the game script is about 65% translated.

i have a couple videos displaying the patch on youtube:





i will eventually return to finish it up, but no idea when.

 

[Nikokaro]

...i will eventually return to finish it up, but no idea when

Hello and thanks for replying.
But aren't the dialogs the same as the Windows version? Can't you use the English translation (by Mirrormoon) already available for that version?

 

[Kitsu-neechan]

i could, but i dont want to.
i have the scripts from the mirrormoon translation and their blessing to use it, however i tend to not take shortcuts when i work on things, as such i will finish the project in a way i intended instead.

if you're in a hurry, you can always play the pc version instead, mirror moon's translation is very enjoyable.

as for what exactly am i gonna do with the game, i havent really decided yet. I have a translator capable of finishing the work, or redoing it entirely, alternatively, i could just use the script from the vita remake if i so wish. There's plenty of options.

 

[Nikokaro]

if you're in a hurry, you can always play the pc version instead, mirror moon's translation is very enjoyable.

Sure. Many years ago, as soon as their English translation was finished, I rushed to play the Windows version and finished it in one go: a truly unforgettable masterpiece of the VN/tactical-rpg genre, as it is rightly considered in Japan. And for that I would like to play it again, even in the portable version.
It was just a curiosity, and I'm not making you any pressure, rest assured, the important things in life are quite different...
Anyway I wish you good luck, if and when you'll resume this project, and know that, in this case, I will be your follower and passionate supporter.

 

[Kitsu-neechan]

Utawarerumono is very, VERY high on my list of games i really treasure, so im going to eventually do something to it, for sure.
the thing is, the patch you see running on the videos is now 8 years old, so needless to say, it's been a long haul haha.

there are several things i need to deal with in order to get the game in the shape i want to, namely;

1) while not necessary, it could really use a variable width font, just to get it to look better.
2) there are some underlying code things that are invisible to user i really want to sort out, such as not storing the script as fullwidth ascii
3) while the console version is the fruitcake version where the actual sex scenes have been removed, im fine with that, what im not fine with is the new art used for the replacement scenes, as such it has been on my bucket list to restore the original scenes back. (the graphics present on the console versions have already been fully uncesored and dealth with, but adding non-existing scenes is slightly more complicated.)

and lastly theres the script itself. It is certainly possible to use the "official" script from the vita remake, but i havent quite yet decided if thats what i really want to do (havent looked into how well its actually localized, im not interested of the crappy 3d vsuals of the remake.)

 

[Spazzery]

Utawarerumono is very, VERY high on my list of games i really treasure, so im going to eventually do something to it, for sure.
the thing is, the patch you see running on the videos is now 8 years old, so needless to say, it's been a long haul haha.

there are several things i need to deal with in order to get the game in the shape i want to, namely;

1) while not necessary, it could really use a variable width font, just to get it to look better.
2) there are some underlying code things that are invisible to user i really want to sort out, such as not storing the script as fullwidth ascii
3) while the console version is the fruitcake version where the actual sex scenes have been removed, im fine with that, what im not fine with is the new art used for the replacement scenes, as such it has been on my bucket list to restore the original scenes back. (the graphics present on the console versions have already been fully uncesored and dealth with, but adding non-existing scenes is slightly more complicated.)

and lastly theres the script itself. It is certainly possible to use the "official" script from the vita remake, but i havent quite yet decided if thats what i really want to do (havent looked into how well its actually localized, im not interested of the crappy 3d vsuals of the remake.)

So, from what I gather, you guys initially translated it completely from scratch? And it was only stopped due to the main translator leaving?

Also, I think the font in the video is good, and if it already isn't VWF, I don't think it needs one.

 

[Kitsu-neechan]

more or less.
i've been talking with my current translator about the game lately and its a possibility that it will get finished after zill o'll, in which case
it will be largely done from scratch again with new code and fixes in place but i havent really thought about it too much since i've moved on
to work on one thing at a time now, so uta's fate is undecided.

as far as the font goes, thats cool and all but i dont like it and the limitations it imposes so theres a good chance that it will be reworked.
whether its needed or not is not really relevant.

 

[jeannereach]

Slightly off-topic from the game itself, but is there any way to get the tools like exrebDAR and other Leaf related tools that was used to translate the game? I don't know if they've ever been released publicly, but I would like to make use of them or at least get some documentation based from them.

 

[Nikokaro]

i've been talking with my current translator about the game lately and its a possibility that it will get finished after zill o'll...

Sorry if I allow myself to ask you, but why don't you want to use the MirrorMoon's translation directly, if you have already received their permission, and thus facilitate your work? Do you think this is not accurate and faithful enough? Or is the text of the PSP version slightly different from that for the PC, and therefore needs to be completely revised?

what im not fine with is the new art used for the replacement scenes, as such it has been on my bucket list to restore the original scenes back.

Why? What's wrong with these scenes? If anything, I remember that the PC version's hentai scenes were ridiculous, out of context and plot, and somewhat annoying (if not downright disgusting).

It is certainly possible to use the "official" script from the vita remake, but i havent quite yet decided if thats what i really want to do (havent looked into how well its actually localized, im not interested of the crappy 3d vsuals of the remake.)

I didn't even know there was an english version available for PSVita. Using this official translation would perhaps be even better. The decision is yours, of course: we are all prostrate at your feet, waiting for good news. And I also don't like 3D visuals, in favor of the good old anime style.

 

[PrincessLisette]

I didn't even know there was an english version available for PSVita. Using this official translation would perhaps be even better. The decision is yours, of course: we are all prostrate at your feet, waiting for good news. And I also don't like 3D visuals, in favor of the good old anime style.

Yeah it released digitally on the PSN in 2020 (so after cart manufacturing ended hence no physical). Content wise it is identical in terms of story so you could probably inject it in with minimal changes. the gameplay was also improved to be closer to that of mask of deception / truth. it's considered to be the definitive version and the place to start in the series, so demand for this patch is lower than it would've been years ago. however it'd be interesting little curio if it ever did come out.

Slightly off-topic from the game itself, but is there any way to get the tools like exrebDAR and other Leaf related tools that was used to translate the game? I don't know if they've ever been released publicly, but I would like to make use of them or at least get some documentation based from them.

Not for Utawarerumono, however while ago Aquaplus were forced to release the source code of four of their other games publically as they used the Xvid drivered code. There is a mirror of it on GitHub which you can find via the Wikipedia page for To Heart 2 (can't link it to you directly, most likely cause my account is new). Two of those games have fan TLs (To heart 2 and Tears to Tiara). Might be worth looking at those.

 

[Spazzery]

Yeah it released digitally on the PSN in 2020 (so after cart manufacturing ended hence no physical). Content wise it is identical in terms of story so you could probably inject it in with minimal changes. the gameplay was also improved to be closer to that of mask of deception / truth. it's considered to be the definitive version and the place to start in the series, so demand for this patch is lower than it would've been years ago. however it'd be interesting little curio if it ever did come out.

Though it got reworked and remade on the Vita, it seems the PSP version is different enough in terms of aesthetics for people to prefer it. And it'd be on PSP, a more accessible system, so it would be still cool. And that's coming from a Vita fan I am glad it released on Vita of course, because you can play the whole Utawarerumono Trilogy on it.

 

[Kitsu-neechan]

i havent really looked into the vita remake because i did mess around with uta2 and 3 and i really dont like the look they have going with the
silly 3d that looks like ass. The original sprite work is superior in all possible ways to the remakes.

as far as the mirror moon translation goes, there's nothing wrong with it, i played through the game a dozen times using it and its really enjoyable.
however it is stylized, and i want to get this game translated in a more accurate fashion. Its simply a matter of how i work things, no more, no less.

the tools have we made for this have not been released publicly (there's about 30 of them lol) and documentation we had regarding the game and how it does things has been lost in a harddrive crash years ago. as such we have nothing left except the fully completed hack and tools to reinsert the text, along with our hazy memories of how things work.

i do appreciate the interest towards the patch, but unlike other people often do, i dont work for the sake of spreading the love, i work for the sake of "i want to play the game" as such i dont generally take input or compromise my ways of working.

assuming i do end up finishing the patch, it will be made publicly available as usual.
Thats about all i can say about it for the moment, for now, the focus is on finishing zill o'll.

 

[Nikokaro]

I hope no one will mind if I bumped this thread of mine to bring this extraordinary PSP title to your attention again.
I know someone has already come forward and said that perhaps, time permitting, he would pick up his old translation project, but in the meantime I wanted to see if anyone else would be interested in starting a new translation project of this title, perhaps porting the translation from the old Windows version or the newer PSvita version (which has an anime style that I absolutely do not like).

Many people do not realize the extraordinariness and uniqueness of this title with its compelling and moving storyline, which was so successful in Japan and led to the creation of several anime series, drama CDs, manga, internet radio programs and much more.
I would gladly hear the opinions of other users who know this title and appreciate its unique and unrepeatable value. The release of the translation for PSP would be, in my opinion, a remarkable, memorable, and widely appreciated event; "for the sake of spreading the love" as someone wrote before me, lol...

 

[zerodown]

I believe that aquaplus is bankrupt, almost closing, it doesn't have any port of its games, including a recent game, Utawarerumono Zan 2 Nor received a global version. The only hope for aquaplus games is the fans.

 

[Nikokaro]

I believe that aquaplus is bankrupt, almost closing, it doesn't have any port of its games, including a recent game, Utawarerumono Zan 2 Nor received a global version. The only hope for aquaplus games is the fans.

Bravo! If you, as well as others, will lobby and make your voices heard, perhaps someone well known () will decide to take up the translation project left on hold, to the delight of the many fans.

 

[PrincessLisette]

I believe that aquaplus is bankrupt, almost closing, it doesn't have any port of its games, including a recent game, Utawarerumono Zan 2 Nor received a global version. The only hope for aquaplus games is the fans.

Aquaplus are very likely fine. Monochrome mobius is getting a global release on PC in a week (and PS4/5 in Japan), the Utawarerumono: mask of truth anime is closing and they've recently been selling White album 2 and Utaware merch in China. plus they're owned by Yumenosora Holdings, one of the largest Japanese companies in the doujin scene. theire futyure is secure.

In terms of older games getting a localisation, yeah I do agree it's up to the fans for the old stuff (especially the adult only titles they released under their Leaf brand a long time ago).

 

[zerodown]

Aquaplus are very likely fine. Monochrome mobius is getting a global release on PC in a week (and PS4/5 in Japan), the Utawarerumono: mask of truth anime is closing and they've recently been selling White album 2 and Utaware merch in China. plus they're owned by Yumenosora Holdings, one of the largest Japanese companies in the doujin scene. theire futyure is secure.

In terms of older games getting a localisation, yeah I do agree it's up to the fans for the old stuff (especially the adult only titles they released under their Leaf brand a long time ago).

Well, I said that in my opinion, seeing that they only release Utawarerumono lately and even then they are not launching with translation of texts in English, and they are leaving titles of the Zan series without port for pc is a clear sample that it didn't sell and they didn't have money to invest more in the title. and games not being translated into English means it doesn't sell in the West all the franchises that have done this lately have been abandoned.

The games I refer to that could be posted are the Tears to Tiara series where only 2 has an English translation, Tears to Tiara Gaiden: Avalon no Nazo and Tears to Tiara: Kakan no Daichi are completely in japanese, and to make matters worse, everyone is stuck in the ps3.

I do not care about this specific novel game for adults, I never played any when I was interested because there is no translation and nowadays there are several with fan translation, I have no interest in playing a game of this style that is not 100% dubbed into Japanese in addition to the translation of the texts into English.