ROM Hack Game Center CX : Arino no Chosenjo 2 (New Start?)

[Aaron Chmielowiec]

I believe there is only one for the loading screen. The difference between the two sets of images is just a palette swap anyway (with the main titles). The tilesets for the miniature logos for the intro are the same barring a palette switch, too.

But yeah, I have the Training Tool ranks figured out now.

I still have more ranks to add but the new English rank images are all in the source image file now:

There are more images to do (I still have to do the taunts for Triotos DX sometime in addition to this) but there is enough done that overall testing has begun. As expected, the Alpha is pretty rough around the edges but so far so good. There are a lot of minor errors that need to be addressed with the text; words getting cut off, missing punctuation, etc. but I kind of expected that anyway.

 

[Mars_x]

Here, two more ranks (in substitution of other two):

Does the method you used for the ranks work for the 'GameCenter CX Rank' line too?

And here is the mini Ace Detective titles you asked for:

Now, just missing is the loading logo for the Ace Detective titles.
I'll work on it tonight.

Edit:

Done the micro titles for the loading screens.

An extra image, just for comparison sake

There's a slight color variation, I don't know why. I used the colors I was given.
If there is need to change anything I can do it quickly.

That's it for now, if you have more images you need...
Bring it on.

 

[SubnetPie]

So glad Aaron got the rankings for the trainer figured out. Excellent work.

The two in-game adventure titles are in.

Update:
The tiny loading title has been updated but I don't know how to make it show in game to verify it is working correctly.

I also reworked the title screens to fix a palette issue.

 

[Sora de Eclaune]

Update:
The tiny loading title has been updated but I don't know how to make it show in game to verify it is working correctly.

Hmm...I looked it up. Looks like you have to exit or enter a building.

 

[Aaron Chmielowiec]

Mars_x> Yes, I can change the "Game Center CX Rank" image too. The length of the new title means I'd have to add more tile elements to the OAM table and make sure each rank "image" has that same header line. It's not hard par se, just a bit time consuming.

Hopefully I can finish off all the rank images today, but if not I think it will wrap up tomorrow. I still have all those Triotos DX taunts to wade through. That is probably going to take a bit to do all those.

Thanks again for the Adventure game images! That adds a nice polish to the game. There are background graphics in the adventure that have subtle Japanese labels, but I'll list those all up a bit later if anyone wants to add the final layer of polish to the Adventure games to make everything 100% English.

 

[Vague Rant]

This project is looking great, I'm really looking forward to getting a chance to experience it.

I apologize if it's been asked before, but is there a strong attachment to the subtitle "The Final Day of the Game Computer"? To my amateur ear, this sounds very much like a direct translation from Japanese/not something a native speaker would independently say. I assume "Game Computer" is important to the plot, so that probably can't or shouldn't change, but would something like "The Game Computer's Final Day" or "The Game Computer's Last Day" work in context? Sacrificing some of the meaning for natural language, maybe "The End of the Game Computer"?

I understand that this is the kind of thing people get very passionate about--direct translation vs. localization--hence projects like the Chrono Trigger retranslation, so I don't want to step on any toes. If that's the title the people working on the project like, then obviously that's the way it should be. I just wanted to bring it up as a "fresh eyes" kind of deal; having had some minor involvement in a couple of translation projects previously, I know it can be hard to see things like this when you're so close.

 

[Aaron Chmielowiec]

Hello! Thanks for your input. It's always nice to get new readers.

In the context of the game, there is a plot (one of them) to set about a cataclysmic event that would spell the end of the "Game Computer" console and the industries surrounding it, and it all hinges on a critical date. I actually don't have that much of an issue with "The Final Day of the Game Computer" since titles to mystery novels and TV serials also had that type of harsh "The (noun) of the (noun)" tone (e.g. The Hound of the Baskervilles). Old PC adventures and BBS games sometimes used this convention. (The Dagger of Amon Ra, (LOL) The Throne of Chaos, etc)

I like your suggestions, though. I'll give it some thought. If you have other ideas I'm all ears.

Okay, before I forget, I got the rank images in the training tool (all finished) along with the newer "Game Center CX Rank" line. I'll probably need to tweak the alignment but all the titles are in place, anyway.

For now I'll look at the Triotos DX taunts.

 

[Mars_x]

I thought at first the same thing, The Final Day of the Game Computer sounds weird, but in truth it is not out of context nor technically wrong.
Also, I have grown fond of it, maybe because it caused such impression to me at first so it stuck with me, other titles would just seem a bit generic, while this one has that special something to it.
Of course, that's just me. If we were to change the name to something else, any of the suggested sound about right. Maybe I would vote for The Game Computer's Final Day.

 

[AnotherGamer]

Were the door letters in Haggleman: Koume Version changed yet? I don't recall it being mentioned, although I can't imagine it being a huge issue considering it's probably just a matter of reinserting the ones from the first game and/or being one of the graphics changes that might not have as huge of a priority as the actual text like any of the Japanese signs in the adventure game.

 

[Sora de Eclaune]

Were the door letters in Haggleman: Koume Version changed yet? I don't recall it being mentioned, although I can't imagine it being a huge issue considering it's probably just a matter of reinserting the ones from the first game and/or being one of the graphics changes that might not have as huge of a priority as the actual text like any of the Japanese signs in the adventure game.

Well, since the door letters in Haggleman would pretty much be image replacements with ones from the US game, it probably doesn't have a high priority at all.

I thought at first the same thing, The Final Day of the Game Computer sounds weird, but in truth it is not out of context nor technically wrong.
Also, I have grown fond of it, maybe because it caused such impression to me at first so it stuck with me, other titles would just seem a bit generic, while this one has that special something to it.
Of course, that's just me. If we were to change the name to something else, any of the suggested sound about right. Maybe I would vote for The Game Computer's Final Day.

I actually quite like "The Final Day of the Game Computer". It has an interesting aesthetic to it.

The two in-game adventure titles are in.

Ooh, I just noticed this. The giant space between "Ace" and "Detective" is back, again. Ah, well, it actually looks kind of cool there and the size of the space from the larger title probably would be harder to distinguish with this smaller title.

 

[SubnetPie]

Thanks to Sora for finding out how to get the loading screen to appear.

I was able to verify that the loading title is working in both adventure games.

I noticed that the palette did not shift in the second adventure game so I verified in the original game that the palette does not change.

I've included a screen shot of the original second adventure game with the incorrect palette.

 

[Fishaman P]

Thanks to Sora for finding out how to get the loading screen to appear.

I was able to verify that the loading title is working in both adventure games.

I noticed that the palette did not shift in the second adventure game so I verified in the original game that the palette does not change.

Great, another moral issue.
I'm usually all for faithful reproductions, but in this specific case, I'd argue that this "bug" should be fixed.

 

[Sludge]

So to weigh in on the "The Final Day of the Game Computer" debate, honestly I'm okay with some kinda awkward translations. The in the original Retro Game Challenge there were some deliberately weird translations (for example the character "Haggleman Lady") to mimic the half-assed translations that NES games often received.

 

[Aaron Chmielowiec]

All right, if this is the only way to get it across...

In the game (fairly early on) you learn the title of the big game your company is making is "Final Question 3". It is written in katakana and is most definitely "Final Question 3"

The play on the title of the game in development and the hint at it being related to the game is in the title.

"The final day of..." may be a bit quirky if used in common speech but for writing and in titles, it Is not an uncommon phrase. You may google it if you wish.

If there is a mass consensus for change I'm listening and appreciate the input. Still, without playing the game or knowing the context, it is a bit impulsive to make so quick a judgment.

(BTW, in the overall game "Game Computer" (GameCom) is a play on the Family Computer (FamiCom) or NES in Japan if that helps anyone)

In any case, I hope to have more to report tonight for you all.

Other than the Triotos DX taunts, I have had a few select people do an alpha version test (more like pre-alpha considering there are a lot of little things missing) and I have a mountain of little things to fix but it is all for the better.

 

[AnotherGamer]

I personally think the current title is fine regardless of any in-story reasoning: with a game like this, it's pretty damn hard to tell what dialogue is intentionally awkwardly-worded for nostalgia's sake to begin with and how much of it sounds awkward due to it being English in a Japanese-made game.

Even the translation for the first game seemed to have 3 levels of Engrishness depending on the game: the action games with little to no important dialogue had basically the same awkward phrasing the Japanese version had, Guadia Quest had no real awkward translations to speak of and Haggleman 3 was somewhere in between.

 

[Aaron Chmielowiec]

Okay, back to the background graphics in the Adventure games, here is what I found and what could be changed (if possible; it may be too small to care in some cases)

(Other than the support bar during the action sequences in both games)


The apartment complex is known as the "Crumbling Apartments". This is part of a flashback sequence in the game.
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_op2_scene03.cnscr.png

The stand on the desk says "President"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene02.cnscr.png

The meeting room door literally says "Meeting Room"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene04.cnscr.png

The "Game Center CX" building. I forget what the bug splats at the end were supposed to say but in the game I think it is called "CX Industries"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene10.cnscr.png

Again, the meeting room door literally says "Meeting Room"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene11.cnscr.png

Arino's business cards. The says his name in the middle (Arino Shinya) (with the name order reversed)
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene13.cnscr.png

A different business card. The red text at the top is "Love & Game". There is a name but it is a random one that isn't important. "Inoue Saya" I think...? (with the name order reversed)
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene14.cnscr.png

The writing on the whiteboard is unrelated to anything in the game other than to show that office is full of overworked staff. It could be interpreted as "This is your job!" or could be a title leading to a list of tasks, like "Your work:" I can't make out what is below that.
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene24.cnscr.png

This is for a public bath. The 男 is for men, and the 女 is for women. The price on the desk/podium says "Admission" and lists 3 prices for Adults, Students, and Children (young children). Prices are in yen. The part at the top of the screen is another price list but I don't know for what. It lists prices for Students and Children.
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene25.cnscr.png

"Hospital"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene34.cnscr.png

The Yamada family grave. Maybe "Yamada" by itself would be fine.
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene39.cnscr.png

The white placard says "Kan"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene41.cnscr.png

This is "Wakuwaku Boy". In the red text it should change to the title "Joyco Land"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene46.cnscr.png

The thing in the yellow drawer at the bottom left says "Game" from top to bottom.
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene47.cnscr.png

The apartment complex is known as the "Crumbling Apartments".
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene48.cnscr.png

The Police box, or just "Police"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene57.cnscr.png

 

[Sora de Eclaune]

This is "Wakuwaku Boy". In the red text it should change to the title "Joyco Land"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene46.cnscr.png

Isn't the shop you can go to to play games like Haggleman Koume and Star Prince SA called WakuWaku Boy, though? Are they both going to be changed at some point? I vote for both of them to have the same name.

This is for a public bath. The 男 is for men, and the 女 is for women. The price on the desk/podium says "Admission" and lists 3 prices for Adults, Students, and Children (young children). Prices are in yen. The part at the top of the screen is another price list but I don't know for what. It lists prices for Students and Children.
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene25.cnscr.png

I think board of prices at the top might just be a repeat of the one at the bottom, as there are students and children listed for the same prices on both, in the same order.

The "Game Center CX" building. I forget what the bug splats at the end were supposed to say but in the game I think it is called "CX Industries"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene10.cnscr.png

Yeah, it's called "CX Industries".

The writing on the whiteboard is unrelated to anything in the game other than to show that office is full of overworked staff. It could be interpreted as "This is your job!" or could be a title leading to a list of tasks, like "Your work:" I can't make out what is below that.
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene24.cnscr.png

That looks like identical text to what's on the whiteboard in that special meeting room (you know the one). Maybe it's close enough there to see what it says.

 

[Pix3l]

Here are the pictures: (I'll add the others as they will be completed)

Crumbling Apartments (The text was redrawn):

"President": (Since the space is limited, there is not much I can do...)

"Meeting Room":

"Meeting Room 2":

"Game Center CX": (The building is a little resized to fit the text...)

"CX Industries":

"Arino's business cards": (On the right, the Mars_x's one, retouched a little)

"Love & Game" (WIP):

"Your work:" (WIP):

"public bath" (The second one has the text redrawn):

"Hospital":

"Yamada":

"Kan": (3 variants, make your choice)

"Joyco Land":

"Game": (WIP)

"Police":

Okay, back to the background graphics in the Adventure games, here is what I found and what could be changed (if possible; it may be too small to care in some cases)
(Other than the support bar during the action sequences in both games)

 

[Mars_x]

Okay, back to the background graphics in the Adventure games, here is what I found and what could be changed (if possible; it may be too small to care in some cases)

(Other than the support bar during the action sequences in both games)


The apartment complex is known as the "Crumbling Apartments". This is part of a flashback sequence in the game.
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_op2_scene03.cnscr.png

The stand on the desk says "President"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene02.cnscr.png

The meeting room door literally says "Meeting Room"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene04.cnscr.png

The "Game Center CX" building. I forget what the bug splats at the end were supposed to say but in the game I think it is called "CX Industries"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene10.cnscr.png

Again, the meeting room door literally says "Meeting Room"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene11.cnscr.png

Arino's business cards. The says his name in the middle (Arino Shinya) (with the name order reversed)
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene13.cnscr.png

A different business card. The red text at the top is "Love & Game". There is a name but it is a random one that isn't important. "Inoue Saya" I think...? (with the name order reversed)
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene14.cnscr.png

The writing on the whiteboard is unrelated to anything in the game other than to show that office is full of overworked staff. It could be interpreted as "This is your job!" or could be a title leading to a list of tasks, like "Your work:" I can't make out what is below that.
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene24.cnscr.png

This is for a public bath. The 男 is for men, and the 女 is for women. The price on the desk/podium says "Admission" and lists 3 prices for Adults, Students, and Children (young children). Prices are in yen. The part at the top of the screen is another price list but I don't know for what. It lists prices for Students and Children.
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene25.cnscr.png

"Hospital"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene34.cnscr.png

The Yamada family grave. Maybe "Yamada" by itself would be fine.
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene39.cnscr.png

The white placard says "Kan"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene41.cnscr.png

This is "Wakuwaku Boy". In the red text it should change to the title "Joyco Land"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene46.cnscr.png

The thing in the yellow drawer at the bottom left says "Game" from top to bottom.
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene47.cnscr.png

The apartment complex is known as the "Crumbling Apartments".
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene48.cnscr.png

The Police box, or just "Police"
http://aaronin.jp/shashin/arino2/km_bg_scene57.cnscr.png

I would like to tackle these.
A question tho.

Can I make certain graphics bigger?
Some are almost impossible without making so, for example the stand on the desk that says President.
I can't make it fit unless I change the way it is presented and it's size as well (a bit bigger and from vertical to horizontal).
I don't think it could present an issue since these are just backgrounds, but I figured I should ask anyway.
Please let me know.

Edit:

Another example, the Game Center CX building.
I can't fit "Game Center CX , CX Industries" unless
I do it in two parts.

 

[Sora de Eclaune]

Can I make certain graphics bigger?
Some are almost impossible without making so, for example the stand on the desk that says President.
I can't make it fit unless I change the way it is presented and it's size as well (a bit bigger and from vertical to horizontal).
I don't think it could present an issue since these are just backgrounds, but I figured I should ask anyway.
Please let me know.

Some parts of the background can be searched by pointing your cursor at it and selecting it. Changing the backgrounds at all besides the text on the backgrounds would probably require a good amount of hacking to make sure you can still search those parts of the background properly.