I would like to add that subj probably wont be translated by Namco. They had hopes for the first game, but sales was VERY poor.
So, I hacked the game. It does uses some data encoding algorithms to avoid romhacking (compression, encryption and checksum). I even find it cute when programmers do this, and yet the algorithm itself is extra-obvious once you look at the ASM code of the game xD. Anyway, this is how the Latin font looks like (yeah, they wanted to protect the game but there is a full Latin font on it already... GENIUS!)
~Sky
You realize that compression and checksum aren't implemented to avoid romhacking right? They have actual purposes...
Yes they are indeed.
He mentioned compression, encryption and checksum.
Compression is used to save space. It also obfuscates the data.
Encryption is used to obfuscate the data.
Checksum is used to verify whether the data was changed at all, or is missing... yet the file systems in recent systems simply make this unneeded (an iso/rom of a DS/PSP game won't load if the data is corrupt). Unless...
Using a custom (not well known) compression, and the very fact they bothered encrypting at all: hide the game data from anyone looking into
a) ripping it and reusing it elsewhere in other games
b) changing it
b is more likely because they applied it to a non-reusable part: the text.
Text uncompressed would never exceed more than 2~3 MB (generally it's around 600~700kb in the average 40h jRPG). So size isn't an issue, hence, compression isn't needed for the purpose of saving space (but rather other purposes: hiding it)
Checksum: only reason it's here at all...
Preventing any tampering with the data to increase/decrease/alter the text.
Including the romhacking part where, you know, change the text.
So yes, it is intentional.
It's even included in many QA lists for some major developers.
Also, Chinese (and to a lesser degree, Korean) people fan-translate all sort of JP games pretty fast, from visual novels to RPGs to platformers (their FF Type-0 translation was finished in three months, and they actually have done a proof-of-concept one for Layton 5 3DS by altering from the RAM).
Namco lately is publishing PSP and Vita games in Chinese. *Hint* *Hint*
Right, except I didn't see any mention of the text files specifically being compressed nor anything about a custom not well known compression (which I find hard to believe anyways since pretty much every compression used in games is just a combination of already existing compression algorithms) and often files like this are packed meaning compression does make sense. Oh and the checksum is actually used for debugging.
But whatever...
So, I hacked the game. It does uses some data encoding algorithms to avoid romhacking (compression, encryption and checksum). I even find it cute when programmers do this, and yet the algorithm itself is extra-obvious once you look at the ASM code of the game xD.
*a screenshot where the only thing modified is the text, snip*
Checksums were used to prevent piracy since the SNES/Genesis days to prevent hackers from tampering with the rom to remove protections and various region locking features or modifying it in any capacity. Also used by the GTA devs to prevent people from enabling the Hot Coffee scene (they are tampering with the binary too, they just chose to alter the events that rather than alter the text for translation). They still serve the exact same purpose today.
This one, Fate Extra CCC and Lord of Apocalypse, are some of the games I could consider hacking after finishing the Type-0 project. Can't promise anything though, only fan demand (and time, of course) will tell...
~Sky
This one, Fate Extra CCC and Lord of Apocalypse, are some of the games I could consider hacking after finishing the Type-0 project. Can't promise anything though, only fan demand (and time, of course) will tell...
~Sky
hi sky if possible can i request Genso Suikoden: Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki english translation patch? i am huge fan of suikoden
tq in advance
Nope no development have been confirmed as far as we know, but hopefully there isguys! ^^ is the english patch for god eater 2 are finished already? or still working for it? i love that game TT^TT
Nope no development have been confirmed as far as we know, but hopefully there is