Ni no Kuni Translation [ENG]

Discussion in 'NDS - ROM Hacking and Translations' started by Zkarts, Nov 7, 2014.

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  1. Zkarts
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    Zkarts Member

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    NOTICE : DO NOT ASK GAME ROM HERE.
    All requests to patched or original ROM will get you a warn.

    No game is shared on GBATemp, only the translation patch.
    Get the English patch from the link below and apply it to your own original Japanese ROM file.

    Project Status - December 9th, 2018
    [​IMG]
    Patch:     Released! Woo hoo!
    Release date: December 9th, 2018
    http://www.romhacking.net/translations/4068/
    Or direct link to the download here:
    http://www.mediafire.com/file/1657bx038wohmhb/Ni+no+kuni+-+The+Jet-Black+Mage+v1.0.zip
    The link contains the translation patch AND the required translated Magic book in pdf format.

    Anjiera has set up an email address you can send screenshots to, so if you have anything that is easier shown that described, please send it to:
    ninokuni.translation@gmail.com

    Project Description:
    On December 9th, 2010 Level-5 and Studio Ghibli released the first game in the Ni no Kuni franchise, 二ノ国 漆黒の魔導士 (Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madōshi), for the Nintendo DS. The game came with a massive 352 page tome that was required to play the game, which ended up being the reason the game was never brought to audiences outside of Japan.

    On December 9th, 2018 a plucky group of fans released the first fan-translated version of that same game, titled "Ni no Kuni: The Jet-Black Mage" in English, following a Spanish translation several years prior. The fan translation comes with an even bigger 372 page book that is required to play the game, and which ended up being the reason that the game was released in December and not in the spring of 2018.


    Project started: before 2014.
    Project lead: Zkarts
    ROM Hacker: Pleonex
    Main translator, project reporter and coordinator: Anjiera



    Custom User's patches


    - v1.0 restored ARM7 patch
    English patch v1.0 with restored unpatched ARM7.bin, to apply on a Japanese clean ROM.

    - Icon patch
    Translated game icon and title patch, to apply on an already English patched ROM (original or restored arm7).

    - RetrogameFan v1.0 patch - New link here
    English patch v1.0 for Flashcarts using YSMenu 7.0.6 firmware, apply on a clean japanese ROM. Do not add the icon and title patch. update your flashcart to YSmenu 7.0.6



    Known issues with Patch v1.0


    General recommendation:
    Always keep a backup of your savegames whenever you can, even if you never need to transfer your save (from flashcart to emulator, etc.).
    In case the game has an unreported bug and you lose your current progress you won't have to restart the game from the beginning.


    1) Sleep mode doesn't work
    Cause:
    This is caused by AP (anti piracy) check done by the game.
    The game contains multiple flash cart detection which is not fully patched and creates issues with some flashcart.

    Solution:
    - use an emulator
    - try another flashcart
    - wait for next patch release with an AP fix
    - try another arm7.bin, Hephaestus made a modified patch with original arm7, you can try it but some flashcart might not work with it either.
    -try reformatting your SD card to use a large block size (a Redditor claimed this alone solved it for them)
    - don't close the console, always save and exit the game when you want to stop playing.


    2) patching error
    Xdelta 3 error, couldn't patch etc....

    cause: wrong xdelta version.
    solution: Please use xDelta UI v1.1, not xdelta 3. https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/598/


    3) Different progress blocking bugs
    - In the dream world, you can't give the correct answer. The game is misinterpreting the 0 for an O letter.
    - The game freezes when performing the resurrection spell. (note: You don't need it to complete the game)
    - The game freezes when exchanging medals for prizes in Casino.

    Solution:
    The current workaround for all these 3 progress blocking bugs, until they are addressed into a future patch, is to complete these actions on the Spanish or Japanese ROM, then re-import the savegame to english game.
    Another solution you can try is to use an emulator, another flashcart, the other game patch based on the one you are currently using (altered or original arm7 patch, see issue 1 above for links).


    4) Whitescreen or Error number with flashcard using Ysmenu
    Cause:
    YSmenu header file is outdated, it doesn't have the patched game information.

    Solutions:
    - Update your YSmenu version to 7.06
    - Patch your clean Japanese ROM using the patch specifically created for YSMenu. (link provided in the user's patch section above)


    5) Freeze at random location while playing.
    Cause:
    The SD card might not be fast enough.

    Solutions:
    - Use a faster SD card, at least class10.
    - Try reformatting your SD card to use a large block size


    Flashcart and media compatibility

    Unofficial list.
    Please help maintaining a list of compatible flashcarts by reporting yours.
    If you have one of the non working card, please test it again with the updated YSmenu version.
    Provide as much information as you can : FULL name and version, Manufacturer website URL if present, Current kernel or firmware version.
    https://gbatemp.net/posts/8451388



    Media

    Screenshots:
    https://m.imgur.com/a/kx90Mvg

    YouTube video of the translation in action:


    Progression for the past months

    Link to the thread containing the other language translation projects.
     
    Last edited by Cyan, Jul 10, 2019 - Reason: added a mirror to retrogamefan link
    AyanamiRei, pilladoll, plasturion and 148 others like this.
    #1 Nov 7, 2014
  2. Nagato

    Nagato GBAtemp Advanced Fan

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    Have you been in contact with that guy who was asking for tools in the other thread? I don't know how good his translation are but he at least seemed interesting (even if he did cause a bit of a stir).

    Anyway, I took a quick glance over what has been translated so far and noticed some problems with the translation that should probably be fixed. Some examples out of the scripts I've looked at so far:
    Warning: Spoilers inside!

    I'd probably suggest that the entire thing get looked over again if a serious translator does join the team.
     
    Phoenix Goddess, raulpica and GHANMI like this.
    #2 Nov 7, 2014
  3. Zkarts
    OP

    Zkarts Member

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    I have not contacted him, partly because he was convinced he'd just do the project by himself, although it's really gonna be a team effort with all the different aspects that we have to deal with, but that may have been caused by the misunderstanding. However, he did not contact me either, but if he (or anyone for that matter) would be interested, we wouldn't mind :)

    It's true that here and there we've got some inconsistencies (like the モニュー or moniyuu) and that's because we had some help here and there from different translators with their own styles. It does indeed seem like a good idea to at least finish the reference document and skim through the current files with new translators and match all the terms (if you look at the Names & Locations Reference file you'll see that the moniyuu is in the terms list, but does not currently have a translation in our project; but I have to admit that that translator was simply wrong (sadly enough, that was not the only time)).
     
    Kurt117 likes this.
    #3 Nov 8, 2014
  4. GHANMI

    GHANMI GBAtemp Advanced Fan

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    Thanks for chiming in Nagato ! I got in touch with Kohmei using PMs and the the conversation continued in public. From what I gather from the whole situation, he's still not really interested in being part of this project, not that there's anything wrong with that (and lack of clarification for the whole issue -like not making a separate thread and announcing the translation formally- was poor handling on our part).

    About the translation, the initial menu translations we already have weren't written by an English native (it was a Japanese fellow, who went MIA since), and it's not perfect as is by any means. I'd like to stress that whatever screenshots we're showing now have temporary translations that still desperately need another check. That aside, to my knowledge, no machine translator was involved in the process so far.
     
    Kurt117 likes this.
    #4 Nov 8, 2014
  5. Auryn

    Auryn GBAtemp Advanced Fan

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    Sad to hear that yet another possible translator didn't join the project. The project seems a bit cursed. Anyway Nagato, I don't think its the time to check the text. In AAI2 we had part of case 1 already translated before we had a script dump. A second version was made when we got the script dump and we ended with a 3rd version in the game itself.
     
    #5 Nov 8, 2014
  6. yasuoiwakura

    yasuoiwakura Member

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    Hey, did you try recruiting within fansub-boards?
    My Japanese is not good and my english is also not native so i cannot really help you there but trying to motivate for this great project! ^_^
     
    #6 Nov 8, 2014
  7. Nagato

    Nagato GBAtemp Advanced Fan

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    I've translated everything up until you enter the Northern Woods (so, after all of the cutscenes and you are able to save at the waystone). That should cover the first half hour or hour or so of the game. I don't know how much of the game I'll translate in total but I had some free time and didn't feel like studying for my algorithms exam on Monday, so... yeah. It also gives me a good excuse to replay the game, this time using my legit copy I bought in Japan in June. （●＾o＾●）
    Last time I played the game using a combination of shitty scans from the internet, walkthroughs, and random Japanese Yahoo Answers to figure out the puzzles and runes that I needed the book for.

    Edit: Also, the book and overall packaging of the game is just fantastic. I'm serious. It's hard to appreciate it without actually owning it, but it's seriously great. And the instruction booklet inside the DS game case (not the Magic Master) is thick as hell. Way more thick than I remember DS games being. Hell, thicker than any game in recent years that I remember. And the box is also really nice looking. There's even a jewel on the cover of the Magic Master. A fucking jewel. You can tell they effort into making everything look nice.
     
    Lycanroc, Densetsu, pleonex and 2 others like this.
    #7 Nov 9, 2014
  8. Phoenix Goddess

    Phoenix Goddess The Ninja's Protégée

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    Away from civilization.
    You make me want to get a legit copy of it now :ohnoes:

    Great job on translating! Rekindling your love for the game is an extra plus!
     
    #8 Nov 9, 2014
  9. Nagato

    Nagato GBAtemp Advanced Fan

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    Get a legit copy. I picked it up for like $10 or so at Book Off. Book Off is one of my favorite places in Japan. <3
    $10 and everything is in mint condition too.


    Has the translation for Ni no kuni (and I guess Ichi no kuni) been decided? I've been translating it as "second world" because Shizuku explicitly states that there are many worlds running in parallel with each other, and most people who need a fan translation probably won't understand random Japanese so leaving it untranslated (especially in Ichi no kuni's case) would probably cause some confusion.

    Edit: A thought just occurred to me while writing that last question out. If there are parallel worlds with souls linking each other between the first and second worlds, does that mean that the souls of the people in the third, fourth, fifth, etc... worlds are linked with the souls of the people in the first and second worlds? Does something happen to the soul linked Allie in the other worlds too? :?
     
    #9 Nov 9, 2014
  10. GHANMI

    GHANMI GBAtemp Advanced Fan

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    In the English PS3 version, it seems "Ni no Kuni" and "Ichi no Kuni" were written out of the script.
    Notable such occurrences of the English version translating "Ni no Kuni":
    "another world" by Shizuku during their initial meeting (it uses "ni no kuni" between brackets in the JP versions)
    "So this is... Ni no Kuni your world."by Oliver when he enters it initially.

    The initial working English title for the DS version before it was cancelled in the US/PAL was "Ni no Kuni: The Another World" (and later "Dominion of the Dark Djinn")

    [​IMG]

    (Oh, and I found those screenshots from an earlier, far different build)
    Warning: Spoilers inside!

    Would having "Ni no Kuni" / "Ichi no Kuni" be acceptable in our English script?
    Or maybe making up some translation for it?
    "First World" / "Second World" (the literal translation)
    "Surface World" / "Under/Nether/Outer World"
    "Hither World" / "Thither/Another/Other World"
    ?
     
    #10 Nov 9, 2014
  11. Nagato

    Nagato GBAtemp Advanced Fan

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    I personally don't have much of a preference besides not wanting to leave it as "ni no kuni" and "ichi no kuni". Maybe some other people could chime in on that?

    Anyway, are some scripts missing? I can't find the text from first battle scene after you meet the ancient tree. The lines of text are "いいか。戦いの基本は『たたかう』ボタンや。", "その調子で　次は相手を選ぶんや。", "全員の行動を決めたら　戦闘開始や！行くで！", "なかなか　スジがええやないか！次は　『まほう』を使ってみよか。", "力の弱いおまえが　木の棒で　たたいても　大したダメージを　与えることはでけへん。", "ここは　『ファイアボール』を　使ってみることをオススメするで。", "魔法の使い方は　『たたかう』と同じで　『まほう』アイコンから　魔法を選んで　使う相手を決めるんや！", "あんまり　魔法を使いすぎると　MPが無くなってしまうから　気をつけるんやで！".
     
    #11 Nov 9, 2014
  12. GHANMI

    GHANMI GBAtemp Advanced Fan

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    Shizuku's script during the first battle is special text.
    It's part of the text data for in-game tutorials, stone tablet tutorials, and sidequest clear messages.
    We missed it when we were converting the xml files (pleonex's dumping/insertion tool format) to the spreadsheet format used by Google Drive.

    For the moment being, I'll be uploading it to Google Drive as xml files (not spreadsheet files).
    You can edit the version on Google Drive directly (overwriting the Japanese text with English text) and leaving a copy of an unaltered variant in Japanese for reference. Either way we have it backed up here.
     
    #12 Nov 9, 2014
  13. Kohmei

    Kohmei GBAtemp Advanced Fan

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    I'd just like to state that I'm not working on my own project, in case someone is eying this one and doesn't like the idea of someone out there "competing" against them. My only real desire in starting my own was because it seemed (at the time) that the existing project was being mismanaged.

    As for joining this one, as I stated in the old thread, I haven't actually completed the game yet, so I'll be of no real use as the main translator until I do. It's something I've been putting off for quite a while now, and I'm not so sure when or if I'll be able to finish it. Which, certainly doesn't bode well for my ability to actually translate it, but there you have it. If I ever get it done, I'd certainly like to reevaluate joining this project at that time, assuming help is still in need. In the mean time, I might be able to assist (?) somewhat.

    Also, Nagato pointed out pretty much what I was afraid of, and in this case the translation wouldn't end up simply being inconsistent, but flat out wrong. This is basically why I think starting the script over from scratch isn't a bad idea regardless of how you look at it. "Easy for you to say," right? Well, sure. Anyway, we'll see what happens.
     
    #13 Nov 10, 2014
  14. Nagato

    Nagato GBAtemp Advanced Fan

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    The good thing about being the only translator right now (and that the story scripts barely had any translations to begin with) is that I get to take the burn it with fire approach. :yay:

    I've been replaying the game through from the beginning and translating everything in context as I encounter it. I ended up throwing out most of the old translation but not all of it was bad. Anything that was previously translated but I haven't encountered yet is still in there, though. I tag all of my lines so it's easy to tell which ones need to be checked/retranslating at least.
     
    GHANMI, Phoenix Goddess and Densetsu like this.
    #14 Nov 10, 2014
  15. kosterix

    kosterix GBAtemp Regular

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    I'd like to help. I can work with hex editors, have played the ps3 version, and know English. I could replace japanese characters with english ones.
    Are there instructions on how to use the google drive and rom to make a working copy?
     
    #15 Nov 10, 2014
  16. kosterix

    kosterix GBAtemp Regular

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    What are the translation conventions, meaning things like try to be consistent and do we try to name things in the ds version alike to the US ps3 version or the EUR ps3 version?
     
    #16 Nov 10, 2014
  17. GHANMI

    GHANMI GBAtemp Advanced Fan

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    I really appreciate your offer, but what we need right now are JP>EN translators.
    No machine translations, nor Spanish>English translators.
    pleonex has taken care of the hacking side, making manual hex editing pointless/unneeded - he has tools that automate that process (which is nevertheless possible without said tools, if you'd like to try -it's up to him to decide when to release it, but for now he released the Tinke tool which you might want to check)

    As for relying on the PS3 translation: no, we're doing this translation from scratch.
    DS version has different events not covered in the PS3 version, common events often have different details and wording.
    About consistency, however, we plan on translating it properly first disregarding the official names (after all, we can't edit the cinematics to insert the English names for Motorville/Hotroit, Gate/Gateway, and all).

    After we're done with that, we're open to make a second patch where we comb over the original text and replace Maru/Gyro/Jabo/Richie/Mark/Hotroit with Esther/Swaine/Shadar/Mitey/Phillip/Motorville.
    If you'd like to help on that front, we'd appreciate if you gathered a list of English vs Japanese names for
    - locations / towns /dungeons
    - items
    - NPCs, characters
    - familiars
     
    #17 Nov 10, 2014
  18. Zkarts
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    Zkarts Member

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    I personally like the names Ni no Kuni and Ichi no Kuni (they've got an air of mystery over them), but they'd obviously require some clarification when they are introduced. (EDIT: Reading through the files it's explained quite clearly that Ni no Kuni is another world :) )
    As for consistency and figuring out which translations to use, a I started a Names and Locations file (I marked that one with [OBSOLETE], because our previous translator created a more detailed one, the Names and Locations Reference file) in the main folder of the Drive.
    I'm also the one who made the xml to Google Drive program, so if I know which file to upload, I can easily do so :)
    I'll take a closer look at all of it when I get home.
     
    #18 Nov 10, 2014
  19. Kurt117

    Kurt117 Advanced Member

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    i also like the original name and i think it's better if you use the japanese name but it's your call :)
    +
    Nagato
    are you going to translate the game completely or just some parts of it?
    you'll be so many people's hero byhelping this team and translating the game :D :)
     
    #19 Nov 10, 2014
  20. Cyan

    Cyan GBATemp's lurking knight

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    I still didn't play that game (PS3 or DS), but I personally prefer First world and Second world.
    Even if numbering them is weird because there are more than two, and anyone originally from one of the other worlds would consider his the "First".
    But the game use ichi and ni, so let's keep the numbering first and second, as in "second visited world".
    I don't like over/under (underworld looks like a bad place), hither/thither (never read that before :P).
    "My/your world" and "Other world" is maybe good.


    I asked in the other thread, but isn't there any application translators could use to help with consistencies?
    TAS (translation assisted tools) let you do that with words and sentences, but they are shareware and expansive.
    Without such a tool, you have to look at a term's file manually. with multiple translators, each one is using his own names and translation style (for example a character with an accent in japanese could be translated a certain way to reflect this, or just dropped), and new translator have to proof read old work to continue in the same style/level.

    It's a difficult task.
    Good luck to all the team and finding a translator.
     
    #20 Nov 11, 2014
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