The demo's cool, but when's the full release?When it's done. We have never been able to predict a reliable release date, or even time frame. However, our current target is within the next couple months. The main thing we have to do is finish polishing the text. We believe that the main dialogue script is very nearly there. The skit script is a little behind the main dialogue, but it shouldn't take too long to get it up there as it is a lot smaller.
Will you be using the PSP version character sprites?NO. NO. NO. STOP ASKING. They were only used for a test patch. They are NOT planned to be used in a full patch.
Why is it taking so long!?Because everyone involved with this project is a VOLUNTEER, each with their own personal schedules. Even with free time, they're only obligated to work on it when they're in the mood. We strive to do very high-quality jobs; we are not the game fan translation equivalents of "speed subbers."
How will this translation be released?As an xdelta patch, just like the demo. It should be easy to apply if you own an original game disc. Jackasses will probably upload a fully patched version to a torrent site somewhere without permission to increase their e-cred, though.
Why not release a public beta patch?Because everyone who plays it won't care to play the final release; they'll have gotten their fix from the beta. I think it's important that people start with a full release.
Where can I get the game?Well, that's a toughie now, seeing as no online shops that stock it anymore. But there are three options for obtaining used copies that I know of:
There are no data differences between the original and PlayStation The Best reprint, and either release will work with our patch.
Don't ask us to tell you where to download the game. We won't tell you. This project is based around a legally purchased, original copy. Who knows where illegal rips originate from and if they haven't been messed up in some way. xdelta patches will NOT work if even a single byte is off.
Can I help with this project in any way?We're always looking for more ways to improve the script writing. Though nusakan0 is the project's main editor, we are both quite interested in getting other opinions by those with a good command of the English language and solid writing skills.
What about voice actors? Are you going to dub the game's voices into English?There are zero plans of doing this. I'm not against the idea (in fact, I'd love to do it if it were possible), but the costs of hiring a professional studio to record voice acting are prohibitive. Second, modifying the data would be very tedious and difficult to do. Third, even if we had access to "free" voice actors (fans), I still wouldn't do it. I'd rather leave this kind of thing to professionals.
The PS1 version is old news. Are you going to do the PSP version?We want to, but we currently can't. We have no shortage of talent to work on such a project. What we need is a decent emulator with competent debugging functions in order to do so. If we had these things, it would be easy to port our work and we'd be all over it.
Without a good set of debugging tools, code hacking becomes exponentially more difficult. Debuggers are a huge aid in locating code and testing added code. As far as I know, there's nothing advanced enough to suit our needs on this front yet. Our goal for the PSP version would be to make it look just like the PS1 translation, and that will require a lot of hacking that's virtually impossible right now.
Besides that, the game should be playable on a custom firmware PSP. The PSP version is just a port of this version that only features more voice acting, the Game Boy Advance version extras, half-finished redrawn battle sprites, an afterthought of a grade shop/system, and stretched graphics.
Absolute Zero already released a translation of this version, so why are you still bothering?- Different end goals; we want a somewhat loose localized patch that is very consistent with the official English Tales games. They wanted one with a stricter, more direct translation of the text which also disregards nearly all official localized conventions.
- We were seven years into our project when theirs was announced. We weren't even close to abandoning it when it was announced, either; in fact, we were actively working on it and just starting to make new, major milestone progress!
- We have put thousands of man-hours of work into this. You really think we want to just throw it all away?
But nobody cares about this game anymore, work on your other projects!We don't care that you don't care. I started this project with a vow that I'd see it through to completion, no matter how long it would take. This isn't being done for e-fame; it's because it's an all-time classic game to me and I still want to see a localization done the way I think is right.
Author