A little over ten days ago, I posted a write up on the Junkyard about a very exciting English translation patch for the rather niché but very cool Neon Genesis Evangelion typing tutor Neon Genesis Evangelion -Typing E Keikaku-. In my post I explained how the earlier stages of the game were fully playable to non-Japanese speaking players, while levels 5 and 6, along with the game's bonus stage, were not. Translator Derek Pascarella had explained translating these particular stages would be a pretty daunting task to undertake. Well, it only took him nine days to crack! This means the game is now completely playable in English!
If you would like to read Derek's detailed explanation of how he did it, check out his patch notes here. As for grabbing yourself the completed patch, you can do so at the GitHub Repository here. So grab your DC keyboard, and make sure read the Patch Notes before you patch it/play it!
With one completed project under his belt, Derek definitely has a bright Dreamcast translation career ahead of him! And he's not slowing down anytime soon. He seems to already be on the lookout for his next translation project. One of the games he's been looking into is the Japanese-excusive Boku Doraemon, a delightfully colourful little game featuring the well-known blue robot cat that sees players exploring a really nice-looking 3D world and playing mini games. DCJY writer The Gagaman wrote a good piece about it many moons ago, so if you want to learn more, check that out. Anyway, below is some proof of concept footage that Derek put up on his YouTube channel. He did stress to me, however, that this translation is still early doors, and that there are some technical hurdles that still present themselves that could pose the risk of putting a halt to the project.
The other game in Derek's sights, is the rather infamous french-exclusive Taxi 2 - Le Jeu. Based on a movie that you might have seen if you're French, this game is notorious for being really expensive, and really crap. While a language barrier is the least of this game's problems, it's still cool to see any Dreamcast game translated. Derek let me know that this project is more likely than Doraemon at this moment in time. Check out the work in progress footage below.
If you're wondering why Derek has chosen such obscure games to translate as his first few projects, he addressed this in a comment on his Doraemon video: "part of translating a game is feasibility. While I do have a development background, there are many unique things about working on Dreamcast and Saturn translations. As a result, I'm starting with proof of concepts and also "cracking" games that are easier to understand from a technical perspective. I only just started getting into doing these translations". If you'd like to follow Derek in his translation journey, you can find his Twitter here.
Are you excited for these Dreamcast translation projects? Have you ever experienced the direness that is Taxi 2: the game? Sound off in the comments below!
10 comments:
Defo looking forward to Taxi 2.
It's strange that you missed/sleeped a few projects, incl. such as Blue Submarine no.6
Promise we’re not sleeping on anything - we definitely retweeted/tweeted about the Blue Submarine no. 6 project when that came to light - very exciting one indeed. This was one I was just intrigued about and managed to find some time to cover on the blog. Perhaps an article to summarise all of the most recent translation patches is needed, any translation project should be showered with praise and promoted in my eyes.
I owned a copy of 'Taxi 2' once upon a time. On one hand, I regret getting rid of it because of its current cost/value, but on the other, it's a godawful game.
CDI?
Any Dreamcast new translation is always welcome!! My top 15 Dreamcast japanese to english translations/localizations wish list:
01. Rent A Hero No.1
02. UnderCover AD2025 Kei
03. Blue Stinger (Japanese version has very different camera angles, in cinematic styles, between other differences)
04. Treasure Strike
05. Sorcerian: Shichisei Mahou no Shito
06. Maken X (japanese version has different artwork style for some enemies, textures and no pelaties for special attacks)
07. Macross M3
08. Power Jet Racing 2001 (Japanese much refined, with a lot of improvements version of Surf Rocket Racers)
09. Segagaga
10. Aero Dancing i/Aero Dancing i Jikai Saku Made Matemasen (It would be Aerowings 3)
11. Hundred Swords
12. J-League Spectacle Soccer 2002 (much improved japanese version of 90 Minutes Football)
13. Rune Jade
14. Sakura Taisen Complete Box set - 2002 (Sakura Taisen, Sakura Taisen 2, Sakura Taisen 3 - Is Paris Burning, Sakura Taisen 4 - Maidens Fall in Love)
15. All Dreamcast shmups from or after 2001 (Zero Gunner 2, Ikaruga, Border Down, Chaos Field, Psyvariar 2: The Will To Fabricate, Shikigami no Shiro II, Trizeal, Under Defeat, Radirgy, Trigger Heart Exelica)
Games that were already complete translated to english:
Dreamcast English Tranlations
Full - Complete
01. Blue Submarine no.6 ~Time & Tide~ || Rolly & RafaGam & esperknight || Fully Playable 1.0 || JP-EN
02. Fire Pro Wrestling D || theirvgotti452|| Fully Playable 0.9 || JP-EN
03. Fish Live || Rolly || Fully Playable 1.0 || JP-EN
04. Frame Gride || lucasmilu || Fully Playable Final Version || JP-EN
05. Karous || Rolly & RafaGam || Fully Playable 1.1 || JP-EN
06. L.O.L Lack of Love || Rolly & RafaGam || Fully Playable 1.0 || JP-EN
07. Napple Tale: Arsia in Daydream || Cargodin & Eien Ni Hen & esperKnight & Rolly & irvgotti452 & Mr.Nobody || Fully Playable 1.0 || JP-EN
08. Neon Genesis Evangelion - Typing Project E || Derek Pascarella (ateam) || Fully Playable - 2.0 || JP-EN
09. Resident Evil Code: Veronica X/Biohazard Code: Veronica Kanzenban || Fully Playable
10. Seven Mansions: Ghastly Smile (Nanatsu no Hikan: Senritsu no Bishou) || ArcaneAria & MrNobody || Fully Playable 1.3 || JP-EN
11. Space Channel 5 - Part 2
12. Super Puzzle Fighter 2X
13. Super Street Figher 2X Remix
14. Twinkle Star Sprites
15. The Lost Golem (Golem no maigo) || Rolly & RafaGam & Cargodin || Fully Playable 16.0 || JP-EN
17. Yu Suzuki Game Works - Vol. 1
Unfinished or Work in Progress:
01. Advanced Daisenryaku 2001 || Nebelwurfer HQ || Unfinished 0.95 || JP-EN ||
02. Bass Rush Dream || NONE || JP-EN
03. Boku Doraemon || XadPT || In progress || JP-EN
04. Eldorado Gate vol 1 || esperknight & Cargodin || In progress || JP-EN
05. Furai no Shiren Gaiden Onna Kenshi Asuka Kenzan (Mystery Dungeon: Asuka Kenzan!) || sharksnack || In progress || JP-EN
06. Panzer Front || derplayer || In progress || JP-EN
07. RUN=DIM as Black Soul || Rolly || In progress || JP-EN
08. Rune Jade || NONE || JP-EN
09. Sengoku Turb || ArcaneAria & MrNobody || In progress || JP-EN
Vermilion Desert || lucasmilu || Project abandoned || JP-EN
10. Segagaga (???)
11. Taxi 2 : Le Jeu || Derek Pascarella (ateam) || In Progress || FR-EN
12. Vermilion Desert || lucasmilu || Project abandoned || JP-EN
(Source: Dreamcast Talk, Roomhakcing.net, Rutracker, etc)
Japanese exclusive games that ARE playable OR COULD BE if someone translated them. It's almost a domestic USA/EUR wish list Releases: 159 Games (I excluded the games that were already FULLY translated by the scene, that are in the list before and also excluded Romance Adventure or visual novels)
Part 1
Advanced Daisenryaku 2001
Advanced World War Sturm uber Europa -Der deutsche Blitzkieg-
Aero Dancing i
Aero Dancing - Jikai Saku Made Matemasen
Aero Dancing - Todoroki Taityou No Himitsu Disc
Aero Dancing - Todoroki Tsubasa No Hatsu Hikuo
Akihabara Dennou-gumi Pata Pies! (??)
Animastar
Atelier Marie & Elie (??)
Space Griffon
Baldr Force EXE
Bass Rush Dream
Battle Beaster
Bikkuriman 2000 (??)
Black Matrix Advanced
Blue Stinger (Japanese version that has very different camera angles, in cinematic style, between other differences)
Boku No Tennis Jinsei
Boku Doraemon
Bomber hehhe!
Border Down
Capcom VS SNK Millennium Fighting 2000 Pro
Capcom VS SNK 2 Millionaire Fighting 2001
Card Captor Sakura -Tomoyo No Video Daisakusen-
Chaos Field
Chou Hatsumei Boy Kanipan
Christmas Seaman
Cleopatra Fortune
Communication Logic Battle Daisessen
Cool Cool Toon
Cosmic Smash
Culdcept II
D+Vine [Luv]
Dance Dance Revolution 2nd Mix Dreamcast Edition
Dance Dance Revolution Club Version Dreamcast Edition
Dead or Alive 2 Limited Edition
Death Crimson 2
Densha De Go 2! Kousoku-hen 3000 Bandai
deSpiria
Dream Studio
Eldorado Do Gate Vol.1
Eldorado Do Gate Vol.2
Eldorado Do Gate Vol.3
Eldorado Do Gate Vol.4
Eldorado Do Gate Vol.5
Eldorado Do Gate Vol.6
Eldorado Do Gate Vol.7
es (??)
Fushigi no Dungeon - Furai no Shiren Gaiden : Onnakenshi Asuka Kenzan
Gaia Master Kessen!: Seikiou Densetsu
Gakkyu-o-Yamazaki (??)
GET !! Colonies
Giant Gram - All Japan Pro Wrestling 2
Giant Gram 2000 - All Japan Pro Wrestling 3
Godzilla Generations
Godzilla Generations Maximum Impact
Golf Shiyouyo 2
Golf Shiyouyo Courses Data Adventure Edition
Golf Shiyouyo Kouryaku Pak
Guilty Gear X
Gundam Battle Online
PART 2
Hello Kitty Lovely Fruit Park
Hello Kitty Magical Block
Hello Kitty no Garden Panic
Hello Kitty no Waku Waku Cookies
Hundred Swords
Ikaruga
Imperial No Taka - Fighter Of Zero (US Release, Iron Aces, however in this you are the Japanese)
Let's Make J-League Professional Soccer Club!
Let's Make J-League Professional Soccer Club! 2
J-League Spectacle Soccer 2002
Jet Coaster Dream
Jet Coaster Dream 2
Jikkyo Powerful Pro Yakyu -Dream Edition-
Jinsei Game (??)
Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs. Zeon
King of Fighters 2000
King of Fighters 2001
King of Fighters 2002
KiteretsuBoy's Gangagan
Lake Masters Pro Dreamcast Plus
J-League Spectacle Soccer 2002
Macross M3
Magic : The Gathering
Maken X (japanese version has different artwork style for some enemies, textures and no pelaties for special attacks)
Marionette Handler
Marionette Handler 2
Motto Pro Yakyuu Team wo Tsukurou!
Musapey's Choco Marker
Napple Tale : Arsia in Daydream
Neo Golden Logres (Pinball)
Net Versus -Chess-
Net Versus -Reversi-
Netto de Tennis
Netto Golf
Nishikaze no Kyoushikyouku: The Rhapsody of Zephyr
Nobunaga no Yabou -Reppuden-
Nobunaga no Yabou -Shouseiroku-
Ouka Houshin - OukaSakishiToki
Panzer Front
Plus Plum
Pop'n Music
Pop'n Music 2
Pop'n Music 3 (Append Disc)
Pop'n Music 4 (Append Disc)
Power Jet Racing 2001 (Japanese version of Surf Rocket Racers. Much more refined, with a lot of improvements)
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu Dreamcast Edition
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu Dreamcast Edition 2001
Pro Yakyuu Team de Asobou!
Psyvariar 2 - The Will To Fabricate
Puyo Puyo 4
Puyo Puyo DA! Feat. ELLENA System
Puyo Puyo Fever
Radirgy
Rainbow Cotton
Rent A Hero No. 1
Roommania #203
Run=Dim As Black Soul
Rune Caster
Rune Jade
Sakura Momoko Gekijou : Kojikoji (??)
Sakura Taisen
Sakura Taisen 2
Sakura Taisen 3 - Is Paris Burning ?
Sakura Taisen 4 - Maidens Fall in Love
Samba de Amigo Ver. 2000
Sangokushi VI
Seaman: Kindan no Pet 2001 Toshi Taiouban
Sega GT (Regional Differences)
Sega Tetris
Sega Rally (Minor Differences)
SGGG (Segagaga)
Sengoku Turb
Sengoku Turb : Fanfan I Love Me Dunce - Doubletendre
Shikigami No Shiro II (aka Castle Of Shikigami II)
Shin Nippon Pro Wrestling: Toukon Retsuden 4
Sorcerian Shichisei - Mahou No Shito
Sunrise Eiyuutan
Super Euro Soccer
Super Producers: Mezase Show Biz Kai
Super Robot Taisen Alpha for Dreamcast
Tetris 4D
Super Hero Retsuden
Tokyo Bus Guide With Bijin Bus Guide
Treasure Strike
Tricolore Crise
Trigger Heart Exelica
Trizeal
Under Defeat
UnderCover AD2025 Kei
Vampire Chronicle for Matching Service
Vermillion Desert
Virtua Cop 2
World Neverland Plus: The Waktic Republic of Pluto
World Neverland Plus 2
Yukawa Motosenmu no Otakara Sagashi (??)
Yuukyuu Gensoukyoku 3 - Perpetual Blue
Zero Gunner 2
Zusar Vasar
I made this list many years ago. Maybe it could be missing some games or leave it out some other that were already translated by the scene (I removed some games that were recently translated now) and I don't know about it. I need to check/play the japanese version of Sega Extreme Sports, that was released in late 2001. Maybe it could has some differences and improvements in the same level of Surf Rocket Racers/Power Jet Racing 2001, hence ensuring its presence on this list. The ??? signals are about some games that I did not know if they have playbility enough (if someone translate them of course) to enter this list. If anyone can help complete this list, including or excluding some games, will be nice!
I forgot about the "What's Shenmue" translation. So I edited the PART 2. Now my list of playable and "playable if translated" has 158 GAMES (and not 159).
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