360 DVD Limits FF13 Dialogue Options

[John Funk]

360 DVD Limits FF13 Dialogue Options

Western JRPG-fans-slash-360-owners who want to listen to the spoken dialogue of Final Fantasy XIII in Japanese are out of luck - size limitations on the 360's DVD format mean that the game will likely only include the English audio track.

In a Q&A held by IGN [http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/980/980580p2.html] to promote the upcoming Final Fantasy crossover Dissidia, Katase and Squeenix cohort Takeshi Arakawa answered a question about whether the game would include Japanese language support - size limitations on the UMD format mean it won't - but then received a followup question asking whether that would hold for the next numbered Final Fantasy game as well.

"Obviously, when we talk about XIII it's for PS3 and Xbox - with PS3 being on Blu ray there would be enough memory, but on Xbox probably not," answered Katase. "At the moment we're thinking of releasing the voice in English only. Are there many people who would like to play with Japanese voices?"

Thankfully, it doesn't look as though this means the actual game's dialogue - meaning the script - will have to be shortened. You just won't get to listen to it in your language of choice.

So yes, if you're one of those types for whom everything is better in Japanese, you might want to start saving up for a PS3. The rest of us will just have to make do with the normal dub acting. The horror!

(CVG [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=214802])

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[Baby Tea]

So yes, if you're one of those types for whom everything is better in Japanese, you might want to start saving up for a PS3. The rest of us will just have to make do with the normal dub acting. The horror!

That's exactly what I was thinking.
Who cares, besides the anime and Japanese culture freaks? The game doesn't change, but you just get to hear poor English voice overs, instead of mellow dramatic Japanese voice overs.

Shucks?

 

[Krakyn]

Oh no! Fratboy weeaboos everywhere will be so disappointed!

 

[Galletea]

This doesn't suprise me much, with all the dialogue involved in a FF game it's bound to need a sizeable chunk of memory. Let's just hope the voice acting is good, and not irritating, like that Tidus fellow was.

Also, I love how every FFXIII article now uses that picture.

 

[D_987]

I never listen to the Japanese voice-overs anyway - whats the point when I have no idea what they are saying - its not exactly dramatic or interesting then is it?

 

[XMarshmallow]

Final Fantasy 10 and 12 never had Japanese voices, and we never expected them to. Why would we now?
Although, to be honest I'm a little disappointed by Dissidia. I would have loved to hear angry little Ed Elric as monkey-boy Zidane. Oh well, I'll just have to settle for some incomprehensible youtube videos to get that fix.

 

[bjj hero]

This is only an issue if you're European/American and speak Japanese. That is a tiny minority.

Im sure there will be some PS3 nut huggers who'll latch on to this and try to make it a big deal.

 

[beddo]

Considering it's going to be more nonsensical dialogue about some ridiculous future world i can't see the problem.

Moreover, it's just going to be the same old dull RPG format, no real combat despite the immense amount of time battles will take up in the game.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

If the voice acting is as good as DQ8's and FF12's... who cares...

Though I have a PS3 and I'll be getting it on that rather than on the 360.

 

[Aura Guardian]

I would prefer listening to anime/video games in English instead of reading it. Go Square-enix. For once I'm happy for what you have done.

 

[Deathsong17]

So yes, if you're one of those types for whom everything is better in Japanese, you might want to start saving up for a PS3.

Umm... Wouldn't Japanese freaks already have PS3s?

 

[Tahmoh]

Tbh most of the true die hard jrpg fans will probably buy it on both formats anyway so i dont see an issue here, plus the final fantasy games have always been as bad with subs as dubbed into engrish anyway imo so the story will be as good in one language as another

 

[yourbeliefs]

Usually the only time I switch from English to Japanese dialog is if the English version isn't done well. The last FF game I played was FF X, and while I don't think I had the option to change languages, even if I did I doubt that I would have. The last JRPG I played was Eternal Sonata, and THAT game may as well have not allowed the user to switch to English dialogue. As long as the translation is accurate and the voice acting isn't bad I'll be satisfied. Of course I could just get the PS3 version and have both. Come to think of it, I probably should do that if for no other reason than to use my PS3 as something other than an overpriced media player.

 

[ExaltedK9]

So yes, if you're one of those types for whom everything is better in Japanese, you might want to start saving up for a PS3. The rest of us will just have to make do with the normal dub acting. The horror!

That's exactly what I was thinking.
Who cares, besides the anime and Japanese culture freaks? The game doesn't change, but you just get to hear poor English voice overs, instead of mellow dramatic Japanese voice overs.

Shucks?

Yep, yep I second this...erm, third.

 

[Trivun]

I only like hearing the songs in Japanese and I have the internet for that. Otherwise, why listen to people talk in a language I don't actually understand? Why is there a big deal out of this...?

 

[Ancientgamer]

Considering it's going to be more nonsensical dialogue about some ridiculous future world i can't see the problem.

Moreover, it's just going to be the same old dull RPG format, no real combat despite the immense amount of time battles will take up in the game.

Soo... was anything in this post really necessary? So you hate fiction and you hate RPGs. (Even though you have no basis for saying that about the combat, since you obviously haven't read anything about the games combat.) you don't have to shove it in our face.

 

[Lovelocke]

Been watching anime since 1994 here, I can tell ya that most of the "new crowd" who prefers everything in Japanese? They do it because they can't discern the sound of bad Japanese acting from good. FFX's english dub was fine, mainly because the storyline is nothing to be taken very seriously. These days, high profile games are given "above the line" voice acting talent in leading roles... so, you might still find the occasional corny "I'll do my best!" lines verbalized, but that's because nobody could write 60 hours of Shakespeare (and if they could, nobody would listen).

 

[mikecoulter]

Oh no, I can't listen in a language I can't understand. Dammit!

 

[tendo82]

What!? I can only listen to corny English dialogue about crystals? Dammit! Everyone knows only corny Japanese dialogue can hope to convey the feelings that are involved with crystals, and gunblades.

 

[slowpoke219]

I understand why not having a Japanese language track for an English speaking market is a big deal. Would the complain in Japan if say a game like Halo 3 didn't include an English language track?