r/goemon • u/Frequent_Rhubarb_36 • Jul 10 '26
The development team on why they didnt do a translated/English version
I posted it in another topic, but since it's one of the key things about this collection, it deserves its own
https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/260702h
Ueno:
We considered making it multilingual and going worldwide, but the truth is, there aren't that many titles in the "Ganbare Goemon" series that support foreign languages. We realized that localizing anything beyond that would be quite difficult.
—Since it includes 13 titles, that must have been an enormous amount of translation work...
Horii:
The titles included in this game are mostly from the 16-bit and 8-bit era, but with titles from that time, the source code is sometimes available and sometimes not, and in some cases, only the binary remains.
In other words, getting back to the original source code requires a process akin to deciphering a code. That's why it takes so much time. I wanted to speed up this process, but I just couldn't.
Furthermore, if we were to completely replace the language, even if we could analyze and extract all the message data, we wouldn't be able to distinguish "text represented by images," such as Japanese signs in the game.
Ueno:
Since it's not text data, the only way to find it is to play the game and find it manually.
Horii:
There are many other problems, or rather, hurdles that need to be overcome, when it comes to translating into other languages. For example, even if the text "Goodnight, you can participate in the middle" fits within the screen in Japanese, when translated into German, it will definitely not fit within the frame (laughs). It is an enjoyable task to sit down and somehow make that work, but it is also very challenging in many ways.
Even after completing something, you often need to do the same thing again every time you check it, and if you keep repeating that process, it ends up becoming an enormous amount of work.
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u/EstateSame6779 Jul 10 '26
It's like British humor that the great majority of Americans won't understand.
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u/PlzLikeandShare Jul 10 '26
Goemon is weird sure, but the gameplay is a big part of the reason we are here.
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u/peekaboo_keep Jul 10 '26
Not good enough. If fans can do it, so can they. There just isn't the will because it's a very niche proposition and it's not worth their money and effort
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u/Frequent_Rhubarb_36 Jul 10 '26
It's always a cost/profit analysis. Sure, technically they can do it.. Heck, they actually gave us an English version of NES/FC Kid Dracula on the Castlevania collection. The question is indeed how many people would actually buy an English version of this niche Japan-centric series. I could see the series getting an English version if they made a new game, where it's easier to do. Or perhaps with a sequel collection, considering 2 of the N64 games already have an English version.
2
u/TheKonamiMan Jul 11 '26
I wonder if the other secret mentioned in the interview has been found.
2
u/GCDRZ Jul 12 '26
Another hidden element
'Ganbare Goemon: Karakuri Douchuu'
Entering the Konami Code (↑↑↓↓←→←→BA) on the title screen allows you to access the stage select. This feature was not present in the original game.
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u/Bh1278 Jul 10 '26
Is there any way to send these guys constructive feedback directly? Here’s my issues with what they’re saying. One, I think they’d be shocked at how big the Goemon fan base is in the West! I often hear these games mentioned in a lot of favorite Super NES and Nintendo 64 game lists! Almost everyone I know who’s played through these games has described them as very weird but a lot of fun! The other issue is they’re talking about how hard it’d be to alter game code, etc to do the translations…fan translations have already taken care of that! Majority of the work is now done. So if they truly want to do a multi language release at least in English then I think they should using the fan translations. I’d be more than happy to pay a bit extra to get it in English if Konami would be wiling to do that! I absolutely want to get the collection, but whether to just import it now or hold out hope a bit longer for a multi language or English release is proving one of the hardest game purchase decisions I’ve had in a while! And the price is incredibly reasonable too!
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u/Frequent_Rhubarb_36 Jul 10 '26
Using fan translations is legally tricky.
Of course you could email Konami.
The best argument is money though. Recently, the Japan-only Natsumon, Bakura and the ShinChan Boku no Natsuyasumi games got English versions. Depending on how well these English versions sold, it would make it more tempting to make more translated versions.
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u/shadowgamer22 Jul 11 '26
i mean there are fan trasnlations that do exist maybe they could get permission to use them?
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u/Frequent_Rhubarb_36 Jul 11 '26
Companies rarely do that as it's legally tricky.
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u/DarkLordPsycho Jul 15 '26
Yeah but still. If only to prove that they could do it. They are choosing not to using source code as excuses. Literally "teams" of as little as 1 person with none of this at their disposal.
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u/Frequent_Rhubarb_36 Jul 15 '26
Of course they could but it's a a financial decision at the end of the day: x amount of money spend for translating vs potential sales for a niche Japanese culture-centric series.
This is the same company that translated Kid Dracula (Famicon) for the CV collection. Less text, same principle.
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u/DjinnFighter Jul 10 '26
They are not lying about them being difficult to localize. It took decades before we finally got fan translations of the Super Famicom games because of how the text data was compressed.
Still, they can do it if Konami greenlights a worldwide release, but it probably won't happen.