Final Fantasy XI

[askia47]

When will ff11 hit us shores??

 

[Tom M]

Well it just ended beta testing in Japan, and will hit stores in a few months over there, so I don't expect it until about a year after that due to the localization process (Which was amazingly long for FFX, so I guess FFXI will be similar) I'm guessing spring or summer 2003.

 

[LoudMusic]

I'm sure there is a LOT of translation work to do in a game like that. Do you know how much dialog there is? Oh my gosh ... I couldn't image taking on a task like that.

~LoudMusic

 

[Pako]

It would make since to me, that they would create the dialog parallel during the development process. English tracks/subtitles and Japanese tracks/subtitles at the same time. Humm...

 

[Tom M]

Actually, FFX had voice acting too, so that probably added to the wait. Back in the days of the SNES and Genesis the translations were difficult and slow because each text balloon was a seperate picture, and had to be replaced one at a time. I don't know if newer games are the same (I know that FFVII was...) This is a poduct of the sheer number of Japanese characters available...
I'm not sure why they don't do both at the same time. I know that Japan has a much larger RPG market, so they make sure it's a hit over there first. (I can't imagine a FF game not making it over here anymore though...)
I think FFXI has a storyline to it too, but we shall see.

 

[askia47]

The plot may be really different or vey simple.

 

[askia47]

:mario: The Characters may be good too.