+  RHDN Forum Archive
|-+  Romhacking
| |-+  ROM Hacking Discussion
| | |-+  The Lost Translation Files
Pages: [1] 2
Author Topic: The Lost Translation Files  (Read 1777 times)
StarBeamAlpha
Guest
« on: June 25, 2007, 11:01:17 am »

With the recent news that someone had a complete translation of Dragon Quest 3 just sitting around on their hard drive that no one knew about, that translation is now a reality (thanks DaMarsMan!), I was wondering if anyone else had any translations just sitting around? I was investigating 7th Saga (with the release of this patch http://www.romhacking.net/hacks/264/ ) and came upon the (dead?) Magic Destiny website and it seems they have complete translations for:

Hourai Gakuen http://www.magic-destiny.com/hourai.shtml
Lennus-II http://www.magic-destiny.com/lennus-2.shtml
Ranma 1/2 GB http://www.magic-destiny.com/ranma2.shtml

Maybe if you know some translators who lost contact with the community, you could ask them if they still have their translation files they could give to community?
There is http://www.romhacking.net/abandoned/ but there are probably translators who have translated things in the past who don't even know that romhacking.net exists.
KaioShin
Guest
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2007, 11:23:07 am »

Afaik most of Magic Destiny's stuff has been passed around the scene, Gideon has a bunch I think, among others. The problem is the following - take early work and it's propably safe to start from scratch. Take almost completed work and it's very very tough to get into someone else' work and continue it. The only thing that's universally good is propably a finished script - if it's good. But sometimes those guys who just disappear take their translations with them into the abyss and it's gone for good or the translation is crap and you'd like to start from scratch as well.
Gideon Zhi
Guest
« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2007, 11:26:31 am »

Hourai's script has unfortunately been lost to time, it would seem. If anyone has it, it'd be wildbill, and god only knows what happened to him.
Kitsune Sniper
Guest
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2007, 11:55:30 am »

I've got some of IcemanX's translation files. He gave these to a few folks, but as far as I know, I'm the only one that's gotten pretty far with one game (Dunk Heroes).

I took his script and some of his notes but most of the hacking is mine. I do plan on using part of his title screen, since he asked me to do so before he vanished. (Actually he wanted me to use all of it, but I'm gonna try to tweak it a bit.)
satsu
Guest
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2007, 12:04:08 pm »

Quote from: Gideon Zhi on June 25, 2007, 11:26:31 am
Hourai's script has unfortunately been lost to time, it would seem. If anyone has it, it'd be wildbill, and god only knows what happened to him.

I'm pretty surprised no one came out of the woodwork when I posted the history of the Hourai project on the Pantheon. I think the post has slided off the board now though. (I admit I put a couple of obvious trolls in it to at least get a reaction and get the ball rolling.)
« Last Edit: June 25, 2007, 02:01:08 pm by satt-2! »
Nightcrawler
Guest
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2007, 01:28:38 pm »

I've looked at the Magic Destiny Lennus 2 work from them. That's probably 90%+ done. However, I wouldn't touch it with a broom do the remaining 10%. The work was a bit  of a mess and assembly code was scarcely commented and it would be a real pain to get into to continue.

Abandoned work is usually best used as reference material rather than actually continued from.

If I remember when I'm home, I'll see if I still have those files. Although, it's not really my place to make someone else's work public domain. Does anybody still talk to anybody from Magic Destiny? I think the Draken who visits this board may be the Draken related to Magic Destiny. I can't post them without at least somebody from Magic Destiny's blessings. I doubt any of them would care being many years removed, but I'd still like to hear it.
StarBeamAlpha
Guest
« Reply #6 on: June 25, 2007, 01:35:26 pm »

I know other people's hacking tools are a nightmare to figure out, but aren't old script translations usable? (If the formating is not messed up)
Nightcrawler
Guest
« Reply #7 on: June 25, 2007, 01:46:15 pm »

Quote from: StarBeamAlpha on June 25, 2007, 01:35:26 pm
I know other people's hacking tools are a nightmare to figure out, but aren't old script translations usable? (If the formating is not messed up)

That depends. It may be, it may not be. If it's in a nice organized format that can be easily inserted, sure, it could be usable. If I picked up a script and it was covered in junk(aka pointers, control codes, custom things etc..) I couldn't decipher in 30 minutes or less, I wouldn't use it.
Gideon Zhi
Guest
« Reply #8 on: June 25, 2007, 02:14:19 pm »

Magic Destiny's mystic ark script was a royal mess, such to the point that we just restarted :/ It wasn't even complete, either.
Bongo`
Guest
« Reply #9 on: June 25, 2007, 07:07:14 pm »

I actually worked on Lennus 2 with MD. WildBill and I had made some nice progress.
I figured the game out so well that all hat was needed was a completely edited script.
I even reformatted the scripts to be used with a custom editor I coded.

I did a few ASM mods that could still be used. From VWF to compression.

Basically all that remained was to Reformat the scripts AGAIN and ASM mod the 8x16 text.
That is what killed most of the progress. Yes...I still have ALL the files, source code, etc...
Just no permission.  :beer:
Draken
Guest
« Reply #10 on: June 25, 2007, 09:04:39 pm »

We had made some nice progress on that script.  I spent so many hours late at night editing with WildBill.  It's a shame that the whole team fell apart. 

Feel free to talk about it all you want Nigthcrawler.  You never have to ask permission from me Wink

I still have all those files too Bongo! (thanks for sending them to me).  Since the whole team is MIA (I believe Taskforce is still working for #exiled-destiny), you have my permission, as last surviving member, to do what you would like. 
Bongo`
Guest
« Reply #11 on: June 25, 2007, 09:10:48 pm »

Thank you. I guess I will have to take the time to sort through all the goodies and make something that can be handled by anyone capable of handling such a large project. Thanks again Draken for the work you guys did on the project. Wish TheGun never left. It would have probably been released way back when...
Nightcrawler
Guest
« Reply #12 on: June 26, 2007, 07:48:42 am »

Quote from: Bongo` on June 25, 2007, 07:07:14 pm
I actually worked on Lennus 2 with MD. WildBill and I had made some nice progress.
I figured the game out so well that all hat was needed was a completely edited script.
I even reformatted the scripts to be used with a custom editor I coded.

I did a few ASM mods that could still be used. From VWF to compression.

Basically all that remained was to Reformat the scripts AGAIN and ASM mod the 8x16 text.
That is what killed most of the progress. Yes...I still have ALL the files, source code, etc...
Just no permission.  :beer:

No, that was NOT all that was left to be done with it when I looked at it. It has several nasty 'random' crashing bugs and several bits of menu work that needed to be done. There were plenty of minor problems. It appeared close to done, but you play farther into it and you'll be unpleasantly surprised. Wink

If it were really so close to done, I would have done it when I picked it up for evaluation.
Draken
Guest
« Reply #13 on: June 26, 2007, 10:13:00 am »

Let me try to remember...
I believe that everything (or almost everything) was already translated. 
The dialog had been edited.
The dialog was completely inserted, but a few crashes occurred later in the game when certain events were initiated.
The menus had been translated, but never inserted due to space constraints...?
I remember crashes occurring during battle (due to the font, I believe)
I don't remember hearing about or causing "random" crashes.

Correct me if I'm wrong.  It's been so long since I've taken a look.  Wink
Nightcrawler
Guest
« Reply #14 on: June 26, 2007, 11:54:02 am »

The crash I remember filled the screen with garbage. In fact, that the first thing that was brought to me attention when I was presented with the work. I remember trying to track down what was causing it. That's when I looked at the assembly hacks for the game in detail.  Not long after that I discovered all the other work that needed to be done and no longer wanted anything to do with that project.

I don't want to discourage anybody, but it's going to take some effort to finish that project. Don't just think you can grab the work, spend an hour or two and surprise, completed translation. It was never finished for good reasons. Wink
Pages: [1] 2  


Powered by SMF 1.1.4 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC