Square Enix Strikes Down on FF-0 Translation Patch with Potential Legal Action

Square Enix is bringing down the hammer and has demanded a permanent take down of the fan-made Final Fantasy Type 0 translation patch.

Although the fan-made translation was targeting the PSP (and Vita), this happens in the context of Square Enix announcing an HD remaster version of the game for the PS4 and Xbox-one recently.

[MrSwankSinatra]

Why does square have to be such douche-bags for? Why punish people who basically did the job that they wouldn't do. This is exactly what happened with Chrono Resurrection. It really irks me that square thinks that this type of behavior is okay. Instead of punishing them, put them on the payroll or pay them for their work.

[Pozzle]

Don't you need to buy a copy of the game for the patch to work anyway? You'd think Square would be happy with this because it would boost sales for their game.

[rajman]

No you dont need to buy it since the patch comes on an ISO file that you can download and run on modded PSP's or emulators. Probably why Square Enix are p*ssed, and the fact their remastered English version is coming to PS4/XB1 and this would affect their sales.
Still a shame for everyone who put in so much work into this translation.

[elnacho]

@rajman, that is incorrect, the file distributed by the people who made the translation requires people to have a legit copy of the game. The translation alone does not contain the game.

That being said, some fully patched ISO files are easy to find, but that is not the files that were distributed by the people who made the translation. Those are files that contain the game + the translation, distributed on other sites by pirates

[Yi-Long]

Isn't the HD-remaster a dub-only release, which means those of us who aren't interested in a dubbed version, wouldn't pick up that game anyway?

If the PSP/Vita game has the original voices and this translation, than that's the only version I would consider playing.

[ChickeyCantor]

Eh I think it has more to with actually modifying the software than anything else.

[hkgamer]

no, normally for fan translated games, its the ethical thing to buy the original. Therefore being able to rip the game. However, its just easier to donwload the iso, patch the game and the play on a CFW PSP.

[Irishguy95]

...Ah come on, it's SE's product, not ours, as much as I want to play the game they certainly aren't in the wrong for keeping Type 0 'theirs', if they want to translate it and make money off it in the future there simply is nothing we can say against that. As much as I dislike SE for being that way, it's THEIR work, they made it, they can do what they want with it. They probably don't want other people using their products and asking to get paid for it afterwards. Domino effect to your suggestions.

The behavior is okay. I would prefer your suggestions overall of course but still.

Also...in saying that, I have pirated the game. **** you SE.

[Afterlife]

**** you for pirating it.

[Afterlife]

I don't blame them because I bet a large number of downloads will be from pirates. The patch will encourage people who wasn't interested to be interested in downloading Type 0. It does suck for the legit users.

I'm no expert but isn't this expected anyway. They can't just pretend it didn't happen and let it slide.

[elnacho]

It's definitely ok for SE to try and protect their product. The *way* they did it however is questionable.

They could for example have sent a cease & desist years ago when the translation project was starting to get major attention, instead of waiting for its completion 2 years later.

[Pozzle]

To be fair, the people who are going to pirate it probably had no intention of buying the game in the first place, so Square aren't losing any sales from them anyway.

[KonsoruMasuta]

@Pozzle

That is false.

I know plenty of people who were originally going to buy a game but decided not to when they found out they can steal it for free.

This whole "pirates weren't going to buy it anyways" thing is bull. Piracy does take away sales.

Pirates don't buy games because they know they can get them for free. Imagine if they didn't have a way to obtain it illegally, some would be forced to buy a legit copy if they wanted to play.

[Spotie]

As much as I love Square-Enix- or their games, anyway- I WOULD pirate this, because they're being asses about this.

The western PSP community has been waiting for this game for years, and the company paid them no attention. Then, when they announce they're finally bringing the game to western audiences, they don't even put it on the handheld it was made for, or its successor.

A lot of things are called a slap in the face, but this is definitely one. I would rather support the fans, here.

Hell, it's not like they're even making money from this.

[Pozzle]

"I know plenty of people who were originally going to buy a game but decided not to when they found out they can steal it for free."

Yes, but what I meant is that Square was (presumably) happy enough with the Japanese sales of the game and didn't think a Western release would be worth the effort/money, so any sale that happens three years after Type-0's initial release would just be an added bonus for Square at this point. The few people who'll pirate the game in the West aren't going to affect anything because the game was never coming stateside to begin with (well...until the recent E3 announcement anyway). And while a handful of people might have changed their mind once they realized they could get the game for free, I doubt the majority of pirates had any intention of buying the game in the first place (especially because it's an import-only title). But that hardly matters now. Square are done with the PSP version of the game. They were done with it three years ago. They've gotten the sales they wanted.

[Godmars290]

More to the point why did Square wait until the project was finished and released? They look at the torrent traffic and finally realize that western fans wanted to game?

[tiffac008]

That is a possibility. They used the torrent traffic as a gauge for releasing the game in the west. lol!

Silly but possible xD

[Eamon]

Which ironically means that Square uses torrent traffic as an indicator of whether something could be profitable i.e. the whole 'piracy hinders sales saying is false in this instance.

[Godmars290]

Considering that they're putting it on the 360 and PS3, not just the PSV?

[nope111]

Cunts.

[trickman888]

The only thing this does is serve as a deterrent for other potential fan translations. otherwise, this translation is all across the internet.

[Roccetarius]

People just have to distribute it anonymously, instead of announcing who's actually working on it. That way Square would be even more clueless.

[hkgamer]

No, that is illegal and is actually what is wrong about the internet.

I am not saying S-E is right, but this is what happens with any fan made content. Either not start with translations at all or take the risk. S-E most likely wont allow it from the start, but asking for permission would be the best way to go.

I mean Konami allowed others to recreate a 3D Metal Gear game. Policenauts was fan translated andd as far as I am concerned its still available.

[deathtok]

As much as I hate to admit it, people need to realize fan translations aren't a right granted to the gaming community.

Request permission or risk being shut down.

[Kryptix]

It was a non profit fan translation, they don't need permission because they're not gaining any money from Square Enix's work. Not only that, but the maker of this patch had no knowledge that there was going to be an English translation in the works years later by SE themselves.

I don't blame Sky (the maker of the translation) at all. He did something that SE should of done by listening to the fans way earlier.

Also, Sky didn't distribute the game for free. Square Enix would still gain money from people trying to import the game and patching in the translation. How is he wrong? Square Enix just wants that extra money, that's all and they could at least pay Sky some money for his translation to be used since most likely, it will end up having the same text anyway.

[Eamon]

"Request permission or risk being shut down."

What if you're anonymous? Then none of that matters anyway.

It's just typical Square bullying tactics and no appreciation of their fanbase at all.

[hkgamer]

Agreed.

@Eamon

Lot's of people would never do this anonymously since they want some recognition for their hard work. Also being anonymous just means that they are doing something bad and its almost impossible for S-E to do something about it, which is wrong.

@Kryptix

It's a non profit, but doesn't mean that they don't need permission. They maybe gaining something even though its not directly. The translator did not know S-E was making an english version, but it does not make it right. I understand this person or team wanted to do something good for fans that S-E wasn't providing, but they need to know that S-E has every right to shut it down.

We all, know that people are not going to import/buy this game. they will download it because its easier to patch this translation and we all know that PSP gamers love to install CFW's.

He is also wrong because he is causing S-E to lose money on any future projects that they may do with this game. Now the PS4/Xbone version may have lost a bunch of sales because others have played an english version already.

[EXVirtual]

I don't understand why people are so upset. They're finally doing the job and it's not as if they gave anyone permission to do this.

[Blackleg-sanji]

But its odd u wait all these years and when YOU finally decide to localize the game NOW you want to press charges on the fan translation which im sure they knew about way before

[deathtok]

@Blackleg-sanji

Your argument is irrevelant. SE owns the IP and whether the translation sparked them to localize or not doesn't matter.

[Eamon]

It's a moral argument not a legal one.

Just because what they're doing is within their rights (although still questionable) does not make it morally justifiable.

If there is evidence that Square used the huge interest of fan translation release in order to further their business interests, then it's possible their legal action could turn to bollocks.

And the patch contains no Square-Enix assets anyway so it's original.

[Antnee534]

This is only happening because square wants launch it on the ps4 and xbone. Which means they need to stop this so they don't lose sales on the ones they are making. Even though I'm surprised they can even Develop games them selves. I mean that this probably with their track record we won't get this for another 10 years and it will still end up coming out before ff15 and kh3 we are never getting those till ps6 Xbox 3

[Blackleg-sanji]

Honestly if type-o comes out before ffxv...ill have no words

[Antnee534]

Don't worry it will they secretly had it done on psv and held it back then they ported it to over to next gen after they got del kits and now after announcing will be out late next year and we will get more details at tgs while no ff15 or kh3 in for Wil be revealed Tull e3 next year with release dates of 2020 and 2025 for ff15 and kh3. ..

[deathtok]

Square Enix is not in the wrong here. They have an obligation to protect their copyright. I've been seeing this happen for 15 years!

Fan translations should seek permission before you launch a public project or risk being shut down.

[Fullmetalevolust]

Well Square, to diminish the amount of douche-baggery we are all witnessing, why don't you release the game in the west for its intended platforms, the psp and the psvita...oh, you didn't want to, 'cause of piracy on the Psp?
This validates all their work and effort to provide fans a game they had long waited for and confirms what a sh*t show square has put on for the past decade.
Square doesn't even have a confirmed release date for the HD ports on ps4 and xbox.

[trenso1]

already have the patch saved in 3 places so screw you SE waiting so long to take action

[Inception]

Seriously...WTF is happening with SE???

I mean, some of SE biggest fans put a lot of effort to translate Type-0 and they did it for free. The translation also looks professional. So why SE not just...you know, acknowledge the effort and buy the script so they can cut some time / work when they localize Type-0 for PS4 / X1?

[EXVirtual]

Because this work is amateur. Not professional.
SE never gave anyone permission to do anything with Type 0.

[Inception]

The translation looks good to me and i never seen any japanese company who sue a fans translation, not Falcom, not Atlus, not Sony, not 5pb, not anyone...except Square-enix.

[Eamon]

Yeah this is the first time I've seen a company try to sue a fan translation.

Normally, it's fan remakes or fan sequels.

[deathtok]

The translation was not authorized.

Imagine taking a book or graphic novel, translating to another language and distributing. That's EXACTLY what they're doing here.

The argument that translations don't use the original game is crap considering the script (and in some cases logos) is part of the game.

[Ripco_Keller]

That's not exactly what they're doing here, at all. Imagine they handed out free pairs of glasses that automatically translated the book for you, but you had to procure your own copy of the book. That's what they're doing here.

They didn't sell this translation, and they didn't distribute the game.

[Eamon]

But that's not exactly what they're doing here.

Because it's not a book or graphic novel. It's a videogame.

A videogame is a different medium. The gameplay is the biggest chunk of the pie. Not the script. If they copied the game's engine script and made a new game then yes you would be correct.

If the fan translation was for a game where there's hardly any dialogue to translate, then you wouldn't be complaining.

The answer is plan and simple. Square saw the recent interest in the game after the patch was released then decided there is potential profit to be made. So then they try to shut down the creators of the patch (a futile attempt since the patch can easily be found elsewhere) so that if anyone wants a translated version of the game, they have can only get it from Square-Enix.

[tiffac008]

There is a possibility that they will re-work a lot of things for the console version and it won't be a simple straight HD port. So there could be scenes that will not fit with the translation of the game.

This is just a theory of course.

[Inception]

Well i'm sure SE will add some new scene or something that will not fit with the PSP version. But i doubt SE will re-work a lot of things, especially the menu or dialogues.

[Juste_Belmont]

If they would have released Type-0 for PSP or Vita, I would have bought it, but I played the demo and I won't be purchasing a PS4 or an XBox One just to play this game. Time will tell for Versus XIII, but all these broken promises from SE have pretty much shattered my respect for them as a company. I'm just glad I've since been introduced to the Tales of games and the fact that Namco Bandai seem to be going in the right direction in relation to their fans.

[Inception]

"I'm just glad I've since been introduced to the Tales of games and the fact that Namco Bandai seem to be going in the right direction in relation to their fans."

Tales of Xillia 2 and Zestiria are ranked higher than FF XV / Type-0 in my most wanted list.

But i agreed with you. I've never seen Namdai sue their fans for doing fans translation for Tales of Phantasia. They still respect their fans, even though there's time when they ignoring the fans request to localize Tales games.

But that time already pass and now we don't have to worry for future Tales. Namdai really did a great move for all of their fans. I hope SE learn this from Namdai or they will face the consequences: losing more fans.

[noxeven]

They really cant stop this its been released. If they did before hand ya but now its on the net. Maybe they should oh idk say they are making a vita release but wait they arent so whatever

[Revengeance]

This is beyond retarded. They could've just issued a cease and desist and now they're suing? Sky and his team wasn't even selling the translation. They were simply doing the job these lazy asses wouldn't do.

It's douche-baggery like this is why in the entire last generation I have not bought a single product from them EXCEPT their remastered games, because those are from SquareSoft's time. Now they've fallen from grace, only FFXV and KHIII will save them.

[TheGamez100]

Well f*** you too square!

[deathtok]

I continue to be amazed at the entitlement of a game community on this topic. I've made my points and you're all welcome to disagree with me because you "feel" SE was in the wrong.

You see Square Enix as this big evil corporation but behind Final Fantasy Type 0 are real people. Developers, artists, writers, etc. Ask other devs how they'd feel if this happened to them!

[elnacho]

I created a game several years ago. It was open source and got fan-translated in more than 10 languages. I was proud that other people contributed. I am a real people too, and a dev.

So, that's 1-0 against your theory, let's wait for other replies.

Edit: Also, SE is known for being a terrible place to work for in Japan.

I wouldn't be surprised if SE employees, artists, etc... are actually happy to see their work exported, be it through fan-translation or official means. They get paid the same independently of the sales, in case you didn't know.