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Can someone explain the issue here? I loved FF VI (US III), but I haven't heard of it being censored. Edit: https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Censorship#Fin

Can someone explain the issue here? I loved FF VI (US III), but I haven't heard of it being censored. Edit: https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Censorship#Final_Fantasy_VI https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Censorship#Final_Fantas... Looks like the level of censorship is way below my threshold of what is "news", but a nice clean-up job nonetheless.

mwcremer 5y ago
From The Fine Article: Back when Final Fantasy VI (Final Fantasy III US) was released the game was heavily toned down, censoring graphics and the like. When it was re-released for the Playstation, the graphics were uncensored but toned down script remained. Then came Final Fantasy VI Advance with a newer (though some consider drier) translation, but the color palette and music were altered for the handheld console. Others have made re-translations, such as the great work by RPGOne, Lina Darkstar, and Kwhazit. Now this is Final Fantasy VI: Ted Woolsey Uncensored Edition. The goal was to make the SNES version uncut and to clean up the script but keep the nuance used by Woolsey in the original game’s release. Using the original Woolsey script as a basis to analyze, the entire game was looked through, line by line, using FFVI Advance, RPGOne, and Lina Darkstar to accomplish this. Recently, the game’s script was also heavily analyzed by Kwhazit and Mato (Legends of Localization). With these newer and more heavily detailed looks into the game, the script was again updated to provide a much more accurate version while still remaining true to the original game’s release.
- solarmist 5y ago
  I read that and looked at the screenshots, but I still don't get it. I'd guess the censoring didn't materially impact the story, so while an excellent enhancement, it doesn't feel important enough to make it so high on HN.
drusepth 5y ago
I found some (very mild) examples of censorship mentioned elsewhere [1], but I also don't understand the hype here: >In the original North American SNES version the spell Holy was renamed "Pearl", the summon "Jihad" was renamed to "Crusader", and Hell's Rider to "Rider". Many sprites were also censored. Overly revealing sprites, such as Siren, Lakshmi (Starlet), Alluring Rider (Critic), Chadarnook (woman), Goddess, Power (Hit), Magic, Lady (Girl), and another untargettable part on the final boss, were censored. The smoke for Misty and her palette-swaps was removed. Pub signs were changed to cafe signs. >During the scene where Locke sees Celes imprisoned in South Figaro, she is no longer being beaten by the guards in the GBA version, and they merely taunt her. The censoring of Celes's beating isn't from the localization; this is also present in the Japanese GBA version. The scene where Celes is being tortured by the Gestahlian Empire was removed because the original Final Fantasy VI was created before the Japanese ratings board, CERO, existed. >The conversation between Edgar and Relm during their first meeting in Thamasa was changed. In the Japanese version, after Edgar learned about Relm's age (10), he said to himself: "I need to get a hold of myself... or it's going to be a crime". In the English versions, Edgar says: "Not even a lady yet. Here's hoping you're still around in eight years, kid". In the Japanese versions, Relm used harsh language, especially for someone her age. The overseas versions toned down the dialogue so that, while still biting, her words are overall clean. >When climbing the Tower of Kefka, in the original version, members of the cult of Kefka are said to be "praying" to him. In the SNES version, this was changed to "thinking" about him. [1] https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Censorship#Final_Fantasy_VI https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Censorship#Final_Fantas...
- astrange 5y ago
  Gamers are obsessed with censorship and think that anything changed from the original region release is oppression, even if the original creators approved of it. Japan of course does censor some things too. This isn't enough to stop it from happening, because when you don't do it your entire release gets banned in other countries (UK and Australia are known for this.)
  - cbozeman 5y ago
    Everyone ought to be obsessed with censorship. Allow creators to express themselves as they see fit, and to quote the late great Paul Mooney, "It offends people, but good... they should be offended."
    - solarmist 5y ago
      I get your point, but I'm also not obsessed and railing against shitty translations. To me this example is much more closely aligned with bad localization than actual censorship.
    - astrange 5y ago
      When you rewrite a joke because it's not funny in a different language, and the original writers approve, that's not actually censorship but they complain anyway. More to the point, when you rewrite a romance game for women because what Japanese people think is sexy reads like being molested to Americans it does serve the creators' desires, which is for people to actually buy their products. (The games getting blocked entirely are censoring the original creators, but also the original creators are pedophiles, so that's their problem.)
      - autoexec 5y ago
        > When you rewrite a joke because it's not funny in a different language, and the original writers approve, that's not actually censorship but they complain anyway. humor can be legitimately difficult to translate. I don't complain about them and I don't expect them left as literal translations + editor's notes to explain them in games (although that's a great option for other mediums). The goal should always be to stay as true to the original as possible. > it does serve the creators' desires, which is for people to actually buy their products. That might be one of the most cynical views of art I've read in a good while. I think most creative people want their works to be seen and understood and are doing it for much more than just a paycheck. Ultimately, everyone does hope their games are successful and they want to be able to make a living, but I don't think many writers and artists would put money as their top priority. If all you want is to be rich, there are a million better career choices.
pvg 5y ago
For whatever strange reason, people in this field call all sorts of minor changes in the text and images to better fit regional tastes and cultural norms 'censorship'. That's not to say some of these changes aren't ill-conceived or silly but the term makes it sound like something far more sinister than what it is. https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Censorship#Final_Fantasy_VI https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Censorship#Final_Fantas...
- solarmist 5y ago
  From the link: >Kefka's line when the party flees from him on chocobos was changed. In the Japanese version he says "ヒーーーーくっそ！このかりは必ず返しますよ！", literally translated to "Arggg.... you scums! I will definitely pay you back for this!". In the overseas release, depending on the version, he either says "Son of a submariner! They'll pay for this..." (SNES/PSX version) or "Son of a sandworm! You'll pay for this..." (GBA/PC/iOS). Wow, yeah. I don't care about that level of "censorship," especially from a "news" point of view. The uncensored images are pretty tame, too, as in a woman in a sheet having her hips and butt partially uncovered vs. covered. So, I'm glad people put in the effort to clean up little things like this. I'm still confused why this got upvoted.
  - pvg 5y ago
    It's probably best to think of it as a kind of domain-specific term of art. Same goes for the 'news' in HN's title - the site has about the same relationship to 'news' as USENET newsgroups, the city of Newport News or the word 'sinews'.
  - bitwize 5y ago
    I'm not sure that example is censorship so much as "You spoony bard" tier creative license with the translation. It added color to the game. One of my favorites from the same game... When Figaro Castle is set on fire, one of the imperial guards says "Fire! Fire! Heh heh heh..." implying that he is Beavis.
    - whywhywhywhy 5y ago
qbasic_forever 5y ago
It's not so much a controversy as just going back to produce a version of the game as close to as was released in its native market. Nintendo in the 80s and 90s had a strict policy of not publishing games with explicit violence or gore (Mortal Kombat on SNES famously has no red blood like the Genesis version), or overt religious references (Castlevania games had some crosses removed).
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
brightball 5y ago
This was my all time favorite game.
redisman 5y ago
It sounds like it’s more of a digital restoration of some original Japanese content

mwcremer 5y ago

From The Fine Article: Back when Final Fantasy VI (Final Fantasy III US) was released the game was heavily toned down, censoring graphics and the like. When it was re-released for the Playstation, the graphics were uncensored but toned down script remained. Then came Final Fantasy VI Advance with a newer (though some consider drier) translation, but the color palette and music were altered for the handheld console. Others have made re-translations, such as the great work by RPGOne, Lina Darkstar, and Kwhazit. Now this is Final Fantasy VI: Ted Woolsey Uncensored Edition. The goal was to make the SNES version uncut and to clean up the script but keep the nuance used by Woolsey in the original game’s release. Using the original Woolsey script as a basis to analyze, the entire game was looked through, line by line, using FFVI Advance, RPGOne, and Lina Darkstar to accomplish this. Recently, the game’s script was also heavily analyzed by Kwhazit and Mato (Legends of Localization). With these newer and more heavily detailed looks into the game, the script was again updated to provide a much more accurate version while still remaining true to the original game’s release.

solarmist 5y ago
I read that and looked at the screenshots, but I still don't get it. I'd guess the censoring didn't materially impact the story, so while an excellent enhancement, it doesn't feel important enough to make it so high on HN.

drusepth 5y ago

I found some (very mild) examples of censorship mentioned elsewhere [1], but I also don't understand the hype here: >In the original North American SNES version the spell Holy was renamed "Pearl", the summon "Jihad" was renamed to "Crusader", and Hell's Rider to "Rider". Many sprites were also censored. Overly revealing sprites, such as Siren, Lakshmi (Starlet), Alluring Rider (Critic), Chadarnook (woman), Goddess, Power (Hit), Magic, Lady (Girl), and another untargettable part on the final boss, were censored. The smoke for Misty and her palette-swaps was removed. Pub signs were changed to cafe signs. >During the scene where Locke sees Celes imprisoned in South Figaro, she is no longer being beaten by the guards in the GBA version, and they merely taunt her. The censoring of Celes's beating isn't from the localization; this is also present in the Japanese GBA version. The scene where Celes is being tortured by the Gestahlian Empire was removed because the original Final Fantasy VI was created before the Japanese ratings board, CERO, existed. >The conversation between Edgar and Relm during their first meeting in Thamasa was changed. In the Japanese version, after Edgar learned about Relm's age (10), he said to himself: "I need to get a hold of myself... or it's going to be a crime". In the English versions, Edgar says: "Not even a lady yet. Here's hoping you're still around in eight years, kid". In the Japanese versions, Relm used harsh language, especially for someone her age. The overseas versions toned down the dialogue so that, while still biting, her words are overall clean. >When climbing the Tower of Kefka, in the original version, members of the cult of Kefka are said to be "praying" to him. In the SNES version, this was changed to "thinking" about him. [1] https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Censorship#Final_Fantasy_VI https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Censorship#Final_Fantas...

astrange 5y ago
Gamers are obsessed with censorship and think that anything changed from the original region release is oppression, even if the original creators approved of it. Japan of course does censor some things too. This isn't enough to stop it from happening, because when you don't do it your entire release gets banned in other countries (UK and Australia are known for this.)
- cbozeman 5y ago
  Everyone ought to be obsessed with censorship. Allow creators to express themselves as they see fit, and to quote the late great Paul Mooney, "It offends people, but good... they should be offended."
  - solarmist 5y ago
    I get your point, but I'm also not obsessed and railing against shitty translations. To me this example is much more closely aligned with bad localization than actual censorship.
  - astrange 5y ago
    When you rewrite a joke because it's not funny in a different language, and the original writers approve, that's not actually censorship but they complain anyway. More to the point, when you rewrite a romance game for women because what Japanese people think is sexy reads like being molested to Americans it does serve the creators' desires, which is for people to actually buy their products. (The games getting blocked entirely are censoring the original creators, but also the original creators are pedophiles, so that's their problem.)
    - autoexec 5y ago
      > When you rewrite a joke because it's not funny in a different language, and the original writers approve, that's not actually censorship but they complain anyway. humor can be legitimately difficult to translate. I don't complain about them and I don't expect them left as literal translations + editor's notes to explain them in games (although that's a great option for other mediums). The goal should always be to stay as true to the original as possible. > it does serve the creators' desires, which is for people to actually buy their products. That might be one of the most cynical views of art I've read in a good while. I think most creative people want their works to be seen and understood and are doing it for much more than just a paycheck. Ultimately, everyone does hope their games are successful and they want to be able to make a living, but I don't think many writers and artists would put money as their top priority. If all you want is to be rich, there are a million better career choices.

pvg 5y ago

For whatever strange reason, people in this field call all sorts of minor changes in the text and images to better fit regional tastes and cultural norms 'censorship'. That's not to say some of these changes aren't ill-conceived or silly but the term makes it sound like something far more sinister than what it is. https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Censorship#Final_Fantasy_VI https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Censorship#Final_Fantas...

solarmist 5y ago
From the link: >Kefka's line when the party flees from him on chocobos was changed. In the Japanese version he says "ヒーーーーくっそ！このかりは必ず返しますよ！", literally translated to "Arggg.... you scums! I will definitely pay you back for this!". In the overseas release, depending on the version, he either says "Son of a submariner! They'll pay for this..." (SNES/PSX version) or "Son of a sandworm! You'll pay for this..." (GBA/PC/iOS). Wow, yeah. I don't care about that level of "censorship," especially from a "news" point of view. The uncensored images are pretty tame, too, as in a woman in a sheet having her hips and butt partially uncovered vs. covered. So, I'm glad people put in the effort to clean up little things like this. I'm still confused why this got upvoted.
- pvg 5y ago
  It's probably best to think of it as a kind of domain-specific term of art. Same goes for the 'news' in HN's title - the site has about the same relationship to 'news' as USENET newsgroups, the city of Newport News or the word 'sinews'.
- bitwize 5y ago
  I'm not sure that example is censorship so much as "You spoony bard" tier creative license with the translation. It added color to the game. One of my favorites from the same game... When Figaro Castle is set on fire, one of the imperial guards says "Fire! Fire! Heh heh heh..." implying that he is Beavis.
  - whywhywhywhy 5y ago

qbasic_forever 5y ago

It's not so much a controversy as just going back to produce a version of the game as close to as was released in its native market. Nintendo in the 80s and 90s had a strict policy of not publishing games with explicit violence or gore (Mortal Kombat on SNES famously has no red blood like the Genesis version), or overt religious references (Castlevania games had some crosses removed).

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

brightball 5y ago

This was my all time favorite game.

redisman 5y ago

It sounds like it’s more of a digital restoration of some original Japanese content