Western Localisation Of Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Features Costume And Age Changes

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It's a shame the Club Nintendo replacement no longer has space for giving feedback. These changes are odd.
 
Must really be a pain working through all these changes at Atlus.
I dont think so, they all are so small and most likely some of them were already planned before they started to localize the game (like the new voice clips and new outfits)

The wedding dress is not that weird since a lot of wedding dresses only imply cleavage but the skin parts are covered in semi-transparent fabric.
 
The best we can hope for answers is an anonymous employee providing details.
The E10+ theory does sounds plausible.
 
It's like Tsubasa realized her dream of actually becoming a Pegasus.

I have no words to say at the inconsistency of the process other than I am unsure what the thought process the American branches of both companies are thinking of.

Is even lace that suggestive? It's not even meant to be a wedding dress costume.

It makes me sad that a really good game can't catch a break at all. Especially since interest in the game rose after the lives they hosted.

I hope that Atlus never wastes their time working with Nintendo again. I refuse to buy anything that NoA touches like this.

I hope Atlus Japan and Nintendo do work on another game like this again because the Japanese release of the game and the fan reception was genuinely and positively great. The team and the voice actors who were apart of the game all genuinely want to work on the title again as a sequel or any form to keep it going.

I want to separate the decisions choices the English localization branches make from the ones made from the teams in charge of the development of the actual game.

I wish I had a copy of the English version already to see the changes and comparisons since I've played through the Japanese version already.

Longshot, but: are some of these outfits based on real-life outfits? And that the changes are to avoid infringing image rights in the West or having to pay for those rights?

None at all. There are both subtle and obvious parodies of real world bands, actors, and profile individuals in Western and Japanese entertainment, but I'm unsure of how they will localize them as I don't have the english copy on hand.
 
There is another possible explanation - that they were actually going for an E10 for some bizarre reason but decided to settle for a T.

Eh, for this game? Who would be the target audience for this game at E10 rating? I mean even for a T they are stretching it since vast majority of the customer base would be over the age of even an M rating.

That said, I am not sure I care all that much about the changes but it grates me that they went about it with the cheapest possible way. Freaking skin recolors, seriously? I couldn't give a damn about that Wedding Dress costume, but I can easily see (examples already given in cut-scenes above) the terrible job they are doing.

So yes, Nintendo is the driver here, but why the f is Atlus making the changes at that terrible quality? Is Nintendo basically paying the barest minimum to Atlus USA for localization so they only put couple interns on the project? I mean this is pretty damn embarrassing.
 
Eh, for this game? Who would be the target audience for this game at E10 rating? I mean even for a T they are stretching it since vast majority of the customer base would be over the age of even an M rating.

That said, I am not sure I care all that much about the changes but it grates me that they went about it with the cheapest possible way. Freaking skin recolors, seriously? I couldn't give a damn about that Wedding Dress costume, but I can easily see (examples already given in cut-scenes above) the terrible job they are doing.

So yes, Nintendo is the driver here, but why the f is Atlus making the changes at that terrible quality? Is Nintendo basically paying the barest minimum to Atlus USA for localization so they only put couple interns on the project? I mean this is pretty damn embarrassing.
Xander never said that it was a sensible idea to do that :p

All of these changes seem like head-scratchers.
 
Considering how bafflingly inconsistent these changes are, the E-10 theory makes sense but I can't picture them aiming for that since Fire Emblem has always been T rated and Megaten related Atlus games generally hover around M with some T's sprinkled in.
 
I hope Atlus Japan and Nintendo do work on another game like this again because the Japanese release of the game and the fan reception was genuinely and positively great. The team and the voice actors who were apart of the game all genuinely want to work on the title again as a sequel or any form to keep it going.

I want to separate the decisions choices the English localization branches make from the ones made from the teams in charge of the development of the actual game.

I wish I had a copy of the English version already to see the changes and comparisons since I've played through the Japanese version already.

Well, I don't and I never will be able to read Japanese. So I genuinely hope they don't work together again unless some major restructuring happens at NoA, because I can't separate the two like you can and I'd rather Atlus' time went into other projects that I'd actually enjoy.
 
Considering how bafflingly inconsistent these changes are, the E-10 theory makes sense but I can't picture them aiming for that since Fire Emblem has always been T rated and Megaten related Atlus games generally hover around M with some T's sprinkled in.
I was going to say they wanted their own Persona-style hit, and then I remembered those games are rated M lol.
 
I personally doubt it was because they were aiming for an E10 rating from the start and only then backtracked.
If they're comfortable with fire emblem being a T rating I don't think it would affect their decision with this one in particular.
I'm all for the conspiracy that Bill Trinen is sabotaging this game though.
 
So yes, Nintendo is the driver here, but why the f is Atlus making the changes at that terrible quality? Is Nintendo basically paying the barest minimum to Atlus USA for localization so they only put couple interns on the project? I mean this is pretty damn embarrassing.

I dont know but if i would be a graphic designer working for Atlus and keep getting weird requests from nintendo that ruins my work i also wouldnt be exacltly hyped to put effort into this.
 
So yes, Nintendo is the driver here, but why the f is Atlus making the changes at that terrible quality? Is Nintendo basically paying the barest minimum to Atlus USA for localization so they only put couple interns on the project? I mean this is pretty damn embarrassing.
They are not bothering with dub and that tell everything about how much they are investing in the localization of a very divisive game.

Funny thing is, I can totally see this game selling kind of well (not great or amazing, just well) because how well have been received those "Sessions" trailers and the fact that P5 is not releasing this year.

Idk, I have a glimmer of hope for it.

Well, I don't and I never will be able to read Japanese. So I genuinely hope they don't work together again unless some major restructuring happens at NoA, because I can't separate the two like you can and I'd rather Atlus' time went into other projects that I'd actually enjoy.
Like... why? Nintendo has been making a hell of a good job promoting ATLUS 3DS RPGS like that flawless promotion between SMTIV and Fire Emblem: Awakening and giving the other games special mentions in their Nintendo Directs.
 
I personally doubt it was because they were aiming for an E10 rating from the start and only then backtracked.
If they're comfortable with fire emblem being a T rating I don't think it would affect their decision with this one in particular.
I'm all for the conspiracy that Bill Trinen is sabotaging this game though.
lmao poor Bill
 
I was going to say they wanted their own Persona-style hit, and then I remembered those games are rated M lol.

See, that would have made sense... except nothing about this localization effort makes sense. I also would love to hear from Atlus what they are thinking there since its not Nintendo's devs who are making the changes. Nintendo would ask Atlus USA to cover up the stupid Wedding Dress costume, but it's Atlus developers who would do the shoddy effort.

I dunno, I am now on the verge of giving up on the game except this game looks interesting and there is no voting by the wallet on this one. Either way its going to bomb.

Edit:
I dont know but if i would be a graphic designer working for Atlus and keep getting weird requests from nintendo that ruins my work i also wouldnt be exacltly hyped to put effort into this.

Now, this could actually make sense. Atlus being pissed off at Nintendo for sheer stupidity of some of the changes and so not putting in any effort. Of course this would be very unprofessional, but who knows the behind the back goings on with this relationship.
 
This is going to be one of those things that just baffles me for years to come. Not because they felt things needed to be changed but they didn't even change everything, it just comes off as a really lazy attempt to try and make the content less revealing... IT's just so damn odd to see and I really think this is just a NoA thing. They want to be able to market games for all ages and somehow the ire has been directed at this game for really no freaking reason.

I hope we eventually find out what the hell went on with this game and why all these changes were made and who decided on it because it just seems vastly excessive.

Also really want to agree that I wish the new Club Nintendo thing had a say to suggest things like the old one did, that was easily the best part.
 
is there a round up of the changes? because going by the response of some users,it seems thay changed all the women for guys or something like that.
 
For how much "effort" they put into the appearance changes, what really annoys me is how battle voices weren't subbed. Like, take what Tsubasa's saying at 1:38 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvq98JOV2TQ

I have zero idea what she's saying here, but it does seem pretty important regarding her feelings at that moment. But nah, that's not important for the English audience, what's important is that Tsubasa's armpits shouldn't be visible.
 
I haven't been keeping up but holy crap this is a bizarre localization. What the fuck, Nintendo? Im assuming they want the game to sell better by marketing it towards all ages (dumb) because they have no games this year but I really don't see this helping. If anything the more interested fans won't buy it and the casual base who were not going to buy it still won't buy it.
 
Seeing all these changes and just the weirdness of it all makes me sad. It really sounds like a rating thing and all but still it's a shame no doubt. The game is so fantastic, my game of the year last year, and I was hoping it would have lots of positive buzz and people interested in it when it went west. But the way this has all gone down with some of these weird changes and how it seems most of the press are just ignoring it as some weird Japanese thing really makes me sad. It's a great title and I hope people can and will enjoy it even with the changes but it seems like the damage has already been done for many and that's a darn shame. And like what others have said I hope Nintendo and Atlus do another collaboration again no matter what. But it's going to be interesting hearing how this game is fully once the western copy is in people hands. I can't imagine what other changes might have been made.
 
I haven't been keeping up but holy crap this is a bizarre localization. What the fuck, Nintendo? Im assuming they want the game to sell better by marketing it towards all ages (dumb) because they have no games this year but I really don't see this helping. If anything the more interested fans won't buy it and the casual base who were not going to buy it still won't buy it.

well, if "more interested fans" wont buy it because these changes, i dont think they were that interested to begin with.

tho, im dont know what are the changes yet
 
Maybe it's an ESRB thing? They want a T-Rating, but the ESRB told them there's "too much skin" and it somehow means an M-Rating.
ESRB are finicky as fuck. Dead fish in Uncharted almost got them an M-Rating. R. Mika's buttslap almost got them an M-Rating. This could be another possibility.

I do have another idea but I'm afraid I'll get banned if I say it.

The mika butt slap was obviously Capcom backtracking and using the Esrb as an excuse.

For how much "effort" they put into the appearance changes, what really annoys me is how battle voices weren't subbed. Like, take what Tsubasa's saying at 1:38 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvq98JOV2TQ

I have zero idea what she's saying here, but it does seem pretty important regarding her feelings at that moment. But nah, that's not important for the English audience, what's important is that Tsubasa's armpits shouldn't be visible.

This is really annoying but this isn't exclusive to this game. A lot of games will not translate "idle" or battle dialogue. It doesn't excuse it here but I'm wondering why this happens so often. Is it really that hard to program subs in spots like this?
 
Well that looks stupid. Nintendo, come on. We're not children. This change doesn't even make any sense. It was just a semi-low cut dress. It wasn't even that low or out of the ordinary.

Even funnier is that children go to family weddings all the time and see wedding dresses like that, what harm is being done seeing a wedding dress is in a game? Just odd.
 
Just a quick compilation showing off that it's not simply a case of "all cleavage and skin must be covered" but that what's going on here is a bit more complex than that. All from the English version:
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Just a quick compilation showing off that it's not simply a case of "all cleavage and skin must be covered" but that what's going on here is a bit more complex than that. All from the English version:

Obviously NOA gave Atlus a certain quota of "things you must change in the game".
And Atlus just shut their eyes and randomly picked crap to change.
 
Seeing all these changes and just the weirdness of it all makes me sad. It really sounds like a rating thing and all but still it's a shame no doubt. The game is so fantastic, my game of the year last year, and I was hoping it would have lots of positive buzz and people interested in it when it went west. But the way this has all gone down with some of these weird changes and how it seems most of the press are just ignoring it as some weird Japanese thing really makes me sad. It's a great title and I hope people can and will enjoy it even with the changes but it seems like the damage has already been done for many and that's a darn shame. And like what others have said I hope Nintendo and Atlus do another collaboration again no matter what. But it's going to be interesting hearing how this game is fully once the western copy is in people hands. I can't imagine what other changes might have been made.

At this point it's looking more like Nintendo making a statement than a rating issue. The game was most likely not headed towards an M to begin and even if it was there are too many inconsistent, excessive, and arbitrary changes to things that weren't going to make it M material. The DLC certainly wasn't going to make it M and they cut that out right off the bat.

I mean if the thinking was to try and carry Splatoon's momentum with younger audiences I could see the point but it's far too late for that and the lack of a dub kills any chance of that anyway.
 
I still want the new dancer costume added as DLC to the Japanese version. Commenters on blogs and BBS for the english release of the game all comment on liking the costume and wondering if they will add it on.

Seeing all these changes and just the weirdness of it all makes me sad. It really sounds like a rating thing and all but still it's a shame no doubt. The game is so fantastic, my game of the year last year, and I was hoping it would have lots of positive buzz and people interested in it when it went west. But the way this has all gone down with some of these weird changes and how it seems most of the press are just ignoring it as some weird Japanese thing really makes me sad. It's a great title and I hope people can and will enjoy it even with the changes but it seems like the damage has already been done for many and that's a darn shame. And like what others have said I hope Nintendo and Atlus do another collaboration again no matter what. But it's going to be interesting hearing how this game is fully once the western copy is in people hands. I can't imagine what other changes might have been made.

I agree. It just bothers me seeing how much effort, enjoyment, and confidence the development team, producers, and cast have in the work they put into it. Have something nice slowly gain traction within a passionate fanbase.

Everything about this game is done, over, and people on the JP staff still continue to advertise the English release of the game and it's trailers, despite having no obligation to.

Like Aburai, the sound engineer of the game, still tweets about the game and it's english release to his followers. Yamagami and several of the voice actors continue to comment and talk about it.

Then have the localization process seem so bizarre, and seemingly, just not care about it and treating it without much care. Despite already knowing how it turns out financially. On one hand I still see Nintendo advertising the game through videos and actively putting the game out in their shows and events. On the other I see the arbitrary decisions and changes made.
 
Like... why? Nintendo has been making a hell of a good job promoting ATLUS 3DS RPGS like that flawless promotion between SMTIV and Fire Emblem: Awakening and giving the other games special mentions in their Nintendo Directs.

Because I don't want them to Butcher Atlus' work. This game is butchered, make no mistake about it.

And frankly I'd be okay if there was never any handheld Atlus games again, because I'd much rather play JRPGs on a console. I don't like that I have to use a 3DS for a lot of games. I hope that Persona 5 is so successful that Atlus never bothers with handheld hardware again. I only use my 3DS out of necessity, not because I actually want to use it. I find all handhelds to be extremely uncomfortable to use, especially for long play sessions in games like RPGs. I hope that SMTV is on the PS4 because of this.
 
The mika butt slap was obviously Capcom backtracking and using the Esrb as an excuse.

The timing of that change lines up very well with the ESRB. The ESRB has noted that they'll notify developers of what aspects of the game could cause for the game to get a higher rating. Shortly after SFV was officially rated T is when we saw the edited Mika butt slap. Before then when it was in a Rating Pending state it was never edited.
 
Now, this could actually make sense. Atlus being pissed off at Nintendo for sheer stupidity of some of the changes and so not putting in any effort. Of course this would be very unprofessional, but who knows the behind the back goings on with this relationship.
that would be super unprofessional, but hilarious.

We need a postmortem on this game ASAP.
 
that would be super unprofessional, but hilarious.

We need a postmortem on this game ASAP.

Indeed it would be. And yeah, would love the postmortem. I am still going to get the game but I reserve the right to bitch about the truly bizarre changes. And yeah, I don't think it's a ratings thing unless somebody at NOA is insane and truly wanted an E10 at some point.
 
No seriously, what? That's nuts!
I mean is that for real or just speculation??

Capcom stated that the butt slap was the thing that almost pushed it over to an M Rating.
There are people saying it's damage control, but I can believe it. Again, dead fish in Uncharted.
 
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