Square Enix Localizes First Final Fantasy Game In Chinese

[moogling]

Square Enix is localizing Final Fantasy XIII in one more language, traditional Chinese.

This is a first for Square Enix. While Final Fantasy games have been localized in many European languages, none of them have been officially translated into Chinese. Other RPGs this generation such as Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey have Chinese and Korean subtitles on disc.

The news was announced at the Taipei Game Show and the Chinese version of Final Fantasy XIII is on track for release later this year on PlayStation 3.

Source: Siliconera

 

[Linnaete]

Awww, I have to feel rather sorry for them for not getting a FF game in their native language until now. Yet still, everyone's happy - I guess.

With China being a huge rising economy and market, and Taiwan being a tiger economy, I expected the Chinese (Mandarin I think) language to be having a huge presence in the world now.

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

Surely it must be to do with the rivalry between the two countries, I've seen photos of SE producing games for some obscure countries I've never even heard of All being said, it was mentioned on TV last night that China has become one of the richest nations in the world so it's not really surprising give SE love their money.

 

[Fusionist]

Sorry, a little confused. So there's going to be actual Chinese (or is in Mandarin?) vocals made for the game or just a subtitle track?

 

[Linnaete]

Sorry, a little confused. So there's going to be actual Chinese (or is in Mandarin?) vocals made for the game or just a subtitle track?

They meant that the game is on track - therefore scheduled - to be released this year, not the soundtrack!

The game itself will have the subtitles in Mandarin I guess. I don't think it's dubbed in Chinese though.

 

[Linnaete]

Update on Chinese release date

Sorry for the double post, but there is an update on this article. There was probably little point making a separate thread for this.

As a first for the Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy XIII will be localized into traditional Chinese and this version will be in stores by May.​

Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong announced the timeline, but didn’t offer other any other details. Will the voice acting be in Chinese, Japanese or English? How is the price going to compare to the other release already out in Asia?
​

Sony localized other games like Badman and Demon’s Souls into Chinese, but Final Fantasy is a major franchise. Really curious to see how this sells and if other publishers follow Square Enix’s lead.

Source: Siliconera
​

 

[Sabriel]

Awww, I have to feel rather sorry for them for not getting a FF game in their native language until now. Yet still, everyone's happy - I guess.

With China being a huge rising economy and market, and Taiwan being a tiger economy, I expected the Chinese (Mandarin I think) language to be having a huge presence in the world now.

Exactly why my mother forced me to do GCSE Chinese (Mandarin)

And, yeah, it'll be much less bother for my parents to understand what the characters are saying if I can ever play this game.

[Off-topic]

Anyways, don't think there is a rivalry. I asked my parents and just said no. I dunno why they said no though >_>