Well, looks like the Virtual Console might get a little bit better...

[Super Mario Fan]

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=12918

Could we see some Japanese game translated and on the VC soon? One can only hope.

[Cobra Commander]

God I hope that happens. They would make a killing off of me.

[heybtbm]

This isn't too much of a surprise. The Japanese NES version of Super Mario Bros. 2 (SMB: The Lost Levels) was already confirmed for the US several weeks ago.

[c0ldb33r]

I can't wait for Sin & Punishment. :D

[agbulls]

Wow. Great news if this is true. I have stopped buying anything on the VC for the sole reason that I own actual carts of just about EVERYTHING they have launched. I totally agree, if this happens they will make an absolute shitload off of me.

[-hellvin-]

I would probably buy QUITE a few import titles if they ever did do that! Even though I've played most of what I'm interested in emulation and so on, there's a couple I haven't had an oppurtunity to such as Sin & Punishment which I'd love to try. Secret of Mana 3 and Terrenigma would be awesome additons as well!

[Nebagram]

Speaking as a UKer I hope we get some of the SNES greats that never made it across the Atlantic/China, Russia and the whole of Europe, such as Mario RPG (already confirmed for US VC), Chrono Trigger (if we're all REALLY lucky) and many more.

[TurboGenesis]

I can't wait for Sin & Punishment. :D

I hope this happens. I can't wait to use the classic controller for this game!

[Melf]

This isn't too much of a surprise. The Japanese NES version of Super Mario Bros. 2 (SMB: The Lost Levels) was already confirmed for the US several weeks ago.

This technically counts as a U.S. release already because it was on Super Mario All Stars on the SNES.

[zer0cool]

Either way they should localize popular japanese games.This would make the DL cost worth it as opposed to importing games while giving most players a "new" game.I mean how much can this cost them compared to people who have taken fan translations upon themselves?

[GarrettCRW]

This technically counts as a U.S. release already because it was on Super Mario All Stars on the SNES.

Yes, but FDS version is quite a bit more difficult, especially when it concerns accessing Worlds A-D.

I am curious as to whether or not this VC version of SMB2J will utilize the FM-enhanced ending music.

[swlovinist]

VC translated imports= one broke gamer. This would make me very, very, happy

[eggwolio]

Plus the updated graphics just looked weird

[maxlords]

Oooooh....the original Fire Emblems. That would be sweet too.

[c0ldb33r]

I am curious as to whether or not this VC version of SMB2J will utilize the FM-enhanced ending music.

what do you mean by this? btw the only smb2j Ive played was on SNES

[GarrettCRW]

what do you mean by this? btw the only smb2j Ive played was on SNES

The Famicom Disk System had a FM synth chip that added an extra sound channel to games that used it. The typical strategy for FDS-to-NES conversions (like, say, the Zelda games) was to strip the FM channel and re-do the music, loosing a sound channel in the process.

[Anthony1]

Damn, I was hoping this thread was going to say that the first VC game with multiplayer online support was going to be announced, like Contra 3: Alien Wars with 2 player simultaneous or something.

[FantasiaWHT]

Seiken Densetsu 3, PLEASE! :)

[Kitsune Sniper]

The Famicom Disk System had a FM synth chip that added an extra sound channel to games that used it. The typical strategy for FDS-to-NES conversions (like, say, the Zelda games) was to strip the FM channel and re-do the music, loosing a sound channel in the process.

But sometimes, this stripping brought out BETTER music. See Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa and Castlevania II for good examples.

[j_factor]

The Famicom Disk System had a FM synth chip that added an extra sound channel to games that used it. The typical strategy for FDS-to-NES conversions (like, say, the Zelda games) was to strip the FM channel and re-do the music, loosing a sound channel in the process.

But is this an FDS-to-NES conversion? They may very well just emulate the Famicom Disk System, and just file it under NES.

[MarioMania]

How about Castlevania III with the Famicom Soundtrack

[MegaDrive20XX]

How about Castlevania III with the Famicom Soundtrack

Amen to that, I second to that suggestion.

[meancode]

On thing in this entire mess scares me. This quote from George Harrison:

"We are aware that there are some very successful Japanese franchises that have a small following in the US, and that they could never be reached by putting these products out at retail. We're open to games released in Japan if we can get them translated properly."

I know its obvious, but I have to ask. What on Earth needs to be "translated properly." For the love of all that is Good in this world, just release them as-is, DO NOT butcher them in "translation."

Or hasn't Harrison figured that out yet?

[Sneekpeaks]

things are getting better, i was just going to sell my carts and probably download the games... except for like earthbound and such. keep the guides of course :-D

[Kitsune Sniper]

On thing in this entire mess scares me. This quote from George Harrison:

"We are aware that there are some very successful Japanese franchises that have a small following in the US, and that they could never be reached by putting these products out at retail. We're open to games released in Japan if we can get them translated properly."

I know its obvious, but I have to ask. What on Earth needs to be "translated properly." For the love of all that is Good in this world, just release them as-is, DO NOT butcher them in "translation."

Or hasn't Harrison figured that out yet?

Actually, I think that guy was taking a jab at translation romhackers like myself.

[Leo_A]

I'm not about to buy anything that hasn't been translated. I doubt Nintendo is interested in selling a game to the 5 people that don't want to understand what is being said during a game.

[Graham Mitchell]

Some games don't need it, some do. SMB2J doesn't, for example. But I'll be damned if I have to pay to play Mother or Sweet Home in Japanese on my nice new console I plunked $400 into just to be able to download these gems. No disrespect to Kitsune Sniper--I really appreciate what you do, but I want to play these things on a console. In fact, don't ya' wish they'd just cut you a deal and use your translations? Or allow us to run outside roms on an SD card or something.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Some games don't need it, some do. SMB2J doesn't, for example. But I'll be damned if I have to pay to play Mother or Sweet Home in Japanese on my nice new console I plunked $400 into just to be able to download these gems. No disrespect to Kitsune Sniper--I really appreciate what you do, but I want to play these things on a console. In fact, don't ya' wish they'd just cut you a deal and use your translations? Or allow us to run outside roms on an SD card or something.

None taken. I personally would LOVE to play the games people have translated on a real console, but it's just not possible for me to do so.

I only WISH they'd use the fan-made translations with Japanese games, but this is Nintendo we're talking about. They'd likely send us to jail. :(

[FantasiaWHT]

I wonder what would happen if a video game company used a fan's translation for their own without the fan's permission. Unfortunately I haven't gotten to IP law in law school yet, but I wonder if the fan would really have a claim or not...

[c0ldb33r]

I wonder what would happen if a video game company used a fan's translation for their own without the fan's permission. Unfortunately I haven't gotten to IP law in law school yet, but I wonder if the fan would really have a claim or not...
I only know of US and Canadian law, but it would clearly be copyright violation in those countries.

[Leo_A]

I imagine Nintendo could release them with no issues. Activision was all set to release hacks of its 2600 titles on Activision Anthology's download service for the PS2 (Had cleared Activision's legal department, detirmined that they owned the pirated hacks done in the 80s since it was their copyrighted code being altered when the pirates had no right to it) before Sony killed the download portion.

So assuming this is the same situation, I'd think Nintendo could if they wanted to (Which I doubt they do).

[petewhitley]

Damn, I was hoping this thread was going to say that the first VC game with multiplayer online support was going to be announced, like Contra 3: Alien Wars with 2 player simultaneous or something.

Yeah; really the VC will get A LOT better when Nintendo pulls their head out and adds multiplayer online support to the games. Such a terribly wasted opportunity, particularly when Xbox Live has shown how possible it is to add online multiplayer support to classic games. Mario Kart 64 without online multiplayer is easily the biggest gaming dissapointment for me for the past several years. I'm almost infuriated just thinking about it. Despite the pedigree of many of the games, the VC still pales next to the updated options that almost all Xbox Live Arcade titles offer.

[FantasiaWHT]

I only know of US and Canadian law, but it would clearly be copyright violation in those countries.

See I'm not quite so sure... did the fan really have the "right" to produce a translation in the first place? If the fan didn't have that "right", which of the fan's "rights" has the company violated by using it themselves? You may be correct, but I don't think the issue is really very clear.

[c0ldb33r]

See I'm not quite so sure... did the fan really have the "right" to produce a translation in the first place? If the fan didn't have that "right", which of the fan's "rights" has the company violated by using it themselves? You may be correct, but I don't think the issue is really very clear.
The concept at play is that of additional copyrighting. Basically, in copyright, you own the expression of a certain concept. Not the underlying concept, just your expression of that concept.

The developer owns the copyright to the original work. The fan does not. What is the fan adding when he creates his work? Just the translation. He has no interest in the original. BUT, the developer did not create the translation, they only own the original work and no more.

So, the fan could not release his translation, because he does not own the copyright to the original work. He only owns the translation.

The developer could not release the fan's translation, because they do not own the copyright to the translation.

The only solution is for (1) the fan to license the original work, (2) the developer to license the translation, or (3) the developer to create their own translation based on their own original work.

[rbudrick]

But sometimes, this stripping brought out BETTER music. See Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa and Castlevania II for good examples.

Totally. I think the JP CVII music sucks in comparison.


How about Castlevania III with the Famicom Soundtrack

Well that was from a custom Konami sound chip, but that was pretty good too.

-Rob

[Kitsune Sniper]

The only solution is for (1) the fan to license the original work, (2) the developer to license the translation, or (3) the developer to create their own translation based on their own original work.

Actually, in the case of a few of us... we don't mind if they took and used our translation patches, as long as they ask us nicely.

And maybe give us money. :p

[Red Hedgehog]

Actually, in the case of a few of us... we don't mind if they took and used our translation patches, as long as they ask us nicely.

And maybe give us money. :p

Well, that's more or less what licensing is. Along with signing a bajillion legal documents.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Well this is certainly good to hear. Will be infinately better (and a glorious day) when (if) it's announced. Next thing they need to do is online multiplayer and rankings. Guarantee this won't happen until some WiFi Wii titles come out. Maybe sometime after. Just don't make us re-purchase updated games on VC if/when you do, ok N.