It was a long time coming, but it’s finally here. A week before Christmas, a group of fan translators announced a possible release of the patch that will contain a mostly translated form of Valkyria Chronicles 3. By Christmas day, it was released. Problems arose at first with some of the files, but they have since been fixed.
As you may or may not know, Valkyria Chronicles 3 is the third installment in the franchise for the PlayStation Portable. It was released after the first title’s sequel, Valkyria Chronicles 2, moved the series from consoles to portables. Even after all the begging and waiting, and the possibility of releasing the game digital-only in the West, Sega announced that they would not localize the game, much to the dismay of everyone who were itching to play it. Sega mostly cited the sequel’s abysmal sales in the West, the PSP market being practically dead in the West, and the rampant piracy that had a hand in hurting the portable’s life outside of Japan throughout its life cycle as reasons for not localizing the game.
At the same time, a group decided that if the game’s chances of localization were slim to none, they would at least give everyone the chance to still play the game in English. Thus the fan group VC3 Translation Project was born. Over a year has passed since then, and the wait was worth it. It isn’t a full translation, as they have said it’s the first released version, dubbed a “beta patch.” It’s missing the extra DLC, but is still about 90% translated, though there was a lot less editing involved than they initially wanted. Lastly the patch will work with physical releases and digital releases, including on the Vita.
While it’s a shame the game wasn’t officially localized, if you’re hoping to use the patch, awe and the VC3 Translation Project implore you to support the game and Sega. You can do so by importing the title, the Extra re-release to be exact, through one of the many import websites out there. You can also buy the game through PSN with a Japanese account.
And since we’re on the topic of fan translated projects, there are two other titles that also had fan translation patches released that we want to bring to your attention. First up, the group Iwakura Productions released a patch for Umineko Ougon Musou Kyoku, translated to When the Seagulls Cry Golden Reverie (updated patch) in late November. The title is a spinoff of a 2D fighting game developed by 07th Expansion, originally released back at Comiket 79 late December of 2010.
Like many 07th Expansion material, the game was never officially localized. So like with Higurashi (though it was eventually picked up by MangaGamer), Umineko, Higanbana, and Rose Gun Days, fans again acted and decided to try their hand at translating the game themselves so that everyone could enjoy it in English. What’s great about this is that Ryukishi07, one of two original creators of the game, openly supports fan translations of their work and supplementary material that have been spawned from them. As long the fans support the material, he’s a-okay with it all. So again, please support the game.
And lastly, in late November a Ys V fan translation was released by the translators at Aeon Genesis. The fifth mainline title in the Ys franchise was not only released on the Super Famicom, but Falcom also did dramatic changes to the gameplay formula, which received mixed reception. This particular fan translation (from the words out the translator’s mouth) were a nightmare due to the process of hacking said game. The game was never localized, even when it was re-released as Ys V Expert, and the PlayStation 2 remake, Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand back in 2006. With the release of Ys Memories of Celceta being released around the same time, a reimagining of Ys IV that was localized by XSEED, it’s a good time for Ys fans.
