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Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (Saturn title but w/ full voice) announced for 3DS

Man God

Non-Canon Member
The classy thing to do is to stop working on it the second the JPN version of this was announced and go on the assumption that Atlus USA will bring it over and only pick it up again if they release a presser saying they're not bringing it over.
 
For those asking themselves why we’re continuing with the translation project, the answer is a simple one: the 3DS is region locked and this port will be available only to the people who own said console, while the PlayStation build can be played on a much wider array of machines (PSX. PS2, PSP, PS3, and every device out there with a decent PlayStation emulator). So this is basically for hardcore retro gamers, but who wants the alternative on an official release can simply rely on Atlus US and their fantastic localization team...

i have no problem with this. not really seeing it preventing a whole lotta 3ds owners from buying it anyway...
 

Eusis

Member
The classy thing to do is to stop working on it the second the JPN version of this was announced and go on the assumption that Atlus USA will bring it over and only pick it up again if they release a presser saying they're not bringing it over.
Yeah, at the least it should be held back for a few years and released as a curiosity to those that wanted to play the PS1 version in English or something, ignoring the fact Atlus may be releasing it soon and plowing ahead anyway seems rather tactless unless it IS going to take a few more years to come out. I seem to recall similar happened with Ys: Ark of Napishtim, PC translation was canceled, then someone else put one out a few years later once the PS2 version wasn't even remotely relevant.
 

Ra1den

Member
i have no problem with this. not really seeing it preventing a whole lotta 3ds owners from buying it anyway...

Yeah I agree. I don't see a whole lot of 3DS owners holding off on purchasing this due to the fan translation. This will only appeal to the small number of people that would rather play the original.
 

Aeana

Member
I would rather play it on Saturn though. Not a fan of remakes in general.

His translation is for the PSX version, not the Saturn version.
And this 3DS version isn't really a remake, but an enhanced port just like Persona 2 PSP.
 

Varna

Member
His translation is for the PSX version, not the Saturn version.
And this 3DS version isn't really a remake, but an enhanced port just like Persona 2 PSP.

They tweaked some menus around and added a few things... but they absolutely nothing to fix the more annoying aspects of the interface. Seems to take way longer to load too (playing it on my vita). I really hesitate to call it "enhanced." Persona 1 psp was a much better attempt.
 

Ra1den

Member
His translation is for the PSX version, not the Saturn version.
And this 3DS version isn't really a remake, but an enhanced port just like Persona 2 PSP.

PSX version I'm fine with as well.

I couldn't stand the redrawn artwork in the P2 remake. And I don't like added scenarios getting crammed in many years after a game is originally made. Not sure if they are doing any of that this time around, but the originals are almost always more appealing to me.
 

Aeana

Member
PSX version I'm fine with as well.

I couldn't stand the redrawn artwork in the P2 remake. And I don't like added scenarios getting crammed in many years after a game is originally made. Not sure if they are doing any of that this time around, but the originals are almost always more appealing to me.

Okay, well, the art doesn't look like it's being redrawn in Soul Hackers, and they haven't shown any evidence of added scenarios (although the PSX version did have an additional scenario over the Saturn version). I mean, suit yourself and all, but shouldn't you wait to see what it's like before deciding you're absolutely not going to play it?

I personally hope Gemini at least waits to release it until after the 3DS version is actually out.
 

Ra1den

Member
Okay, well, the art doesn't look like it's being redrawn in Soul Hackers, and they haven't shown any evidence of added scenarios (although the PSX version did have an additional scenario over the Saturn version). I mean, suit yourself and all, but shouldn't you wait to see what it's like before deciding you're absolutely not going to play it?

I personally hope Gemini at least waits to release it until after the 3DS version is actually out.

Yeah I'd certainly be willing to play it, but I'd be much happier playing it on PSX or Saturn. So I'm thankful he is not dropping it.

Waiting to release it until the 3DS version has been out for awhile may indeed be the best course of action. We've been waiting God knows how many years at this point, so I think we can wait awhile longer.
 
Man, Digital Devil Saga 2 was sooooooooooo good. The whole experience was easily one of the best of any PS2 RPG.

That One Cutscene: "Shit....holy shit! HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!!" Good times.

I'm so glad almost all Megaten games have that dark, mature creativity and controversy-bait topics (even if they're immune to its attention). It's needed now more than ever.
 
Yeah I agree. I don't see a whole lot of 3DS owners holding off on purchasing this due to the fan translation. This will only appeal to the small number of people that would rather play the original.

i have no problem with this. not really seeing it preventing a whole lotta 3ds owners from buying it anyway...

The fan translator ethic says that if the project you are working on is likely to be released in the language you are translating it into you should stop it regardless of platform.
Just as the Graces fan translation was stopped for both Wii and Ps3 when only the Ps3 version was announced.
Some people would rather play the fan translation than buying the 3DS version if this is available, and no matter how small the number for niche releases like this every single sale counts.

If the 3DS version gets US confirmed he should at least delay the release of the PSX version for 1 year (or even more) after the 3DS US release.


Man, Digital Devil Saga 2 was sooooooooooo good. The whole experience was easily one of the best of any PS2 RPG.

That One Cutscene: "Shit....holy shit! HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!!" Good times.

I've almost finished DDS1, getting hyped!!! Can't wait to dive into 2!
 

cj_iwakura

Member
Okay, well, the art doesn't look like it's being redrawn in Soul Hackers, and they haven't shown any evidence of added scenarios (although the PSX version did have an additional scenario over the Saturn version). I mean, suit yourself and all, but shouldn't you wait to see what it's like before deciding you're absolutely not going to play it?

I personally hope Gemini at least waits to release it until after the 3DS version is actually out.

The art is being redrawn, it looks like. Not really that drastic, since SH always had anime aesthetics, but still.
 

cj_iwakura

Member
Turnip, how the heck does that word puzzle in the second to last dungeon work? That is crazy. I got past the 3 letter segment, but the next one has me all kinds of confused. (I'd have never gotten this far without your LP.)
 

Eusis

Member
The art is being redrawn, it looks like. Not really that drastic, since SH always had anime aesthetics, but still.
I imagine it'll be like P2, where a casual observer (who isn't looking at a direct comparison) will think it's the same, but once you actually compare them side by side you realize how different it really is. Which can be sort of a shame from the nostalgia/"I want it as it was" angle, but it's really pretty mild versus, say, if Radiant Silvergun's "HD" visuals were the only option on the 360 release. Also comes off as slightly pointless, but I think the intent is to look correct on the screen, sort of like the difference between a straight translation and a smart localization.
 
Turnip, how the heck does that word puzzle in the second to last dungeon work? That is crazy. I got past the 3 letter segment, but the next one has me all kinds of confused. (I'd have never gotten this far without your LP.)

IIRC, you have to
go up the 39th floor and talk to Six and Lunch (they're on different sides of the monolith, so you have to climb both towers) and they'll give you passwords: TWIN (left tower) and PIXY (right tower). Now you have to go back down to floors 21, 37, 38 and 39 and uncover the letters. There are three sets of letters on each floor, but only one "correct" letter per floor (so like, in the left tower's floor 21 there are three letters but you need to find the letter "T").

Once you get all the letters displayed in both towers, it'll allow you to access the central part of the monolith from the southern part of floor 39, and that'll put you on your way to the boss
 

wrowa

Member
i have no problem with this. not really seeing it preventing a whole lotta 3ds owners from buying it anyway...

The reality is that most people who play fan-tanslations don't own the game in question and if people have the choice between a "free game" and a full-price title, the majority is probably going to choose the former.

I can understand that cancelling a translation one has worked on for several years already is quite frustrating, but releasing a patch shortly before or after Atlus re-publishes the game is rather disrespectful towards the rights-owner of the game. They probably won't care all that much if he releases the patch one or two years after the official release (and I actually don't believe that gemini's translation is anywhere near a final release yet), but if he just ignores them and puts the patch out whenever he wants... eh, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets C&D'ed by Atlus then.
 

Korigama

Member
There's a decent chance Ghostlight will pick it up for localization. It'll just take a while.
Actually, I'm in the US. I probably should have clarified that this just means that I need to get a 3DS period, so that was my fault (still don't have one, from any region).
 

cj_iwakura

Member
IIRC, you have to
go up the 39th floor and talk to Six and Lunch (they're on different sides of the monolith, so you have to climb both towers) and they'll give you passwords: TWIN (left tower) and PIXY (right tower). Now you have to go back down to floors 21, 37, 38 and 39 and uncover the letters. There are three sets of letters on each floor, but only one "correct" letter per floor (so like, in the left tower's floor 21 there are three letters but you need to find the letter "T").

Once you get all the letters displayed in both towers, it'll allow you to access the central part of the monolith from the southern part of floor 39, and that'll put you on your way to the boss

That explains it, I didn't know
how to learn what the words were.

Thanks.
 
Famitsu has new screenshots:

BzWDu.jpg
phVFO.jpg

0DlXJ.jpg
XkxlN.jpg

6ALC6.jpg
MCCBj.jpg

lo203.jpg


For people that care: Spooky is voiced by Kazuya Nakai and Six is voiced by Daisuke Ono.
 
As far as I can tell, those are just from the new opening animation. The actual in game cutscenes should still be the same (they'll mostly be static or barely animated Soejima drawings), and the original opening animation will still be included.

But yeah, that last one of the Hero and Hitomi is pretty dire, but it should look a bit better when it's actually animated.
 
Hmm is this the first time we've heard there's a new opening song?

e: Hahaha, they have an English translator for the song's lyrics.
e2: If this means anything to anybody:
Song Title: #X
Artist: wink wink
Arranged by: Kozuka Ryota
 

cj_iwakura

Member
Not too bad.


And I have to say, that site has an amazing motif.

That section is based on the restaurant from one of the vision quests.
 

cj_iwakura

Member
Kind of relevant, but word is that Gemini's hacking blog(Devil Hackers) has gone down.

Odds are looking very high that the fan translation was abandoned.

Good news for us more than likely, but I still feel for all the work they put into the project.
 

Aeana

Member
Kind of relevant, but word is that Gemini's hacking blog(Devil Hackers) has gone down.

Odds are looking very high that the fan translation was abandoned.

Good news for us more than likely, but I still feel for all the work they put into the project.

I dunno if the site having a database connection error means that it's abandoned. Besides, he was using that site to give progress for other work, including Echo Night 2.
 
Debut trailer, anyone?

Features some of the voices, a bit more of the song and some of the new cartoon bits.

Speaking of trailers, apparently the first trailer for SMT4 will be included with Soul Hackers.

EDIT: Sorry, didn't see the new thread for the trailer. Too many SMT on 3DS threads floating around now. :[
 

cj_iwakura

Member
I dunno if the site having a database connection error means that it's abandoned. Besides, he was using that site to give progress for other work, including Echo Night 2.

Gemini's confirmed the site is fine, it was a hosting issue. Hack is still on.
 
The site's been updated with a competition where you can vote for which music tracks go on the arrange soundtrack for preorders. Not much of interest since most of us probably don't live in Japan*, but the competition page does let you listen every track in the game in full, sort-of looping, which is nice.

* If you do live in Japan, the prize is entry into a raffle to win a 3DS if you vote for the top six tracks that get chosen in the end.
 
The official website updated the New Elements section again:
The Goumaden now has a Demonic Compendium where you can spend MAG to resummon demons. There's also a Sword Compendium where I assume you can spend MAG to resummon swords you've fused in the past.
There's a new options menu called COMP Hacks. Four hacks are listed: Raise or lower the difficulty, turn automapping on (I assume this displays the map on the bottom screen), turn devil analysis on (I assume this displays enemy stats on the bottom screen in battle) and a hack that lets you summon demons to your active party, regardless of their alignment.
Videos of the "increased playability" (re: sped the heck up), as well as videos from the original to compare them to (re: see how fast the game runs now!).

There are still two items on the New Elements menu that haven't been revealed. One or both will be the Nemetchi/D-Soul/Spotpass thing.
 

vctor182

Member
Damn I really want to play this game!
How long does Atlus usually takes to bring their SMT games to the US? 6 months?
 

Parakeetman

No one wants a throne you've been sitting on!
Not sure how good of a measuring stick this is, but Strange Journey for example had a delay of about 3 months between the JPN and US version. Devil Survivor 1 & 2 took about half a year. This is just going off of the release dates from Wikipedia of JPN vs US and not actual development time.

Though considering the original Soul Hackers never came out in the US I wonder if they are going to do some poll to check what sort of interest there is in the game itself.
 

thanks

Member
I never had a chance to play this game before, so I'm really looking forward to this. Trailer looked great, and compendiums being added can only be a good thing in my estimation.
 

Parakeetman

No one wants a throne you've been sitting on!
Question in relation to this game coming out in the US.

How is the 3DS doing market share wise within the country?
 
Question in relation to this game coming out in the US.

How is the 3DS doing market share wise within the country?

Uhh, I think the last report was 4.5 million units for year 1 in the US. Not sure how much it has sold since then.

Edit: But it doesn't really matter, this game will come out in the US. Atlus USA doesn't stiff us on releases (poor Europe though...)
 

Parakeetman

No one wants a throne you've been sitting on!
Thats some pretty good numbers.

Will be interesting to see how Devil Summoner does, since its a more classic type of gameplay vs what people might be used to in the "easier" versions of SMT games as of late.

Then again most of the folks who buy it are the hardcore fans anyways so not like what I typed above matters haha.

Do hope it does get announced for the US, since its a great game and it finally making its way official to the States would be much appreciated.
 
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