Undubbing
Encyclopedia
Undubbing is a type of video game hacking, which involves modifying the contents of an officially localized
video game to match the audio and voice acting to its country of origin while retaining the translated text of the country in which it has been localized.
A typical candidate for an undub is a Japanese game which has been published
in the U.S. with text translated, and voice acting re-dubbed in English by the localizing publisher, but without an in-game option to change the audio back to its original language due to lack of space on the media, licensing restrictions, marketing reasons or other publishing or development concerns. The process of undubbing consists of reverse-engineering the contents of both the localized and the original versions of the game, locating the audio resources within a ROM or an optical media image
in the localized game, and replacing them with the audio data from the original version.
voice actors to be signed by a video game publisher to provide voice acting for a high-profile game. In the United States, on the other hand, voice localization projects usually have smaller budgets and are not typically done by celebrities, although it is disputable whether that affects the quality of the acting itself. Still, due to the perceived notion that Japanese voice acting is usually of higher quality, many fans prefer to listen to the Japanese audio track while playing the game, even if they do not speak or understand the Japanese language. Undubbing thus caters to an audience who does not speak the original language or has not mastered it well enough to enjoy the untranslated text in an imported
version of the original game, but still prefers the original audio for the reasons mentioned above. Because the localized text is left in place where present, an undubbed game usually can still be fully played by those who could not play the import.
, a 2003 PlayStation 2 game by Square (now Square Enix
), was undubbed in April 2008, almost four and half years after the release of the localized version in the United States. A number of other Final Fantasy
games have either already been undubbed or currently have undubbing projects in the works.
Other series that have been undubbed include various Mega Man
(Rockman in Japan) games, .hack
, Xenogears
and Xenosaga
, the Megami Tensei
series (including Persona 3 and Persona 4
), and Namco
's Tales
series of RPGs
, as well as many others.
Language localisation
Language localisationThe spelling "localization", a variant of "localisation", is the preferred spelling in the US and Canada. is the second phase of a larger process of product translation and cultural adaptation to account for...
video game to match the audio and voice acting to its country of origin while retaining the translated text of the country in which it has been localized.
A typical candidate for an undub is a Japanese game which has been published
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
in the U.S. with text translated, and voice acting re-dubbed in English by the localizing publisher, but without an in-game option to change the audio back to its original language due to lack of space on the media, licensing restrictions, marketing reasons or other publishing or development concerns. The process of undubbing consists of reverse-engineering the contents of both the localized and the original versions of the game, locating the audio resources within a ROM or an optical media image
ISO image
An ISO image is an archive file of an optical disc, composed of the data contents of every written sector of an optical disc, including the optical disc file system...
in the localized game, and replacing them with the audio data from the original version.
Reasons for undubbing
Voice acting is a considerably bigger business in Japan than it currently is in English-speaking countries (see also Voice acting in Japan). It is not uncommon for acclaimed TV animationAnime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
voice actors to be signed by a video game publisher to provide voice acting for a high-profile game. In the United States, on the other hand, voice localization projects usually have smaller budgets and are not typically done by celebrities, although it is disputable whether that affects the quality of the acting itself. Still, due to the perceived notion that Japanese voice acting is usually of higher quality, many fans prefer to listen to the Japanese audio track while playing the game, even if they do not speak or understand the Japanese language. Undubbing thus caters to an audience who does not speak the original language or has not mastered it well enough to enjoy the untranslated text in an imported
Import gamers
Import gamers are a subset of the video game player community that take part in the practice of playing video games from another region, usually from Japan where the majority of games for certain systems originate.- Reasons for importing :...
version of the original game, but still prefers the original audio for the reasons mentioned above. Because the localized text is left in place where present, an undubbed game usually can still be fully played by those who could not play the import.
Notable undubs
The U.S. version of Final Fantasy X-2Final Fantasy X-2
is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square for Sony's PlayStation 2. It was released in 2003 and is the sequel to the best-selling 2001 game Final Fantasy X...
, a 2003 PlayStation 2 game by Square (now Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
), was undubbed in April 2008, almost four and half years after the release of the localized version in the United States. A number of other Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
games have either already been undubbed or currently have undubbing projects in the works.
Other series that have been undubbed include various Mega Man
Mega Man (series)
Mega Man is a video game franchise from Capcom, starring the eponymous character Mega Man, or one of his many counterparts. The series is well-known and comprises well over fifty releases, easily making it Capcom's most prolific franchise. As of December 31, 2010, the series has sold approximately...
(Rockman in Japan) games, .hack
.hack
.hack is a Japanese multimedia franchise that encompasses two projects; Project .hack and .hack Conglomerate. Both projects were primarily created/developed by CyberConnect2, and published by Bandai...
, Xenogears
Xenogears
is a science-fiction console role-playing game developed and published by Square for Sony's PlayStation. It was released on February 11, 1998 in Japan and on October 20, 1998 in North America. The game was never released in PAL territories...
and Xenosaga
Xenosaga
is a series of science fiction video games developed by Monolith Soft and published by Namco Bandai. Xenosaga's main story is in the form of a trilogy of PlayStation 2 video games. There have been three spin-off games and an anime adaptation. The Xenosaga series serves as a spiritual successor to...
, the Megami Tensei
Megami Tensei
, commonly abbreviated as , is a Japanese console role-playing game metaseries which was originally based on the novel series Digital Devil Story by Aya Nishitani and has gone to become one of the major franchises of the genre in its native country...
series (including Persona 3 and Persona 4
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4, originally released in Japan as simply , is a role-playing video game developed and published by Atlus for Sony's PlayStation 2, and chronologically the fifth installment in the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series. Persona 4 was released in Japan in July 2008, North...
), and Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
's Tales
Tales (role-playing game series)
The series is a franchise of fantasy console role-playing games published by Namco Bandai Games , and primarily developed by its subsidiary, Namco Tales Studio. Created in 1994, the series now spans over twelve flagship titles, over fifteen side games, and four animated productions, into several...
series of RPGs
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
, as well as many others.