The indie hit makes its console debut! Creator Toby Fox talks localization and... other things.
(A dog appeared from the shadows…)
Hi, this is Toby Fox, the creator of Undertale.
Undertale is a role-playing game where no one has to get hurt. It’s a humorous game that I created to evoke the same feelings that many classic Japanese role-playing games had given me. Happiness, sadness, fear, courage, friendship, hope, love, justice…
Amazingly, I think, among Western audiences, I was able to achieve this goal. I received a lot of feedback from players that felt the “love,” “hope,” and “justice” resonating within the soul of the game.
(The dog put its strangely human fingers together and gave a strangely human smile.)
However, after a year had passed, I realized the “goal” hadn’t been absolutely completed. The games that had inspired me came from Japan, but Japanese audiences were not able to play the game easily…
To solve this, I would have to overcome two obstacles. First most obviously, the game is not in Japanese. Second most obviously, which is actually least obviously in a list of two objects, the Japanese PC game market is surprisingly small. Even if the game was released on PC in Japanese, many would not play it. So, I had to bring the game to consoles.
Anyway, since I had that realization, I’ve been working with 8-4 to translate and localize the game into Japanese. You may not have heard of 8-4, but they’re the hard-working boys and women who translated Petz Hamsterz Bunch into English. (They also localized some lesser known titles, such as NieR: Automata, Metal Gear Rising, etc.) Along the way that transformed into having them develop and publish the PlayStation versions, too.
Fangamer is working on the physical aspects of the release, like the Collector’s Edition. You know, they do most of my merchandise, so if you’ve seen that, you know it’s in good hands. (By the way, Fangamer is made up of my old friends I met because we all loved JRPGs, so I really trust them.)
Keep an eye here, and on Undertale.com, for more info as we get close to wrapping things up!
Now, to answer any questions you may have:
Q: I don’t have any questions. Please don’t release the game.
A: “UNDERTALE” will appear on PS4 and Vita in Summer 2017. We’ll have more info to share in July. Please look forward to it.
Q: Hey Kids! When and where can I get those Collector’s Editions!
A: You’ll be able to get them from Fangamer in Summer 2017.
Q: Do the PS4 and Vita versions have any new content?
A: The tutorial frog NPC that talks about pressing F4 to go full-screen has slightly different dialogue now. I apologize to die-hard fans of the tutorial frog.
Q: Did you include Trophies? I love Trophies.
A: I’m sorry.
Q: You didn’t include Trophies?
A: No… I… I did. That’s why I’m apologizing.
Q: Will the game support Cross-Buy?
A: (Staring blankly.)
(Staring blankly.)
(The teleprompter updates.)
Yes! The download version will support Cross-Buy.
Q: No!!! You fool!!! I told you not to release it! Come back here!
A: Please look forward to it.
Q: Wh-What?! Where am I…? A hall of mirrors?! Wh…Which dog is the real one?!
A: Please look forward to it.
Q: G…GET AWAY FROM ME!!! Ah… Ahhh! AHHHHHHHH—
A: Please look forward to it.
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