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handofg0d · Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 455 Location: PA

Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (Lit. "For the Frog the Bell Tolls") is an Intelligent Systems developed Action/Adventure/RPG for the Gameboy, that was used as a template for the amazing Links Awakening (they used the engine and style from this game to create Links Awakening)

As such a high-profile 1st Party title, I'm surprised to see that it hasn't been translated yet (even partially!) I was wondering if there might be any real reason behind that, or if it's just been overlooked.

Carnivol · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:35 pm Post subject:

Funny this game should be brought up right now.

I've got some random crap for it in a folder on my memory stick (got a bunch of random crap there that I tinker with when I'm bored)

This game I've currently just put in font from Zelda Link's Awakening + edited some random graphics here and there.

But I have no experience with stupid variable font tables. The game suffers from what I can only assume is a memory limitation issue, as it only loads the characters it needs for the "current scene/text box", it seems, and then apparently uses a new table based upon those selected letters. (Heck, the intro text is easy to find though, as the table there is straight out based on order of appearance and tracking back to rom was done in 2 sec.

But the problem is to change what letters it should load... Evt. I could spread out the roman font upon the pre-selected letters for the intro text to then see if I could force all other parts of the game to stick to the same pre-chosen letters used in the intro... I think, but I have yet to poke around and see if I'm able to accomplish such a thing.

I guess the reasons why I haven't made any real progress with text editing is the same reason why no other bored guy hasn't managed to put together anything either.

Anyway, don't look at me for any progress or speedy results on this.
I'm currently working on something completely different that is "more up my ally" that I'm trying to finish but keep redoing stuff on.

This game is just one of many games I do 2 hours of random poking on every time I'm bored at work or something and happen to feel like seeing if I can produce some random results somewhere.

Also got the entire Japanese table (that is used in the intro text) written down along with a text file with all the kanji used in the game (Thanks goes to _Bnu for that one).

(Oh, yeah, I forgot to invert the colors before I inserted the font. Old shots, by the way. Basicly showing what's done, with the exception of the Japanese table "as it's used in the intro" and the full kanji list)

(Note: this was all something I did like half a month ago or so during a few days of boredom)

neomerge · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 351 Location: Woodstock GA!

Glad I opened this thread! I never knew about this game. Time to check it out.

BTW

Kinda on topic with Legend of Zelda Links Awakening... Was that Pokemon Diamond GBC pirate game made on Links Awakening engine? It seemed to be very similar to it.

kap · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:48 am Post subject:

Hey, nice, I never had any idea either. I also played the unholy hell out of Link's Awakening, so here's hoping someone can do something with this eventually.

Carnivol · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:39 am Post subject:

Taking a second look at the game now.

Just found out where the internal font table for the intro text is located (right infront of the text, duh). Trying to make heads from tails now and will evt. see if I can figure out the rest of it too.

It's amazing what 5min of boredom and a thread can make you do...

ICEknight · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 569

For those who didn't know/notice/care, the main character of this game is the same guy from "Richard's Villa" in Link's Awakening (the house with the frogs).

EDIT: By the way, wouldn't comparing Zelda's Japanese and US code bring some clues on how to make the text appear in this translation?

handofg0d · Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 455 Location: PA

Carnivol - any work on it at all is good news to me, I always considered this a totally untouched translation since it's not even listed on romhacking.net or similar. I'm glad I started this thread, because your response was better than I was expecting.

Sucks to hear it's such a tricky hack, but here's wishing you luck (for whenever you decide to poke around with it).

Carnivol · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject:

mrdomino · Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 167

KingMike · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 898

Carnivol · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject:

Tongueman · Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Posts: 631 Location: Japan

Yeah, Kaeru no Tameni was an interesting game. I'd love to see a translation of it. On the other hand, All I can remember from playing the game was getting to the 1st castle (which was huge) and not knowing how to "finish" it...

neomerge · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 351 Location: Woodstock GA!

ranranruu · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 2

Sorry if I am bumping a very old topic. But I like to say that I am also attempting to translate the game. I have been having a very hard time getting to modify the characters from cavespeak due to this being the first time I modify a game in Japanese... but I am willing to assist you any way I can.

Again, I'm sorry if I am bringing something back up from the dead. It's just this game is one of my favorites and I like to help.

BMF54123 · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:40 am Post subject:

Nezu · Joined: 07 Sep 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Brooklyn, NY

Here's a thing: I've only just now discovered the game. (Well, a couple days ago.) If there's any way I can help out in my minimal ways (web design/hosting, promotion, copy editing), I would love to. Or, hell, I'll just exist as a random person existing that wants to see it translated as well.

ranranruu · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 2

Well, thank you. I'll start by doing a rough draft of the first few scenes (up to the point where you get the map). Then I'll post the script on here (Some parts were translated by a friend of mine already, so I'll give her credit to her too.)

I'll try to get it done as soon as I can. Then I'll post back in this topic.

Carnivol · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject:

Ooh, this topic lives.

Well, I've not managed to make heads from tails for anything text related sans the intro text scroll and the huge letters.

Guess the limited memory or something in the game makes it assign a new font table for every single time there's dialog on the screen or something.

I'd gladly dig out the few notes I have for stuff (although, they are kinda lacking.) and some of the random edits I did (do some file compares and ask, I guess, if you want to know what the heck was going through my head when I tried to do those things).

I haven't really touched this thing since I last spoke about it. Unfortunately, I don't have time for everything I'd love to do anymore :(

A translator wasn't my biggest concern when attempting to do something with this game, though.
It seems like that in most cases with obscure games like this, if you can get the technical stuff sorted out, a translator almost always pops up almost out of nowhere.

ryanbgstl · Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Posts: 1

Hello, I've been working on translating this game for a while. You can follow the progress below:

http://www.romhacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,7296.0.html

Most of the technical stuff has been completed, and I'm now looking for a translator.

This discussion has been helpful in figuring out some of the random misc. text, so thanks, everyone. It probably saved a few dozen hours...

TheRedEye · Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:33 am Post subject:

If you find someone to directly translate the script from Japanese, can I take a pass at rewriting it into a script that sounds good in English? I did that for the Phantasy Star 1 translation and had fun, I'd like to do it again. I've been waiting for the right project (a game I give a damn about) and this might be it.

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