Monster Girl Quest

Anyone looking at the translation repository lately has noticed that I’ve actually been making good progress on the Paradox 2.23 translation lately, which I hope to continue. In addition to my work, I’ve been getting consistent help for other parts of the game that I’m not focused on. There are also a huge number of translated H-scenes that haven’t been merged into the repository, which I do plan on getting to sooner rather than later. That said, I’m looking at another 6 months at this rate to get a playable English version 2.23 out. It’s been more than 6 months since I even updated this blog, so time can fly! Still no word from Torotoro regarding Paradox version 3 (which will complete the game, for those new around here), but it will almost definitely be out in 2019.

As always, the latest files can be found at https://bitbucket.org/dargothtranslations/mgq-paradox-2/
Until at least the story is translated, I don’t consider this translation to be in playable shape, but I try to make sure the latest files will compile and work. However, I’m focused on doing a quality translation and actually getting it finished at some point, rather than releasing partial patches. It doesn’t help that the size of the game has made previous patching methods inconvenient or outright impossible…

Recently translated areas: Succubus Village, Gold Volcano
Currently working on: Lady’s Village + Big Rock Candy Scenic Mountain
Next up: Goddard area magical girl quest

Progress spreadsheet (up-to-date, if not entirely accurate): https://bitbucket.org/dargothtranslations/mgq-paradox-2/src/master/progress.xlsx

Download the “patch” here:
7zip version that is hopefully more compatible with different operating systems: http://dargothtranslations.com/files/patches/MGQ Paradox 2 English Release 1.7z

If you don’t have anything that can open 7zip files, here’s a regular zip: http://dargothtranslations.com/files/patches/MGQ Paradox 2 English Release 1.zip

If the Japanese files in /Translation Files/Scripts/ have gibberish file names, the translation is not going to work. Either use the 7zip file, extract the zip with a different program, use applocale, or just set your computer to Japanese locale.

Instructions:

Note: This patch is technically compatible with versions 2.00-2.02 of Paradox and potentially with future versions as well. For best results and greater chances of future compatibility, I recommend using 2.02. However, if you only have 2.00 or 2.01 and don’t want to download another 2.31GB, you should be fine with the older versions for now. There are a few bugs that 2.02 fixes, namely the one where you can’t advance if you skip fighting Queen Alraune and continue the story elsewhere instead. If that happens to you, download 2.02 and copy your save over and you’ll be fine.

1. Unzip all the files in the zip into a directory. An empty directory is a good idea. The game directory works too if you don’t mind clutter. Just don’t run the Japanese Game.exe afterwards and complain that the patch didn’t work.

2. Double-click on RUNME.bat. The GameSelector program will prompt you to type/paste the path to your game directory. If you chose to copy the files into the game directory in step 1, you can just click OK here. This will take a while. You’ll probably have to press a key to close the GameSelector and Translator programs when they finish so the batch file can resume.

3. The translated version of the game can be found in the /out/ directory. The batch file creates a shortcut to the English Game.exe for you, though. Any saves you had should be copied over.

In order to view any of the scenes, requests, or battle fuckers from the first part of the game, you need to copy over all the files from the /Graphics/Pictures/ directory of part 1 to the /Graphics/Pictures/ directory of part 2. Overwrite the few files with the same name. Congratulations, that’s all you had to do to “merge” the two parts into one game. If you’ve already done this, you don’t have to do it again after running the translation programs.

Currently translated in this initial partial patch:

• Almost all items (missing new accessories and some new armor)
• Enemy and character names (although anyone you’ve recruited will still be in Japanese for now)
• Interface for menus and battles
• All the skills, abilities, job/race info, etc. from part 1. Some new ones. A few descriptions may be outdated.
• …the title screen. Hey, it’s something.

NOT translated yet:

The actual text of the game… Still working on getting the part 1 translations into the new files. Hopefully that will be done in a matter of days. I’ve learned way more than I’ll ever need to know about file encodings, line endings, byte order marks, recursive merge strategies, and all the ways things can fuck up when attempting to merge over a half million lines of text.

We’re already going through the new maps to get the story translated ASAP. New content from part 2 as well as older content that was never translated in part 1 are being worked on simultaneously. Everything will eventually be translated. Sorry if you wanted to start over or do a new game+ in part 2 already — I’d suggest keeping part 1 around and playing with it for now.

I’m crossing my fingers that this method of patching results in fewer issues. The good news is that it’s compatible with different versions of the game, even future versions (depending on what changes), and it’s a whole lot easier to apply future translation patches after getting everything set up the first time. It should also be more idiot-proof than the picky patch.exe from before. Once Torotoro has stopped official updates for part 2, I’ll consider releasing patches in the old format as well as the new. Or if this method goes horribly…

If you didn’t already know, then for future reference, translation files can be found at: https://bitbucket.org/dargothtranslations/mgq-paradox-2/downloads/?tab=branches
The repository will be a bit of a mess until the maps and events are ready and everything is merged together. At any rate, you can place new files in the /Script/ directory and run Ytinasni.RpgMaker.Translator.exe to build a new version of the game.

Quick update before I head off to bed. I’ve got just about all the interface and gameplay-related translations merged into the new files (about 600 item and skill conflicts to manually resolve). Sazaju’s on the maps and those seem to be going well enough. I had originally started on the events since they seemed like they’d be the hardest, but had to table that while ytinasni did work on the translation program. He came through as fast as always, but I still haven’t gotten back to those.

Anyway, I think I can promise at least a patch for the interface and gameplay elements for Monday night (like, midnight PDT – sorry Euros and East Coasters) Thursday? Friday? I’m awesome at underestimating how long these things take. Virtually no *new* content will be translated (character names and a few abilities at most), but at least you’ll be able to play through part 2 with an English interface, English battle text, and all your old items, skills, etc. translated.

For the adventurous, the script files and base files (minus Items.txt) are in usable condition and located in the Bitbucket repository along with the translation program needed to extract the scripts and then rebuild the game. https://bitbucket.org/dargothtranslations/mgq-paradox-2/downloads/ (grab zips of the scripts and base branches from the branches tab).

Paradox part 2 is out! http://www.dlsite.com/maniax/work/=/product_id/RJ201109.html

To merge the two chapters, all you have to do is copy the Graphics/Pictures directory from the old game to the new one.

To copy over your saves, copy the entire Save directory (not just a single save file) from the old game to the new one.

Bad news: currently dead in the water waiting on a fix for the translation program so that it’ll work with part 2. We’re also going to need to do some major reformatting to apply the translation to the new files, which is going to require more changes to the translation program, some scripting, and probably a lot of manual effort.

It’s happening! http://b.dlsite.net/RG07939/archives/51790933.html

Oh yeah, and some guy named Rogue has been helping on the translation lately too. We’ll see what gets done in the next month and cross our fingers that the transition to the next chapter goes smoothly. See you in part 2…