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Why wasn't the PC98 ver. translated?
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 2:42 am
by Memnon
There are translated versions of the MSX Snatcher, Metal gear 1 & 2, and SD Snatcher. I've always wondered why the PC-98 version of Policenauts has never been translated? Perhaps because it is a CD-Rom rather than a 'regular' rom, making it more difficult?
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 6:12 am
by Artemio
There is no translated version of Policenauts whatsoever, any of them. And the reasons are multiple:
1) It is an enormous amount of work
2) There is a lot of text
3) There is a lot of technical and medical jargon in that text
4) There are almost no capable persons that are also interested that are also talented that also have the time.
5) It is the most uncommon version
As you can see, reasons 1-4 apply to all versions and 5 is specifoc. Of course any translation of the game would be more than welcome.
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:43 am
by Wesker
Indeed. I would prefer Sega Saturn or PSX translations, but anyone should be welcome.
Re: Why wasn't the PC98 ver. translated?
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 8:29 am
by Snake700
Memnon wrote:There are translated versions of the MSX Snatcher, Metal gear 1 & 2, and SD Snatcher. I've always wondered why the PC-98 version of Policenauts has never been translated? Perhaps because it is a CD-Rom rather than a 'regular' rom, making it more difficult?
So far there´s no version of Policenauts translated but Snake Plissken is working on translating the game how it goes i don´t know
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:15 am
by Marc
Last I heard, Snake was still having problems getting it off the ground, re. the problems emulating the PC98 system.
Re: Why wasn't the PC98 ver. translated?
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 2:47 pm
by Snake Plissken
Snake700 wrote:Memnon wrote:There are translated versions of the MSX Snatcher, Metal gear 1 & 2, and SD Snatcher. I've always wondered why the PC-98 version of Policenauts has never been translated? Perhaps because it is a CD-Rom rather than a 'regular' rom, making it more difficult?
So far there´s no version of Policenauts translated but Snake Plissken is working on translating the game how it goes i don´t know
Osiris wrote:Last I heard, Snake was still having problems getting it off the ground, re. the problems emulating the PC98 system.
Yeah, we're still have been having problems getting it off the ground, due to problematic support issues with TG-98, and necro project II might not be suited any time soon with PCE, or CD-ROM support.
But none the less the project hasn't been terminated whole. It's still in hybernation till my men can get the time, and working utilities to do so, then we'll see where things go. The issue alone is not the translation or patching (as I've hexed & patched PC98 games in the past), but the emulation again itself. So we'll see how things fly.
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 7:55 pm
by Ninja Kurosai
I never got the game to boot at all

Re: Why wasn't the PC98 ver. translated?
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 8:17 am
by Snake700
Snake Plissken wrote:Snake700 wrote:Memnon wrote:There are translated versions of the MSX Snatcher, Metal gear 1 & 2, and SD Snatcher. I've always wondered why the PC-98 version of Policenauts has never been translated? Perhaps because it is a CD-Rom rather than a 'regular' rom, making it more difficult?
So far there´s no version of Policenauts translated but Snake Plissken is working on translating the game how it goes i don´t know
Osiris wrote:Last I heard, Snake was still having problems getting it off the ground, re. the problems emulating the PC98 system.
Yeah, we're still have been having problems getting it off the ground, due to problematic support issues with TG-98, and necro project II might not be suited any time soon with PCE, or CD-ROM support.
But none the less the project hasn't been terminated whole. It's still in hybernation till my men can get the time, and working utilities to do so, then we'll see where things go. The issue alone is not the translation or patching (as I've hexed & patched PC98 games in the past), but the emulation again itself. So we'll see how things fly.
I Really hope you can fix the problems
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 5:18 pm
by Marc
I have purchased the PC98 version of the game, hoping it will run on my PC98...
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 5:58 pm
by Artemio
Osiris wrote:I have purchased the PC98 version of the game, hoping it will run on my PC98...
We are all crossing our fingers for you pal.
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 8:47 pm
by Snake Plissken
Osiris wrote:I have purchased the PC98 version of the game, hoping it will run on my PC98...
I hope so too. Are my frenchmen still in touch with you?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:00 am
by Marc
I never trust a Frenchman...
But yeah, I think I got all the missing system files I need from them. If not, I'll have to get in contact with them again.
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 4:46 pm
by Crowley
What exactly is it that makes the PC98 version the most suitable candidate for a translation project?
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:15 pm
by Johnny Undaunted
Crowley wrote:What exactly is it that makes the PC98 version the most suitable candidate for a translation project?
l don't think it's the most suitable of all. If anything, it's the most unsuitable.
Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 9:52 am
by ratperson665
The PC9821 version of the game was never translated because it was the most unpopular version.
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:05 pm
by 8bitsonic
Thank you, mister expert. You seemed rather sure of yourself there. Instead of stating opinions as if they were facts, perhaps you should have said that the PC-98 version wasn't translated because it came out on a rather obscure platform. But then again, no version has been translated, so specifying a version that "wasn't translated" is kind of redundant, I think. But for that matter, I doubt very many people outside of Japan have even heard of the NEC PC-9821.
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 3:12 pm
by Marc
The PC98 version is the one I'd like to do a patch for after the PSX version. Hopefully it'll have better emulation someday.
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 3:40 pm
by 8bitsonic
Yes, I myself want to play that particular version the most.
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 3:51 pm
by Artemio
Yes, we all love that one. The looks and the, I don't know how to put it, more "innocent" feel.
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 3:57 pm
by 8bitsonic
I myself like the high-res graphics (which I doubt were that high in detail on the console versions), even though the high amount of dithering slightly takes away from their effect. (Which leads to the question, does anyone know how many onscreen colors the PC-9821 was capable of?) I also like the fact that everything's apparently done in-game, as I'm not a big fan of FMV cutscenes.
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 5:34 pm
by Marc
The original images used to make the console versions are in high-res, as you can see in the Visual Databook, but they are in a lower res in the actual game, unfortunately.
Like you said, that version is all in-game graphics, quite similar to Snatcher. The addition of anime sequences later on meant that the characters were all redrawn. You'll notice they have a much more rounded appearance in the first version.
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:21 pm
by 8bitsonic
Osiris wrote:The original images used to make the console versions are in high-res, as you can see in the Visual Databook, but they are in a lower res in the actual game, unfortunately.
Yeah, I guessed so. The PlayStation could do 640 x 480 resolution, though...I wonder why they didn't use that graphics mode.
And this Visual Databook you speak of, is this one of the extras that was in the Saturn version or something?
Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 1:41 am
by Dave
Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 8:45 am
by OtakupunkX
So, after reading about this version of the game, I've decided that I really, really want to play it very badly, mainly because it's all done with in-game graphics. I'm very excited, and this is probably the lamest post I've ever posted here.
Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 8:55 am
by Marc
If you want to play it that badly, you can, it's just that the sound will be all messed up.