Aksys Games put out a few tweets yesterday that confirmed what I’d been dreading more with each passing month of silence—that BlazBlue Central Fiction would not be receiving an English dub, and would go to market in the U.S. sub-only:
"@aksysgames Basically boiled down to- game now w/ no dub. Game 6-8 months later w/ dub. We made a tough decision, but stick by it."
"@aksysgames For clarification- We're doing one release this Nov, not multiple for BBCF, no dub. No plans for a dub release or DLC atm."
I’m disappointed by the news—and I’m especially disappointed to be getting it via tweet. Reaching out to the cast would have been a simple enough courtesy for Aksys to extend. Maybe they think we don’t much care either way, but many of us do. I know I do.
I’ve been Ragna from Calamity Trigger onward. I served as script-adapter and VO director on Continuum Shift Extend. When BlazBlue: Alter Memory got licensed for a U.S. release, I coordinated with Funimation to adapt and direct it out in Los Angeles, so that we could retain practically the entire cast and give longtime fans of the series a dub with the voices they’ve known all along. Granted, my experience with BlazBlue might be a bit more “behind the scenes” than most—but at the end of the day, I’m a fan, too.
Optimists are making a lot out of that “at the moment” distinction in Aksys’s second tweet, hanging their hopes on a dubbed release or at least English dialogue DLC down the line. Sadly, I am not. Aksys has literally nothing to gain by saying, “Nope, it’s never gonna happen,” except inviting a lot of disappointment and ill-will upon themselves in a moment when some folks are already fairly salty—even if they know it to ultimately be the truth. “No plans for a dub release or DLC atm” is the easy let-down, wherein everybody loses hope at their own staggered, gradual pace—or, ideally, just forgets about it with the passage of time.
If the sub-only BBCF sells well in America, it’ll be seen as proof that an English dub isn’t essential—that it’s an expensive frippery, as it were, and that they were right to release a pared-down version. At that point, why commit funds to a dub after the fact when they’ve already got your cash in hand? And if BBCF doesn’t sell well, no one’s going to want to throw good money after bad by dubbing something that under-performed in its initial U.S. release.
All this said, I’m not working with any privileged information here. If Aksys approaches us to dub Central Fiction later on, I will happily eat crow—and do it publicly, when we’re cleared to discuss the dub. But as of right now, faced with a reality I’d never thought to consider—that after the release of a multitude of dual-language BlazBlue titles from 2008 onward, they’re just nixing the English voices altogether—they’re not giving me much reason to hold my breath.
Some fans just play BlazBlue to whup ass, and that’s fine. But for a lot of folks, the story mode—which has just grown richer with each iteration—is a major draw. The mythos and the relationships between characters have been fleshed out in loving detail, and many among you would rather hear those thousands upon thousands of lines being acted out in English than have to read them.
And what a cast we’ve had…! I think our BB English cast is one of the best fighting-game ensembles in the genre, frankly. I’m not saying that as a self-aggrandizing actor, or as one who’s bummed over the loss of a paycheck. I’m saying that as someone who, like you, has spent the last eight years with these characters—cheering their victories, mourning their losses, and understanding the world of BlazBlue more (or sometimes less!) with each new revelation.
TL;DR version: BlazBlue Central Fiction isn’t getting dubbed. I’m sad about it, irate about how impersonally I found out, and not putting any particular stock in a dub happening after-the-fact (though I’d love to be wrong on that front).
After all this time, it hurts to be told that we’re not so central to the fiction after all.
I was still going to buy the US release, begrudgingly. But now? Hell no. Aksys aren't getting a dime from me. I'm importing, and I plan to do everything in my power to ensure everyone on the internet does the same.
That's conflicting. On the one hand, polearms are the best. On the other hand, seeing the outfit in game is even worse. Just, yeesh. Dial it back a little Japan.
cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered Userregular
Also, Central Fiction(via the demo) will be at CEOTaku. So will I, if you want to watch me go 0-2 again.
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Kai_SanCommonly known as Klineshrike!Registered Userregular
So umm, I haven't played any of this game since the absolute original on PS3 I think. I loved it then, but I just kind of fell out.
I really wanna try it out again. But I don't have a PS4 yet and my PS3 is non functional at the moment (not sure if I want to spend the 50+ to fix it or just wait a little bit for older PS4's to go down in price).
Anyway, I would also like to get caught up on the other games I missed. I see they are on Steam. I am not used to getting fighting games on a PC. Are those versions of the first 3 games solid? Are there any differences (mostly in performance) anyone ever heard of?
Kai_SanCommonly known as Klineshrike!Registered Userregular
I would rather play them, just to experience all the characters as they progressed play wise.
Also playing on my PC is more reasonable in my home, so if the option to get them there is good its what I want. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't any obvious issues with them that users had known about I might have missed because I wasn't keeping track of them then.
I would rather play them, just to experience all the characters as they progressed play wise.
Also playing on my PC is more reasonable in my home, so if the option to get them there is good its what I want. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't any obvious issues with them that users had known about I might have missed because I wasn't keeping track of them then.
The previous two entries were ported by another company. Of the two, Continuum Shift has online play and Calamity Trigger does not. Not sure why you want to play them in order, but if you do note that Calamity Trigger is horribly unbalanced lol (and Continuum Shiift also includes a catch-up story mode for it like I mentioned that Chrono Phantasma has for both games. You can experience the origional bullshit Mu and Rachel in it and the origional way too large of a hitbox Gigantic Tager.
I would rather play them, just to experience all the characters as they progressed play wise.
Also playing on my PC is more reasonable in my home, so if the option to get them there is good its what I want. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't any obvious issues with them that users had known about I might have missed because I wasn't keeping track of them then.
The previous two entries were ported by another company. Of the two, Continuum Shift has online play and Calamity Trigger does not. Not sure why you want to play them in order, but if you do note that Calamity Trigger is horribly unbalanced lol (and Continuum Shiift also includes a catch-up story mode for it like I mentioned that Chrono Phantasma has for both games. You can experience the origional bullshit Mu and Rachel in it and the origional way too large of a hitbox Gigantic Tager.
The first game was the one I actively played back then, so people were pretty fine with it at that point.
Those harsh words for it though say to me it must have gotten an AWFUL lot better though I guess.
The first two are cheap, and there is a big difference between a synopsis of the story and actually doing it. Plus I just would like to slowly experience it all, as a game. Online play is going to be completely meaningless though because who the hell would be playing older versions of a fighting game online.
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cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered Userregular
edited October 2016
Uh, I'm hearing murmurings that there's a new character...
Shouldn't you put that in spoiler? I know plot is not the most important thing in fighting games but still, it's BlazBlue plot
I figured a new character wasn't a big deal, especially since it's basically in the astral, but okay.
(And I'm also a fan of BB's plot, so I do consider it important.)
Posts
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! DESTROY AMATERASU!"
"Negative, subject too fluffy. I'm so happy...."
"Where are your social links now?"
Isn't that a Blazen comic? I miss that crazy site.
Mai Natsume is in. Yaaaaaaaaaaaay!
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
Not that there aren't other characters that could become playable. Seven of the Teb Sages for instance. Or Trinity if she ever gets a body back. Etc.
Hell, they'll probably create a new character out of thin air before Jubei ever becomes playable.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
The fuck is that outfit though.
3DS: 0473-8507-2652
Switch: SW-5185-4991-5118
PSN: AbEntropy
They needed to complete the trio of overboob, underboob, and sideboob?
Her previous outfit in Remix Heart was the standard sailor fuku uniform.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
https://www.facebook.com/patrickseitzfanpage/posts/10154563285294875
I was still going to buy the US release, begrudgingly. But now? Hell no. Aksys aren't getting a dime from me. I'm importing, and I plan to do everything in my power to ensure everyone on the internet does the same.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
What's the point of story mode if I can't make out Rachel's utter disdain for Ragna?
3DS: 0473-8507-2652
Switch: SW-5185-4991-5118
PSN: AbEntropy
So what the hell, let's try.
https://www.change.org/p/aksys-games-support-the-dub-for-blazblue-central-fiction
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
ArcSys and Aksys are well aware, but are trying to avoid it. Damage control mode.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
Mai trailer.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
What's her beef with Relius?
3DS: 0473-8507-2652
Switch: SW-5185-4991-5118
PSN: AbEntropy
I really wanna try it out again. But I don't have a PS4 yet and my PS3 is non functional at the moment (not sure if I want to spend the 50+ to fix it or just wait a little bit for older PS4's to go down in price).
Anyway, I would also like to get caught up on the other games I missed. I see they are on Steam. I am not used to getting fighting games on a PC. Are those versions of the first 3 games solid? Are there any differences (mostly in performance) anyone ever heard of?
If you care about the story, it has primers/digest versions of the previous two games' story modes.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
Also playing on my PC is more reasonable in my home, so if the option to get them there is good its what I want. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't any obvious issues with them that users had known about I might have missed because I wasn't keeping track of them then.
The previous two entries were ported by another company. Of the two, Continuum Shift has online play and Calamity Trigger does not. Not sure why you want to play them in order, but if you do note that Calamity Trigger is horribly unbalanced lol (and Continuum Shiift also includes a catch-up story mode for it like I mentioned that Chrono Phantasma has for both games. You can experience the origional bullshit Mu and Rachel in it and the origional way too large of a hitbox Gigantic Tager.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
The first game was the one I actively played back then, so people were pretty fine with it at that point.
Those harsh words for it though say to me it must have gotten an AWFUL lot better though I guess.
The first two are cheap, and there is a big difference between a synopsis of the story and actually doing it. Plus I just would like to slowly experience it all, as a game. Online play is going to be completely meaningless though because who the hell would be playing older versions of a fighting game online.
(Endgame boss)
Shouldn't you put that in spoiler? I know plot is not the most important thing in fighting games but still, it's BlazBlue plot
Well yeah.
Terumi gets it back... which makes me wonder what's gonna happen to Hakumen.
And he's clearly playable.
The fact that we're not getting this dubed, and likely not subtitled pisses me off.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
I figured a new character wasn't a big deal, especially since it's basically in the astral, but okay.
(And I'm also a fan of BB's plot, so I do consider it important.)
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //