Fan translation

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A fan translation is, in the context of video games, an unofficially translated version of a video game, usually created by a fan or fans of the game in question. Fan translations of console games are almost universally accomplished by modifying a ROM image of the game in question by way of hacking, then creating a patch for a clean ROM image which applies the fan translation. The end result is then played on an emulator program, like a normal ROM image, or for those with the ability to do so, can be transferred into a game copier cartridge to be used on the game's native hardware.

In the Wizardry franchise, fan translations are particularly important, as most Japanese-made games and ports have so far been not been given official international releases; combined with the sheer age of the games in question, using ROM images is often the only feasible option. While there are generally numerous patches of various ages available for each game, they vary drastically in quality, and as such there is one translation for each game which is widely considered to be "the" translation to use. As of September 2024, several of the Japan-only games have functional fan translation patches which provide a near-complete translation of the game's script; in some patches, there remain elements (mainly graphical text) which have yet to be translated.

It should be noted that the illicit acquisition of ROM images of video games is illegal. While prosecution over ROM piracy is highly unlikely and has never happened before, you do so at your own risk. For this reason, Wizardry Wiki will neither host ROM images even prepatched, nor point in the direction of them. Wizardry Wiki encourages readers to support the official releases of these games, should they ever occur in the future.

Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom

Super Famicom

Template:Transbox While Heart of the Maelstrom ever received official North American release, the Super Nintendo version published by Capcom is a subject to blatant Nintendo of America censorship similar to previous titles released on NES including religious references, violence, nudity depiction of female character graphics, and the Ruby Wizard asking for alcohol to "gifts".

In January 8, 2017 and due to a request, darkmoon2321 takes the responsibility to create translation patch for the Japanese release which not only contains untouched differences, but also language switches. Its main purpose to combine all switches on Options Menu into one, with default languages now set to English (USA) each when save data created, renamed all default created characters to match with the North American counterpart, and fixes several instance of grammar and spelling errors. The first translation version was released six days later.

In September 4, 2017, the second update 1.1 was made which fixes yet another grammar and spelling errors left, and a glitch that prevented one of the lines of text from showing up on level 3 timeless room, it was also present in the official North American release.

Wizardry: Llylgamyn Saga

Microsoft Windows

Llylgamyn Saga was the very first Wizardry game and compilation to receive a fan translation. It was started in 2000 by Ben Esacove, despite the game has some English language options, it only translates few roughly, however, it was never finished.