Dragon Quest Monsters 2 - Cobi and Taras Marvelous Mysterious Key 3DS

Template:Infobox-3DS-Homebrews

This is a place to develop fan translations for Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Cobi and Tara's Marvelous Mysterious Key for several different languages. You can either contribute to this project or install the latest version on your 3DS right now.

The guide for this game is located at: DQM2 Guide!

Introduction

Hi, after I spent some time figuring out how the binJ file format storing messages in this game works, I created BinJ Editor 3DS, an editor for .binJ and .e files with custom decoding tables. This is the main tool required for translating the game. This thread and the linked repository is the place where everyone (including YOU) can help to translate this game, not only to english, but german, spanish, french, italian, etc. I would love to see a fully translated version in a few months or years - we did it!!

Structure

The folder structure in this repository is based on the structure of extracted .cia or .3ds files.
Most foldernames consist of the basename of the folder and the locale of the translation, e.g. Message_EN contains the messages for the english language. Folders without a locale extension are used for every language except for the original language japanese.

The content of the folders is as follows:

• Banner contains the logo that is shown on the top screen in the 3DS home menu (see Editing the Banner)
• ExeFS contains the code of the game (see Editing the Code and Code Modifications)
• Event contains .e files storing the cutscene and dialog texts (see Editing .e Files and Event Files)
• Font contains the .bcfnt fonts that are used in game (see Editing .bcfnt Files)
• Layout contains .arc archives storing .bclim images for icons, pictures, frames, etc. (see Editing .arc Files)
• Message contains .binJ files storing texts (see Editing .binJ Files and Message Files)
• NaviMap contains .arc archives storing .bclim images for icons, pictures, frames, etc. (see Editing .arc Files)

The current progress for each language can be found here:

• DE German
• EN English
• ES Spanish
• FR French
• IT Italian

Screenshots

Project Backstory

After the team completed work on Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 3 back in 2016, we took a well rested break!

It wasn't too long afterwards that Joker 3 Pro was released, and we were back to work. In the middle of working on J3Pro, Z6n4 thought to themself, "Why work on a small story extension? We have a whole other game out there that hasn't been completed yet!"

At this point, the team decided to shift their focus towards working on Dragon Quest Monsters 2.

Starting work on this in 2017, the game's underlying framework required little hacking working beyond what the team initially accomplished with Terry's Wonderland 3D, and in no time, they had full scripts of the game ready for translation.

Gerb, a well known translator on the scene who most recently completed work on Slime Mori Mori 3, offered to help. Within no time, Gerb had ripped through majority of the script, translating both Cobi & Tara's unique dialogue scripts!

Z6n4, however, ran into a major hurdle around this time. Completely stuck with a limitation built into the game by its original developers, the team could not show more than 50 or so characters on screen during any dialog sequence.

While this might have been fine for japanese language, this would not work for a full blown, detailed, english script. Slowly, Z6n4 looked into this problem, but found no success. The project, to many, seemed like it was destined to never be completed...

Meanwhile, in 2020, a talented developer known as Ich_73 surfaced in our translation scene. They built a remarkable translation tool suite, and offered everything up to the public via github, in the hopes of crowd sourcing and encouraging work on multi-languages for both DQM TW3D and DQM2 3DS.

They weren't satisfied stopping there, however. Ich_73 decided to tackle the DQM 2 translation all by themselves. They ended up running into THE SAME roadblock that Z6n4 was stumped by.

Fortunately, another extremely bright individual going by the name of Colmines92 would also surface. Colmines92 contacted both of us, and in seemly no time, broke right through this barrier that had stumped us both for quite some time.

From this point forward, the 4 of us united and decided that, albeit being a small team... We could finally get this done! Pooling together everything we had all completed to date, we set out in the last quarter of 2020 to finish this thing once and for all.

Several months later, we released the translation on 4/1/2021!

From the bottom of our hearts, we'd like to thank everyone who kept us motivated, stayed excited, will play our fan-translation & keep the scene alive.

- Z6n4

Installation

To install the latest release as a cia file read the following instructions:

Installing Releases

These instructions show you how to install a Release on your 3DS with CFW.
For the old version of these instructions read Installing Releases (Manual).

Prerequisites

You need:

• a 3DS with CFW (see 3DS Hacks Guide)
  • including FBI
• the patches from the Release you want to install
  • e.g. Patches-v1.0-EN.zip
  • e.g. Patches-v1.1-EN.zip
• Game Patcher

Setup

Note: The setup is only required to do a single time. Once this is done you can skip to Patching for updating the game.

Dumping

First you need to obtain a .cia file of the game from your original copy of the game: Dumping the Game.
Optional: If you have the official v1.1 update installed, you can dump a .cia of it as well: Dumping the Update.

Workspace

Create a new folder and place the following in it:

• The .cia file of the original game
• The patches for the original game (e.g. Patches-v1.0-EN.zip)
• GamePatcher.exe from the previously downloaded Game Patcher

Optional: If you have the official v1.1 update, place the following in the folder, in addition to the above files:

• The .cia file of the official update
• The patches for the official update (e.g. Patches-v1.1-EN.zip)

Patching

To apply the downloaded patches to the dumped .cia file(s) do the following:

• Run GamePatcher.exe
• Wait until the process is finished
• When asked to clean up you have three options:
  • n to preserve all folders and tools and therefore speed up the next execution
  • y to delete all the folders created in the current execution
  • all to delete all folders in the current directory as well as all the downloaded tools

Installing

Note: To avoid losing your save file, I recommend taking a backup of your save using Checkpoint before installing the game.

The last step is to install the patched .cia file(s) on your 3DS.

• Copy the .cia files(s) to the folder /cias on the SD card of your 3DS
• Boot the 3DS and start FBI
• Navigate to SD > cias
• Select the patched .cia file of the original game and press A
  • Select Install and delete CIA and press A to confirm
  • Wait until the installation is finished
• Optional: Select the patched .cia file of the official update and press A
  • Select Install and delete CIA and press A to confirm
  • Wait until the installation is finished

Now you have the translated game installed on your 3DS.

If you are interested in installing the latest updates using Luma's LayeredFS Patching read.

Installing LayeredFS.

These instructions show you how to install the latest changes on your 3DS using Luma's LayeredFS Patching.
If you want to install a LayeredFS Patch on Citra read Installing on Citra (LayeredFS).

Navigation:

1. Prerequisites
2. Setup Workspace
   1. The CIA
   2. The Translation
3. Update Workspace
4. Game Patching
   1. Distribute
   2. Send

Prerequisites

You need:

• a 3DS with CFW (see 3DS Hacks Guide)
  • including Luma
  • including an FTP Server, I recommend FTPD
• Translation Toolkit

To patch games you need to enable game patching in Luma.

• Boot the 3DS while holding SELECT to launch Luma3DS configuration
• Enable Enable game patching
• Press START to save and boot your 3DS

Setup Workspace

First you need to setup a workspace.

• Create an empty folder (e.g. DQM2-Translation)
• Copy TranslationToolkit.exe from the previously downloaded Translation Toolkit to this folder (e.g. DQM2-Translation/TranslationToolkit.exe)

The CIA

Dumping

Then you need to obtain a .cia file of the game from your original copy of the game: Dumping the Game.
If you have the official v1.1 update installed you can dump a .cia of it as well: Dumping the Update.

Extracting

The next step is to extract the .cia.

• Copy the .cia file from the SD card to the workspace on your computer (e.g. DQM2-Translation/DQM2.cia)
• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter EG to extract the game file
  • Enter the name of your .cia file (e.g. DQM2.cia)
  • Enter a name for the CIA folder (e.g. cia-game)
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished
• You can now delete the .cia file

If you also have a .cia file of the update you need to extract it as well.

• Copy the .cia file from the SD card to the workspace on your computer (e.g. DQM2-Translation/DQM2-Update.cia)
• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter EG to extract the game file
  • Enter the name or your .cia file (e.g. DQM2-Update.cia)
  • Enter a name for the CIA folder (e.g. cia-update)
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished
• You can now delete the .cia file of the update

The Translation

To copy the required files from the CIA folder and download and apply all patches do the following.

• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter SW to setup the workspace
  • Enter the download URL for this repository (https://github.com/Ich73/DQM2-FanTranslation/archive/master.zip)
  • Enter the name of your CIA folder (e.g. cia-game)
  • If you extracted the v1.1 udpdate in the previous step
    • Enter y
    • Enter the version v1.1
    • Enter the name of your update CIA folder (e.g. cia-update)
    • Enter n
  • Otherwise
    • Enter n
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished

Update Workspace

Note: This step is only required if you want to update your workspace with the latest changes. You can skip this step if you're currently setting up your workspace for the first time.

To download and apply all patches do the following.

• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter UW to update the workspace
  • Enter the download url for this repository (https://github.com/Ich73/DQM2-FanTranslation/archive/master.zip)
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished

Game Patching

This is done by using two scripts from the Translation Toolkit.

Distribute

First you need to distribute the correct files.

• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter D to distribute
  • Enter the language you want to patch (e.g. EN or DE,EN)
  • Enter the version of the game you want to play (v1.0 or v1.1)
  • Enter the destination folder (e.g. _dist_v1.0_EN or _dist_v1.1_DE_EN)
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished

Send

Then you need to send those files to your 3DS.

• Boot the 3DS
  • Start your FTP application
• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter S to send
    • If you want to force overriding all files enter S -f instead
  • Enter the folder from the D script (e.g. _dist_v1.0_EN)
  • Enter 00040000000cf500 (the title ID)
  • Enter the IP of your 3DS for the FTP connection. FTPD displays it on the top screen (e.g. [192.168.1.1]:5000).
  • Enter the Port for the FTP connection. FTPD displays it on the top screen (e.g. [192.168.1.1]:5000).
  • Enter the username for the FTP connection. In FTPD you can configure this in the settings by opening the Menu (Y) and selecting Settings.
  • Enter the password for the FTP connection. This value can be configured the same way as the username can.
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished

You can now start the game with the patched files.

Installing on Citra

These instructions show you how to install a Release on Citra.
Alternatively you can use a LayeredFS Patch on Citra by following Installing on Citra (LayeredFS).

Prerequisites

You need:

• a 3DS with CFW (see 3DS Hacks Guide)
• the 3DS emulator Citra
• the patches from the Release you want to install
  • e.g. Patches-v1.0-EN.zip
  • e.g. Patches-v1.1-EN.zip
• Game Patcher

Setup

Note: The setup is only required to do a single time. Once this is done you can skip to Patching for updating the game.

Dumping

First you need to obtain a .cia or .3ds file of the game from your original copy of the game: Dumping the Game (CIA) or Dumping the Game (3DS).
Optional: If you have the official v1.1 update installed, you can dump a .cia of it as well: Dumping the Update.

Workspace

Create a new folder and place the following in it:

• The .cia or .3ds file of the original game
• The patches for the original game (e.g. Patches-v1.0-EN.zip)
• GamePatcher.exe from the previously downloaded Game Patcher

Optional: If you have the official v1.1 update, place the following in the folder, in addition to the above files:

• The .cia file of the official update
• The patches for the official update (e.g. Patches-v1.1-EN.zip)

Patching

To apply the downloaded patches to the dumped .cia/.3ds file(s) do the following:

• Run GamePatcher.exe
• Wait until the process is finished
• When asked to clean up you have three options:
  • n to preserve all folders and tools and therefore speed up the next execution
  • y to delete all the folders created in the current execution
  • all to delete all folders in the current directory as well as all the downloaded tools

Installing

The last step is to install the patched file(s) on Citra.

• Run Citra
• Optional: Choose File > Install CIA... and select the .cia file of the patched update
• For CIA: Choose File > Install CIA... and select the .cia file of the patched game
• For 3DS: Choose File > Load File... and select the .3ds file of the patched game

Now you have the translated game installed on Citra.

Developing Translations

These instructions show you how to use this repository for contributing to this fan translation.

Prerequisites

You need:

• a 3DS with CFW (see 3DS Hacks Guide)
  • including Luma
  • including an FTP Server, I recommend FTPD
• Translation Toolkit

To patch games you need to enable game patching in Luma.

• Boot the 3DS while holding SELECT to launch Luma3DS configuration
• Enable Enable game patching
• Press START to save and boot your 3DS

Setup Workspace

First you need to setup a workspace.

• Create an empty folder (e.g. DQM2-Translation)
• Copy TranslationToolkit.exe from the previously downloaded Translation Toolkit to this folder (e.g. DQM2-Translation/TranslationToolkit.exe)

The CIA

Dumping

Then you need to obtain a .cia file of the game from your original copy of the game: Dumping the Game.
If you have the official v1.1 update installed you can dump a .cia of it as well: Dumping the Update.

Extracting

The next step is to extract the .cia.

• Copy the .cia file from the SD card to the workspace on your computer (e.g. DQM2-Translation/DQM2.cia)
• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter EG to extract the game file
  • Enter the name of your .cia file (e.g. DQM2.cia)
  • Enter a name for the CIA folder (e.g. cia-game)
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished
• You can now delete the .cia file

If you also have a .cia file of the update you need to extract it as well.

• Copy the .cia file from the SD card to the workspace on your computer (e.g. DQM2-Translation/DQM2-Update.cia)
• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter EG to extract the game file
  • Enter the name or your .cia file (e.g. DQM2-Update.cia)
  • Enter a name for the CIA folder (e.g. cia-update)
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished
• You can now delete the .cia file of the update

The Translation

To copy the required files from the CIA folder and download and apply all patches do the following.

• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter SW to setup the workspace
  • Enter the download URL for this repository (https://github.com/Ich73/DQM2-FanTranslation/archive/master.zip)
  • Enter the name of your CIA folder (e.g. cia-game)
  • If you extracted the v1.1 udpdate in the previous step
    • Enter y
    • Enter the version v1.1
    • Enter the name of your update CIA folder (e.g. cia-update)
    • Enter n
  • Otherwise
    • Enter n
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished

Update Workspace

Note: This step is only required if you want to update your workspace with the latest changes. You can skip this step if you're currently setting up your workspace for the first time.

To download and apply all patches do the following.

• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter UW to update the workspace
  • Enter the download url for this repository (https://github.com/Ich73/DQM2-FanTranslation/archive/master.zip)
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished

Editing Files

The content of the folders is as follows:

• Banner contains the logo that is shown on the top screen in the 3DS home menu (see Editing the Banner)
• Code contains the code of the game (see Editing the Code and Code Modifications)
• Event contains .e files storing the cutscene and dialog texts that can be edited using BinJ Editor (see Editing .e Files and Event Files)
• Font contains the .bcfnt fonts that are used in game (see Editing .bcfnt Files)
• Layout contains .arc archives storing .bclim images for icons, pictures, frames, etc. (see Editing .arc Files)
• Message contains .binJ files storing texts that can be edited using BinJ Editor (see Editing .binJ Files and Message Files)
• NaviMap contains .arc archives storing .bclim images for icons, pictures, frames, etc. (see Editing .arc Files)

Game Patching

This is done by using two scripts from the Translation Toolkit.

Distribute

First you need to distribute the correct files.

• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter D to distribute
  • Enter the language you want to patch (e.g. EN or DE,EN)
  • Enter the version of the game you want to play (v1.0 or v1.1)
  • Enter the destination folder (e.g. _dist_v1.0_EN or _dist_v1.1_DE_EN)
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished

Send

3DS

Then you need to send those files to the 3DS using FTP.

• Boot the 3DS
  • Start your FTP application
• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter S to send
    • If you want to force overriding all files enter S -f instead
  • Enter the folder from the D script (e.g. _dist_v1.0_EN)
  • Enter 00040000000cf500 (the title ID)
  • Enter the IP of your 3DS for the FTP connection. FTPD displays it on the top screen (e.g. [192.168.1.1]:5000).
  • Enter the Port for the FTP connection. FTPD displays it on the top screen (e.g. [192.168.1.1]:5000).
  • Enter the username for the FTP connection. In FTPD you can configure this in the settings by opening the Menu (Y) and selecting Settings.
  • Enter the password for the FTP connection. This value can be configured the same way as the username can.
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished

Citra

Then you need to send those files to Citra.

• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter SC to send to Citra
    • If you want to force overriding all files enter SC -f instead
  • Enter the folder from the D script (e.g. _dist_v1.0_EN)
  • Enter 00040000000cf500 (the title ID)
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished

You can now start the game with the patched files.

Contributing

The best way to contribute is by sending me the patches for modified files directly so I can look over them and upload them to the repository afterwards.

Use the Translation Toolkit to create all needed patches for your commit.

• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter CP to create all patches
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process finishes

Now all patches were created and you can send them to me OR commit the changes and create a pull request.

Releasing Patches

Note: This step is only required if you want to create patches like I do for the releases.

Prepare CIA Folder

This step has to be done once for every language and version you want do create patches for.

• Create a new CIA folder (e.g. cia-game-<LANG> or cia-update-<LANG>, e.g. cia-game-EN)
• If you created the folder for v1.0
  • Copy the contents from the original CIA folder to it (e.g. cia-game → cia-game-<LANG>)
• If you created the folder for v1.1
  • Copy the contents from the update CIA folder to it (e.g. cia-update → cia-update-<LANG>)

Create Patches

Repeat this step for every language and version you want to create patches for.

• Go to your translation folder (e.g. DQM2-Translation)
• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter RP to release patches
  • Enter the desired language (e.g. EN or DE,EN)
  • Enter the desired version (v1.0 or v1.1)
  • Enter the name of your patch CIA folder (e.g. cia-game-<LANG> or cia-update-<LANG>)
  • Press Enter to use the default patches file (_release\Patches-<VERSION>-<LANG>.zip)
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished
• The patches are saved to _release\Patches-<VERSION>-<LANG>.zip

Rebuild CIA

After using the RP script you can optionally use the RG script to rebuild a patched .cia file.

• Go to your translation folder (e.g. DQM2-Translation)
• Run TranslationToolkit.exe
  • Enter RG to rebuild the game
  • Enter the name of your patch CIA folder (e.g. cia-game-<LANG> or cia-update-<LANG>)
  • Enter a name for the patched .cia file (e.g. DQM2-<LANG>.cia or DQM2-Update-<LANG>.cia)
  • Enter the version for the .cia file (e.g. v1.0.0 for the game or v1.2.0 for the update)
  • Enter y to start the script
  • Wait until the process is finished

Editing

• Editing the Banner
• Editing the Code
• Editing .e Files
• Editing .bcfnt Files
• Editing .arc Files
• Editing .binJ Files

Details

• Code Modifications
• Event Files
• Message Files

Faqs

• How do I use this!? Please consult the linked github wiki's above. You will need to educate yourself on how to apply a translation/patch to a 3DS game using either a modded 3ds or the emulator citra.
• Where do I get the game!? We listed some links below. Purchase a physical copy of the game, and then you can follow our tutorial on how to extract it, and modify your files.
• How do I get the v1.1 update!? 3DS are region locked. You will need a japanese 3DS or way to communicate with the japanese eShop from your 3DS. If you are using a USA region 3DS, when prompted to update, the update WILL NOT WORK (it won't even download). You can extract the update using a japanese 3DS (to a CIA file). Consult our wiki for further questions.
• Do I need version 1.0 or 1.1? The base game, of any 3ds game is v1.0. At the moment, this game has 1 official update (v1.1) that is required to go online with it. The version number of our patch has NOTHING to do with which version of the game you are using. HOWEVER, make sure you are using the right patch for the game version you are playing.
• Can I play online with this patch? Yep! As long as you have an official 3DS, you should have no problems, with it running on the latest firmware.
• Can I use my existing saves? Yes. But all monster names and character names will still be whatever you set them to be, in japanese when you originally played.
• What's the MD5 Hash for the v1.1 update? 760B11D9BEFDAE746AE1C076A01BA75C