Fans of Final Fantasy Type-0 are petitioning video game developer Square Enix to translate, localise and release the game for a western audience.

Using social media platforms Twitter and Facebook, fans have launched the campaign Operation Suzaku to encourage the makers to release it outside Japan. So far, the petition has the backing of tens of thousands of gamers.

The creator of the petition uses the moniker Khalia Chival V, which is the name of a supporting character in the Final Fantasy series. They explain that Square Enix announced six years ago its intention to create one common platform in order to build a games saga under a single banner, which it would name Fabula Nova Crystallis. The titles of this series were Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy Versus XIII and Final Fantasy Agito XIII.

However, in 2008 Square Enix revealed Agito XIII would be released as a PlayStation Portable (PSP) game and in 2011 the game underwent a name change to Final Fantasy Type-0 ahead of its release. Yet this release still remains limited to the east and there has yet to be any news about it being localised for a western audience.

To convince Square Enix to translate and release the game, a petition has been launched in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese. Fans are also being asked to contact the game maker to request information on its plans to localise Final Fantasy Type-0, and to share the petition with others in order to increase awareness. According to Chival, similar campaigns have worked in the past, such as Xenoblade and The Last Story.

This isn’t the only case of fans petitioning to have their favourite games localised for the place where they live. In April, we reported how translator Clyde Mandelin had offered to translate Japanese game Mother 3 for free if Nintendo released it in the west. He acknowledged the localisation of games costs a lot, which was why he was willing to donate his translation in return for the game’s release.

Localising a video game involves far more than just linguistics. Cultural references, characterisation, restrictions and specifications all need to be altered to ensure they are suited to the target market.

The Final Fantasy Type-0 petition was launched in October 2012 and the aim is to secure 25,000 signatures. It remains to be seen whether the campaign will succeed.

Image credit: animaster