International version

In video games, an international version is a relocalized version of a previously released title in its native territory that has gained additional features and contents in foreign releases. While the concept of "international versions" in North American, European, and Australian games is virtually non-existent, it is quite popular in Japanese games, where games are often given additional features by the developers when they are exported to the Western market.

A few, if not most, developers are content with simply adapting the foreign version domestically (even if the only difference is relatively superficial, such as translating text and voice dialogue into a local language).

History

The earliest known "International Version" of a game in Japan was the arcade title "Mikie: High School Graffiti" (released in 1984), which was a relocalized version of a game released in the "Mikie", which in turn was an Americanized version of a previously released Konami game titled .

Konami conducted a similar practice in 1987 with the rerelease of the arcade title "Salamander" in Japan under the title of "Life Force".

Examples of International versions of games originating in Japan

*"Animal Crossing" - re-released in Japan as "Dōbutsu no Mori e-Plus"
*"" - contained "USA Version mode" as a new difficulty setting.
*""
*"Final Fantasy VII International"
*"Final Fantasy X International"
*"Final Fantasy X-2 International + Last Mission"
*"Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System"
*""
*""
*"Life Force" - Arcade rerelease of "Salamander" using North American title.
*""
*""
*"" - Arcade rerelease of "Shinyûshain Tôru-kun" based on American version.
*""
*"US Shenmue"
*"Sonic Adventure International"
*"Super Mario USA"

*"De La Jet Set Radio"
*"Star Ocean 3: Till the end of time Directors cut"