data/claims/dragon-warrior-iii-history.yamlGame: Dragon Warrior III.
Famicom Hisshoubon's issue of 4 March 1988 reports Dragon Quest III's release day in Japan as 10 February 1988, with stock reaching shops around 4 p.m.; Nintendo's 2009 interview page dates the Famicom game to February 1988, and Famitsu's 2014 Chunsoft chronology lists its release, published by Enix, in February 1988. dragon-warrior-iii-history/release-japan
p. 8, INFORMATION, 「DQIII」発売日を追う — ours: (Dragon Quest III's release day is) 10 February. Even so, it actually reaches the shops at about 4 p.m.; the sentence opens 「ドラクエIII」の発売日は, which the OCR reads as 「ドラクエIIの発売日は2月10日。といっても、実際に店頭に到着するのは午後4時社長が訊く『ドラゴンクエストIX 星空の守り人』 Vol.1: 20年以上も前の出会い (Iwata Asks: Dragon Quest IX, vol. 1) · footnote 4 — ours: an RPG released as Famicom software in February 1988１９８８年２月、ファミコン用ソフトとして発売されたＲＰＧ。すべては『ドアドア』から始まった――チュンソフト30周年のすべてを中村光一氏と振り返るロングインタビュー【前編】 (Chunsoft 30th anniversary interview with Koichi Nakamura, part 1) · chronology at the end of the interview — ours: Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... (Famicom) released (publisher: Enix); dated 1988年2月, February 1988, in Chunsoft's list of its main events『ドラゴンクエストIII そして伝説へ・・・』（FC）発売（発売元：エニックス）Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
Nintendo of America's list of NES games dates Dragon Warrior III's North American release to March 1992, with Enix as licensee. dragon-warrior-iii-history/release-north-america
PDF p. 4 — one row of the list's Title, Licensee, and Released columnsDragon Warrior III Enix March 1992No source pinned here gives the day.
Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
Famicom Hisshoubon reported in March 1988 that Enix had announced the game in August 1987 and given a December release; that a serious shortage hit the industry and makers one after another, unable to produce as planned, changed their schedules; and that Enix, holding preorders for 2 million copies, decided to put the release back to February rather than trouble its users. dragon-warrior-iii-history/delay
p. 8, INFORMATION, opening — ours: since the release announcement last August昨年8月の発売発表以来Famicom Hisshoubon no. 042, 4 March 1988 · p. 8, 「ドラゴンクエストIII」発売までの長き道のり — ours: at the notice of a December release, the fans (rejoiced)12月発売のお知らせにファンはFamicom Hisshoubon no. 042, 4 March 1988 · p. 8, 「ドラゴンクエストIII」発売までの長き道のり — ours: a serious (shortage) that struck the industry; the OCR reads the next words as 「かWC不足」, (…) shortage, and the words before as 「炎を過ぎ」, which we don't translate業界をおそった深刻Famicom Hisshoubon no. 042, 4 March 1988 · p. 8, 「ドラゴンクエストIII」発売までの長き道のり — ours: (makers) unable to produce as they wished, changing their schedules思うように生産できずスケジュールを変更するFamicom Hisshoubon no. 042, 4 March 1988 · p. 8, 「ドラゴンクエストIII」発売までの長き道のり — ours: (makers changing their schedules) appeared one after another. Enix, holding preorders for 2 million copies, …が続出。予約注文を200万本かかえたエニックスFamicom Hisshoubon no. 042, 4 March 1988 · p. 8, 「ドラゴンクエストIII」発売までの長き道のり — ours: (rather than) trouble its users, (it decided to) postpone the release to February; the OCR drops the particle に between 2月 and 延期ユーザーに迷惑をかける…発売を2月…延期Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
Famicom Hisshoubon reported that on release day, as on Dragon Quest II's the year before, long lines formed in front of toy shops, department stores, and mass retailers across Japan, some from the night before; its reporters found a dozen or more people already sitting in line at a Shinjuku shop on the previous night. It called Dragon Quest a social phenomenon. dragon-warrior-iii-history/launch-day
p. 8, INFORMATION, opening — ours: (as on last year's Dragon Quest II release day, with people who had stayed up all night, in front of toy shops, department stores, and) mass retailers (nationwide) long lines formed量販店の前には長い列ができた。Famicom Hisshoubon no. 042, 4 March 1988 · p. 8, 「買う」だけで一苦労 — ours: in front of (Sakuraya's Shinjuku West Exit shop), more than ten people had already formed a line; the reporters arrived on the night of the 9th前にはすでに十数人の人達が列を作ってFamicom Hisshoubon no. 042, 4 March 1988 · p. 8, 「買う」だけで一苦労 — ours: Dragon Quest is already a social phenomenon「ドラゴンクエスト」はすでに1つの社会現象だ。Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
Famicom Hisshoubon reported in March 1988 that the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education had urged guidance telling children not to skip school to buy Dragon Quest. dragon-warrior-iii-history/school
p. 8, 「買う」だけで一苦労 — ours: the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education urged guidance that (children) 'not take a day off school to go and buy Dragon Quest'東京都教育委員会が「学校を休んでドラゴンクエストを買いに行かないように」との指導を促したThe magazine reports the board's guidance; no source pinned here gives the board's own words or date.
Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
Famicom Hisshoubon gave the first day's shipments as an estimated 1 million copies, and reported that 2 million were said to be going on sale during February, the first day's included. dragon-warrior-iii-history/launch-shipments
p. 8, INFORMATION, opening — ours: the first day's shipments, 1 million copies (estimate)初日の出荷本数は100万本(推定)。Famicom Hisshoubon no. 042, 4 March 1988 · p. 8, 「ドラゴンクエストIII」発売までの長き道のり — ours: it is said that 2 million copies, the first day's million included, will go on sale during February初日の100万本を含め2月中には200万本が発売されるといわれている。Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
In 2009 Oricon reported Square Enix's published series table, which gives the Famicom Dragon Quest III's shipments as 3.8 million copies, with no as-of date. dragon-warrior-iii-history/shipments
reference table at the end of the article — ours: Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e (Famicom), 3.8 million; the table is headed 「歴代シリーズの出荷本数（同社発表）」, the series' shipments as the company announced them『ドラゴンクエストIII そして伝説へ』（FC）380万本The table gives no date for the count.
Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
Bob Mackey wrote for 1UP in 2007 that in 1989, after the release of "the blockbusting Dragon Quest III", Enix had not yet brought the series to the United States. dragon-warrior-iii-history/blockbuster
p. 2, Dragon Warriorafter the release of the blockbusting Dragon Quest III, the money-printing organization known as Enix had not yet exported their franchise to the United StatesCited by: Dragon Warrior III
Jeremy Parish's 1UP interview introduces Koichi Nakamura's company Chunsoft as having done the heavy lifting on the first five Dragon Quest games, and Nakamura said he did about 10 percent of Dragon Quest III's programming. Satoru Iwata recalled that Nakamura was in the middle of developing Dragon Quest III when Iwata took over the first game's program to localize it. dragon-warrior-iii-history/chunsoft
introductionwhose company Chun Soft did the heavy lifting for the first five Dragon Quest gamesKoichi Nakamura Interview: On the Birth of the Console RPG · Nakamura on his role in the seriesfor Dragon Quest III, I did more like 10 percent of the programming社長が訊く『ドラゴンクエストIX 星空の守り人』 Vol.1: 20年以上も前の出会い (Iwata Asks: Dragon Quest IX, vol. 1) · section 1, Iwata — ours: at the time (Nakamura) was right in the middle of developing Dragon Quest III当時は『ドラゴンクエストＩＩＩ』（※4）の開発のまっただ中で・・・。Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
A caption in Famicom Hisshoubon's March 1988 report on the release says Akira Toriyama's character designs are also full of spirit. dragon-warrior-iii-history/toriyama
p. 8, caption — ours: Akira Toriyama's character designs too (are full of spirit); the caption goes on 「気合がはいってる」, which the OCR reads with stray marks鳥山明のキャラデザインもCited by: Dragon Warrior III
The manual of the Super Famicom remake credits scenario and game design to Yuji Horii, character design to Akira Toriyama, music to Koichi Sugiyama, and the main program to Manabu Yamana. dragon-warrior-iii-history/sfc-credits
p. 3, contents, staff — ours: scenario and game design, Yuji Horii; character design, Akira Toriyama. The OCR misreads the names as 堀4雄二 and 滅山明.シナリオ&ゲームデザイン：堀井雄二■キャラクターデザイン：鳥山明Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Super Famicom manual · p. 3, contents, staff — ours: music, Koichi Sugiyama; main program, Manabu Yamana■音楽：すぎやまこういち■メインプログラム：山名学These are the remake's credits. The Famicom manual has no staff list, and no 1988 credit list is pinned here.
Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
In the Famicom manual the player is the young hero of Aliahan, and in the North American handbook the King of Aliahan names the Archfiend Baramos as the enemy and sends the hero out. dragon-warrior-iii-history/story
「まずやるべきことは!?」, getting started — ours: you are the young hero of Aliahanあなたはアリアハンの若き勇者。Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 5, Go to See the King"Thy enemy shall be the Archfiend Baramos," says the King.Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
Both manuals have the hero gather up to three companions at a tavern in Aliahan (Luida's in the Famicom manual, Luisa's Place in the North American handbook), where companions can be added and left behind; three are ready-made, and more can be created and registered upstairs, up to 11 in the handbook. A companion left at the tavern keeps their level and items. dragon-warrior-iii-history/party
p. 15, ルイーダの店 — ours: the tavern for meeting and parting with companions; choose companions and take them out on the adventure仲間との出会いと別れの酒場です。仲間を選んで、冒険につれ出すDragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · 「まずやるべきことは!?」, getting started — ours: you can take three companions仲間にできるのは3人でDragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · p. 15, 冒険者の登録所 — ours: on the second floor of Luida's tavern is the adventurers' registryルイーダの店の2階に、冒険者の登録所があります。Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · pp. 56-58, column on companions and class change — ours: (call a companion back and they) rejoin with their level and items as they were when you partedレベルも持ち物も別れたときのままで、再び仲間にくわわってDragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 6, Recruit Your AlliesAt Luisa's Place, the eatery located in the northwest corner of the castle town of Aliahan, you can recruit up to three allies to help you in your quest.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 6, Recruit Your AlliesInitially three ready-made characters are available, but you can register characters of your own creation.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 6, Recruit Your AlliesYou can register up to 11 characters.Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
The manuals describe the hero, who fights well, casts spells, and has some spells of their own, and seven classes for companions: the Soldier (Warrior in the Famicom manual), a fighting specialist with no spells; the Pilgrim (Priest), who heals and revives; the Wizard, a specialist in attack spells; the Fighter (Martial artist), quick, who fights best bare-handed and lands more tremendous hits as their level rises; the Merchant, who earns more gold and can appraise items; the Goof-off (Jester), useless and more so with each level; and the Sage, who learns both the Pilgrim's and the Wizard's spells but can't be chosen at the start. dragon-warrior-iii-history/classes
p. 19, 職業のせつめい — ours: the hero of the story, that is, you物語の主人公、つまりあなたです。Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · p. 19, 職業のせつめい — ours: (the Warrior is) a fighting specialist; though unable to use spells戦いの専門家です。呪文は使えませんがDragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · p. 19, 職業のせつめい — ours: (the Priest) can heal companions' wounds and bring them back to life with spells呪文で、仲間の傷をなおしたり、生き返らせたりできます。Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · p. 19, 職業のせつめい — ours: (the Wizard is) a specialist in attack spells攻撃系の呪文の専門家です。Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · p. 20, 職業のせつめい — ours: (the Martial artist) is also likely to land a critical hit「会心の一撃!」も、出る確率が高いのです。Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · p. 20, 職業のせつめい — ours: (with a Merchant along, you can) get more gold after defeating enemies敵を倒したあとにより多くのゴールドを手に入れることDragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · p. 20, 職業のせつめい — ours: (as the Jester's level rises, they) become ever more uselessますます役に立たなくなります。Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · p. 20, 職業のせつめい — ours: (the Sage) learns the spells of both (the Wizard and the Priest)両方の呪文を覚えていきますDragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · p. 20, 職業のせつめい — ours: no one can be a Sage at first最初は賢者になることができません。Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 7, Class DescriptionSome of the spells which you learn will be exclusive to you.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 7, Class DescriptionHe/she is not too agile, though, and cannot cast any spell.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 7, Class Descriptionthe Fighter possesses a lean, strong body and excellent AGILITY.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 7, Class DescriptionAs the level increases, his/her chance of delivering a "tremendous hit" grows. Being a master of martial arts, he/she can best fight bare-handed.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 7, Class DescriptionA Merchant is skillful at finding the most Gold pieces. He/she also possesses the exclusive ability to appraise items.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 7, Class DescriptionWithout exaggeration, a useless living-being to take along in your quest.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 7, Class DescriptionThe only way to become a Sage is to gain enough Experience Points and have a necessary class change.Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
Both manuals describe changing class. In the North American handbook a character of level 20 or more can change by entering a shrine and seeing the man in the middle, starting again at level 1 with strength, agility, and intelligence halved, losing a talent such as the Merchant's appraisal but keeping every spell learned. The Famicom manual puts the change at a place somewhere in the world, and its example is a level-30 Wizard who becomes a Warrior able to cast spells. dragon-warrior-iii-history/class-change
p. 48, Change Class if You LikeAnyone who has reached level 20 can have a class change.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 48, Change Class if You LikeTo do so, enter the shrine and see the man in the middle.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 48, Change Class if You Likewill be halved and the level begins at 1 again.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 48, Change Class if You LikeThe spells learned prior to a Class Change will not be forgotten, but the special talent, such as Merchant's appraisal ability, will be lost.Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · pp. 56-58, column on companions and class change, 転職について — ours: somewhere in the world; the OCR garbles the rest of the line, which names the place世界のどこかに、Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · pp. 56-58, column on companions and class change, 転職について — ours: going there, class change [is possible]そこにいけば転職Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · pp. 56-58, column on companions and class change, 転職について — ours: for example, a level-30 [Wizard]; the OCR reads the next words as 麻法使いが戦士に転職すれば、レベル | の戦士となります, the 1 read as a barたとえば、レベル30のDragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · pp. 56-58, column on companions and class change, 転職について — ours: a Warrior who can also use magic is born魔法も使える戦士が誕生します。Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · pp. 56-58, column on companions and class change, 転職について — ours: every spell learned as a Wizard can still be used after becoming a Warrior魔法使いだった頃覚えた呪文は、戦士になってからも、すべて使えます。Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
The North American handbook says time passes while the party moves in the field; some people appear only by day or only by night, most castles turn visitors away and most stores close at night, and monsters come more often at night. A night at an inn brings morning, and the spell Day-Night swaps day and night. dragon-warrior-iii-history/day-night
p. 17, Day and Nightyou may find certain people only during the day and others only during the night.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 17, Day and NightOnly while moving in the field, will time pass.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 17, Day and NightAt most castles, guards will stop you from entering if you visit at night.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 17, Day and NightMost stores close at nightDragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 17, Day and NightThe chance of encountering enemies increases at night.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 17, Day and NightChanting this magic spell will turn day into night and night into day.Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · p. 17, 宿屋 — ours: inns are open at night too, and a stay brings morning宿屋は夜も営業しており、泊まると朝になります。Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
The Famicom manual gives the cartridge three adventure logs, so that three people can play at once, and suggests copying one to another before a class change, which can't be undone, as the North American handbook also advises; the North American handbook saves the game when the player visits a king or another keeper of the Imperial Scrolls of Honor. dragon-warrior-iii-history/saving
p. 7, start menu — ours: so that (three people) can play at the same time, three adventure logs are provided同時にゲームを進めることができるように、冒険の書は3つ用意されています。Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom manual · p. 7, start menu — ours: for example, after a class change you can never return to the state before it (so save a copy then)たとえば、転職をすると2度とその前の状態にもどれないのでDragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 48, Change Class if You LikeMake a copy of your current Adventure Log before attempting a class changeDragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · front matter, Saving the GameYou can save your game by visiting any one of the Kings and/or other characters who have access to the Imperial Scrolls of Honor.Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
In the North American handbook's walkthrough, after Baramos the hero jumps through a hole in the floor of the Great Pit of Giaga into the World of Darkness, and the itinerary that follows includes Tantegel, Kol, Hauksness, Cantlin, and Rimuldar. dragon-warrior-iii-history/world-of-darkness
p. 66, The World of DarknessRemembering the Great Pit of Giaga near the castle of Baramos, you visit it again.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 66, The World of DarknessThere is a hole in the floor now. Being suspicious, you jump into it and enter.Dragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 21, Section II contentsTantegelDragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 21, Section II contentsThe Village of KolDragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 21, Section II contentsThe Town of HauksnessDragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 21, Section II contentsThe Town of CantlinDragon Warrior III Explorer's Handbook (NES) · p. 21, Section II contentsThe Town of RimuldarCited by: Dragon Warrior III
Nintendo's 2009 interview page calls Alefgard a region that appears in the first three Dragon Quest games and the main stage of the legend of Loto. dragon-warrior-iii-history/alefgard
footnote 7 — ours: Alefgard: the name of a region that appears in Dragon Quest I, II, and III; also the main stage of the legend of Lotoアレフガルド＝『ドラゴンクエスト』シリーズのＩ・ＩＩ・ＩＩＩに登場した地方の名称。ロト伝説の主な舞台でもある。Cited by: Dragon Warrior III
Nintendo's 2009 interview page says remakes of Dragon Quest III were released for the Super Famicom and the Game Boy Color. dragon-warrior-iii-history/remakes
footnote 4 — ours: remakes were also released for the Super Famicom and Game Boy Colorスーパーファミコン、ゲームボーイカラーでもリメイク版が発売された。Cited by: Dragon Warrior III