Koppaite text
Throughout Pikmin 3, there are pieces of Koppaite text, or text written in the language of Koppai. The language is a symbol substitution cipher—characters in Koppaite can be mapped to Latin letters, and with that, a direct English message can be obtained.
Because most players do not know the cipher, sometimes the content of the text is secretive and special. For instance, on the area selection menu, when the player clicks an area, some mysterious text will appear on the top-left, with what appears to be comments from the developers. The information behind some texts does not seem to match up with reality, indicating that it was true in prerelease versions.
Character map[edit]
Each character in the Koppaite language can be mapped to one or two English letters. There are only characters for the 26 English letters plus an extra, unknown one. This unknown character only appears on the Mission Mode menu and Bingo Battle menu, and does not appear in Pikmin 3 Deluxe. While its meaning cannot be decided from the context alone, it's possible that it's some kind of placeholder character, considering the same symbol (〓) is used to indicate missing characters in Japanese.
These characters are obtained from the font file in the game's data.
By Koppaite symbol[edit]
Koppaite | Latin | Koppaite | Latin | Koppaite | Latin | ||
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A or F | B or J | C or O | |||||
D or Q | E | G | |||||
H | I or Y | K or Z | |||||
L | M or X | N | |||||
P | R or V | S | |||||
T | U | W | |||||
Unknown |
By Latin letter[edit]
Latin | Koppaite | Latin | Koppaite | Latin | Koppaite | ||
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A | B | C | |||||
D | E | F | |||||
G | H | I | |||||
J | K | L | |||||
M | N | O | |||||
P | Q | R | |||||
S | T | U | |||||
V | W | X | |||||
Y | Z | Unknown |
Instances of Koppaite text in Pikmin 3[edit]
The following is a list of instances in which Koppaite text appears in Pikmin 3, and their translations.
Instance | Image | Koppaite | English | Notes |
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Area selection menu – general |
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Area selection menu – Tropical Wilds selected |
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Top-left corner. | |
Area selection menu – Garden of Hope selected |
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Top-left corner. | |
Area selection menu – Distant Tundra selected |
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Top-left corner. | |
Area selection menu – Twilight River selected |
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Top-left corner. | |
Area selection menu – Formidable Oak selected |
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Top-left corner. The names of the Formidable Oak and The Final Trial – 哀しき獣の塔? (lit.: "Tower of the Wretched Beast") and 最後の試練? (lit.: "Final Trial") respectively – are not similar at all. This indicates that the Formidable Oak's name was different during development. It may only be a reference to the Pikmin area, however. | |
New area scan |
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Holographic control panels inside the S.S. Drake | (Unknown) | (Unknown) | Inside a ring shape to the right. The texture resolution is too small to decipher, though the last character is the unknown symbol. | |
Radar |
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Pause menu | Hokotate | Repeated several times, and segmented in most of them. "Hokotate" with a K is the standard romanization of ホコタテ?. | ||
Lock-on (Original Pikmin 3 only) | |
Space library lite Simple dictionary in the PIPAD Just has the names |
Bottom-right corner. "PPAD" is an early name for the KopPad, so "PIPAD" might be a romanization of it. | |
KopPad call initiating |
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GamePad screen during end of day cutscene |
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KopPad's background | |
Alf Britney[sic] Charlie |
The KopPad's background is partially visible during some transitions, like when entering the Exploration Notes screen. This pattern is also visible on the Mission Mode and Bingo Battle menus, but is much lower quality, as seen here. | |
Fruit analysis |
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Gear analysis | (Unknown) | Either "OPPT" or "CPPT". This appears at the top-right of the object, and the rest of the text matches the fruit analysis screen. The same label also appears for when Louie or a Burgeoning Spiderwort berry is being scanned. | ||
Bottles of juice |
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Juice shelf screen | Cold drink | |||
KopPad's frame | GPAD | "GPAD" is the Japanese name for the KopPad. | ||
KopPad's frame in prerelease versions | PPAD | |||
S.S. Drake exterior |
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SPERO's visor | |
Automatic Ultrascope |
This is impossible to see in-game, as the camera can never get close enough. This text is located on the visor-like object on the side of the ship. It is also a reference to a Nintendo toy called the Automatic Ultrascope. | |
Mission Mode menu and Bingo Battle menu | System start program for-Pikmin Three | Bottom-right corner. The unknown symbol has been replaced with a space in Pikmin 3 Deluxe. | ||
Saving screen | System | |||
Mission Mode platinum medals | Pikmin platinum |
Instances of Koppaite text in Pikmin 4[edit]
The following is a list of instances in which Koppaite text appears in Pikmin 4, and their translations. This list may be incomplete.
Instance | Image | Koppaite | English | Notes |
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Tablet loading |
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Rescue Corps logo | HTCU or HTOU | Below the Rescue Corps logo, as seen on the S.S. Beagle and on Rescue Corps spacesuits. The logo can also be found on the back of the S.S. Shepherd, as seen in later cutscenes. | ||
S.S. Shepherd | HTCUGN or HTOUGN | On the side of the S.S. Shepherd. | ||
Sparklium tutorial |
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Clay tutorial |
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Russ tutorial |
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Tablet background |
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Glow pellet tutorial |
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Night expedition tutorial |
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Tricknoll tutorial 1 |
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Tricknoll tutorial 2 |
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Instances of Koppaite handwriting in the Voyage Log[edit]
In Olimar's voyage log, there are a few entries that feature an illustration instead of a photo. These illustrations also have a few handwritten notes and labels, which appear to be a somewhat messy cursive version of the Koppaite alphabet. What follows is a possible translation of these handwritten notes. Please note that they may not be completely accurate. Cursive is often loose and hastily written with some degree of inconsistency, and the Koppaite letters are often simplified to be written faster.
To do: Translate the rest of the handwriting on entries #7, #36, and #69, and check entry #38 as it comes out unusually abbreviated. |
Instance | Image | Koppaite | English | Notes |
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#7 Pikmin Cap |
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#11 Leadership Quality | Crisis situation | Top left. | ||
#31 I Found Treasure |
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#32 Raw Materials |
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#36 Subterranean Time Warp |
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