Koppaite text

Throughout Pikmin 3, there are pieces of Koppaite text, or text written in the language of Koppai. The language used consists of unique symbols which, together, form words. A parallel between it and the English language can easily be made, given that characters in Koppaite can be mapped to Latin letters, and with that, a direct English message can be obtained. Although largely original, the characters used in the language are similar to Latin characters, but with some changes.

Because the text behind this language cannot be easily deciphered by players who do not know the cipher, sometimes its contents are 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

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 and Bingo Battle menus, 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

Latin	Latin	Latin
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

Latin	Latin	Latin
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

List of Koppaite text

The following is a list of instances in which Koppaite text appears, and their translations.

Instance	Koppaite	English	Notes
Area selection menu – general		Date food Land point Space ship Drake Designer of the space ship Alph's grandfather	Top-right corner. For every area, this appears below it, and on the pop-up that appears when the Wii Remote's cursor is aimed at it. Bottom-left corner. Bottom-left corner. Bottom-left corner.
Area selection menu – Tropical Wilds selected		Landing point A A hallowed forest jungle Clear water spring water A place with spiritual power	Top-left corner.
Area selection menu – Garden of Hope selected		Landing point B Spring garden ruins Where you find Britney^[sic] And begin to feel hopeful	Top-left corner.
Area selection menu – Distant Tundra selected		Landing point C Snow ruins light bulb Name patterned after The Distant Spring from Pikmin One	Top-left corner.
Area selection menu – Twilight River selected		Landing point D Melancholy feel Fall mountains and river Fallen leaves	Top-left corner.
Area selection menu – Formidable Oak selected		Landing point E Last map Name patterned after The Final Trial from Pikmin One	Top-left corner. The names of the Formidable Oak and The Final Trial – 哀しき獣の塔^? (lit.: "Tower of the Sorrowful 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		New area scanning Database collation Downloading new map image Ennd point^[sic] (Gibberish) Fruitnum	Top-left corner. Top-left corner. Below every image. Below the X. Below the area's name. It is not a word, since it has 7 characters in a row that are mandatorily consonants. The graph behind the area's name.
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		Camera type Aimed North Compass Radar mode Pause Play KOKOMADIDO^[sic] Centi Mask Monitor Life signal State good Planet Earth Atmosphere regular	Next to the compass button. Next to the compass button (North orientation). Next to the compass button (camera orientation). Next to the pause button. Next to the pause button (gameplay paused). Next to the pause button (gameplay going). Go Here! button. From ここまで移動^? (lit.: "Move here"). Next to the slider at the left. Top-left of the central frame. Bottom-right of the central frame. Bottom-left corner. Bottom-left corner. Bottom-right corner. Bottom-right corner.
Pause menu		Hokotate	Repeated several times, and segmented in most of them. It's spelled with a K because it's the Romanization of ホコタテ^?.
Lock-on		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		To Koppai Receive signal player Transmit signal player Connecting Transmit Receive GPAD in communication Device for the crew	Top-right corner, below "PNF-404". Top-left of the left icon. Bottom-right of the right icon. Between the two icons. Below the caller's icon. Below the receiver's icon. Bottom-left corner; GPAD is the Japanese name for the KopPad. Bottom-left corner.
GamePad screen during end of day cutscene		To Koppai Login crew GPAD in communcation Device for the crew	Top-right corner, below "PNF-404". Below icon. Bottom-left corner; GPAD is the Japanese name for the KopPad. Bottom-left corner.
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		Koppai Food Cat	Top center. Top-right of the scan reticle. Bottom-left of the scan reticle.
Upgrade 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		FJ Survival	Text on the glass; possibly short for "fruit juice". Text on the plastic.
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	3 -	WIU CAT PKM 3 (Unknown) Space Ship ANTEN PROJCT CLOSE CAUTION DANGER	Top half, in orange; probably a reference to the Wii U. Top half, in orange, below cat symbol. Top half, in orange; short for Pikmin 3. Below #1; possible decryptions are "NI - NB", "NY - NB", "NI - NJ", "NY - NJ". Top half, in gray. Top half, in gray. Near the top; short for "antenna". Bottom half, next to beam. Bottom half. Bottom half. Bottom half.
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 and Bingo Battle screens		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