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 mapEdit

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 symbolEdit

Koppaite Latin Koppaite Latin Koppaite 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 letterEdit

Latin Koppaite Latin Koppaite Latin Koppaite
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 3Edit

The following is a list of instances in which Koppaite text appears in Pikmin 3, and their translations.

Instance Image Koppaite English Notes
Area selection menu – general  
  1.                
  2.                  
  3.                            
  4.                                            
  5.                                
  1. Date food
  2. Land point
  3. Space ship Drake
  4. Designer of the space ship
  5. Alphs grandfather
  1. Top-right corner.
  2. For every area, this appears below it, and on the pop-up that appears when the Wii Remote's cursor is aimed at it.
  3. Bottom-left corner.
  4. Bottom-left corner.
  5. Bottom-left corner.
Area selection menuTropical Wilds selected  
  1.                          
  2.                                          
  3.                                          
  4.                                                
  1. Landing point A
  2. A hallowed forest jungle
  3. Clear water spring water
  4. A place with spiritual power
Top-left corner.
Area selection menuGarden of Hope selected  
  1.                          
  2.                                  
  3.                                      
  4.                                          
  1. Landing point B
  2. Spring garden ruins
  3. Where you find Britney[sic]
  4. And begin to feel hopeful
Top-left corner.
Area selection menuDistant Tundra selected  
  1.                          
  2.                                    
  3.                                                        
  4.                                      
  1. Landing point C
  2. Snow ruins light bulb
  3. Name patterned after The Distant
  4. Spring from Pikmin One
Top-left corner.
Area selection menuTwilight River selected  
  1.                          
  2.                            
  3.                                          
  4.                        
  1. Landing point D
  2. Melancholy feel
  3. Fall mountains and river
  4. Fallen leaves
Top-left corner.
Area selection menuFormidable Oak selected  
  1.                          
  2.              
  3.                                          
  4.                                              
  1. Landing point E
  2. Last map
  3. Name patterned after The
  4. 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 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  
  1.                              
  2.                                  
  3.                                            
  4.                  
  5.                          
  6.                
  1. New area scanning
  2. Database collation
  3. Downloading new map image
  4. Ennd point[sic]
  5. (Gibberish)
  6. Fruitnum
  1. Top-left corner.
  2. Top-left corner.
  3. Below every image.
  4. Below the X.
  5. Below the area's name. It is not a word, since it has 7 characters in a row that are mandatorily consonants; one possible transliteration is "Arsdgrgmarrde".
  6. 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  
  1.                    
  2.                    
  3.              
  4.                  
  5.          
  6.        
  7.                    
  8.          
  9.        
  10.              
  11.                    
  12.                  
  13.                      
  14.                                  
  1. Camera type
  2. Aimed North
  3. Compass
  4. Radar mode
  5. Pause
  6. Play
  7. Kokomadido[sic]
  8. Centi
  9. Mask
  10. Monitor
  11. Life signal
  12. State good
  13. Planet Earth
  14. Atmosphere regular
  1. Next to the compass button.
  2. Next to the compass button (North orientation).
  3. Next to the compass button (camera orientation).
  4. Next to the pause button.
  5. Next to the pause button (gameplay paused).
  6. Next to the pause button (gameplay going).
  7. Go Here! button. From ここまで移動? (lit.: "Move here").
  8. Next to the slider at the left.
  9. Top-left of the central frame.
  10. Bottom-right of the central frame.
  11. Bottom-left corner.
  12. Bottom-left corner.
  13. Bottom-right corner.
  14. Bottom-right corner.
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  
  1.                
  2.                                      
  3.                                        
  4.                    
  5.                
  6.              
  7.                                      
  8.                                
  1. To Koppai
  2. Receive signal player
  3. Transmit signal player
  4. Connecting
  5. Transmit
  6. Receive
  7. GPAD in communication
  8. Device for the crew
  1. Top-right corner, below "PNF-404".
  2. Top-left of the left icon.
  3. Bottom-right of the right icon.
  4. Between the two icons.
  5. Below the caller's icon.
  6. Below the receiver's icon.
  7. Bottom-left corner; GPAD is the Japanese name for the KopPad.
  8. Bottom-left corner.
GamePad screen during end of day cutscene  
  1.                
  2.                  
  3.                                      
  4.                                
  1. To Koppai
  2. Login crew
  3. GPAD in communcation
  4. Device for the crew
  1. Top-right corner, below "PNF-404".
  2. Below icon.
  3. Bottom-left corner; GPAD is the Japanese name for the KopPad.
  4. 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  
  1.            
  2.        
  3.      
  1. Koppai
  2. Food
  3. Cat
  1. Top center.
  2. Top-right of the scan reticle.
  3. Bottom-left of the scan reticle, below a cat-like icon.
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  
  1.    
  2.                
  1. FJ
  2. Survival
  1. Text on the glass; possibly short for "fruit juice".
  2. 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  
  1.      
  2.      
  3.       3
  4.     -    
  5.          
  6.        
  7.          
  8.            
  9.          
  10.              
  11.            
  1. WIU
  2. CAT
  3. PKM 3
  4. (Unknown)
  5. Space
  6. Ship
  7. ANTEN
  8. PROJCT
  9. CLOSE
  10. CAUTION
  11. DANGER
  1. Top half, in orange; probably a reference to the Wii U.
  2. Top half, in orange, below cat symbol.
  3. Top half, in orange; short for Pikmin 3.
  4. Below #1; possible decryptions are "NI - NB", "NY - NB", "NI - NJ", "NY - NJ".
  5. Top half, in gray.
  6. Top half, in gray.
  7. Near the top; short for "antenna".
  8. Bottom half, next to beam.
  9. Bottom half.
  10. Bottom half.
  11. 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 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 4Edit

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
Tablet loading  
  1.  
  2.            
  1. N
  2. System
  1. Center.
  2. Immediately below the center.
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  
  1.                
  2.                                                  
  3.                  
  4.                                                                                
  5.                    
  1. Treasure
  2. Zoom in on this glowing object
  3. Sparklium
  4. Sparklium can be converted into spaceship fuel
  5. SS Shepherd[sic]
  1. Far left, under the Sunseed Berry.
  2. Lower left.
  3. Center.
  4. Lower right.
  5. Far right, under the ship.
Clay tutorial  
  1.                      
  2.                
  3.        
  4.          
  1. Raw material
  2. SS Beagle[sic]
  3. Cray[sic]
  4. Build
  1. Below the raw material icon.
  2. Next to the S.S. Beagle.
  3. Next to the clay icon.
  4. Below the bridge illustration.
Russ tutorial  
  1.                      
  2.                                                          
  3.                  
  1. Raw material
  2. Super genius scientist Dr Russell
  3. Gear tools
  1. Top left.
  2. Lower left.
  3. Lower right.
Tablet background  
  1.                      
  2.              
  3.                      
  4.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
  5.                    
  6.                      
  7.                                                                                
  1. Originality
  2. Honesty
  3. Flexibility
  4. I had no way of returning home to my beloved family I thought I was doomed until I encountered a strange species which I named Pikmin
  5. Hocotatian
  6. Investigate
  7. This is Captain Olimar Im currently stranded on
  1. Top left above the hexagons.
  2. Upper middle, along the side of a hexagon.
  3. Center, under the hexagon.
  4. Lower left, in the brackets. Comparable to Olimar's opening narration.
  5. Lower middle large text, with a line pointing to the planet icon. The paragraph below it as well as the very long text box above it is all gibberish.
  6. Lower right, with a line pointing to the planet icon.
  7. Along the very bottom of the screen. Matches the beginning of Olimar's voyage log entry 80, "SOS!", sans punctuation. The rest of the message can be seen when there is no bar to show controls, such as when first finding a Voyage Log about a cave.
Glow pellet tutorial  
  1.                      
  2.          
  3.                                  
  1. Glow pellets
  2. Carry
  3. Glow Pikmin are born
  1. Above the glow pellets on the lower left.
  2. Lower center below the Glow Pikmin.
  3. Upper middle with a line pointing to the Lumiknoll.
Night expedition tutorial  
  1.                
  2.                                                          
  1. Till dawn
  2. Defend the Lumiknoll from enemies
  1. Upper left, next to the clock.
  2. Upper right, with a line pointing to the Lumiknoll.
Tricknoll tutorial 1  
  1.                  
  2.                  
  1. Tricknoll
  2. Lumiknoll
  1. Left.
  2. Right.
Tricknoll tutorial 2  
  1.                  
  2.                  
  1. Lumiknoll
  2. Tricknoll
  1. Left.
  2. Center.

Instances of Koppaite handwriting in the Voyage LogEdit

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.
Care to do so?

Instance Image Koppaite English Notes
#7 Pikmin Cap  
  1.          
  2. (unknown)
  1. Onion
  2. (unknown)
  1. Top, next to the Onion.
  2. Bottom left, below the arrow.
#11 Leadership Quality                                 Crisis situation Top left.
#31 I Found Treasure  
  1.                                  
  2.                                  
  3.                      
  4.                  
  5.               (      )
  6.                       (arrow)        
  1. Sunseed Berry berry
  2. Rubber good looking
  3. Chance Totem
  4. Spar klium
  5. Dispers(ion)
  6. Compression (arrow) Fuel
  1. Top left.
  2. Top right.
  3. Bottom right.
  4. Bottom left, above the sparkle icon.
  5. Bottom left, upper part of the bracket.
  6. Bottom left, lower part of the bracket.
#32 Raw Materials  
  1.                  
  2.                              
  3.        
  4.                
  5.                              
  1. Materials
  2. Melts when heated
  3. Clay
  4. Building
  5. Some useful tools
  1. Top left.
  2. In the middle, next to the solid arrow.
  3. Bottom center.
  4. Middle right, next to the dotted arrow.
  5. Top right.
#36 Subterranean Time Warp  
  1.                                    
  2.              
  3.                                             ????
  4.            
  1. Gravity effect maybe
  2. Gravity
  3. Special relativity somet????
  4. Escape
  1. Top middle, above the yellow arrow.
  2. Far left, above the cone.
  3. Lower left, next to the cone. There are also three letters or so along the side of the cone, but they're too small to read.
  4. Top right, above the blue arrow.
#37 Sunset Approaches  
  1.                                      
  2.                                                            
  1. Red eyes nocturnality
  2. Place everyone in a circle by sunset
  1. Top left, pointing to the Bulborb.
  2. Bottom right, pointing to the circle projected by the Onion.
#38 The Creatures Are Back  
  1.                  
  2.                                                                       ,                      
  3.                         ...                            
  1. Completed
  2. After completi the investigat on the cave, they imigrat[sic]
  3. Big creatures... small creatures
  1. Left, next to the yellow check mark
  2. Top middle, preceded by a light blue checkmark. The longer words appear cut off in an unusual manner, unlike the writing on any of the other entries.
  3. Lower right. Both phrases are followed by an unrecognized symbol.
#65 Sunsets                                                

            ...

Memories of me and my family

One day...

#66 Bad Dreams                                                 . A dream that shouldnt exist.
#67 Happy Holidays  
  1.                                
  2.                      
  3.          
  1. Pikpik carrot soup
  2. Potato salad
  3. Bread
  1. Far left.
  2. Upper right.
  3. Lower right.
#68 She's Growing Up                                               My daughter is really cute
#69 For My Son Someday   (unknown) (unknown)

TriviaEdit

  • The internal game file that holds the font used for Koppaite text is called Hokotate_00.bffnt.
  • The use of this alphabet in Pikmin 4 indicates that this language is not exclusive to Koppai.

See alsoEdit


 

This article was a featured article from June 1st, 2016 to August 1st, 2016.