First of all, thank you very much for this translation. I know I haven't been waiting as long as most people but it doesn't mean my gratitude is any lesser.
Secondly, I doubt it but I would still love to know but is this the english patch for the Memorial Edition or does it only cover the normal game? I am not too sure of how it works exactly so forgive my ignorance.
Finally, considering the endings
I absolutely loved the game. I was really sad when I saw Tomoya dying after all the trouble that they went through. The game served to reaffirm that Tomoyo is easily the best character of Clannad for what she did at the end. To be honest, I was quite depressed at the ending and that Tomoyo had to live such hardship even if she was able to overcome it. Having read the manga prior to playing the Visual Novel, I knew what to expect yet I couldn't refrain myself from feeling it. I loved the way the manga handled his death just like I loved how the Visual Novel did.
When I heard that the PS2 version and Memorial Edition had a happier ending where they live together, I was overjoyed and tried to see the ending in question. I couldn't find any even in Japanese. I am currently trying to download the Memorial Edition in hope that the patch will work.
As I went to bed yesterday, I started thinking about the ending and when I woke up this morning, I remembered what Tomoyo did with her computer. I remembered that she would be helping people online and that was proven also at the end. I also remembered that Tomoya was able to wish Nagisa back to life after helping multiple people. While by no mean official or anything, the way I interpreted the ending was that Tomoyo overcame Tomoya's loss and made out to help people on the Internet. Surely she would be able to gather enough happiness from those she helped to get enough light orbs to wish Tomoya back to life. At first, I though that the whole 3 years thing was absolutely unnecessary if Tomoya died in the end but now that I think about it after letting my emotions calm down a bit, I understand it was a vital experience for her as it made her a stronger person just like Tomoya became a stronger person after meeting her. I believe that my ending does not negate that strength she gained but instead made it so she finally gained the reward she deserved. Happiness.
Now that I finally finished both Nagisa/Ushio story and Tomoyo's. I can safely say that Tomoya becomes a better person in Tomoyo's and that they make a much better couple. Throughout the game, Tomoya is willing to sacrifice everything he has to make people happier around him. In the VN just like in the manga, before he dies, his only concern is not for himself but for the girl he loved as he is afraid of leaving her alone as he knows just how weak she can be.
Thanks for listening to me, now I'm off to try and find the Memorial Edition while crossing my fingers in hope that the English patch works.