I translate video games. Ask me anything!

[Bonobo]

[Skinner]

1. You mean... you translate the language?

What language?

[Bonobo]

3. Personally, Japanese to English

but the company does all languages.

[Ladyhawk]

11. I bet you do better than "All your base are belong to us" :D

[nickgutierrez]

16. Let's hope so.

:D

I've seen some bad translations, but there's no doubt in my mind; that one is the worst I've ever seen.

[Kellanved]

15. give the guys who do German a disapproving glance from me

I can not remember a single good translation.

[Huckebein the Raven]

2. What games have you done localization for ?

[Bonobo]

4. Metal Gear Solid 1, Silent Hill series, Dark Cloud 2, Shadow Hearts 2,

Arc the Lad, Fatal Frame and many more

[Huckebein the Raven]

6. Nice. MSG 1 is only one I've played in that list though

[Sin]

13. Woot

dang could you get me a copy of fatal frame:)can't find it any were only the second one.
+ playing arc the lad atm ( belbadora = verry cool char)
played silent 1 and 2 didnt get 3 and or 4 ( dont know if 4 is out yet) Dark Colud was sweet my gf is all most is up the the second ending but is hooked on sims 2 atm.
nice to meet ya:)

[NewHampshireDem]

5. For real, do all your bases are belong to us?

I mean, seriously ... I was wondering.

[Bonobo]

7. Yes, they is.

[NewHampshireDem]

8. Someone set us up the bomb!

:nuke:

[0rganism]

9. What was the hardest video game sentence you ever translated?

Besides "all your base are belong to us", of course.

[PittPoliSci]

10. Main screen turn on.

How are you gentlemen?

It's you.

You have no chance to survive make your time.

---

Tell me that's not your work? :-)

[DrWeird]

12. So it's your fault.

Just the written dialogue? Or do you have anything to do with the voice acting?

I once read about an actor taking a lot of grief for the horrible performances. They blamed the director. Who do you blame?

[7th_Sephiroth]

14. ADMIT IT, YOU TRANSLATED FINAL FANTASY 7

and can you send me a copy of metal gear solid? my disc broke :(

[NEOBuckeye]

17. Take Off Every Zig. Move Zig. For Great Justice.

:)

Seriously, though. What games have you translated?

[TroubleMan]

18. Don't forget the infamous "Get Lose" in Street Fighter II

nt.

[NuttyFluffers]

19. tanoshii degozaimasu ka?

kaisha mo ii degozaimasu ka ne?

[Chovexani]

20. Congratulation!

A winner is you. :toast:

Alex O. Smith is basically a god to me. He did the best damn localization I've ever seen in like 15+ years of playing video games (Vagrant Story). Seriously, he didn't just translate it, he actually improved the dialogue. I've seen a straight translation of the original game script and it's just dull and lifeless...Smith's use of colorful, almost Shakespearean dialogue really immerses you in the world and is one of the many reasons it's one of my favorite games ever. Of course, it also makes writing fanfic a huge pain in the ass, but that's a Blood-Sin I'm willing to bear. :P

Do you attempt to do as straight a translation as possible when you work on these localizations or do you feel free to take some license if it makes the dialogue sound better or more appropriate to the characters? I think the best translators strike a happy medium.

[7th_Sephiroth]

21. you mean the script was blander when originally translated?

no offense to our du er friend, but i felt like the game was incredibly bland compared to parasite EVE

[Chovexani]

22. Have you ever seen a direct translation of the VS script?

Duller than a box of rocks. I used to have a copy floating around but I've no clue where the CD I put it on is.

Really, it's like night and day. The Smith version manages to encapsulate the brooding, medieval atmosphere in a way the direct translation just can't. He really captured the essence of the characters, too--Sydney's moral ambiguity in particular is much more evident in the Smith version.

I know a lot of people hate Vagrant Story because of the complex weapon system and the flowery speech. But I love micromanagement in RPGs and I'm a Shakespeare dork so it was like the best of both worlds.

Parasite Eve? Fun, if flawed game, much more enjoyable if you turn your brain off and ignore the plot holes and the fantastical science. As a NYer I find that game requires a level of suspension of disbelief that is nearly insurmountable at times. I especially got a good laugh at how all three East River crossings looked exactly like the Brooklyn Bridge, and trains were going across it. :P

There was an anime based on the novel (remember how Maeda alludes to an "Eve" incident happening in Japan? that was the novel), but I haven't seen it yet.