A question, and an offer of assistance.

[Alyx]

Hiya! It's nice to meet you all, and I'm really glad to see that someone's translating Tales of Destiny 2. My question is whether the patch is intended to be an all-over translation of the game, or a translation of just the menus. I remember seeing a news post on your site once upon a time that said that it would be a full translation. But upon checking the forums I couldn't find any mention of dialogue translation, so I thought I'd better make sure.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not being impatient and posting to ask when a full script patch will be done so I can play the game in English. I'm just curious because if it's going to be a full patch, I'd like to help if I can. I've been learning Japanese on and off for the last four or five years, and I'm pretty comfortable with the language now. Unfortunately being comfortable with it carries the problem that I don't study very much anymore. Of course I play games and read manga in Japanese. But I find that such activities are fairly passive, and that I don't really actively think about the language doing them. I like translation because it really forces me to think about the mechanics of both the target language and the one I'm translating from.

Of course my Japanese is largely self-taught, and I understand completely if you already have a more qualified translator attached to the project. I don't want to try and butt in on the work of someone better than me. I also understand if you'd prefer for it to remain a community effort, as the menu translation currently seems to be. I think it's nice to have a group of people to share ideas and split hairs with. Especially with things that there's just no one correct way to translate, like the horrible seven kanji names of some of the skills. So by all means tell me my help isn't needed if it's not. I won't be offended or anything. Still, if I can help at all I'd like to.

[ForceCube]

My question is whether the patch is intended to be an all-over translation of the game, or a translation of just the menus.

An all-over translation. And only the menu translation is supposed to be a community effort.

Oh, and welcome to the forum. even if your offer for translating the main script is rejected, consider helping translate the menus to speed things up. It's been progressing at a disappointingly slow pace since the alpha patch release. >_>

[Alyx]

Ah, yes, I intended to help out with the menu translation at any rate. Menus are simple enough, and the only real challenge in the remaining files seems to be figuring out the order and relevance of some of the sentence fragments. I'm a little bit confused as to what exactly still needs to be translated, though. Is the file posted in the 'READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO HELP' thread up to date? And do I just post my translations in a thread here, as others have done?

Also, I'm sorry if I'm digging up an old topic here, and if the ToD2 translation just isn't really a priority at the moment. But the hacking work displayed in the screenshots is so pretty, and I thought I might as well volunteer and see if a translator was needed. By all means tell me to leave it alone if I'm being a bother by digging at it, though.

[Cless]

Yeah, it's intended to be a complete translation in the end. Although the complete translation was expected to take a long time, the goal was to also release a complete menu patch in the interim. But even that's coming along far more slowly than I'd like. The menu patch was opened up to the community because I couldn't find a dedicated translator willing to slog through it. I thought it would go a little quicker than it has.

Regarding the main dialogue translation, Kvar's working at a really slow pace. I don't know if he intends to complete it. He's done around 10-20% since I dumped the script two years ago. What's done really needs a proofread/accuracy check; it's very, very rough.

At any rate, more translators for the menu patch would definitely be very helpful, and I'm very open to signing on another translator to work on the main script.

Is the file posted in the 'READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO HELP' thread up to date? And do I just post my translations in a thread here, as others have done?

It's pretty much up to date aside from what's been posted to the threads on the forum since the date of the files. There hasn't been a ton of activity since it was posted, but I can update it again if you'd like.

[Lanyn]

Regarding the main dialogue translation, Kvar's working at a really slow pace. I don't know if he intends to complete it. He's done around 10-20% since I dumped the script two years ago. What's done really needs a proofread/accuracy check; it's very, very rough.

At any rate, more translators for the menu patch would definitely be very helpful, and I'm very open to signing on another translator to work on the main script.

Oh wow, I didn't realize that such a large part of the storyline still needed to be worked on...in any case, I'm almost done translating Rebirth (only 5 to 6 main videos left, WOOHOO!), so I might be able to lend a hand as well if you'd like. ^^

[Leiw]

... I'm almost done translating Rebirth (only 5 to 6 main videos left, WOOHOO!), so I might be able to lend a hand as well if you'd like. ^^

you translated Rebirth o_O?

[Datschge]

you translated Rebirth o_O?

Subtitled on youtube, it's well done (and quite an achievement considering how much it is).

[Cless]

Oh wow, I didn't realize that such a large part of the storyline still needed to be worked on...in any case, I'm almost done translating Rebirth (only 5 to 6 main videos left, WOOHOO!), so I might be able to lend a hand as well if you'd like. ^^

The more the merrier! It'd be absolutely awesome if we could put a big dent in ToD2's progress over the next year.

I can pass around the script files (along with Kvar's stuff) now if you two are ready.

[Alyx]

Neat. I'll do my best, then. I don't think my Japanese will be a problem, as the language used in Tales games isn't super high-level anyway. But since Lanyn wants to help too, please tell me if I end up getting in the way too much, and if my work isn't of the standard required. Again, though I want to help if I can, I don't want to be a burden on someone whose translation abilities are probably way better than mine.

As for the script files, by all means go ahead. I have horrible pre-Christmas exams coming up in the next couple of weeks. But after that I'm really quite free for a good six or seven months, so I'd definitely like to get as much of the script done in that period as possible. Currently I've finished up the battle text file, and I'm almost done working through the titles and title descriptions section of the really big one. To be honest, I prefer translating dialogue or something story-related. Running through big lists of plain old words and short phrases can be a little soul destroying. But it seems a waste to not finish up the menu stuff if you've already started it, and if you wanted to release a menu patch first. And there's not a huge amount left to go, so... I'll soldier on through this in the mean time.

Anyway, umm...thanks for letting me help. I'll try not to let you down.

[Lanyn]

The more the merrier! It'd be absolutely awesome if we could put a big dent in ToD2's progress over the next year.

I can pass around the script files (along with Kvar's stuff) now if you two are ready.

Great! I realistically won't be able to translate anything until the beginning of the year or so, but if that's okay with you, then go ahead and send it over. ^^

Neat. I'll do my best, then. I don't think my Japanese will be a problem, as the language used in Tales games isn't super high-level anyway. But since Lanyn wants to help too, please tell me if I end up getting in the way too much, and if my work isn't of the standard required. Again, though I want to help if I can, I don't want to be a burden on someone whose translation abilities are probably way better than mine.

Oh please, you won't be in my way at all. Besides, I'm hardly what you would call a "standard" anyway and the patch could certainly use as much help as it can get. 

[Kvar]

Hi, checking in.

As much as I'd like to be able to complete it. I've been going back to school, and am very busy. I'm doing what I can, but school is alot of work. If the community wants to help with the main script, I'd say go ahead. I'll do what I can, but if I'm the the only translator, don't expect this to be done anytime soon.

[JimmyCane]

Wow, a lot has been discussed in the past couple of days.

More translators for the effort, maybe 2?

This is awesome. I hope you guys are true to your words, because that would kick a substantial amount of ass.

Playing this game would fulfill every gaming dream I've ever had. ToD is my favorite game, so I've been pretty excited for this. Good luck to you guys, and thanks a lot.

[Alyx]

Oh please, you won't be in my way at all. Besides, I'm hardly what you would call a "standard" anyway and the patch could certainly use as much help as it can get. 

If you're sure I won't be a problem, then. Just make sure and tell me if I end up being more trouble than I'm worth, though. I haven't watched any of your videos, and I'm not really entitled to speak of your translation ability one way or the other. But translating and subtitling the whole of Tales of Rebirth on your own is no meagre feat. That alone is enough to make the idea of working with you a teeny bit daunting.

Wow, a lot has been discussed in the past couple of days.

More translators for the effort, maybe 2?

This is awesome. I hope you guys are true to your words, because that would kick a substantial amount of ass.

Playing this game would fulfill every gaming dream I've ever had. ToD is my favorite game, so I've been pretty excited for this. Good luck to you guys, and thanks a lot.

I can't promise to just snap my fingers and have everything done, but I definitely want to help with this project as long as my help is wanted. Tales of Destiny 2 is absolutely my favourite of the untranslated Tales games in terms of story and characters. Actually, it might be my favourite even including the ones that were localised. So I'm really happy to be able to help out with the translation.

Destiny 2 has a very different feel to the original for me. It's very much a sequel, of course, but it always struck me as being sweeter and softer somehow. It's not a matter of better and worse, of course. Just different. Still, it's a lovely game, and familiar faces and neat little references to the original abound. I'm sure you'll like.

[Denim]

lenyn you're are the man, I'm very thankful for  what you did in youtube, you helped me a lot with that videos; thanks,thanks,thanks. and cless where were you? in which part of the universe you were? you don't know about the incredible work lenyn did? let him in charge of the translations right now man and you'll see this project get through in a zip. once again leny THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Denim]

sorry!!!! it's lanyn. I knew that this name was kind of familiar. thanks god now this will be finished.

[pedrocasilva]

cheers guys, thanks for bringing new blood into this :3