Now that ToP Is Translated What Games Next?

[flashfactor7]

Well since the translation for the PSX version of ToP has been fully translated :D:D:D:D!! (http://zettaizero.wordpress.com/posts/)
I was wondering if theres any other projects that will be going on in the future?

[Yetika]

We continue with our own translation, of course.

[Cless]

We continue with our own translation, of course.

And after that, ToD2 goes into full swing. If I don't end up taking a nice, much-needed break when ToP is done, that is...

[flashfactor7]

Sounds good. So what is being done differently with your translation of ToP from absolute Zero's?

I'll be looking forward to you guys translation as well as I've been with this site for a few years myself, even if I never did join the forums before (though I think I did but forgot my username ). Also I'll be waiting for your release of ToD2's translation. Thats another game I'd like to play in English.

Well, good luck with all of you guys projects and I cant wait to see the finished translation.

[Bobby Rays]

I waited all the years for your translation, so I am patient instead of getting the one from absolute zero  . The same goes for Der Langrisser ... took many years for a complete translation.

Btw if you are finished with this, how about the Langrisser games? 3,4 and 5 aren't translated afaik.

[Gemini]

Sounds good. So what is being done differently with your translation of ToP from absolute Zero's?

- Different set of fonts (4 in our version: original ASCII-like 8x8 fixed width, 8x8 vwf normal, 8x8 vwf thin and 16x16 vwf);
- We used only a few of the Namco NA official names and went for the accuracy path (except for Romanized abilities), so you have Gummie instead of Gels, Majinken/Demonic Blade instead of Demon Fang, etc...;
- Centred subtitles for skit events and the spoken battle prologue;
- A selector for the ability names.

[Leroy]

And after that, ToD2 goes into full swing.

Love.

[annoying] Is a menu-only patch still planned? [/annoying]

If I don't end up taking a nice, much-needed break when ToP is done, that is...

You should totally do it if you feel it's needed.

[habilain]

Wait, Gemini!!! We have centred Subtitles too (just finished)! And will have subtitles for the prologue.

It's very unfair to say things before this project is complete. Due to real life, I tend not to have as much time as I would like to devote to this project. In all fairness, when both projects are complete the major differentiating factor will be whose translation you prefer, with a few minor differences in terms of technical stuff / aesthetics.

As far as differences in the translations, I believe ThroughHim has put a higher emphasis on accuracy to the original script (i.e. leaving in references to eastern mythology), whereas we're putting the emphasis on doing a more typical localisation (i.e. replacing references to eastern mythology with a similar reference in western mythology). Hence why the two projects have different goals.

[Gemini]

Wait, Gemini!!! We have centred Subtitles too (just finished)! And will have subtitles for the prologue.

I have no crystal ball, so I only wrote what I knew one hour ago about your project. Also, in my opinion a future feature (prologue subs) should not be considered as something already coded.

It's very unfair to say things before this project is complete. In all fairness, when both projects are complete the major differentiating factor will be whose translation you prefer, with a few minor differences in terms of technical stuff / aesthetics.

Sad to say, but most people do not care that much about differences and fairness. People just go for the released stuff and they do not even bother to check or wait for somebody else's work. Trust me, I was a victim of this phenomenon, too. Yeah, there are a few exceptions to the rule, but they are... a few.

[habilain]

In the short term, I'd agree with you. Of course, people wanting to play the game now have no choice. But never forget the big picture. If you look at game translations for the 16-bit era now, the higher quality ones are more popular now, rather than the ones that were released first.

Also, I think you'll find that this project won't be released until all the features have been coded, so I can count that into the final project, I think. It's perfectly fine to include future features providing the project is still going to be released in the future.

Anyways, that's about as far off topic as I'm prepared to go. If you want to continue the discussion, do it via PM please.

[Frogacuda]

- Centred subtitles for skit events and the spoken battle prologue;

I'm fairly certain this difference will not be present in the final patch, and they've said they planned to do as much the entire time.

EDIT: Oh, I guess they're ahead of me.

Anyway, I think that the most noticeable differences to the average users are the fonts and the translations themselves being quite different (Tales Cless's lining up better with the official translations, and throughhim's being more of a purist/literal approach).

I'm going to be playing both and deciding for myself. I identify more with what Cless and company are doing, but I'm definitely going to check them both out.

[Gemini]

throughhim's being more of a purist/literal approach).

One thing that really pisses me off: his approach is not literal, he's just accurate. There's a huge difference.

[Kajitani-Eizan]

i, uh, definitely think using "Gumi" counts as having "more of a purist/literal approach", at least when compared to Cless's project. and i see nothing indicating that Cless's project isn't "accurate".

[Kogahazan]

Uh-ohes, I smell situation escalating. DE-ESCALATE ACTIVATE

[throughhim413]

There's no escalation here.  We're just talking.  Not everything has to turn into a fight.  It is possible to have a reasonable discussion where people disagree with each other.

i, uh, definitely think using "Gumi" counts as having "more of a purist/literal approach", at least when compared to Cless's project. and i see nothing indicating that Cless's project isn't "accurate".

We used Gummi. 

Also, Gemini wasn't trying to say that Cless' project wasn't accurate at all.  I believe his post was made from the same point of frustration that I'm at, which is that people seem to believe that staying true to the original Japanese script in terms of ACCURACY somehow effects the quality of the script.  That just isn't the case.  There's nothing "literal" about our script.  Item names?  Sure.  But it's not like our dialogue was written in romaji.  Those are the kinds of sentiments that people like Frogacuda have been expressing.  The vast majority of people who are still using words like "literal" and "purist" are those who haven't yet played our patch.  Those that have played it have found their experience to be quite different from these expectations of "literal" translation.  Hell, just check out what I said about it in the readme even if you don't want to play the game...

[Carnivol]

I actually prefer to stay a bit outside of the public half-drama talk of things, but I'll just drop a message now that the cat is out of the bag more or less when it comes to Gemini and Throughhim's project.

I'd first like to give you a nice congratulations on your translation project and say I'm impressed by what you've accomplished together in such short time. And I hope it's been a great experience for both of you.

Congrats guys!


But now, without going into too much detail, I've had a quick test run of your patch, and it didn't take me long to spot odd language, incorrect text, several flavors of inconsistencies and some minor (but noticable) issues.


Now, to basically put my own view and opinion on these two projects:

Your project is the prime sample of a fan translation, in every single way.
People shouldn't go into it with the expectations of seeing a product with official production qualities.
It is true that many will not care about quality and a lot of people will jump onto whatever is first available.
But I dunno if you (Gemini) just brought up that subject accidentally or not, as by bringing it up it almost sounds like things were rushed just to get those 15 min of attention for coming first.
It also seems like the instant mention of a v1.1 patch the same day as the 1.0 was released indicates that things have been rushed and things not postponed to take care of various issues.

Anyway,

- Centred subtitles for skit events and the spoken battle prologue;
- A selector for the ability names.

1: About the subs stuff, both will be present in the final/public release.
2: I actually pushed for a similar idea long ago. And I honestly couldn't help but feel that the one you've included was a last minute decision spawned from one of the heated discussions recently between people about skill names.

I hope I don't come off as someone who wants nothing but talk down or anything, as I actually take a great interest in general in this kind of stuff. And as some people already know, I work with this kind of stuff for a living (To me, it's not just a hobby).



Anywho:
PP is currently working on something that to me not only feels like it's of the same quality as an official product, but it is probably raising the bar of what to somewhat expect from future translations (Both fan translations and possibly even officially published translations).