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Finding Xanadu: Inside a JRPG classic translation 15 years in the making

49 points by speckx ago | 11 comments

falsaberN1 |next [-]

The "Sacred Alcohol of Stamina to Van Buren Coffee" part illustrates why I hold those "localization" attempts in contempt. "I have unanimously decided this name/sentence/reference is boring and I'm going to change it to make it 'more interesting'".

Just translate the thing. If you add random references that weren't there it's going to alter the discourse around the game that only knows of the localization dramatically.

You may say this sounds ungrateful, but those people altering the original works are ones setting the tone of the entire Western discourse of the games they re altering. People are going to talk about the localized version and any change introduced will become part of how it's perceived and discussed. This can include both accidental and intentional changes that completely change the tone, setting or relationships of the characters within. Like the infamous DeJap localization of Tales of Phantasia that made a character particularly horny, and that intentional change has stuck even after more serious official translations came out because many people only played that altered version.

I can understand altering stuff for censorship reasons even, but those changes made to make things "more interesting" are completely one-sided fanfic tier stuff and add links that weren't there. I've found more people than you'd believe that think Castlevania is supposed to be in the same world as Lord of the Rings because the localizations renamed several items to LotR references for no good reason.

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boredhedgehog |root |parent |previous [-]

> Just translate the thing.

But which thing? Language transmits information, intent, tone, sound and many other layers. Usually, there is no way to transport all of it to the target language, and the translator must choose what to sacrifice.

Japanese prose doesn't intend to be boring, and its target audience isn't bored by it. If you translate it in a way that sounds boring to an English audience, you aren't maintaining the intent of the author.

The famous example is Tina from FF6, a name exotic and exciting for a Japanese audience, but commonplace and boring for Westerners. Keeping such a word means missing its point.

somenameforme |root |parent |next [-]

I don't think this is really all that ambiguous. The 'thing' being the intent of the original author. Renaming Tina to Terra makes perfect sense in the context you mentioned. Renaming 'Sacred Alcohol of Stamina' to 'Van Buren Coffee' is a complete butchery of a translation done for somebody to be able to show how witty they are by adding a reference that basically nobody will get, and is still a butchery even when you know the reference.

cyberrock |root |parent |previous [-]

This change is contradictory and nonsensical because alcohol plays a central role in Shadow Over Innsmouth, so the original item being an alcohol makes more sense. Also, this ignores the possibility that there might be other influences on the work, and that maybe the original name was intentional for other reasons. Or maybe the game was just poorly made and this is just covering over that.

The more infamous changes of older games at least reflected the localization standards of their era, and that the changes were done out of commercial or technical necessity. For this one the translator basically just admitted that they were bored.

rationalist |previous [-]

I spent way too much time watching the video of gameplay. It looks very good.

appplication |root |parent |next |previous [-]

It was giving me really strong nostalgia but I wasn’t able to place what exactly for. I haven’t played this before but it definitely evoked something. I don’t think Zelda… maybe memories of playing Golden Sun.

hombre_fatal |root |parent |previous [-]

I like the see-through UI.

pitched |root |parent [-]

For the dialog, it’s ok because the whole screen darkens but the stats screen while walking around gets really busy with all the colours flowing around.

If you’re a fan of this, you might like Apple’s Liquid Glass designs.

rationalist |root |parent [-]

I remember people coming up with transparent backgrounds for programs writen in VB6. The idea has been around for a while, but I guess there is a reason why it didn't take off.

pitched |root |parent [-]

The quickly moving colours triggers some people. Similar to flashing lights but less extreme. I’ve heard them call it “ants moving across the screen”. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a good design though, just that it isn’t universal. If an app/game /os can only have one theme, it must be universal.