Calling Shmup Fan Translators!

[GenkiPatton]

As per our recent announcements, Nyu Media will shortly release all 3 of the eXceed games, with the 1st game (eXceed - Gun Bullet Children) being an 'import' version - 100% the original (& now extremely rare) Japanese release.

We would, however, like to include the script for the game on our eXceed website for anyone interested in reading it. We have the script, but rather than translating ourselves, we'd love to get the community involved and have some fan translators take on and manage the translation.

There are approx. 10k Japanese characters in total, so it would suit a small group (translator + editor at least) to make a quality translation. Ideally, the project would be Wiki-based so others can see and follow the progress in real time. We have no particular deadline for the project in mind, but it would be great to kick off as close to the games release (2/23) as possible.

All contributors will be credited and I'm sure we'll have no problem having this recognized as the official translation for eX-GBC.

If there's anyone on the Shmups board who is active in fan translation or knows someone/people who are and would be interested in taking this on, please jump on the thread with details of projects you've done / are working on and let's make this happen!

[GenkiPatton]

Sorry, I neglected to add (took it for granted): free copies of the eXceed Collection would be given to participants.

In fact, they can have free copies of all of Nyu Media localized games to date and scheduled:

- Satazius
- eXceed - Gun Bullet Children
- eXceed 2nd - Vampire REX
- eXceed 3rd - Jade Penetrate Black Package
- Cherry Tree High Comedy Club
- Ether Vapor Remaster
- Fairy Bloom Freesia

[mrsmiley381]

I think I'm half decent when it comes to editing and I wouldn't mind dumping the text into the game if tools exist for that sort of thing, but I have no knowledge of Japanese and no previous experience in hex editing or anything, though I am a programmer. That release date is pretty close, though. I wouldn't mind forming a two-person team and going nuts. Probably more interesting than the Syndicate reboot, anyway.

[GenkiPatton]

Thanks for offering, Mrssmiley!

We will certainly look into the possibility of turning this into an official English patch once the translation is done & you're top of the list to discuss that. We do have to finish the translation first, though!

That release date is pretty close, though.

There seems to have been some confusion about the start / deadline to finish, so to clarify:

- The preferred start is around game launch, but this is by no means a requirement.
- There is no hard deadline to finish and certainly no need to go hell for leather to rush this out. (I would anticipate 3 weeks would be more than enough time, though.)

Let's touch base again if the patch looks viable!

Thanks!

[mrsmiley381]

Oh, I do suppose that makes sense. I'm still pretty decent when it comes to editing, but if someone more familiar with the translation process wants to edit, I sure as hell won't get in their way.

Keep the good stuff coming.

[cj iwakura]

Sure, I'm interested. I'm mostly an editor, but I know translators who can help.

Shoot me an email or PM.


Details on the script? Is this strictly background material(like Ikaruga), or in-game text(Touhou, Shikigami)?
Looks like the latter, based on those screens at your site.

And I don't advise releasing the game as Japanese only. Kind of in poor form, especially if you're translating the latter two.

[AntiFritz]

Sure, I'm interested. I'm mostly an editor, but I know translators who can help.

Shoot me an email or PM.


Details on the script? Is this strictly background material(like Ikaruga), or in-game text(Touhou, Shikigami)?
Looks like the latter, based on those screens at your site.

And I don't advise releasing the game as Japanese only. Kind of in poor form, especially if you're translating the latter two.

Their not translating it because the original developers no longer have the source code.

[cj iwakura]

Sure, I'm interested. I'm mostly an editor, but I know translators who can help.

Shoot me an email or PM.


Details on the script? Is this strictly background material(like Ikaruga), or in-game text(Touhou, Shikigami)?
Looks like the latter, based on those screens at your site.

And I don't advise releasing the game as Japanese only. Kind of in poor form, especially if you're translating the latter two.

Their not translating it because the original developers no longer have the source code.

Pfft, like that'd stop me.

[Observer]

Add to that the fact that, while you can hack your way to Mordor, one does not hack their way into the game without authorisation of the japanese circle. What happened to "please" and "kudasai ne"? Come on.

If Tennen-Sozai is fine and people have the expertise to hack the game and patch the dialogue, that would actually be pretty awesome of them. Then the patch could be released as an official addition to the game or something similar. I agree it would be much cooler than having all the text on a wiki. (Still that's a good second option)

[Deets]

Are you uh, going to pay the people who do this work for you? It looks like you're selling this thing for money, so I mean.

[cj iwakura]

Are you uh, going to pay the people who do this work for you? It looks like you're selling this thing for money, so I mean.

Reading over the OP? Nope. This is freelance work.

At least they're up front about it.

[Illyrian]

Sorry, I neglected to add (took it for granted): free copies of the eXceed Collection would be given to participants.

In fact, they can have free copies of all of Nyu Media localized games to date and scheduled:

- Satazius
- eXceed - Gun Bullet Children
- eXceed 2nd - Vampire REX
- eXceed 3rd - Jade Penetrate Black Package
- Cherry Tree High Comedy Club
- Ether Vapor Remaster
- Fairy Bloom Freesia

Look a few inches up the screen, they did say there would be free games.

[Barrakketh]

Their not translating it because the original developers no longer have the source code.

What? Did they never realize the importance of backups or something?

[AntiFritz]

Their not translating it because the original developers no longer have the source code.

What? Did they never realize the importance of backups or something?

Apparently not, I was just going off of this post.

[Gus]

You actually signed the deals to localize these titles before you even had a translator ready?

wut

[GenkiPatton]

Shoot me an email or PM.

Will do, thanks!

Details on the script?

It's the full in-game dialogue for all of the characters.

Did they never realize the importance of backups or something?

Believe me, far bigger, honest-to-goodness professional companies have perpetrated travesties of code-loss that would make the fanboy in you curl up in a corner and cry.

[Deets]

Are you uh, going to pay the people who do this work for you? It looks like you're selling this thing for money, so I mean.

Reading over the OP? Nope. This is freelance work.

Freelancers get paid. They're selling this game for money. The person who handles the frankly extremely important job of making their product presentable and professional in English will not be paid money. That's pretty messed up!

[GenkiPatton]

Freelancers get paid. They're selling this game for money. The person who handles the frankly extremely important job of making their product presentable and professional in English will not be paid money. That's pretty messed up!

I think you're overlooking that we're releasing the Japanese game for sale, not the English version.

We're offering the script to the community to produce a translation as a fan service by the fans. See above for details about what we're offering as compensation.

If it doesn't come together for whatever reason, we'll simply do it in-house.

[Ed Oscuro]

peeples iz no good at reedin' no more.

To be fair to Deets, I kinda skimmed over the thread in the first place but I knew better than just to shout "EXPLOITATION" without carefully reading all the details. It's spelled out pretty clearly in the OP. If Deets asks to do the translation now, you should say no.

[GenkiPatton]

To be fair to Deets...

No kind of problem. I know his heart is in the right place

[cj iwakura]

I don't mind personally, since you're doing this as a kindness, but I wouldn't mind going the extra mile in helping to see the text implemented into the actual game. In fact, I'd prefer that.

[GenkiPatton]

... I wouldn't mind going the extra mile in helping to see the text implemented into the actual game.

Thanks for the offer! Actually, we would LOVE to see an 'official fan translation patch' for this! We haven't pitched it to Tennen-sozai, but there is a good chance they'd approve it, especially with eXceed 4th on the horizon.

We'll pick up that particular thread when the translation is done!

[Deets]

Freelancers get paid. They're selling this game for money. The person who handles the frankly extremely important job of making their product presentable and professional in English will not be paid money. That's pretty messed up!

I think you're overlooking that we're releasing the Japanese game for sale, not the English version.

Aaggghhhhhhh sorry guys I'm dumb :<

[GenkiPatton]

All right, guys! Thanks for all the input and the PMs!

I'll call a close on this call now. I'll be following up on the responses over the next couple of days and hopefully will have a pretty exciting announcement to make on the topic very soon!