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BuddyC

Member

• Aug 25, 2006

• #1

Hey folks,

We've got an interview lined up with the NIS localization team responsible for the translation of Disgaea 2. Based off the screenshots various outlets have released, the game looks to retain the distinct charm and humor that made the first so notable, but that process definitely isn't as easy or natural as you may think.

The questions need to be sent off by Monday, so that gives you adequate time to come up with anything you might want to ask. As is the case with these things, not every question can be used, but I'll do my best.

For more information on Disgaea 2, check out the official thread.

 

A

Amir0x

Banned

• Aug 25, 2006

• #2

When localizing a game for US audiences, what type of considerations do you make in regards to culturally-specific humour that may be more difficult to understand for North American gamers?

 

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EmCeeGramr

Member

• Aug 25, 2006

• #3

Does the original publisher/developers have a threshold for how far you can stray from the original intention of any phrase? Quite simply, do they care a great deal?

 

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Mr. Spinnington

Banned

• Aug 25, 2006

• #4

How do they do it!

 

A

abc223_86

Member

• Aug 25, 2006

• #5

1. Are you hiring?
1.b. Do you offer japanese training classes? ^_^

2. Given that most rpgs are based a lot on japanese culture and lore, does that create problems for translating/localizing?

 

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momolicious

Member

• Aug 25, 2006

• #6

Will they ever go 3D, 2D High Res, or both for next gen

 

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GotchaForce

Member

• Aug 25, 2006

• #7

What other games/companies have inspired your localization process. Was Lunar for PS 1 one of them?

 

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A Link to the Past

Banned

• Aug 25, 2006

• #8

If it performs well, will we get a third game?

 

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WasabiKing

Member

• Aug 25, 2006

• #9

Remember guys and dolls, this is for the localization team, odds are, they won't be decision makers for a sequel developed in Japan.

 

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S. L.

Member

• Aug 26, 2006

• #10

Couple of questions from a friend of mine who is a disgaea nut

1.) will there be a US release of Disgaea PSP? And if so will it have both audio languages?

2.) For Disgaea 2 will the japanese battle cries be kept in or would we have to listen to prinny death cries in english once again?

3.) For localization, was there ever a time where the japanese humor was kind of hard to translate to english

4.) How long does it usually take to localize? And could we see faster localization in games in the future, or forsee any next-gen Localizations?

Click to expand...

 

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Suikoguy

I whinny my fervor lowly, for his length is not as great as those of the Hylian war stallions

• Aug 26, 2006

• #11

4.) How long does it usually take to localize? And could we see faster localization in games in the future, or forsee any next-gen Localizations?

Click to expand...

I second this question. I always wondered that.
I don't know if they will answer, but how much do they pay them? (kinda a backdoor question to find out how much it costs to localize a game)

 

Dr. Kitty Muffins

Member

• Aug 26, 2006

• #12

Have you ever had to cut content out of a game before?

 

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trancejeremy

Banned

• Aug 26, 2006

• #13

Disgaea 2 uses a grid based system, like the original (and its predecessor, La Pucelle), but unlike NIS's two previous followups (not sequels) to Disgaea (Phantom Wars, Makai Kingdom). Is this because fans apparently didn't like the gridless games (at least I know I didn't), or simply to make it feel more like the original Disgaea?

This is more a general NIS America question:

Why you have chosen to translate PSP ports of a couple of Idea Factory Games (Spectral Souls and Generation of Chaos) as opposed to the original PS2 versions? Especially when the quality of the ports is not very good, as I think both were launch titles in Japan(or close to it)? (In Spectral Souls case, every review I've read says its basically unplayble due to constant loading)?

 

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Acosta

Member

• Aug 27, 2006

• #14

How much it cost for a producer like NIS America to localizate a project like Disgaea 2?

Do you use to keep contact with the japanese team? do they check your work?

Is there a game you think it would be impossible to localizate accurately?

If you could choose one game for translating, which would be? is there a game you would refuse to do a localization for any reason?

How is the process of localization? where it start and how you develop it?

(related with the last one? Do you to play the game you are localizating or you just focus on dialogues and text?

How long takes the localization of a game like Disgaea 2?

 

S

Servizio

I don't really need a tag, but I figured I'd get one to make people jealous. Is it working?

• Aug 27, 2006

• #15

Will the Horse Wiener be making a return?

 

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May16

Member

• Aug 27, 2006

• #16

A Link to the Past said:

If it performs well, will we get a third game?

Click to expand...

Been asked, and answered already, by the 2nd game's producer.

 

jesusraz

Member

• Aug 27, 2006

• #17

- Do you feel that it would be possible to produce a game of NIS's standards on a system like the Nintendo DS?

 

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Kurosaki Ichigo

Member

• Aug 27, 2006

• #18

- Is it a trouble for NISA to add dual voice acting tracks (japanese and american), money and tech-wise? How do you see very japanese-oriented titles like Yakuza (Ryu ga Gotoku, Sega) getting subpar american dubs with no dual language option while losing most of its personality and appeal?

 

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Roland Stiles

Member

• Aug 28, 2006

• #19

Q: How thoroughly do you guys check your localizations for mistakes? I noticed a lot of mistakes in Atelier Iris 2 (even in the intro--AlchemSists?) and the manuals for Generation of Chaos and Blade Dancer. Other companies like Capcom seem to have the same problem (I love Phoenix Wright, but there were a LOT of misspellings and typos). Don't you think that localization companies should spend some time and effort polishing the text so that it's in CORRECT English? Nintendo, Konami, and other companies don't seem to have this problem; even Working Designs didn't. Is this something you intend to work on moving forward, or is it just not a priority?

 

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BuddyC

Member

• Aug 28, 2006

• #20

Starting to compile them now, you guys have about an hour or so to get any last questions in.

 

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Ichirou

Banned

• Aug 28, 2006

• #21

Any chance of NIS America working on any of the Sakura Taisen games, as they're also strategy/adventure games, but would fill a different niche than Disgaea?


...I had to ask.