Information on language patch creation

[DaisukeTS]

I've been playing around with translations of SNES ROMS and thought to myself that perhaps my time would be better spent in the field of PC game translation. After spending the last few days digging up all the information I could on the creation of language patches for PC Games (and coming up nearly empty) I have reached an impasse.

I am working towords a BA in japanese and I also have some background writing code. I think I have what it takes (including the spare time) to take on a project as massive as visual novel translation.

That all being said, I'm looking for information on the process of creating patches, or even someone who'd be willing to offer their experience showing me the ropes. I would be more than willing to compensate financially (as much as a student can) for advice in this matter.

And if it seems that this topic is perhaps in bad taste in this forum, I apologize, but I cannot seem to obtain the information any other way.

>DaisukeTS!

[Haeleth]

Oh, you're in about as right a place as there is. ;)

For visual novel-type games, it's relatively simple:

1. Find a way of extracting text from the engine, and a way of putting it back.
2. Extract all the text, translate it, and put it back.

The nice thing about visual novels, as opposed to console ROMs or other kinds of PC game, is that part 1 is usually reusable from one game to the next. For example, for any game that uses the popular NScripter engine, you can find all the tools and documentation you might need at http://nscripter.insani.org/, and if you grab Narcissu then you can even have a look straight at an existing translation and see exactly how it's done. For any game that uses RealLive, you can get similar tools and documentation from http://dev.haeleth.net/. And there are other tools that do the same for a variety of other engines; I don't think any of the others are quite so well documented, but if you did identify a game you were particularly interested in having a go at translating, it's really not unlikely that someone knows how its innards work.

What I suggest is that you grab the various NScripter tools from the above link, copies of Narcissu in English and Japanese, run NSDEC in both folders, and have a look and see if you can make any sense of how it works. Fear not, there are several people here who would be delighted to answer any questions that leaves you with.

[DaisukeTS]

This pleases me to no end. Friendly people can be few and far between on this crazy internet. That being said, I'll spend the next day or looking over all the information I can find at the links provided. I'm sure I'll have a laundry list of questions when I'm through.

Again, thank you so much for the info.

>DaisukeTS!

[zalas]

Any particular game you're interested in?

[l|ammamama]

And another poor soul falls to the dark side...

Originally Posted by Zalas

Any particular game you're interested in?

Like say... starting work anew on stalled projects?

*cough*, Fate, Clannad, AIR, etc. *cough*

[gp32]

Originally Posted by kouryuu

*cough*, Fate, Clannad, AIR, etc. *cough*

That's quite enough out of you.

Originally Posted by gp32

That's quite enough out of you.

*innocent whistle*
who me? I never said anything...

*angelic smile*

Besides, we could all delve further into that argument, but the stuff takes time, and most people have..... whats that word? oh right. Lives.

While DaisukeTS claims to have lots of Free time....

[drmchsr0]

Well, information would be nice...
Especially for Fate..

[DaisukeTS]

Originally Posted by kouryuu

While DaisukeTS claims to have lots of Free time....

"Lots" would be a bit off. I think I have enough free time and ambition to start and finish a project. However, I'm not sure I have enough free time to keep crazy fans satiated. Not that any of you are crazy of course.

Let me work with the programs a few days here and see what I can get worked out. As for particular games I'm interested in doing I'd rather not say at this point. While I do have some favorites which I'm sure everyone would love to see done, I'm not going to commit them to writting until I make sure I'm not stepping into someone elses territory. That, and I don't want people thinking "Hey, that one new guy is doing a translation of GameX so no one else needs to work on it".

*Scurries off to continue studying*

>DaisukeTS!

[AstCd2]

Originally Posted by DaisukeTS

While I do have some favorites which I'm sure everyone would love to see done, I'm not going to commit them to writting until I make sure I'm not stepping into someone elses territory.

Shii's site would be a good place to start research into what's currently being done: http://www.shii.org/translate/
It's a comprehensive listing of all the currently active (and not so active) projects in our little community.

If you're thinking of working on an NScripter or kirikiri title, you might also want to talk to gp32 about joining the Al|together translation festival, as he'll be able to fill you in on who's currently doing what and provide invaluable technical assistance.

Originally Posted by DaisukeTS

That, and I don't want people thinking "Hey, that one new guy is doing a translation of GameX so no one else needs to work on it".

I think it's pretty safe to say that active translators are still rare enough for that sort of thing to be largely hypothetical. Heck, by announcing your project, you might even stir up some interest from people eager to help =P

[Haeleth]

Originally Posted by DaisukeTS

As for particular games I'm interested in doing I'd rather not say at this point. While I do have some favorites which I'm sure everyone would love to see done, I'm not going to commit them to writting until I make sure I'm not stepping into someone elses territory. That, and I don't want people thinking "Hey, that one new guy is doing a translation of GameX so no one else needs to work on it".

Yes, a formal announcement could be premature - but if you do find yourself wanting to tackle something specific, and the various public sources of information are proving insufficient for whatever reason, you might consider contacting one of us privately. I know both gp32 and I are already helping other people with various unannounced projects.

(So if nothing else we could probably tell you whether you'd be stepping on a secret toe. ^^)

Originally Posted by drmchsr0

Well, information would be nice...
Especially for Fate..

If you want info on Fate/stay Night, then Moonlit World is the best site I've found for information. It has Character Bios, Story Synopsis, etc. along with similiar for every other Type Moon Game.

[drmchsr0]

I know about the Moonlit World and the accompanying forums.

What I was referring to was the progress of the Fate/Stay Night translation.
Since NLA's foums died, I've got no info as to the progress.

Edit: Also, what should I do and who should I contact if I want to make a ren'ai game/Visual Novel? I'm very interested in doing one, and just so happens I have one good idea.

[l|ammamama]

lol poor chap! all us fans are trying to stick you with f/sn ^^

I'm a student of japanse myself at the moment (just a minor - i wont be majoring in it), and i'm taking my first gander in the visual novel scene by translating a doujin novel for the al|together festival-type bonanza. I've already learned a lot about what it takes to seriously translate - mainly that i'm nearly fast enough to tackle a large-scale project, but it's still fun because you get to play the game as you go ;;^^

If you've already got some experence with translating games of this sort then by all means dont pay any attention to me, but if you're new to the idea like i am then i'd encourage you to join up and do a doujin novel as your stab at the genre.