Policenauts, Finally In English

[FortNinety]

Once again, I believe the word fag was used because that's the word, or it's equivalent, that was used in the original script.

I get what you're saying... and truly excellent translators are able to distill the original meaning of foreign text and make it more palatable to the native tongue, often by changing things considerably, but in an intelligent manner, and all that jazz. But that's a skillset that is sorely lacking with most fan-subbers, as you already know. So in that case, I'd much rather take a straightforward translation, regardless of how awkward it might be.

As you might be able to tell, I was not a fan of Working Designs, especially during the Sega CD era.

[isfet]

oh Jesus a character just said "quoted for truth." I dunno, I'm still convinced these guys couldn't help inserting stupid internet speak into their project. a long term effect if spending so much time on computers?

BUT

it's nice to be playing this in any form if English at all. truthfully, I'm playing it because it's available. these days, it's kind of easy to see why this genre has died out; the pacing is kind of boring at times unless you're super into reading a bunch of psuedo scientific bs. but it definitely explains why Metal Gear is the way it is.  

[isfet]

it's also worth noting that while time has helped explain to me why, when speaking to women in this game, i have the option to "smell" or "touch" (their breasts, usually), it has not made it less creepy.

i mean, i guess it's not much worse than walking in on a naked 14-year-old girl in the shower (like in Snatcher), but it's still worrisome to see how much pandering the game does to its audience.

there's creepy and bizarre sexism in the Metal Gear Solid series, but nothing quite of this magnitude.  i wonder if maybe he toned it down so it would have a better reception outside of Japan?

[dhex]

ok i gotta ask - what is the justification for groping within the game?

[isfet]

um, there is zero justification for it.  you can just do it.  generally, your partner will just say stuff like "Jonathan, don't do that at a time like this!" or "you haven't changed at all!"  the women appear to either get slightly annoyed or don't care at all.  but their irritation is in a weird, down-trodden Japanese woman kind of way.

ok actually, on the space plane flight there was a pseudo-justification.  Jonathan tells the stewardess he's never felt breasts in a zero g environment before and then goes in for the grope.  she makes a little moan and...doesn't really seem to mind?

yea.  creepy.

[dhex]

"no, really, though" people say to me. "there's a lot of good things about anime."

[dark steve]

damn vic ireland's cursed bloodline

[isfet]

this fucking translation somehow manages to get even worse.  a character just said "and God said 'let there be win.'"

i mean, seriously?  are we fucking serious here?  that's how you translated a phrase?  do they actually think this is clever and witty dialogue?  to have space cops in the future who are investigating a dual-action narcotic scheme speak like shut ins on the internet??

i don't know if this is better or worse than Working Designs era BS, but i'm just waiting for some kind of Obama joke or something.

[dhex]

to have space cops in the future who are investigating a dual-action narcotic scheme speak like shut ins on the internet??

that's exactly how i'd imagine it but that's probably why i'm not a writer.

also i mean boob grabbing, really, what are you looking for here?

[isfet]

you raise a very valid point.

i mean, essentially, i guess to the person who idolizes this type of game, this sort of dialogue would be pretty gut-wrenchingly hilarious.


i guess, i'm not expecting amazing prose here; the original text in Japanese is probably barely tolerable as it is.  i just get annoyed when people insert really specific slang or references that 1) make no sense in the context of the story and 2) will make no sense in 5-10 years.  i feel like being a good translator is about finding smart ways to convey an idea while avoiding those kinds of pitfalls.

but you're right; i mean, you get what you pay for.  and this is free.

[FortNinety]

I'm in the process of giving this translator a bit of shit, or at least this person who claims to be associated with the translators, who claimed that everything was 100% based on the original script. I now have to wonder if that gay comment was actually there in the first place. Meanwhile, everyone on NeoGAF thinks its a masterpiece, which further confirms why I stopped going there regularly years ago, or at least post there anymore.

[dhex]

i feel like being a good translator is about finding smart ways to convey an idea while avoiding those kinds of pitfalls.

this is an absolutely reasonable stance to take. it just may not be realistic given the context.

[dark steve]

The way I'd put it is "being a good translator is about finding smart ways to convey an idea while avoiding those kinds of pitfalls because maybe you spent years on this so you should try to take a fucking modicum of pride in what you're doing."

I haven't played Policenauts yet, but this is a really common problem with fan/amateur translations; it's kind of dumbfounding.  Why are they putting so much energy into learning the language if this is what they do?  Are they really that introverted and egotistical?  Maybe the project editors are to blame, and that this is how they make their mark on the finished product, or something.

[The Drunken Samurai]

funny i havent seen any complaints about the internet memes outside of here. then again ive only looked as far as a few threads on neogaf and SA, they seem to be fine with it/not mention it at all

[dhex]

Why are they putting so much energy into learning the language if this is what they do?  Are they really that introverted and egotistical?

it's "nanowrimo or whatever that retarded write a novel in thirty days thing is called" disease. if it's "creative" it certainly can't be a poor choice.

i feel for joe, though, since he bought this ten years ago and getting a boob-grabbing cavalcade of lolcat-level jokes is like getting kicked in the balls. something like fallout 3 but with no entertainment value.