Chrono Compendium

Marbule Gallery - Completed Fan Creations => Retranslation of Chrono Trigger => Topic started by: Vehek on October 20, 2007, 04:26:36 pm

Title: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: Vehek on October 20, 2007, 04:26:36 pm
I've decided to make a list of some of the threads about the Retranslation.
Romhacking.net (http://www.romhacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,4709.0.html) (Locked)
VGmix (http://www.vgmix.com/vg25/viewtopic.php?id=8133)
EyesOnFF (http://forums.eyesonff.com/chrono-trigger-chrono-cross/110139-chrono-trigger-retranslation-patch-released.html)
Board II (http://acmlm.no-ip.org/board/thread.php?id=2691)
NeoGaef (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=196942)
GSCentral - I've removed this for now because it linked to a pre-patched rom.
Chrono Crisis (http://z14.invisionfree.com/ChronoCrisis/index.php?showtopic=2473)
Chrono Shock (http://www.chronoshock.com/community/showthread.php?t=2663)
Select-button (http://forums.selectbutton.net/viewtopic.php?t=9173) - Pointless fan translations (goes off the topic of CT a lot)
Flying Omeltte (http://flyingomelettespalace.yuku.com/topic/8092/t/So-the-Chrono-Trigger-retranslation-is-out-and.html)
NDS Brasil Fórum (http://gamehall.uol.com.br/ndsbrasil/forum/index.php?showtopic=11502)

Gametrailers (http://forums.gametrailers.com/showthread.php?p=7936263)
More later...
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: Shinrin on October 22, 2007, 11:48:11 am
Most of those threads on those forums are bashing how the translation is to literal and hell one is making fun of it, if not two.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: Vehek on October 26, 2007, 07:34:25 pm
When reading CT retranslation threads I've found, I really get grated by people with the attitude of "Any translation with honorifics is a horrible translation."
I found some of the more mean ones (besides VGmix) by looking up Kwhazit's name.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: lagoonalight on October 30, 2007, 02:37:45 am
I started a more constructive comparison at Gamefaqs, newly not banned account and all, and I think it is worth taking a look.

Seriously, for anyone that cares, no, the hting isn't perfect, but for those kidding themselves into believing TW's hack job is anything special are honestly a bunch of idiots. I mean, come on, his translation sucks. Thsi one has problems but much of what I wanted is back in.

Problems and comparisons are noted on the site.

One such is the chapter Appeared: the legendary hero. ??????? Why would you use this form. I mean, good god, there is being literal and just being a bit too literal. And you are choosing words, it is not like you can't be literal and choose something a heck of a lot better than that, which, he did most of the time.

Translations are usually bad or maligned because the translator hasn't mastered the ENGLISH language.

So maybe in another patch. Fix that title. And maybe give an option to leave out the honorifics.

Otherwise, much of this is better, I prove this at gamefaqs with many comparisons. Some of it is a bit worse.

ROBO is much better for one, and much more believable as a robot. All the punks are just looking to be negative, and as such, they should be treated with disdain to discredit, their opinions are baseless; they are comedians and that is all.

I for one think TW's script is so bad in places I can't, and never have played through the game. First time as we speak.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: Kebrel on October 30, 2007, 03:39:23 am
I really don't think Ted Woolsey did that bad of a job, A lot was Changed to A) make sense and flow Sometime that not easy when translating B)Taken out due to censorship not by him but Nintendo. I don't think he deserves that kind of bashing.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: lagoonalight on October 30, 2007, 07:42:26 am
Yes, indeed, his translation is terrible.

Example. If you were to compare translations of Dostoevsky's C&P woolsey would be maligned a s one of the worst americanized versions available. I know very limited japanes, but from looking at this new trans and comparing things, woolsey changed WAY too much.

I am sorry, but this new translation isn't exactly Richard Pevear's award winning C&P, but it is surely a lot more close than before.

Seriously, Woolsey is so americanized it makes me sick, it's not just americanized, it is blatantly simple and obstructive of the true meaning of the ******* TEXT!

I have been reading the forums and I cannot simply believe some of these people.

I don't exactly like honorifics but CHRIST, do you have to talk like you are twelve lacing into K for his new translation when you haven't even read IT!

TALK about american DUMB*****!

I won't even start, though, read the whole entire script and you come and tell me that TW did a better job.

And if you do, GO back and read your harry potter and believe that it's well written literature. I won't argue.

And for the record, TW does not even approach harry potter.

I came into this unbiased, not even have played this game.

Recently got my mac set up and am now using etymotic headphones and 1920x1200 screen.

I found the patch, being a poet and interested in the translation fiasco's of literature decided to compare as best I could.

IT was honestly like reading DOSTO's old american volumes and then reading the new translations, maybe not quite as professional.

Still, those old american volumes of high school lore suck big balls. EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT, and the english word choices are vivid at best, tiring most of the time.

As far as the censorship and all the rest of the wagon, I hve no idea how the NA audience tries to play this script off like it is FF12 or something.

It's not, not even close. Not even in the same ocean as far as I am concerned and this new script more than just accurately, restores meaning and mysticism to the words.



Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: lagoonalight on October 30, 2007, 07:47:19 am
I understand he had limits.

Choosing guru instead of another better word, things like that are not excusable. It makes any text with that name just seem ridiculously childish and inane. Just read the comparisons. Thank the lord Philosopher's stone replaced. MUCH BETTER

Not saying this new stuff is the best, but when you understand 'sama' you start to look into the things that matter.

People are saying that this is a literal literal trans

 it is NOT! They did choose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STOP BEING BELLIGERENT FANBOYS AND THINK FOR YOURSELF  (directed to those disgusting forums)
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: Kebrel on October 31, 2007, 10:29:55 pm
The only example you used Was The Guru Translation which benighted my point not yours.

You keep suggesting that we aren't thinking for ourselves, I think you are the one not being independent.

You Just like many many people find that to get your point across you must tear down the other side. What kind of strategy is that? That does make your idea any better.

And why must you have a line-break

every line.

Its annoying.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: lagoonalight on November 02, 2007, 03:37:23 pm
discussion on gamefaqs where people actually can be kept in check

many more comparisons there

line break
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: lagoonalight on November 02, 2007, 03:38:27 pm
more like tearing down everything to get ANY point across
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: Vehek on November 02, 2007, 07:09:43 pm
Stop arguing here. As thread creator, I'm locking this.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: ZeaLitY on November 22, 2007, 04:09:40 am
Okay, I think they've cooled down now.

http://n4g.com/gaming/NewsCom-86391.aspx#Comments

WTF? People still whining about CTR?

http://download.gamevideos.com/Podcasts/Retronauts/102407.mp3

Whoever the hell "Jeremy Parish" is, he doesn't like the project. I'm about to listen to what's likely to be a nerd rage rant by a probable Cross-hating fanboy who cannot conceive of anyone tarnishing the nostalgic image of Chrono Trigger. It's in the second part.

Edit: Someone listen to it for me; I'm uploading too much stuff at the moment.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: Vehek on November 22, 2007, 04:55:50 am
I haven't listened to the whole thing, but at one part, the guy accused us of "not getting the point of localization"

Here's an incomplete transcript I'm making. I'm horrible at distinguishing between the two guys' voices.
Quote
Girl: Just lots of little things that they throw in that make it so good.
Guy: I think the localization helps a lot too. There's been the Chrono Trigger retranslation project.
Guy2: I've heard about that.
Guy?: Those guys can die in a fire.
Guy?: Chrono Trigger has a fantastic localization for the time. It's not excessive and over-the-top like, say, Working Designs games at the time, but it gives every character a great sense of personality, it really defines everyone; I mean, it's a pretty simple game with, you know, basic character stereotypes, I mean, everyone's playing to type, but there's a lot of humor in the writing; everything's very concise.
Other guy: Uh-huh.
Guy: It, like really fits the tone perfectly, gets across a lot of the jokes, which, you know, translating from Japanese, you know, can kind of be difficult. Like you have the three henchmen from Magus, who were named in Japanese, Soy Sauce, Mayone, and Vinegar, which is...very Japanese; they love naming characters after food, but in English, it's like ok, stupid. So, instead, Ted Woolsey, the translator, named them after famous rock stars, guitarists, so you have Ozzie, Flea, and Slash, and, uh, someone in the game comments how he's heard about them, and they're tone-deaf evil fiends. Just little things like that, it's really funny and it's really effective localization and the fact that someone felt the need to go back and re-translate the game so that people are referring to Magus as 'Magus-sama', talk about
Guy: Not even that, but just literally translating every single thing perfectly from the Japanese so that it doesn't even make any sense anymore, like seriously, like taking katakana words and just putting them in roman characters, and right that's a good thing(?)
Girl: That doesn't make any sense. Translation is like, carrying over the general, I guess-
Guy: The spirit of the thing.
Girl: Yeah , the spirit
Guy:
Girl: Not literal.
Guy?: Exactly. That's a conceptual problem where someone doesn't get the notion of localization. I mean, if they were to go back and re-translate Chrono Trigger today, they would do it differently just because they have all the space; they wouldn't have to be cutting things out and compressing it.
Other Guy: Well, I think Final Fantasy 6 Advance is a good example of how they do it.
Guy??: Very much, with VI advance, they really kept the tone of the game, they kept the spirit of the original localization, they kept entire chunks of text, but at the same time, they expanded on it and gave it more depth and so when you play the VI Advance version, you get a better feel of, you know, the sheer immensity of the story, but at the same time you don't lose the personalities, you don't lose the character quirks. And they still kept true to a lot of things like Cyan and saying 'thou'.
Other guy: Right, right. And important lines of remembrance like that, but Chrono Trigger Retranslation Project misses the point. I'm sorry, they don't need to die in the fire, they can just get horribly burned
Guy: No, they could be mutilated a little.
Guy2: Yeah.
I've stopped so far around 49:00. That's pretty much it for the re-translation part, except for a little bit at the end I haven't put in yet.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: ZeaLitY on November 22, 2007, 05:03:29 am
Ooh, goody. Seems like someone didn't read ANYTHING on the Retranslation page. We can fire a counter-shot.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: Vehek on November 22, 2007, 01:41:17 pm
I've added more to my transcript, and it just gets worse! (Everything after "in English, it's like ok, stupid." is new)

Edit-Except for a few gaps, I'm pretty much done transcribing the talk about the re-translation.

In another part, they say they'd want a game in a new world with the exact same system as CT over a "real sequel".
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: maggiekarp on November 23, 2007, 05:32:18 am
That's the thing about CT discussion, though. These folks were more into the innovative RPG gameplay than the story, which seems to be what we're all bonering for. They want a fun game inspired by CT, not necessarily a continuation.

They've got a point about the Retranslation, goal aside, even if they were... I guess "rude"'s the best word here, about it. The bulk of the fandom isn't gonna like something so unfamiliar and clunky.

Overall a good listen, I think.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: ZeaLitY on November 23, 2007, 01:51:04 pm
I've added more to my transcript, and it just gets worse! (Everything after "in English, it's like ok, stupid." is new)

Edit-Except for a few gaps, I'm pretty much done transcribing the talk about the re-translation.

In another part, they say they'd want a game in a new world with the exact same system as CT over a "real sequel".

Q.E.D.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: Vehek on January 16, 2008, 02:39:52 am
One thing I wonder about is the impact of the sample lines given on the Retranslation page. Do you think people would have reacted differently if more drastically different lines or more natural sounding lines had been chosen?
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: ZeaLitY on January 16, 2008, 02:52:07 am
People probably only give that image a cursory glance, and form strong opinions after they're hit with more lines while playing the game.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: Vehek on January 16, 2008, 02:58:00 am
Well, I was thinking about the impression people get even before trying the patch. Some people have dismissed the retranslation effort on those lines alone (I think this part is mostly before the patch was released).
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: Vehek on February 06, 2008, 12:03:19 am
Not a thread, but something I found just now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H03byYZaSrI
Quote
I am only slogging through this to show people the difference, but as you will see in my video, I am bit angry about something...and thats the fact that Chrono Compendium attempts to discredit the original translation by saying there are mistakes in it, but yet....you see my point.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: ZeaLitY on February 06, 2008, 12:47:03 am
I have made my reply. Looks like another person failed to read the Retranslation page.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: nightmare975 on February 06, 2008, 01:14:39 am
I have made my reply. Looks like another person failed to read the Retranslation page.

I guess you cannot stop a madman from ranting, go check out his reply to you.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: ZeaLitY on February 06, 2008, 01:25:06 am
His is a vague, middle-of-the-line complaint. Still, this all just puts off that Chrono Trigger fanboy vibe, like I got from that radio show, the people who ranted in broken English when CTR got a C&D order, and the kind who criticize Cross. You know, the ones who believe Chrono Trigger is God's Perfection or a perfect RPG; that kind of thing. I think we did offend some ultra-CT lovers.
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: Vehek on February 06, 2008, 08:10:02 pm
Archive I saved a while back
Quote from: GameFAQs
Vlado | Posted 9/29/2007 1:59:36 AM | message detail
Much as I dislike the fanatical anti-CT behaviour of the owner of that site, I have to give it up for the guys who spent hours of their life working on the re-translation.

Here's the truly relevant info:

http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Translation_Differences.html
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Its hard being a wolf when ur surrounded by a herd of sheep. - Mozzezz
Love.
Super Slash | Posted 9/29/2007 2:46:23 AM | message detail
Hmm... I might try this.
---
Current Amount of FAQs: 22 (6398 Total KB)
Current KB FAQ Rank: KB Queen
Suicide Vitriol | Posted 9/29/2007 12:05:53 PM | message detail
I have to give it up for the guys who spent hours of their life working on the re-translation.

No, see, that's the nice thing about it. You don't.

You can just look and say, "Wow what a bunch of wasted time and talent that could have been put to better use. Actual creative, useful individuals have died decades before their time from things like cancer or drug abuse or crazy gunmen, but these guys, these little urban achievers, felt it was a worthwhile endeavor to translate a game that has already existed in perfectly serviceable English for 12 years.

They set out to 'fix' a game that has already endeared hundreds of thousands with its charming original translation. Way to go, gentlemen.

While Mother 3 still sits incompleted, you have brought us a gift far greater. Finally, the injustice of fighting rock stars instead of condiments has been rectified."

See, you could do that instead.
---
Wilco/Threepwood '08
Vehek | Posted 9/29/2007 1:51:59 PM | message detail
Kwhazit did it as a hobby. And that was just the translation part.

And do you even know what mistakes were made in the original?
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If history is to change, change! If the world is to be destroyed, be destroyed!
If I am thus to vanish and be no more...... That in itself will be interesting!!-Magus, Japanese Chrono Trigger
Zeality | Posted 9/29/2007 3:59:02 PM | message detail
Yes, this was a hobby done by a Chrono fan for Chrono fans, not the work of some retranslation team. We wanted a canonical retranslation.

The project's pretty unique in that way. RPGOne's CT project has been sitting dormant for years now, and it's not like DarknessSavior or Suzaku's will be completed until 2009. But it's not like those will even be needed now. So lecture them.
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Play the retranslation of Chrono Trigger!
http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Retranslation.html
Shadow_Bunny | Posted 9/29/2007 10:02:30 PM | message detail
You know, you could just not use the patch instead of berating someone for making it.
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serenitychan | Posted 9/30/2007 1:47:16 AM | message detail
Oh great! I didn't have time to read the whole translation and just looked at the major differences. Might be cool to play through again and see what everybody *really* said in the game. Thanks for the patch =]
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Bill is my mummy
Siculu | Posted 9/30/2007 8:09:31 AM | message detail
Great, I've been looking forward to this. Thanks to everyone involved.
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Un mi dimenticu di ccu sugnu.
Falroth | Posted 9/30/2007 8:50:11 AM | message detail
I applied the patch and tested my end save file with it, and i already found a glitch..

Try talking to Ayla in the End of Time (in this case, the Far Reaches) towards the end of the game.... yeeesh what a glitch!!

Apart from this single flaw, it was very well done. But that sure is an ugly flaw.
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Valarond Falroth of the Stratumfolk Empire
Elsporko | Posted 9/30/2007 10:08:44 PM | message detail
While Mother 3 still sits incompleted, you have brought us a gift far greater.


The translation is pretty close to being done. You can even download a partial translation now.
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Dumbbaby.net
You cannot grasp the true form of Dumbaby’s attack
Travincal | Posted 9/30/2007 10:29:15 PM | message detail
I've found some bugs.

The new name for the town of Porre- the inn is still called Porre Inn instead of the new name

It is impossible to aquire a Dreamstone Bow for Marl. Both choices, "yes" and "no" with the caveman, act like "no".

There was another sequence earlier where yes and no had the opposite effect each, forgot where.

Cursor glitches and blocks part of the text sometimes.
BMJ | Posted 10/3/2007 10:46:04 PM | message detail
The thing that always bothers me about fan translations is when they make the translation worse, favoring accuracy over substance. I'm sure it's more accurate to the original source (I'll tell you when I've had enough soda!), but the actual meaning is lost. Let me explain.

Take Frog's name for example. In Japanese, it has 2 meanings: frog and transform. The English name Frog, preserves one of those meanings. To an English speaker Kaeru preserves neither of those meanings. It's just a gibberish name. The original translators went with Frog, which is the best you'll get meaning wise. The point is, in being more "accurate," the fansub actually loses meaning to an English speaker.

If translating for meaning, I'm sure there would be plenty of things I'd change in the game. Janus's Japanese name, Jaki, is a pun on Evil Aura. Imagine if he's been called Evara or something in the English translation. The name no longer sounds the same, but is closer in meaning.

When translating languages, some subtleties are going to be lost. What's important is trying to convey the point as accurately as possible. When a word is found that doesn't translate well, it shouldn't just be left untranslated. That's lazy and doesn't work at all. If this translation had done nothing but go through and remove the censorship and obvious errors I'd be happy. The reason I'm not interested in it though, is that it gets no more meaning across than the original.
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Vehek | Posted 10/3/2007 10:57:18 PM | message detail
Kwhazit didn't bother trying to preserve the whole kaeru thing either. He just went with "Frog"
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If history is to change, change! If the world is to be destroyed, be destroyed!
If I am thus to vanish and be no more...... That in itself will be interesting!!-Magus, Japanese Chrono Trigger
joseph_sw | Posted 10/4/2007 2:38:09 AM | message detail
kaeru ?

oh, you mean like the kero-kero-pi (the famous green amphibian icon)?
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Mwha ha ha ha ha
Zeality | Posted 10/4/2007 9:25:53 AM | message detail
The Japanese meanings, puns, and connotations are all noted in the annotated scripts. There was no way to note them in the game, however.
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Play the retranslation of Chrono Trigger!
http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Retranslation.html
Will VIIII | Posted 10/4/2007 8:08:37 PM | message detail
Perhaps you can answer my question. I sent an email not long ago, but doesn't hurt to ask you too.

Will this patch work with the Chrono Trigger Coliseum patch? I used both and so far the game seems to work perfectly fine. Would that cause it to glitch later?

Or has this not been considered? I'll probably find out anyway as I play.
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http://a794.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/93/l_8eeb2b672cb2a575789e82b2dd4ea0d9.jpg
WTF Mate?
Will VIIII | Posted 10/4/2007 9:05:30 PM | message detail
Maybe not. Gonzales was blue and I couldn't fight him. It didn't freeze or anything but I just couldn't fight him
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http://a794.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/93/l_8eeb2b672cb2a575789e82b2dd4ea0d9.jpg
WTF Mate?
Magus | Posted 10/4/2007 10:31:51 PM | message detail
Good stuff.

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"CONCLUSION: I am going to pull your head off, because I don't like your head."
~HK-47
Zeality | Posted 10/5/2007 8:46:09 AM | message detail
Oops, I don't check chronocompendium@gmail as much as I should. I sent a reply.
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Play the retranslation of Chrono Trigger!
http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Retranslation.html
Frog2 | Posted 10/6/2007 5:37:21 PM | message detail
That's really cool dude. *gets*

Thanks for posting this here.
---
Ahem.... there's SAND on my boots! -Kefka
Pearl FC: 5369-6893-7569
BigoSmallo | Posted 10/6/2007 6:22:02 PM | message detail
What the hell is the point of translating an english game into a different type of english game?! This was a huge waste of time and I really enjoyed the originals dialogue, they could have spent their time translating other amazing japanese games that were never released in english but they decided to waste their time on this. Dissapointing
Vehek | Posted 10/6/2007 6:29:33 PM | message detail
Again, it was just a hobby for Kwhazit.
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No, we need me---him. The only way I can repair the time machine is to use my---his lab. Damn these pronouns! -Doc Brown, first draft of BTTF2
Zeality | Posted 10/6/2007 9:14:36 PM | message detail
Yeah, sorry, but the Chrono Compendium is not part of the ROM hacking translation scene. KWhazit translated what he wanted to out of his own time apart from the people who specifically shoot for Japanese games. It's something to make you feel good and privileged about being a Chrono Trigger fan, not hate the world.
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Play the retranslation of Chrono Trigger!
http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Retranslation.html
Elsporko | Posted 10/7/2007 8:12:02 PM | message detail
I really enjoyed the originals dialogue


Some people didn't.
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Dumbbaby.net
You cannot grasp the true form of Dumbaby’s attack
V Translanka | Posted 10/10/2007 3:56:40 PM | message detail
What the hell is the point of translating an english game into a different type of english game?!

They didn't include a COMPLETE translation in the orignal English translation, bub. Things were left out for various reasons: censorship, time restraints, & cart space limitations.

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The Chrono Compendium - "Squaresoft's Abused, Neglected, Red-headed Step-Child"
www.chronocompendium.com
nimeoa | Posted 10/11/2007 12:26:17 AM | message detail
My biggest problem with this so far is that often, the original translation of certain dialogue means the exact same thing, but sounds way less convoluted than in this retranslation.
1337ozPWNSTEAK | Posted 10/11/2007 12:59:14 AM | message detail
I downloaded it and found out it will work with BOTH snes9x and zsnes! However, my biggest complaint is that it's very glitchy. Lots of screen flicker and Zero-Wing-esque engrish make it a bit hard to work with. Hopefully as I move farther along, it won't be as tough to play.
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I was Ignignoc in a former life...
http://gt4fox.proboards100.com/index.cgi? - For great justice.
Super Slash | Posted 10/11/2007 12:59:56 AM | message detail
I don't want to download this until the bugs are fixed.
---
Current Amount of FAQs: 22 (6398 Total KB)
Current KB FAQ Rank: KB Queen
Lvthn | Posted 10/17/2007 9:45:31 PM | message detail
Played it through.

I must say...waste of time. A quick review, and I'm being honest here:

Riddled with Engrish. Really bad Engrish. I have no idea why this is, but the dialogue is definitely a lot less charming in many places. Famous and delightful lines like "Tis the Masamune?" are removed.

The naming conventions make little sense to most English speakers and add nothing to the game. Do I care if Crono is now Crono-sama? No. That actually just kinda irritates me.

Item names are often...wtf. Accurate maybe, but decidedly less informative, if that's possible.

Stuff changed: profanity is now kept intact and soda is now sake. Yay? Oh yeah, there was one really humorous bit involving Ayla and Marle that was restored (Guardia Castle, just before fighting Yakra XIII). That was cute.

Overall, this could have been better by just restoring a few of the harsher words, putting "beer" or something in place of soda, and restoring the above mentioned scene. The other differences are honestly totally negligible and you'll be hard pressed to figure out why anyone cares or thinks that the original translation was lacking.

I applaud the effort, but this is not an improved translation.
Zeality | Posted 10/18/2007 1:28:41 PM | message detail
I applaud the effort, but this is not an improved translation.

Well, I'm not posting from Gamespot, so I cant use the correct image. So I'll just paraphrase:

You really missed it that time, slugger!

"Welcome to last week" would also be applicable.
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Play the retranslation of Chrono Trigger!
http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Retranslation.html
sonicandtails218 | Posted 10/18/2007 5:37:13 PM | message detail
In other words, it's meant to be an accurate translation from Japanese to English. If nothing else, this shows why localization as well as translation is important in video games.
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"There is nothing in this existence, no good, no evil. There is only selflessness and selfishness, both equal in their worth." -Insomniac by Choice
Lvthn | Posted 10/21/2007 8:58:00 PM | message detail
Hmm? I got the point, but I disagree with your assessment that this is an improvement. Accuracy does not equate to better translation. There is always the need to take the audience into account and make it playable. Many of the words used in this re-translation make no sense at all to an English speaker.

Not only that, but even perfectly accurate translation will still miss things. I recall seeing a interview with the creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion in which he stated that he felt American audiences would read more into the symbolism than he intended, because in Japan Judeo-Christian symbols are exotic and neutral, while in the US they will almost unavoidably seen as allegory.

Jyaki (the re-translation's version of Janus) means nothing to me. Janus is a mildly exotic name that connotates the Greek god by that name and maybe has a mystical feeling to it. Jyaki sounds like Engrish for jockey, even though I am aware that it means evil aura.

Like I said, I applaud the effort but it is not a definitive functional translation, more like a curiousity that could be much better understood with a simple "translation differences" document.
AceTheMage | Posted 10/22/2007 12:54:58 AM | message detail
Lvthn
Posted 10/17/2007 10:45:31 PM
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The naming conventions make little sense to most English speakers and add nothing to the game. Do I care if Crono is now Crono-sama? No. That actually just kinda irritates me.

Well, here's the thing. English is a very casual/informal language, thus, it's hard to detect tone when it's written. Without honorific, it's really hard to tell what attitude the speaker has towards the subject. In your example, using -sama denotes respect, and adding it in the translation provides more depth in the story and allows the player to understand the intent of the speech better.

Oh, and like others have said, if you don't like it, you don't have to use it. It's been said that the purpose of this project is to bring the game closer to the original. So, if you don't like a more literal translation that tries to reserve the original, then just play the English version as is.
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Zeality | Posted 10/22/2007 1:13:23 AM | message detail
Accuracy does not equate to better translation

Cite me on this. I've only said that we wanted to make a canonical bible, and that we could never hope to outdo Ted Woolsey or an equal salaried localization team.
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Play the retranslation of Chrono Trigger!
http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Retranslation.html
fidormula | Posted 10/27/2007 6:12:40 PM | message detail
"Many of the words used in this re-translation make no sense at all to an English speaker."

Not just words, but entire sentences are syntactically awkward and sometimes incoherent. There are also many typographical errors.

I admire the project and believe that accuracy is important, but I don't think that readability should be sacrificed for the sake of a few ideas. So far, the ideas are outnumbered. I've enjoyed: the fact that Crono's mom has a name, that Marle is short for Marledia, Frog's line about being drunk with victory, and the Chancellor's continued use of the term "terrorist" when describing Crono.

If you guys plan on putting out another version, let me know. I volunteer to proof it. I'm an English major (not that that high of an education is necessary for a game as simplistic as CT, but it clearly didn't get a proper proofreading the first time). I suppose I could just download Temporal Flux and git'r'dun myself, but I don't want to be any more presumptuous than I have already.

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sonicandtails218 | Posted 10/27/2007 9:05:58 PM | message detail
Guys, it's meant to be a fully literal translation. We don't need a less literal translation for the benefit of the reader-Woolsey already did one.
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Zeality | Posted 10/27/2007 9:30:08 PM | message detail
"Proofing" it will sacrifice accuracy of its own volition by creating a second-generation distillation in the English language. The translator is the only one who can preserve the original meaning, and since a great US translation already exists (officially, too), we're not going to try and outdo it. Instead, we created a canonical bible.

None of the sentences is "totally unreadable".
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Play the retranslation of Chrono Trigger!
http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Retranslation.html
fidormula | Posted 10/28/2007 12:11:34 PM | message detail
"it's meant to be a fully literal translation"

There is no such thing. The very act of translation requires one to pick and choose words, especially when we are dealing with languages of two very different roots.

Proofreading for coherence is one thing. Proofreading for typos is another. You can't say that an obvious error is a literal translation.

For instance, before you get to name Robo, it says "Robo:" as he is speaking. If this is intentional, that's fine, but I see it as being a mistake that somebody didn't catch.

Which raises another point. Shouldn't the translator at least proof his own work?
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First United Church of Xenogears
Zeality | Posted 10/28/2007 3:48:00 PM | message detail
There is no such thing.

Preserving the order of clauses and other sentence structure qualifies 'literal'.

Oh, and next time we proof 400 kb of pure text, we'll call you. I'm sure you'll be able to deliver a completely typo-free product.
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Play the retranslation of Chrono Trigger!
http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Retranslation.html
fidormula | Posted 10/28/2007 4:59:51 PM | message detail
Oddly enough, that sounds like my idea of fun.
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First United Church of Xenogears
Title: Re: Retranslation Thread List
Post by: Vehek on February 06, 2008, 08:22:57 pm
Grr...
From the youtube video:
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We've only found ONE error so far as far as I know in Kwhazit's re-translation. Error as in "mistake in meaning".
MagusX1 (31 minutes ago) Show Hide Marked as spam
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Yuo donot get it do you? Your script is not easy to understand, obviously the purists such as yourself donot get it.....its not easy to understand.
I've also found the Gametrailers thread he mentioned and put it in the first post.
edit-
Yaaarghhhhh!
Quote from: MagusX1, Gametrailers
You will notice that the Chrono Compendium folks are not happy with me in the least, but yet, I have caught them in their arrogance about their new translation. Thats what pisses me off about it, is they claim not to bash the original script, but they do it anyway.....so now they came to my page and well yea...you get the point.

edit 2-I've gotten in an argument with him through Youtube's PMs. It looks like it's mostly over the words of the re-translation page. He thinks they're arrogant.

EDIT 3-
To anyone reading this: If you're going to criticize MagusX1, do so in a civilized manner...