dialogue / translation
 

You mentioned elsewhere that the dialogue was one of the last things to be written. I'm assuming it was written in German first?

I'm just curious about the translation process - did you (or someone else at HoT) translate the dialogue in-house? Was there any need to involve native English speakers as consultants? Any issues getting idioms / jokes / slang translated so that they still worked once they were translated?

-emily

The dialogue was written in German, yes. I wish I could write it in English, because translation can always mean losses (and in any case loss of full creative control).

We handed it to a localization agency. They had eight translators working on the script, all native speakers, many of them New Yorkers. When we got the script it back, I sum checked it as good as I could, ironed out some bad-language issues (four letter words, you know...:))

Eight translators! Wow, that's a lot. :) Good that there were some New Yorkers in the bunch. Was the voice talent for the English version also out of New York?

-emily

The dialogue was written in German, yes. I wish I could write it in English, because translation can always mean losses (and in any case loss of full creative control).

We handed it to a localization agency. They had eight translators working on the script, all native speakers, many of them New Yorkers. When we got the script it back, I sum checked it as good as I could, ironed out some bad-language issues (four letter words, you know...:))

edit: Now that MOS is completed, we're considering to have a consultant on the team the next time around, who is not only English native, but also a writer. It's obvious that script translation problems can do great harm to a story-driven game.

Incidentally, did you manage to fulfil the fundamental principle of voice-casting - that the main enemy in a game/film must have a posh, British voice?

Does that person have to live in Germany...? :D

-emily (writer and native English speaker)

coughSteveIncecough

:D

EDIT: So, your nightly meetings at that Mercedes dealer's parking lot are finally paying off, eh? :P

Actually, NOT living in Germany is an advantage. ;)

The Netherlands? :D Nah go with Incie!!

I think I remember him saying that it must be spelled Incey. :D

Steve and I are in touch. You know, we have this occult secret society thing going on behind the scenes.

That's right. :)

I'm having a trouble getting the goat, Martin...

Well, Steve, if you could remove the one from Broken Sword 1 and use that, I would be much obliged...

Geeze I love that goat :D

*raises eyebrows*

I think I've found the goat:

http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/star-wa...html?fromint=1

Um hmmm ....

How do you know it didn't FIND you.... :shifty:
It knows where you live Steve...really.

That would explain the startled look on the cat's face...

Ohh ..sigh,

So the Goat's revenge is at hand..

You'll be missed... much :\

Hmmm better chat up the goat, new order and all that.

Thanks - now I have that pesky how to wow the new order thing neatly solved. A new door knocker!