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Old 11-10-2004, 12:52 PM   #1
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Default 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
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Old 11-10-2004, 01:02 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by fov
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...)
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Old 11-10-2004, 01:06 PM   #3
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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
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Old 11-10-2004, 01:06 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fov
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...)

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.

Last edited by Martin Gantefoehr; 11-10-2004 at 04:10 PM.
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Old 11-10-2004, 01:07 PM   #5
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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?
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Old 11-10-2004, 01:08 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by Martin Gantefoehr
edit: Now that MOS is completed, we're considering to have a consultant on the tam 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.
Does that person have to live in Germany...?

-emily (writer and native English speaker)
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Old 11-10-2004, 02:17 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin Gantefoehr
edit: Now that MOS is completed, we're considering to have a consultant on the tam 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.
coughSteveIncecough



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

Last edited by Mattsius; 11-10-2004 at 02:23 PM.
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Old 11-10-2004, 02:18 PM   #8
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Does that person have to live in Germany...?
Actually, NOT living in Germany is an advantage.
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Old 11-10-2004, 02:23 PM   #9
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Actually, NOT living in Germany is an advantage.
The Netherlands? Nah go with Incie!!
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Old 11-10-2004, 02:33 PM   #10
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Incie
I think I remember him saying that it must be spelled Incey.

Steve and I are in touch. You know, we have this occult secret society thing going on behind the scenes.
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Old 11-11-2004, 12:24 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin Gantefoehr
I think I remember him saying that it must be spelled Incey.
That's right.

Quote:
Steve and I are in touch. You know, we have this occult secret society thing going on behind the scenes.
I'm having a trouble getting the goat, Martin...
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Old 11-11-2004, 01:36 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Ince
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...
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Old 11-11-2004, 02:21 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by timcclayton
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
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Old 11-11-2004, 02:35 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by New_Order
Geeze I love that goat
*raises eyebrows*
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Old 11-11-2004, 06:52 AM   #15
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I think I've found the goat:

http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/star-wa...html?fromint=1
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Old 11-11-2004, 06:58 AM   #16
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I think I've found the goat:
Um hmmm ....

How do you know it didn't FIND you....
It knows where you live Steve...really.
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Old 11-11-2004, 07:07 AM   #17
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That would explain the startled look on the cat's face...
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Old 11-11-2004, 07:12 AM   #18
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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.
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Old 11-11-2004, 07:22 AM   #19
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http://www.churchofsatan.com/Graphic...endillo1lg.jpg
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Old 11-11-2004, 07:24 AM   #20
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Thanks - now I have that pesky how to wow the new order thing neatly solved. A new door knocker!
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