As long as don't use honorifcs in your english translations, I'll never complain of your decisions.

Regarding Slayers specifically, Filler and I recently discussed honorifics. It's interesting that someone would bring up this same subject so soon and this early in the project, but my translated script had Connie addressing Lina as Lina-san at their initial meeting in the goblin pit. Filler concurred with my suggested localization treatment of this purely Japanese style, so now the first draft of the script has Connie referring to the heroine as Miss Lina. If any avid Slayers fans out there who are intimately familiar with the precise relationship between these two women wants to guide us toward a more specific language that Connie might employ to pay deference to Lina, I'm all ears (read: fingers).

Uh, that aside for a moment, the Slayers world hardly seems one based around Japanese culture, so the -san seemed to me to be mostly employed to denote a title as 'miss' or 'sir'; clearly only for people you would address as such.

Personally, I have no problem with changing cultural references, provided they are not related to the plot, themes and setting of the game. But when a game (or show) is clearly set in Japan, with Japanese characters, and they localize it to America specifically... I don't know, it bothers me. It's not like America is the only English speaking country thats going to be playing the game! Why not keep the Japanese cultural references and give us all a chance to learn something? (I watch my sailor moon with subtitles... )

Having said that, there is a balance, and sometimes jokes just don't translate at all, and sometimes to capture the spirit of the script is far more important than accuracy... for example, the Phoenix Wright games had excellent localisation, because so many of the jokes were based around pop culture and puns that just don't work unless you know a lot about Japan (or are Japanese), but they still kept the spirit of the original game.

/twocents


Regarding Slayers it's a fantasy setting, go nuts

IIRC, the English translators of the anime had Amelia use "Miss Lina" frequently to show respect so I'd recommend doing the same thing. I'd highly recommend against using Japanese honorifics in an English translation unless Japan & the Japanese language is a focal point of the story.

Also, I have to say that I'm thrilled that a reliable group is finally tackling this game. The one and only translation hack I have ever done was for Slayers (translating menus & the like) so this game holds a special place in my heart. And hey, if you want another beta tester, I'd be thrilled to help out (I'm a big Slayers fan & I've played through the Japanese version of the game already).

I'm happy I was on track with the Slayers community in my usage of Miss Lina, but I see it more as a term based on fear rather than respect - which may be the same thing!

Hi Robert,

Welcome to D-D! Hey, since you have already done some menu work and because Filler is tied up with a benefit this weekend, would you possibly help me with some Slayers menu files I am struggling to translate 100% accurately? If so, I will upload them into a zip file and provide a link, then I can return to writing more early dialogue.