AnimeSuki Forums

AnimeFangirl · 2011-11-24, 18:25

I've been wondering this for years, so I'm finally going to ask.

When the same game receives a localization in the US and in the EU from different companies, do both companies carry out the process separately or do they buy rights from each other?

Let take Ar Tonelico, for example. It was translated and localized for the US by NIS and for Europe by 505 Game Street. Now obviously NIS already went through the trouble of translating it into English, so did Game Street simply buy the English rights off Atlus and add the other languages or did they start from scratch? If it's the latter, does this mean there are two different English translations of Ar Tonelico out there?

hyl · 2011-11-24, 18:28

I have seen companies doing their own and sometimes very different translations, like advance wars (forgot which sequel, but it was not the original) for the US and Eu came out at roughly the same time. While some other company would buy the rights from the american translation, like probably Zen united did with blazblue when they ported it to europe.

edit: so i think it's cheaper to buy the rights from the translation from the company who relesed the game before you did, but if the 2 companies are releasing the same game at roughtly the same time then they would use their own translators.

AnimeFangirl · 2011-11-24, 18:48

I see. So there are games out there with different translations. Do you know any other examples apart from Advance Wars?

TJR · 2011-11-24, 19:12

Supposedly, Record of Agarest War is another example.

hyl · 2011-11-24, 19:16

Sorry besides advance wars ,none that i have played have different translations. Also those 2 advance wars games even have different names for the characters.

demonix · 2011-11-25, 07:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJR

Supposedly, Record of Agarest War is another example.

That is only because the EU translation was rushed and the US version just has a better translation (plus it has extra material (and trophies) that the EU version doesn't have).

Also some companies might change some parts to match correct spellings in other countries.

Sides · 2011-11-25, 10:11

Some nintendo published games have different translations, like Another Code: Two Memories/Trace Memory; Professor Layton series, the european version of the Last Specter/Spectre's Call has London Life scarped because of translation time; Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon and probably more.

An older but good article is over on gamasutra.

It always comes back to the budget a project gets assigned. If they have a big budget most companies would redo the work to please their target audience. It is pretty much like fansubs, some people prefer an adapted approach others a more 1:1 translation/interpretation.

AnimeFangirl · 2011-11-25, 14:04

Thanks for a lot for all the replies. I'm glad I asked and got it off my chest.

2011-11-24, 18:25	Link #1
AnimeFangirl Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The dog gossips too much.	About US/EU localizations I've been wondering this for years, so I'm finally going to ask. When the same game receives a localization in the US and in the EU from different companies, do both companies carry out the process separately or do they buy rights from each other? Let take Ar Tonelico, for example. It was translated and localized for the US by NIS and for Europe by 505 Game Street. Now obviously NIS already went through the trouble of translating it into English, so did Game Street simply buy the English rights off Atlus and add the other languages or did they start from scratch? If it's the latter, does this mean there are two different English translations of Ar Tonelico out there? __________________

2011-11-24, 18:28	Link #2
hyl reading #hikaributts Join Date: Feb 2009	I have seen companies doing their own and sometimes very different translations, like advance wars (forgot which sequel, but it was not the original) for the US and Eu came out at roughly the same time. While some other company would buy the rights from the american translation, like probably Zen united did with blazblue when they ported it to europe. edit: so i think it's cheaper to buy the rights from the translation from the company who relesed the game before you did, but if the 2 companies are releasing the same game at roughtly the same time then they would use their own translators. Last edited by hyl; 2011-11-24 at 18:45.

2011-11-24, 18:48	Link #3
AnimeFangirl Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The dog gossips too much.	I see. So there are games out there with different translations. Do you know any other examples apart from Advance Wars? __________________

2011-11-25, 14:04	Link #8
AnimeFangirl Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The dog gossips too much.	Thanks for a lot for all the replies. I'm glad I asked and got it off my chest. __________________

2011-11-24, 19:12	Link #4
TJR Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009	Supposedly, Record of Agarest War is another example.

2011-11-24, 19:16	Link #5
hyl reading #hikaributts Join Date: Feb 2009	Sorry besides advance wars ,none that i have played have different translations. Also those 2 advance wars games even have different names for the characters.

2011-11-25, 10:11	Link #7
Sides Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Edinburgh Age: 42	Some nintendo published games have different translations, like Another Code: Two Memories/Trace Memory; Professor Layton series, the european version of the Last Specter/Spectre's Call has London Life scarped because of translation time; Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon and probably more. An older but good article is over on gamasutra. It always comes back to the budget a project gets assigned. If they have a big budget most companies would redo the work to please their target audience. It is pretty much like fansubs, some people prefer an adapted approach others a more 1:1 translation/interpretation.