What is the current status of fan translations?

[HeiFeng]

Hello! I'm a literary translator from Brazil. Recently I got interested in translating some games from Japanese to English, especially some titles like The Fear, Kamaitachi no Yoru and Tantei Jinguuji Saburou. However, considering the Visual Novel community, in which a history of scam crowdfunding campaigns caused the community to become increasingly suspicious about any fundraising, I ask myself if this also happen within the Rom Translation community.

Can anyone give me some insights into this and also about fundraising projects available today?

 

[Xdqwerty Xdqwerty]

I think fan translations have been getting somewhat better

 

[freebie#47]

MMmhhh...from what I've read it is a heavy hard job with little fanfare and high chance of retaliation from copyright owners. They do go after everyone. Good luck with it.

 

[otogirisou]

On average, the translations are still made and released nearly every 1 or 2 week. Take a look at this:

scam crowdfunding campaigns caused the community

most, if not all, of retro game translation projects are free

 

[JackNoir413]

MMmhhh...from what I've read it is a heavy hard job with little fanfare and high chance of retaliation from copyright owners. They do go after everyone. Good luck with it.

fan translators are modern heroes. they dont get anything in return most of the time they just want to share the things they like with people who cant speak the language to enjoy it untranslated. im sure god has a special place for fanTL groups in heaven.

 

[JDCP]

most, if not all, of retro game translation projects are free

all of em, you can't put a pricetag to a translation

fan translators are modern heroes. they dont get anything in return most of the time they just want to share the things they like with people who cant speak the language to enjoy it untranslated. im sure god has a special place for fanTL groups in heaven.

People who do this kind of stuff, as well as mods or free games do so because of the joy they feel when making this. This is not a job, but it takes a big toll both in their time and their minds, so their feelings somehow manage to overcome the painstaking effort that such works of quality demand.

I admire them for that. Out of topic but I have a friend who translates japanese books he likes just because of that Some people want their favorite things to be experienced by all who are interested but don't feel themselves like popping a text translator.

They do go after everyone. Good luck with it.

Really? I thought fan translations were completely legal. I've seen countless translations and even dubs for say, n64 games among others, that have never faced any sort of problem. Maybe if they posted the full game translated, but that goes agains't the rules anyway...

It's just changing some text, font and sometimes graphics not much else Besides most translations are for old as hell games. What company (Besides Nintendo and even then I haven't heard about many translations being called out by them) will care about games that came more than a decade ago?

Even fucking JoJo's for ps3 has a translation, that's some wacky shit right there.

 

[freebie#47]

Really? I thought fan translations were completely legal. I've seen countless translations and even dubs for say, n64 games among others, that have never faced any sort of problem. Maybe if they posted the full game translated, but that goes agains't the rules anyway...

It's just changing some text, font and sometimes graphics not much else Besides most translations are for old as hell games. What company (Besides Nintendo and even then I haven't heard about many translations being called out by them) will care about games that came more than a decade ago?

Even fucking JoJo's for ps3 has a translation, that's some wacky shit right there.

Unfortunately it is a violation of most countries copyright laws, include the text and story. Even just releasing the patch to change the text is also considered illegal. Best way to avoid legal trouble is to, AND THIS IMPORTANT, don't become hugely popular. This site can attest to that as the previous version site got hit hard. Heck even Romhacking.net got hit several times too. Most times it is usually just the C&D which means, purge it or face a huge consequences.

Hope a moderator reads this carefully before deleting this. I'm not against it, I just don't want people to do something without understanding the risks involved.

 

[HeiFeng]

People who do this kind of stuff, as well as mods or free games do so because of the joy they feel when making this. This is not a job, but it takes a big toll both in their time and their minds, so their feelings somehow manage to overcome the painstaking effort that such works of quality demand.

I did this until now, but I also think we could build a culture of helping projects like this with voluntary donations. Of course putting a price into this is wrong. However, since I began thinking about how I could share translations for free - both from games and books -, I reached the conclusion that if I want to do this for life, I would need to open donations so people could help me make a living only through this.

I kinda feel bad charging fees for my work because culture should be available for all people. Also, by living from donations, we don't charge from people who can't pay, while people who CAN pay and are willing to can help with any amount they want.

I feel that piracy and donations are the true way for us to create a world where culture is available to all and everyone can benefit from this.

 

[Kingace19k]

I did this until now, but I also think we could build a culture of helping projects like this with voluntary donations. Of course putting a price into this is wrong. However, since I began thinking about how I could share translations for free - both from games and books -, I reached the conclusion that if I want to do this for life, I would need to open donations so people could help me make a living only through this.

I kinda feel bad charging fees for my work because culture should be available for all people. Also, by living from donations, we don't charge from people who can't pay, while people who CAN pay and are willing to can help with any amount they want.

I feel that piracy and donations are the true way for us to create a world where culture is available to all and everyone can benefit from this.

Nah you shouldn't feel bad man fan translation are a godsend I think people will agree as long as its reasonable they'll pay I would love to eventually play digimon story: super xros wars one day.

 

[JDCP]

I did this until now, but I also think we could build a culture of helping projects like this with voluntary donations. Of course putting a price into this is wrong. However, since I began thinking about how I could share translations for free - both from games and books -, I reached the conclusion that if I want to do this for life, I would need to open donations so people could help me make a living only through this.

Yes, some people run on a strict basis that doesn't allow for any sort of monetary gain, and that's something I respect A LOT but even if you accept donations or ask for funds I wouldn't complain. Money is the engine of society, without it nothing moves, therefore I can see when someone needs a hand and as I said this takes a lot of time and effort which is never rewarded in your average currency.

Making a living through this? Well I don't think that's possible, I suggest you look into companies that translate works instead of trying to freelance yourself into this as this kind of works is unofficial, therefore you can't assure a safe income. Still you can try and hey let us know how it goes.

I kinda feel bad charging fees for my work because culture should be available for all people. Also, by living from donations, we don't charge from people who can't pay, while people who CAN pay and are willing to can help with any amount they want.

Like @Kingace19k said, same way as I did before, you shouldn't feel bad for that my friend! You're doing a great job and all your doing is asking for a little hand, nothing else. it's up to people to decide whether they give you that hand or not. And as you say it's not a requirement, so you have my full support even though I'd prefer otherwise.

I feel that piracy and donations are the true way for us to create a world where culture is available to all and everyone can benefit from this.

Not so much piracy, but donations certainly, hell the church has been doing this since eons why can't we?

Just remember, doing this as a job and as a passion is two completely different things, motivated by uneven causes... but you can go forth with both as long as you know their limits.

Given your background I can see where your ideas come from, I come from a similar place to yours, so I get the feeling How did you learn japanese anyway? I have friends who have taught me some ways to learn on my own, but I'd like to hear what path you took.

Hope a moderator reads this carefully before deleting this. I'm not against it, I just don't want people to do something without understanding the risks involved.

Didn't knew about that part, very sad then. Still I don't think translations become very popular anyway thanks for the info anyway, that might come handy in the future as I'd also like to translate some works.

 

[Teone]

I did this until now, but I also think we could build a culture of helping projects like this with voluntary donations.

No, people here are incorrect, there are some patreons and stuff for translations. Look for Hilltop's and Rani Baker's works if you want some amazing examples. They are few but the ones I know are very interesting communities.