Translating a game HELP

[Rekrul]

(11-10-2013 05:30 AM)globe94 Wrote:  if only all japanese games has "select language" in options menu. then we wouldn't need patches

I actually got into an argument over this with a user on YouTube. It basically went like this;

Me: When they're writing this games, they should add an English option so that the games can be played outside of Japan.

Him: It would cost too much for them to hire someone to do the translation.

Me: All the game company would have to do is ask for volunteers and they'd get people willing to translate the game for free. People already do that with no help at all from the company. If they were provided the script to the game with all the text, it would be simple for them to provide an English translation that the company could include in the game.

Him: It wouldn't be simple, it would be impossible. Written Japanese can't be understood out of context. A script of all the text in the game would be completely useless.

Me: So how do the Japanese understand the text when they see it in the game?

Him: You're an idiot! If you want to play these games go learn Japanese or just figure them out!

So if you take the text off the screen and paste it into a document, it suddenly becomes meaningless?