Polishing up Whale's Voyage 2 translation

[Crowley]

I hope this is the right section to mention this. I've gotten into Whale's Voyage 1 & 2 recently and decided I'd give a hand at fixing the glitches with the official translation which can be acquired here: http://aminet.net/package/game/patch/WV2EPatch
Luckily this seems like it is a fairly simple, though time-consuming matter since the translated files are in plain text form. Mostly I've seen glitches caused by text overflow in the cockpit screen. I also hope to alter some of the wordings to sound more natural. For example the official translation says "all entrances are overloaded" when it means all the (phone) lines are busy. Here's a comparison shot to hopefully show I'm not just full of hot air:



Maybe I'll change "customs document" to "customs declaration"... Anyway, I'll be slowly making my way through the game and try to fix what I see. I might eventually call for playtesters to see if there is text I have missed.

edit: I have now finished a version which is open for testing. Download it below and feel free to report any errors you may find.

[kriz]

very cool ! I can test if needed..

[NewDeli]

Plain text files used for the patch ? wow, that's an "improvised" game translator dream came true.

You also mentioned some words still in German if I am not confused, I know at least two veteran German EAB members who would eventually lend a hand .

Very cool idea, I agree !

[Crowley]

There is no German text remaining that I can see, but I do admit I sometimes check the German original since the translation is sometimes so baffling. Luckily the save files are completely compatible. One merchant for example opened his transactions with a hearty "Bye!" I looked in the German text, and there he says "ciao", which can be used for both greeting and parting. I have already asked a couple of German friends of mine for some advice, but if those veterans you mention happen to notice this thread, I welcome all help in that area.

[TCD]

Hi Crowley,

it's good to see that you improve the patch If you ever need to have a second opinion about how to translate something, feel free to ask here. I'm sure the other german 'natives' are watching this thread too

[Crowley]

Here's the first thing I submit to be reviewed by the German-speakers here:

-Du siehst aus, wie jemand, der weiss, wo man gute Geschäfte machen kann.
-Und ihr seht aus wie Typen, die sehr neugierig sind.
-Hast du 'nen Tip für uns?
-Na, ja, ich habe gehört die "sauberern" Geschäftsleute auf ihren Handelsposten auch mal Linke Geschäfte drehen.
-Linke geschäfte?
-Zum Teil werden illegale Waren verkauft, die night selten 3-4 mal so teuer sind, als sie gekauft wurden.
-Kennst du Zahlen?
-Hättet ihr wohl gern, was? Aber checkt erst mal die Preise, bevor ihr euch runiniert. Ciao.

And here's the developer's translation:

-You look like someone who knows where a good deal's to be had.
-And you seem like very inquisitive people.
-Do you have a tip for us?
-Yeah, I've heard the "more honest" businessmen do the odd dodgy deal at their trading posts.
-Dodgy deals?
-Illegal goods are sometimes sold for 3 to 4 times more than what they were bought for.
-Heard of paying?
-You're pretty eager! But check the price first, before you lose all your money.

[Retro-Nerd]

Originally Posted by Crowley

Here's the first thing I submit to be reviewed by the German-speakers here:
And here's the developer's translation:

-Hast du 'nen Tip für uns?

Do you have a hint for us?

-Na, ja, ich habe gehört die "sauberern" Geschäftsleute auf ihren Handelsposten auch mal Linke Geschäfte drehen.

-Well, I've heard the "more honest" businessmen occasionally do dodgy deals at their trading posts.

-Hättet ihr wohl gern, was? Aber checkt erst mal die Preise, bevor ihr euch runiniert. Ciao.

You wish! But check the prices first, before you lose all your money. Bye.

-Kennst du Zahlen?

Do you know the figures?

Sounds better.

[Crowley]

Thanks. Now that I think of it, this is the second time I've seen the game translate "na ja" as a straight "yes".

[Crowley]

Here's one of the strangest lines I have come across:

The Bettah lay great store by their arty ways.

The original is:

Bettah legen viel wert auf die künstlerische gestaltung ihrer wege.

At some places the translation flows very naturally, and in others you see stuff like this. It's like they had several people working on the translation.

[TCD]

I would put it this way :

The Bettah place great value on the artistic arrangement of their lanes.

Maybe you should use another word for arrangement though
Oh and of course only if 'Wege' refers to to something like a street...

[Crowley]

Yeah, you get the message when examining a bush on the streetside. This confused me, because at first I thought it meant "ways" as in "traditions", instead of physical roads. Now I've got it as "The Bettah place great weight on aesthetics in their urban planning."

[TCD]

Originally Posted by Crowley

Yeah, you get the message when examining a bush on the streetside. This confused me, because at first I thought it meant "ways" as in "traditions", instead of physical roads. Now I've got it as "The Bettah place great weight on aesthetics in their urban planning."

Your translation sounds good I think I should play the second part someday

[Retro-Nerd]

Originally Posted by Crowley

At some places the translation flows very naturally, and in others you see stuff like this. It's like they had several people working on the translation.

It seems so.

Bettah legen viel wert auf die künstlerische gestaltung ihrer wege.

The Bettah appreciate the artistic design of their lanes.

I would translate it this way.

[Crowley]

Another odd one here, the response to asking for a location.

Auf level 2, in der anderen ebene, aber dort könnt ihr nicht hin, glaube ich.

On level 2, on the other plane, but I don't think you can go there.

I have really no idea what "der anderen ebene" refers to here. I found the place, and that doesn't really supply any additional context that might help figure this out.

[TCD]

I think the best translation would actually be 'level', but since you can't use it twice here exchange one of the two 'level' with 'section'. This one is indeed odd

[Crowley]

Now that I think of it, maybe that's meant like "level 2, that's the other floor of this place".

[TCD]

Originally Posted by Crowley

Now that I think of it, maybe that's meant like "level 2, that's the other floor of this place".

Spot on Floor was the word I was looking for

[Crowley]

Next one up:

Die einwohner geben immer und jedem auskunft, aber ich kann euch versichern, er hat es in sich.

People are always saying all sorts of things, but let me tell you, there's a lot going on.

The last part of this line is what I haven't found a good wording for. A friend of mine suggested "packs a punch" as one possible translation for "er hat es in sich", but I don't think that works so well here.

[TCD]

Depends on who 'er' (he) is. Would help a lot to know that

[Retro-Nerd]

IRADA IST EIN SELTSAMER PLANET, DIE EINWOHNER GEBEN IMMER UND JEDEM AUSKUNFT, ABER ICH KANN EUCH VERSICHERN, DER IST NICHT OHNE (same meaning).

"Er" means the planet Irada, right?

Irada is a strange planet, the people provide informations to everyone, but let me tell you, who's not half bad.

Is "who" correct in this case? Or maybe "that".