Letter from the Producer LIVE Part II (10/25/2011)

[Tsukino]

Interpretation is difficult work, and typing makes it even more difficult. In person, people who are holding a conversation across a language barrier with the aid of an interpreter have to wait for things to be repeated back and forth, and such a convenience isn't there in a 90-minute talk.

Square Enix is not some massive multi-national corporation or big news organization that can afford to hire such gifted interpreters for a live web chat. It would be great if they could do it, but it just doesn't seem that feasible. It's impressive enough that their localization team can handle things fast enough to get patches out simultaneously.

How is it even possible to get inaccurate translations when the reps are translating in realtime and posting the things on twitter so you have an official translation the moment the question got answered live....................

Spoken like someone who truly hasn't even attempted to learn another language. Translations that take weeks are often still inaccurate, because translation is an art and not a science. Languages may be equally complex, but their parts never correspond one-to-one.

It is impossible to exactly convey what someone is saying in another language, and all translators are working to recreate the intent/meaning behind words. The less time given to make these adjustments and rework sentences, the more inaccuracies will arise.

[Holland]

So, We have the chance our question gets picked from the lot so the Producer/Director of FFXIV answers it himself, Live. This is done across the globe for all Regions and... "It's not worth it to get up so early to be there..."

Some of you are hilarious...

[Alixandir]

It has youtube's internal subs. I think you need to press the cc button if it doesn't start automatically.

Aah, thanks mate.

[charlemagne]

So they're supposed to hire a skilled stenographer that can fluently translate from Japanese to English on-the-fly? Do you realize how incredibly silly that sounds for something that isn't going to happen very often?

Where did I write anything like that? I don't see where I wrote anything like that. Does anyone else see where I wrote anything like that?
I did write that I'm surprised that they hadn't made more effort. I'd be surprised if a company the size of SE didn't have people already employed who could solve this issue. Someone to do a voiceover wouldn't be too difficult to find surely. I could find one from a temp agency for a few hours no problem so why can't they?

[Risae]

Where did I write anything like that? I don't see where I wrote anything like that. Does anyone else see where I wrote anything like that?
I did write that I'm surprised that they hadn't made more effort. I'd be surprised if a company the size of SE didn't have people already employed who could solve this issue. Someone to do a voiceover wouldn't be too difficult to find surely. I could find one from a temp agency for a few hours no problem so why can't they?

And who do you think is going to pay for this?

[charlemagne]

And who do you think is going to pay for this?

I don't believe the cost is a real factor. An interpreter from an agency for a few hours really isn't much of an expense to a large company. A quick search online and I find jobs paying temp Japanese-English interpreters £8 - £15 per hour. Not a huge amount for the goodwill it would earn them from the players.

[Chardrizard]

How is it even possible to get inaccurate translations when the reps are translating in realtime and posting the things on twitter so you have an official translation the moment the question got answered live....................

Do some people think before they talk?

By live i mean subtitle in all 4 languages while he talks, the twitter translations isn't live, that is late, even if its 5mins late, it is still late. People are asking and getting angry that SE can't provides subtitle in english while he is in interview.

[Delsus]

Square Enix is not some massive multi-national corporation or big news organization that can afford to hire such gifted interpreters for a live web chat. It would be great if they could do it, but it just doesn't seem that feasible. It's impressive enough that their localization team can handle things fast enough to get patches out simultaneously.

Well let me guess for a second, SE are a Japanese company that make millions of dollars in US and Europe as well as Japan, which I think you will find makes it a multi-national company because they trade in multiple nations.

If the localisation team can't handle live translations, its not excpencive to hire translators for the event, it would cost about $50 for the whole event. So there is no reason for no on the fly translations.

[Betelgeuzah]

If the localisation team can't handle live translations, its not excpencive to hire translators for the event, it would cost about $50 for the whole event. So there is no reason for no on the fly translations.

What did I just say?

Even if they hired someone temporarily he has no idea about the slang used, only the localization team does.

[Rumo]

Will I be able to watch it from Germany this time?