This week’s header image is from (left) “Atom Grrrl!!” (VNDB); (Center) “Sunrider: Liberation Day” (VNDB); and (right) “Beat Blades Haruka” (VNDB). All of which were released this week.
Lots of updates this week! It’s not often we get three releases, movement on DC III and Grisaia, AND multiple projects hitting 100%, but hey — this week is one of those weeks, and we should enjoy it while it lasts. Oh, and before I end this little entry paragraph, I’d like to make a call to the Otome universe for help in rescuing an Otome kickstarter which is in dire peril. I speak, of course, of Beastmaster and Prince which only has 7 days left in its campaign. More details below.
Anyway! Welcome to our weekly VNTS (Visual Novel Translation Status) series, in which we track visual novel translation updates in-house (we don’t rely on /jp/ posts on 4ch, for example) and post it for your enlightenment and enjoyment each Saturday. If you find any errors, or you think a project is missing from this list, please let me know in the comments.
The Short Version:
Only the New Stuff
Atom Grrrl (Sekai Project) – RELEASED! Get the Steam game here, or the 18+ version on Denpasoft here.
AstralAir – TL: 69.84% > 70.93%; Edit: 70.93%; New website: now hosted by Shinku-TL
Beastmaster and Prince -Flower and Snow – Kickstarter Update: $59,477 / $150,000 goal with 7 days to go (Link)
Beat Blades Haruka (MangaGamer) – RELEASED! Get the game here!
Da Capo 3 (MangaGamer) – TL: 78.5% > 80%; Edit: 77.2% > 78%
Dare ka ga Koi Shita Hankagai (Sekai Project) – TL: 12.78% > 15.63%
Flowers (JAST) – Game is delayed, release date unknown. Read their statement here.
Higurashi Chapter 3: Tatarigoroshi (MangaGamer) – 100% Translated and Edited! Woot!
Hoka no Onna no Ko to H wo Shiteiru Ore wo Mite Koufun Suru Kanojo – TL: 7,843 > 8917 Lines
The House in Fata Morgana (MangaGamer) – Edit: 70% > 75%
Irotoridori no Sekai – TL: 3% > 6%; Edit: 3%
KARAKARA (Sekai Project) – IndieGoGo project is up (Link) with 62% (last week was 48%) funded and 10 days left in the campaign
Koi ga Saku Koro Sakura Doki – TLC: 38% > 48%
Kuroinu (MangaGamer) – TL: 22.5% > 23%
Labyrinth of Grisaia (Sekai Project) – 100% Translated!; In editing and programming.
Monster Girl Quest Paradox – Needs editor(s) badly! More info on the job and how to apply here
OZMAFIA!! (MangaGamer) – Edit: 80% > 100%; Now in scripting
The Shadows of Pygmalion (MangaGamer) – TL: 32.6% > 43%
Sunrider: Liberation Day (Sekai Project) – Released as of March 4th! Get the Steam game here, or the 18+ version on Denpasoft
Tokyo Babel (MangaGamer) – Release date: March 31, 2016; Pre-order/check out the game here!
WORLD END ECONOMiCA episode.03 (Sekai Project) – TL: 28.04% > 33.03%
New Releases
Atom Grrrl (Sekai Project) – RELEASED! Get the Steam game here, or the 18+ version on Denpasoft here.
Beat Blades Haruka (MangaGamer) – RELEASED! Get the game here!
Sunrider: Liberation Day (Sekai Project) – Released as of March 4th! Get the Steam game here, or the 18+ version on Denpasoft
Removed from the List This Week
Free Friends 2 (MangaGamer) – Released, check it out and buy the game here.
Sacrament Sheep (Sekai Project) – Released! Buy it here!
All the Game Updates:
Fan Translation Projects
Fan Translation Projects
wdt_ID
(Hidden) Title
Game
Group & Progress
New Update?
Notes
1
Akaya Akashiya Ayakashino
Akaya Akashiya Ayakashino
AkaAka TL
11/15/15 Update – Work still ongoing, but some of the team are unresponsive. You can see everything completed here.
2
Amagami
Amagami
Ni Shi Shi TL
TL: 68.45%> 68.7% (1587/2308 scripts); three routes complete (link)
Edit: 19.5% (452/2308 scripts)
3
Anniversary no Kuni no Alice
Anniversary no Kuni no Alice
Märchen TL
TL: 59%;
Edit: 42%;
Proofread: 29%
4
Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm (Aokana)
Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm (Aokana)
OriginalRen
1st Pass (All routes) TL/Edit - 100%; 2nd Pass - In Progress
Release delayed until ~October 2016 (Link)
2/20/16 - Will be putting up materials from CE very soon (so watch the blog)
5
AstralAir
AstralAir
AstralAir TL
New!
New website: now hosted by Shinku-TL. I've updated the progress link to the left.
TL: 69.84% > 70.41% (45683/64880)
Edit: 70.41% (45683/64880)
QC: 0%
"FAVORITE is apparently hoping to get the fandisk for this game out sometime this year (which will be called AstralAir no Aoki Towa, you can quote me on this), so I’m most likely going to hold off on finishing the final pass of the true route until I complete the fandisk." (Link)
6
Ayakashi Gohan!
Ayakashi Gohan!
Hanataba TL
Overall: ~58%
01/29/16 - Project will significantly slow down in near future and updates will be rare. Project isn't dropped, though. Read more (like route details) here. Looking for TL help!
Trial is translated and patch is available! (link)
7
Black Wolves Saga -Bloody Nightmare-
Black Wolves Saga -Bloody Nightmare-
Golden Spirit
1/8/2016 - Potential legal trouble with their Starry Sky In Summer has put Black Wolves Saga and Ken ga Kimi on semi-hiatus status. (Link)
1/29/2016 - Slator wrote an article about the group's predicament.
8
Brother Conflict PSP
Brother Conflict PSP
Passion And Brilliance
Passion Pink: TL – 100%; Still needs formatting and inserting (link)
Brilliant Blue: TL – : 5%
Note: Despite JP Vita release, the team is continuing the project (link)
9
Clover Day’s
Clover Day’s
Yakusoku TL
Common TL: 100%;
Anzu TL: 49%;
Anri TL: 100%;
Hekiru TL: 10.25%;
Tsubame TL: 40%;
Izumi: 12%;
10
Corpse Party 2: Dead Patient
Corpse Party 2: Dead Patient
Hysteric 4 U
Update: Release now planned for 2016, still working on the project, and the team is fielding questions about the project (Link)
JAST USA Projects
JAST USA (Updates; Archive)
wdt_ID
(Hidden) Title
Game
New Update?
Notes
1
Django
Django
Waiting on TL
2
Eien no Aselia
Eien no Aselia
Pre-order the game here
Extra content coding
Greenlit! Coming to Steam Soon*
18+ version is "possible." (link)
3
Flowers
Flowers
New!
Game is delayed, release date unknown. Read their statement here.
Pre-order now available.
4
Nympho Sensei Ryoko
Nympho Sensei Ryoko
Pre-order here!
Done: TL, Editing, Mosaic removal, Interface translation
(02/20/2016) Now: Beta testing, QA
5
Seinarukana
Seinarukana
Pre-order the game here
Translation, coding and website are done
(Now: Beta testing, finalizing print materials
6
Sonicomi
Sonicomi
Pre-Orders are now live! (Link)
Game site is up
Almost everything is done
Now: Beta testing, QA the collectors edition's goods
7
Sumaga
Sumaga
TL is done
Editing in prog
8
Sweet Home
Sweet Home
TL: 66%
9
Trample on Schatten
Trample on Schatten
TL: 86%
Other
Starless – Script check 10%, added new mosaic to fix list.
Shiny Days – Tweaks ongoing
MangaGamer Projects
MangaGamer (Updates)
wdt_ID
(Hidden) Title
Game
New Update?
Notes
1
Beat Blades Haruka
Beat Blades Haruka
New!
RELEASED! Get the game here!
Game will remain on the list until 2/26
2
Bokuten
Bokuten
Translation: 79%
Editing: 50%
3
Da Capo 3
Da Capo 3
New!
TL: 78.5% > 80%
Edit: 77.2% > 78%
4
Higurashi (Retranslation)
Higurashi (Retranslation)
New!
Chapter 3: Tatarigoroshi – 0% > 100% Translated and Edited! Woot!
Chapter 1 - Released!
Chapter 2 - Released!
5
Himawari -a pebble in the sky-!
Himawari -a pebble in the sky-!
TL: 100%;
Edit: 100%;
Side Stories: done!
Updating Scripts: "We got the PC port of the Vita version in and the TL team has been updating the script to be inline with that version of the game" (Link). Most of these changes are minor (Link).
6
The House in Fata Morgana
The House in Fata Morgana
New!
Translation: 100%
Edit: 70% > 75%
7
Kindred Spirits On The Roof
Kindred Spirits On The Roof
Released! Buy it here.
Will be removed from the list on 3/19
8
Kuroinu
Kuroinu
New!
TL: 22.5% > 23%
Edit: 18.13%
9
MYTH
MYTH
TL: 94%
Edit: 81%
10
My Boss’ Wife is My Ex!
My Boss’ Wife is My Ex!
TL: 100%;
Edit: 100%
In Testing
Other
Rance 5D, Rance VI, and Rance Quest fan translations on hold in anticipation of potential official release by MangaGamer.
Magical Eyes – Red is for Anguish – Pre-Order is up! (Link)
Sekai Project Projects
Sekai Project (Update Page)
Important note: These percentages should be seen as vague indicators of progress, and are not entirely accurate due to a variety of reasons.
wdt_ID
(Hidden) Title
Game
New Update?
Notes
1
Atom Grrrl
Atom Grrrl
New!
Released as of March 1st!
Buy the all-ages version on Steam here, or the 18+ version on Denpasoft here.
2
Chrono Clock
Chrono Clock
TBD
3
Dare ka ga Koi Shita Hankagai
Dare ka ga Koi Shita Hankagai
New!
TL: 12.78% > 15.63%
4
Dizzy Hearts
Dizzy Hearts
TBD
5
Hoshizora no Memoria -Wish upon a Shooting Star-
Hoshizora no Memoria -Wish upon a Shooting Star-
Picked up
Will be a new translation, not the Fan TL
6
Human Reignition Project
Human Reignition Project
TBD
7
KARAKARA
KARAKARA
New!
IndieGoGo project is up (Link) with 62% (last week was 48%) funded and 10 days left in the campaign
8
Koenchu!
Koenchu!
TBD
9
Kokonoe Kokoro
Kokonoe Kokoro
Engine Integration/QA
10
Labyrinth of Grisaia
Labyrinth of Grisaia
New!
100% Translated!
In editing and programming.
Other
Here’s a handy link to sort Sekai Project’s Steam releases by release date: link
Misc. Projects
Other Projects
wdt_ID
(Hidden) Title
Game
Group & Progress
New Update?
Notes
1
Beastmaster and Prince -Flower and Snow-
Beastmaster and Prince -Flower and Snow-
b2g studio, Inc.
New!
Kickstarter Update: $59,477 / $150,000 goal with 7 days to go (Link)
Attention Otome Nation: The project isn't performing as well as it needs to if we want it to succeed! Please, band together and help out (these are the people who ported Hakuoki and Amnesia on mobile) - Tay
2
Corpse Party BloodCovered
Corpse Party BloodCovered
XSEED Games
It's a thing.
3
Libra of the Vampire Princess
Libra of the Vampire Princess
MiKandi Japan
Kickstarter finished! (Link): $183,105 of $125,000 goal raised. First three stretch goals unlocked.
4
Little Busters Perfect Edition
Little Busters Perfect Edition
Fruitbat Factory
Licensed by Fruitbat Factory
Working with Doki Fansubs to finish TL
5
Lucy -The eternity she wished for-
Lucy -The eternity she wished for-
M-Vizlab
Released! Buy it here.
Will be removed from the list on 3/25
6
Harmonia
Harmonia
Visual Arts/Key
Release Date: Spring 2016 (Link)
Steam Greenlight: Link
7
Magical Eyes – Red is for Anguish
Magical Eyes – Red is for Anguish
Fruitbat Factory
Release Date: February 29th, 2016
Pre-Order up on Mangagamer! (Link)
8
Muv-Luv Series
Muv-Luv Series
Degica
Beta version of Muv-Luv Extra to be made available to Kickstarter backers by the end of March.
Muv-Luv Unlimited and the public release planned for late April/early May.
Extensive editing and retranslation of the original fan translation is being undertaken. (link)
9
Subarashiki Hibi
Subarashiki Hibi
TLWiki and KeroQ
No Kickstarter planned
KeroQ to release it directly
More info to come in 2016
10
Tomoyo After
Tomoyo After
Waku Productions
Read Doki’s post about the project here.
— Commentary Section —
Zakabox™ Commentary
「Here in cold, dark Sweden (my apologies for it being in Swedish, but hopefully at least some of you will understand) the empty light of dawn is shining through my window, snowflakes drifting downward much too fast to lend any dignity to the scene. Just looking outside makes a nasty chill spread throughout my body. Suffering through this pale mockery of morning has sapped my will… and, uhh, I should probably start writing my actual commentary now.
Akerou has been working zealously on checking sakusaku’s scripts while also working on iroseka, which he considers by far the most entertaining of the two jobs. Very much a Pretty Cool Guy.
Atom Grrrl, a “tarantinoesque yuri comedy”, seems to have gotten a lukewarm start saleswise. Sad, since it looks to be quite the thing. If it gets decent sales, we might see localizations of Cosmillica’s other yuri titles, of which I’m interested in Love, Guitars And Blue Skies (video NSFW). I can’t vouch for either game’s quality myself as I haven’t read any of it, but do check it out if it tickles your fancy.
For once, JAST delaying something might actually be a relief rather than a disappointment. I am of course talking about Flowers’ demo, which had some serious issues in both the translation accuracy and editing department. They claim to have put quite the team to work on it. As Decay mentions below this might cause some problems, but we can always hope.
The Beastmaster And Uhh Long Title I Think Kickstarter faltering isn’t that surprising to me; the goal is set even higher than the ambitious goal MiKandi Japan used for the Libra localization, and there’s been far less marketing outreach as far as I can tell. I also do think the female demographic might be somewhat smaller than the male one, especially when it comes to Japanese-translated visual novels. That said, NTY’s good sales prove that BL visual novels, which would usually be aimed at women, can do quite well. We’ll see, I guess.
Tokyo Babel is actually interesting since it’s completely ero free and will be released uncut on Steam as far as MG has indicated. Our resident Chuuni lover Clephas talked to me about wanting to translate it from time to time, so hopefully he’ll be happy with the job rockstar-translators-without-actually-having-released-a-full-translation Conjueror and Gare did.
It’s actually stopped snowing outside now. Good time to end this commentary and go to bed, lest I be lured into actually enjoying life or something.」
Decay’s Musings
Greetings, friends. After my whole spiel about Flowers last week, I’m glad it’s going to be delayed and that they’re working on making much-needed improvements. The more cynical side of me says that those improvements may not be enough, since they’re still working off of the extremely flawed original script, but we can hope it will be at least readable and accurate, and that they’ll hire someone else to do a better job for the next game. The main thing I’m afraid of now is that after being written by someone who is obviously very poor at English and after being touched by a ton of different TLCers, editors, and QCers, the script will come off as overly stiff and inconsistent. Well, if those are the least of its problems, it’s worlds better than how the demo was.
In other yuri news, Atom Grrrl came out this week. I enjoy Tarantino’s films, but I cringe a little whenever I see something describe itself as being “Tarantino-esque.” I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything described that way resemble Tarantino’s work in any way but the most superficially possible. And I’m also unsure if it’s a quality other works should aspire to be, Tarantino has a unique style and attempting to emulate it only results in a poor imitation. It’s especially ludicrous when you see it on what looks like an otherwise cutesy yuri title. I’m really not sure what to think about it. One thing’s for sure, it’s kind of bombing on Steam right now. I hope it’s doing a little better on Denpasoft, because its situation is currently pretty dire.
But there’s more yuri yet! I’ve been playing a lot of Kindred Spirits over the last few days. It’s cute and charming without being overbearingly so. It tells some fun, light-hearted romance stories. It weaves in some of the concerns and internal conflicts homosexuals face without dropping its light and cheery tone. And it manages all of this without being excessively pandering or exploitative, unlike most yuri fiction I’ve encountered. It’s basically my new favorite yuri VN, not that this was a particularly high bar to pass since I’ve never been a big fan of yuri in the past. Your enjoyment may depend on what you want out of yuri. One of the things I like most about it, its lack of fanservice and pandering, may unfortunately be a turn-off for a lot of the regular yuri fans. This ain’t no Sakura Trick, that’s for sure.
Aside from all of this yuri nonsense, I’m glad to see the SakuSaku team make so much progress. An interesting and hopefully productive merger of projects has happened, and it seems like the SakuSaku translation is finally nearing completion. And Tokyo Babel, coming out this month? It’s kind of crazy that it’s releasing before Himawari, even though the same duo of translators finished Himawari first. Combined with Root Double’s impending release sometime in the next few weeks, this is looking to be a crazy busy month! My backlog is growing at an alarming rate, something that hasn’t happened since I started reading VNs. That’s pretty exciting! I hope you all enjoy the VNs to come, have a good week everyone!
TAYsteful™ Thoughts
Alright. So. In case you missed the three rallying cries I raised in this post, let me say this again: ATTENTION OTOME FANS: The Beastmaster and Prince kickstarter is in big trouble. If it’s going to be successful, we have to rally a lot of people, so please tweet about it, get on your favorite otome tumblr or blog and post about it, and raise a ruckus.
One of my worst habits is writing updates about Fuwanovel here in the VNTS posts and failing to copy it over to the forums. Well, the habit strikes again (tho I’ll try and remember to post there, too, tomorrow). A few people have messaged me about the missing feedback surveys, wondering where they are and what I’ve done with them. I’m happy to inform you that the surveys are, in fact, going on right now, and they have been non-stop since we finished the VNTS survey. A friend from college volunteered to help me put together a few randomized user groups trials and A-B tests, and we’ve done at least one a week since early February. The big, public feedback surveys will go out soon, and then, ideally, I’ll just put them all out in public (maybe a blog post) for the numbers nerds in our midst.
In case you didn’t notice it on the sidebar, we voted to name “Kindred Spirits on the Roof” as our March 2016 game of the month. It’s always risky (and usually foolish) to comment about a game you haven’t personally played, but after talking to a few friends (including a few gay friends), I’ve heard a lot of positive things about the game. So, yeah, while I haven’t picked up the game (all my moneh is going towards bids for redoing Fuwanovel’s main site), I’m hearing that it manages to shake off a lot of “yuri” stereotypes and presents an even-handed lesbian love story. If that’s the case, awesome, and I’ll gladly throw some money at the dev. We need more games like that.
Oh, for our loyal VNTS readers: I should have a new section of our VNTS posts for tracking all the games that have been released or dropped in 2016. I think this’ll be a big help for many readers. Right now I’m thinking it’ll be a Google doc I edit each week, but depending on when I hear from Nayleen about a project he’s doing for me, I may just create a MySQL table to track it and display it in the posts like the other game tables.
Aaaaaand that’s it! I’m exhausted, so I’m off to bed. Which is actually pretty exciting, since I’m re-reading the Earthsea books in bed and I’m always blown away by how GOOD they are. I finished the Tombs of Atuan two nights ago, and I immediately started it again because I love it so much. I identify so strongly with the little priestess in The Place, having lived a good chunk of my life in a similar situation, and Ursula le Guin is just a master at naming and putting words to complex and deep experiences.
What are the rest of you reading these days? Anything good?
Have a good week, everybody.