This week’s header image comes from this week’s four releases (left to right): Corpse Party (GOG or Steam); OZMAFIA!! (Otome) (Get it at MangaGamer); Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition (Steam; Our Review); and Eien no Aselia (Steam).
Yo. Another week, another VNTS. Also, if you’re reading this, Katie, stop! Go back to studying! Focus on exams. The vast otome
conspiracy
universe can wait. (See, Lambda? I can be a good influence!) As for the rest of you, strap in and get ready for some visual novel TL news!
Oh yeah, we almost forgot to point out the ongoing Anime Weekend Sale on Steam right now, featuring plenty of heavily discounted visual novels. Check the commentary section below for Decay’s choice picks.
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
Angel Beats! -1st beat – TL: 41.93%(182091/434217)
AstralAir – TL: 74.20% > 75.03%; Edit: 74.20% > 75.03%
Bishoujo Mangekyou -Norowareshi Densetsu no Shoujo – TL: 5/8 script files
Bokuten (MangaGamer) – TL: 87% > 92%; Editing: 70% > 73.5%
Clover Day’s – DMM Download version of the Japanese version available (more info here)
Chrono Clock (Sekai Project) – TL: 10% (from their Q&A livestream, may not remain up-to-date)
Corona Blossom – Game site is now live! English version here. Lots of new game info/assets to check out. Releasing Summer 2016.
Corpse Party BloodCovered – RELEASED on PC! Get it via GOG (DRM-free) or on Steam
Da Capo 3 (MangaGamer) – TL: 87.5% > 90%; Edit: 80.8% > 83.4%
Dare ka ga Koi Shita Hankagai (Sekai Project) – TL: 51.79% > 53.31%
Aselia the Eternal (JAST) – Steam version RELEASED! Get it here. Steam version contains extra content the original translated versions did not possess.
Harumade, Kururu. – Image Editing: 90% > 100%
Imouto Paradise! 2 (MangaGamer) – TL: 41.5% > 44%
Kuroinu (MangaGamer) – Chapter 1 TL: 43% > 55%
Maitetsu (Sekai Project) – TL: 10.14% > 12.11%
MYTH (MangaGamer) – Edit: 81% > 100%
Oreimo Tsuzuku (Disc 2) – Edit: 75.4% > 79.1%; Kuroneko Route 100% Finalized
(Otome) OZMAFIA!! (MangaGamer) – RELEASED! Buy it here.
Princess Evangile W Happiness (MangaGamer) – TL: 38% > 50%
Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition (Sekai Project) – RELEASED! Get it on Steam here. You can read our review for it here.
The Shadows of Pygmalion (MangaGamer) – TL: 73% > 86.73%
Tenshin Ranman (Sekai Project) – TL: 16% (from their Q&A livestream, may not remain up-to-date)
To Heart 2 – Edit: 55% > 75%
WORLD END ECONOMiCA episode.03 (Sekai Project) – TL: 58.31% > 64.24%; PC version estimated to release in Late Summer; Unity port almost finished (link).
New Releases
Corpse Party BloodCovered – RELEASED on PC! Get it via GOG (DRM-free) or on Steam
Eien no Aselia (JAST) – Steam version RELEASED! Get it here. Steam version contains extra content the original translated versions did not possess.
(Otome) OZMAFIA!! (MangaGamer) – RELEASED! Buy it here.
Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition (Sekai Project) – RELEASED! Get it on Steam here. You can read our review for it here.
Removed from the list this week
(Otome!) Destiny’s Princess: A War Story, A Love Story – RELEASED! Get it on Steam right now!
Dracu Riot – Fan patch by Staircase subs – RELEASED! Get the game patch here. All routes but Miu’s are done.
Immoral Little – Fan patch by Tiny Lily – Dropped for the forseeable future (link)
Magical Eyes – Red is for Anguish – RELEASED! Get the game here!
Tokyo Babel (MangaGamer) – RELEASED! Get the game here! Congrats to the team for their achievement!
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
TL: 100%
Edit: 100%
The patch is now currently being tested and proofread. (Link)
2
Amagami
Amagami
Ni Shi Shi TL
TL: 68.70% (1587/2308 scripts); three routes complete (link)
Edit: 19.5% (452/2308 scripts)
3
Angel Beats! -1st beat-
Angel Beats! -1st beat-
jis33785
New!
TL: 41.93%(182091/434217)
4
Anniversary no Kuni no Alice
Anniversary no Kuni no Alice
Märchen TL
TL: 59%;
Edit: 42%;
Proofread: 29%
5
Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm (Aokana)
Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm (Aokana)
OriginalRen
Team has been selected
Currently forming plans/workflow
6
AstralAir
AstralAir
AstralAir TL
New!
TL: 74.20% > 75.03%
Edit: 74.20% > 75.03%
QC: 0%
7
Ayakashi Gohan!
Ayakashi Gohan!
Hanataba TL
Looking for translators, re-inserter(s) or proofreaders. If interested, see this post.
Overall: ~58%
Trial is translated and patch is available! (link)
8
Bishoujo Mangekyou -Norowareshi Densetsu no Shoujo-
Bishoujo Mangekyou -Norowareshi Densetsu no Shoujo-
Euphemic Translation
New!
TL: 5/8 script files
Team selected (see the roster here)
Prologue patch released which "covers the short prologue of Bishoujo Mangekyou, and it translates all the menus in the game". Get it here.
9
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.
3/11/2016 - Trying to get in touch with her team members to finish BWS and KgK. (Link)
10
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)
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
New!
Steam version released! Get it here.
Steam version contains extra content the original translated versions did not possess.
Will remain on the list until 5/30
18+ version is "possible." (link)
3
Flowers
Flowers
Game is delayed, release date unknown. Read their statement here.
Re-write/editing 25%
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
Released at long last!
Buy the physical edition here, and the download edition here.
Steam version coming in Fall 2016.
6
Sonicomi
Sonicomi
Pre-Orders are now live! (Link)
Game site is up
English voice acting coming to the game (link)
Debugging, Dub option recording/programing
7
Sumaga
Sumaga
TL is done
Editing in prog
8
Sweet Home
Sweet Home
TL: 100%
Debugging script
9
Trample on Schatten
Trample on Schatten
TL: 94%
Other
Starless – Script check 10%, added new mosaic to fix list.
MangaGamer Projects
MangaGamer (Updates)
wdt_ID
(Hidden) Title
Game
New Update?
Notes
1
Bokuten
Bokuten
New!
Translation: 87% > 92%
Editing: 70% > 73.5%
2
Da Capo 3
Da Capo 3
New!
TL: 87.5% > 90%
Edit: 80.8% > 83.4%
3
Higurashi (Retranslation)
Higurashi (Retranslation)
Chapter 3: Tatarigoroshi – 100% Translated and Edited!
Chapter 1 - Released!
Chapter 2 - Released!
4
Himawari -a pebble in the sky-!
Himawari -a pebble in the sky-!
TL: 100%;
Edit: 100%;
Side Stories: done!
In Scripting
5
The House in Fata Morgana
The House in Fata Morgana
Pre-orders are now up! Get the game here!
Demo now available, get it here!
Release Date: May 13, 2016
6
Imouto Paradise! 2
Imouto Paradise! 2
New!
TL: 41.5% > 44%
Edit: 14.4%
7
Kuroinu
Kuroinu
New!
Chapter 1 TL: 43% > 55%
Edit: 18.13%
8
MYTH
MYTH
New!
TL: 100%
Edit: 81% > 100%
9
My Boss’ Wife is My Ex!
My Boss’ Wife is My Ex!
TL: 100%;
Edit: 100%
In Testing
10
OZMAFIA!!
OZMAFIA!!
New!
Released! Buy it here.
Will be removed from the list 5/28.
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)
The translation of Kindred Spirits’ Drama CDs have been announced!
Free Friends hardcopy has been put up for pre-order and is releasing May 20th!
Sekai Project Projects
Sekai Project (Update Page)
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
A Clockwork Ley-Line:
The Borderline of Dusk
A Clockwork Ley-Line:
The Borderline of Dusk
Sekai Project announced they've aquired the license for this game and will be releasing it sometime in 2016.
Link: Official Game page
The Kohaku team's patch is being used for the official TL. Congrats to them for all their hard work! (Link)
2
Chrono Clock
Chrono Clock
New!
TL: 10% (from their Q&A livestream, may not remain up-to-date)
3
Companion
Companion
Picked up
Official site here.
4
Dare ka ga Koi Shita Hankagai
Dare ka ga Koi Shita Hankagai
New!
TL: 51.79% > 53.31%
5
Dizzy Hearts
Dizzy Hearts
TBD
6
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
7
Human Reignition Project
Human Reignition Project
TBD
8
KARAKARA
KARAKARA
US Release date set for June 27th.
TL Progress: 100%
9
Koenchu!
Koenchu!
TBD
10
Kokonoe Kokoro
Kokonoe Kokoro
Engine Integration/QA
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
Campus Notes - Forget Me Not.
Campus Notes - Forget Me Not.
Dogenzaka Lab
RELEASED! Get it on Steam!
This will remain on the list until 5/7/16
2
Corona Blossom
Corona Blossom
Front Wing
New!
Game site is now live! English version here. Lots of new game info/assets to check out.
Releasing Summer 2016
Brand-spanking-new VN developed by Front Wing, to be released in English first (Link).
Will be translated by Front Wing's internal translation team, staffed by native english speakers.
3
Corpse Party BloodCovered
Corpse Party BloodCovered
XSEED Games
New!
RELEASED on PC! Get it via GOG (DRM-free) or on Steam
3DS version coming Summer 2016.
4
Harmonia
Harmonia
Visual Arts/Key
Release Date: Spring 2016 (Link)
Steam Greenlight: Link
5
Libra of the Vampire Princess
Libra of the Vampire Princess
MiKandi Japan
Main Route TL: 80%
Kickstarter updates can be read here
6
Little Busters Perfect Edition
Little Busters Perfect Edition
Fruitbat Factory
Licensed by Fruitbat Factory
Working with Doki Fansubs to finish TL
7
Malus Code
Malus Code
Dogenzaka Lab
Coming Spring 2016
Steam page is live
8
The Men of Yoshiwara: Ohgiya
(Otome!) The Men of Yoshiwara: Ohgiya
Dogenzaka Lab
Coming out in April 2016
Steam page is live
9
Muv-Luv Series
Muv-Luv Series
Degica
Muv-Luv Extra TL is almost done, beta for backers is coming very soon! (Link)
Muv-Luv CODEX Translation at 75%
Game site is now live: link
Muv-Luv Extra and Unlimited will be released this summer, with Japanese language support; KS backers get beta in April
10
My Secret Pets!
(Otome!) My Secret Pets!
Dogenzaka Lab
Coming out in May 2016
Steam page is now up
— Commentary Section —
Zakabox™ Commentary
「So this is how it’s maybe going to work, guys: I’ll really try to get a one-month commentary streak done each time, but on the fifth
day
week, the Viking Lord will consider resting. Anyway, both Tay and Deccy seem to have skimped out on today’s entertainment, so I guess it’s me to the rescue?
Corona Blossom, which Front Wing plans to release in English first, will have an 18+ patch sold separately, three installments, and… be crowdfunded, apparently. On a trail perhaps blazed by KARAKARA, it looks like they’ll be putting it on Indiegogo rather than Kickstarter, which helps when you want to do the whole porn thing. If eroge crowdfunding can successfully move to IGG that is actually not bad at all – besides the whole porn allowed thing, their platform fees actually seem a smidgen lower than Kickstarter’s (though by a maximum of 2%). It should be noted that their terms do prohibit linking to sites with sexually explicit content, which is pretty much any Japanese VN site; I wonder if anyone will get burnt by that sooner or later.
As for whether or not you should really crowdfund this sort of thing if you’re Front Wing, well, we’re probably looking at a glorified preordering system here – not that preorders aren’t problematic in and of themselves, but we’re facing an old enemy here. I feel pretty ambivalent about the whole deal, but then I’m not actually very interested in the VN to begin with. Give me ISLAND, none of this silly moe buggery that seems likely if you read between the lines – or don’t, you’ll probably mangle the translation. Damn, this is hard. Adding insult to injury, R-ne sounds way too much like a very male Swedish name – Arne – for my personal comfort. This is unlikely to be a common problem.
Disappointingly, Corpse Party’s PC release has terrible graphics to the point where even I’m bothered by it. I guess emulating the PSP or perhaps the 3DS version will be how I experience it, if I ever do.
MYTH is out of editing. How long will scripting and testing take, though? Who knows. A respected mystery VN, it’s been vaguely on my radar since the announcement, though these days my radar tends to be overloaded with targets. Not to mention my backlog crying vengeance whenever I even think about it.
We have actual progress on the Oreimo VN’s second part for the first time in a while. From what I heard the first was rather disappointing, but maybe the second will help that a bit? Project leader Dizzy Ziddy should be happy work’s done on Kuroneko, at least – she’s his waifu to entirely healthy degrees.
Speaking of waifus, Claire from One Thousand Lies actually came pretty close to the line for me – those who’ve read it may now start doubting my sanity. OTL was kind of cool and is free; do check it out if interested. The comedy, writing (mostly), and dramatic plot are nice (and damn there are a lot of lies to be unraveled), though I don’t think I really understood all of its philosophical segments. Am I just bad at this sort of thing, or were they legitimately obtuse? Can’t tell, personally. For better or worse, you might have to think about it a bit after reading to actually wrap your head around all the plot’s twists and turns.
The big news recently are the releases of OZMAFIA!! and Root Double. The first, being an otomege with not that much plot, isn’t likely to be my thing, though it does have one girl x girl route… that one’s a thing. Root Double certainly does interest me, though – a mystery VN by Nakazawa is no joke, though it does seem to have a few less-than-desirable features involved. Maybe I’ll get through part of my backlog simply so I can read it? I’m close to finishing both Kindred Spirits and Tokyo Babel, after all.
Oh, and good luck on the exams, Katie (who shouldn’t be reading this).」
Decay’s Musings
Geez Zaka, of course I’ll make a commentary. I’m starting this commentary 35 minutes before the post is scheduled to go live, mayhaps I procrastinated just a wee bit too much on this one.
Anyway, there’s a pretty good Steam sale going on right now, anyone picking up anything good? I haven’t pulled the trigger on anything yet, but I have my eyes on a few items. For those of you still on the fence, I compiled a list of VNs with really good discounts that I’ve either played and enjoyed, or have been told is really good by peeps with good taste. I shall now shamelessly copy and paste it from the associated fuwa forums thread:
Romanesque for $16.24 – A fun, simple raising sim/VN hybrid. It’s pretty long and has a LOT of variation for multiple playthroughs. The story is super laid back, generally speaking.
Clannad for $25 – It’s Clannad, and it’s $25.
Amnesia Memories for $4.49 – A pretty lengthy, apparently very good otome game. Rooke likes it a lot. It’s dirt cheap, too!
Fault Milestone One and Two for $3.74 and $7.49 – Pretty decent medieval fantasy adventures for super cheap.
The Fruit of Grisaia for $19.99 – Easily one of the best VNs ever officially released, and the best VN on this whole list, for just twenty bucks. I doubt there’s many of you who aren’t already aware of this, though.
eden* for $8 – Fairly decent romance/tragedy.
Cho Dengeki Stryker All Ages for $12.24 – Pretty fun shounen action story. The action is pretty ridiculous and over-the-top, and sometimes it gets a little generic, but it’s still good, mindless fun. I liked it a fair amount. I promise you that you will not miss the ero content, it’s very short, infrequent