Nintendo does not recognize external translators from Japanese. Although in the titles of games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of a Kingdom or Animal Crossing: New Horizons you can find the names of the translators, yes only about Nintendo employees. External specialists who were also hired by Nintendo have been named. they are not. Some of them confessed to the editors of Game Developer. Anonymously, because they feared retaliation from Nintendo.
“I think I have acknowledged that this is part of the business, but it is unfair and wrong. The fact that these companies cannot explain why they neglect external translators is proof that“, – describes one of the sources. He started as a translator directly for Nintendo and then he got recognition“I remember one project where the company decided not to mention the testers who worked there in the credits.” he recalls.
He was later released. Through agencies Localsoft And Keywords worked on several games for Nintendo – his credits to date were not recognized.
“In games like Animal Crossing or Breath of the Wild, you won’t notice that there aren’t 15 or 20 translators in the subtitles because there are all these Nintendo translator names.“, – says the source. According to him, this is precisely the reason why no one paid attention to this problem.
“Nintendo’s policy is not to use the names of third-party translators in subtitles. But because of this, we cannot mention the work on our resumes.” says another source. In addition, Nintendo will give them Mr.cancel NDA valid for ten years. During this time, they cannot talk about their work, which is a problem when looking for another job. A translator can spend years working on a game, but in the end, he has nothing to brag about on the job market. “You’re working on an award-winning publication, magazines are praising your work, but you have to keep it a secret for ten years that you were part of it.— complains one of the sources.
Rather, translation agencies like Localsoft are part of the problem.”Nobody tells us directly that we won’t get a loan,“, the source notes. Localsoft executives allegedly urged their subordinates not to discuss such issues with colleagues. “It is in the interests of agencies to keep us, translators, in the dark. The moment we deal with contracts and money with them, everything becomes dark,“, – the translator describes. When he is not credited for the work he has done in the game, he is upset, but not surprised.
Source :Indian TV
