"Kentucky Route Zero" is a delicate and literary text adventure game that I really love. However, the quality of the Japanese translation is very poor, and the PC version is impossible to play. Even in the console version, where the translation has been corrected, the unnatural Japanese makes it almost impossible to appreciate the work. For this reason, most of the evaluations of this work in Japan are low and lament the translation quality.
I am a hobby translator and volunteer to translate games into Japanese. Therefore, as a personal hobby, I have been creating a private translation mod that corrects the Japanese translation and reflects it in the game.
Kentucky Route Zero私家翻訳について
— ashi_yuri (@mattakushiranai) 2022年1月31日
発売2周年の1月28日を過ぎたけど、公式の動きは見えない。悲しい・・
そして前にブログ書いてからもずっと考えてたけど、方針改め、完成したら非公式日本語翻訳Modとして公開しようと思います。https://t.co/6StQr00jGJ
Since the product version already has an official Japanese translation, I contacted Cardboard Computer, the developer, in April 2021 regarding permission to create and publish the mod so as not to cause major problems in terms of rights. I received the following response.
- The developer is aware that there is a problem with the Japanese translation, and they are making various efforts to correct it, but it is proving difficult.
- As a solution, for the PC version, we are planning to implement an "additional translation function" that will allow alternative translations by placing volunteer translation files directly in the data folder
- Cardboard Computer was so busy and I have been not received respond after that.
*As of the end of March 2022, there is no official announcement or other information regarding the "additional translation function" and it has not been determined when it will be implemented.
Based on the above, until the "additional translation function" is implemented, I will only release the translated data in the form of an unofficial Japanese translation mod, which will be patched by each user at his/her own risk. Once the "additional translation function" is implemented, I will change the format to match the new format.
Since the translation is already done, I hope to have the mod completed by the Summer Sale in 2022.
About Fonts
The official Japanese font "IPA Gothic" is easy to read but tasteless, so the font is replaced in the mod.
The font used is the original font "Junebug gothic Regular", a modified version of Zen Kaku Gothic New under the SIL Open Font License, which is open for commercial use and modification.
Testplay (Act.1, L&D)
Finally
Once again, I would like to send my thanks and respect to Cardboard Computer for creating the game Kentucky Route Zero.
We hope that the developer/publisher will address the Japanese translation issues and that this work can be officially enjoyed in a better Japanese language as soon as possible.
2022/6/24 Completed.
