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ntech (Offline)
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Can someone verify this translation (6 words) - 04-01-2011, 10:15 PM

Hello all,

I'm making a little computer game which has such a small amount of text in it that I decided to translate it into as many languages as possible using Google Translate and the like, but I'd like to get verification of the Japanese translation.

It's only six words, four button lables and two words of game instruction:



Is it anywhere close to accurate?

Thank you for your help.

Last edited by ntech : 04-03-2011 at 09:56 PM.
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04-02-2011, 12:20 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by ntech View Post
Hello all,

I'm making a little computer game which has such a small amount of text in it that I decided to translate it into as many languages as possible using Google Translate and the like, but I'd like to get verification of the Japanese translation.

It's only six words, four button lables and two words of game instruction:



Is it anywhere close to accurate?

Thank you for your help.
Not really.

Play = スタート (Start)

Instructions = ? I can think of 100 different ways to say this, but I don't know how video games say it. 使い方?指図? Better let a native or video game-playing intermediate speaker tell you.

Credits = I'm not sure if you say クレジットタイトル (credit title, the technically correct term) or you can shorten it to クレジット (credit[s])

More Games = What does this one mean? Like "other games by the same company" like you see in some flash games with hyperlinks embedded? Again, I don't play Japanese games to know what term they use, but maybe something like もっとゲーム (more games) or 他のゲーム (other games) or something...

Collect = Context, please? I could see something like "Gotta collect them all" as using 集める (collect, as in cards or stamps) or something, but in-game to collect a coin you might say とる (literally "take") instead.

Avoid = 避ける (avoid)、回避(する)(a more literary "avoid")、逃げる (flee)

Last edited by KyleGoetz : 04-02-2011 at 12:35 AM.
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ntech (Offline)
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04-02-2011, 03:25 AM

Thanks for the reply KyleGoetz,

Wow, Japanese is complicated!

"More Games" just means click here to go to a website with more games to play, not necessarily from the same company.

For "Collect" I guess "Take" would work. It isn't mandatory that you collect the items but they'll extend your life if you do.

Hopefully a video game player will see this.

Thanks for your help.
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04-02-2011, 09:18 AM

I am going to make some assumptions, so tell me if I`m off on them.

Play - ゲームをはじめる (Start the game)
Instructions - あそび方 (How to play)
Credits is fine as is.
More Games - 他のゲーム
Collect - あつめる (A bit more context on exactly where you`re using this would help as you usually don`t see it as one isolated word...)
Avoid - Are we talking about bullets? Enemies? Holes in the floor? Are they going to be coming after you? Or are they stationary?


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04-02-2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by KyleGoetz View Post
maybe something like もっとゲーム (more games)
That is not like you, is it? You DO NOT say 「もっと + noun」 as もっと is an adverb. 


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04-02-2011, 01:11 PM

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Originally Posted by masaegu View Post
That is not like you, is it? You DO NOT say 「もっと + noun」 as もっと is an adverb. 
It does feel weird to me, but as we're dealing with a subject outside my knowledge, I was just feeling around in the dark. When checking on ALC for "more ~" to help OP, I saw "もっと質問ありますか" so I subbed in ゲーム and cut off the last part. I should have just stuck with my instinct and left the 他のゲーム all by itself as my only guess.

I should listen to my instincts もっと often!
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04-02-2011, 04:47 PM

I pulled out two of my DS games and checked manuals and games a little bit (very little bit), my instruction booklet for one game is labeled '遊び方ガイド' and start a new game is '最初からはじめる'. Hope that helps a tiny bit.
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ntech (Offline)
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04-02-2011, 06:54 PM

@Nyororin Thanks for the reply,

For Avoid: The player will be running around the screen avoiding the bad guys who'll be randomly bouncing around the screen.

For Collect: Occasionally objects like first aid kits and food and potions will appear for the player to collect when he's wounded.

@duo797 Thanks that gets me closer!

I've actually spent the past two days visiting Japanese Flash game sites playing every game to see the text but apparently they're detecting that my OS is set to English and are displaying English text instead of Japanese.
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04-03-2011, 05:07 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by KyleGoetz View Post
It does feel weird to me, but as we're dealing with a subject outside my knowledge, I was just feeling around in the dark. When checking on ALC for "more ~" to help OP, I saw "もっと質問ありますか" so I subbed in ゲーム and cut off the last part. I should have just stuck with my instinct and left the 他のゲーム all by itself as my only guess.

I should listen to my instincts もっと often!
In the phrase 「もっと質問ありますか」, もっと modifies ありますか, not 質問. I think translating that phrase into "Do you have any more questions?", which actually is correct, could lead one to mistakenly believe もっと was an adjective. 


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