Infernoplex

My only question is - when are you going to QC another VN?
You look like you're doing in-depth work. which I always have respect for.

I was basically an all-around tester. I had to make sure there were no big bugs and was essentially another editor (looking for grammar/text issues).  
I made some blogs posts to show a little insight on how a project like this may work from a QC standpoint. This isn't meant to throw shade at the translators/programmers for making a mistake. In fact, making mistakes is expected in software development (and probably translations) and I kinda just want to show how I personally found and presented the issues to the programmer/translator before they fixed it.  
I posted these on /r/IMHHW (which coincidentally is where you can find the latest patch for both the MoeNovel/Steam version and the Japanese version of the VN):
Entry #1 - Basics, Explanations, Being a Second Editor, All in the Details:
https://www.reddit.com/r/IMHHW/comments/dctt60/konosora_retranslation_qc_findings_blog_entry_1/
Entry #2 - Actual "Blocker" bugs and being on the current correct Dev Patch:
https://www.reddit.com/r/IMHHW/comments/ddtxp2/konosora_retranslation_qc_findings_blog_entry_2/
Entry #3 - One line of text going over engine's character limit can mess up a scene's worth presentation of names, lines, and voice clips:
https://www.reddit.com/r/IMHHW/comments/dm24xf/konosora_retranslation_qc_findings_blog_entry_3/
Entry #4 - Odd CG Disappearance and Engine not liking % symbol:
https://www.reddit.com/r/IMHHW/comments/dnhxir/konosora_retranslation_qc_findings_blog_entry_4/
Entry #5 - Accidental copy pastes caused lines to have a completely incorrect translations:
https://www.reddit.com/r/IMHHW/comments/dosdqg/konosora_retranslation_qc_findings_blog_entry_5/
Entry #6 - Having to ask for context to make sure a line was spoken correctly
https://www.reddit.com/r/IMHHW/comments/dq6xlj/konosora_retranslation_qc_findings_blog_entry_6/
Entry #7 - Keeping terms, names and ellipses consistent:
https://www.reddit.com/r/IMHHW/comments/drl007/konosora_retranslation_qc_findings_blog_entry_7/
Entry #8 - Amane's route epilogue movie text was kind of a hassle (spoilers): https://www.reddit.com/r/IMHHW/comments/dt3xkl/konosora_retranslation_qc_findings_blog_entry_8/
Entry #9 - Even the TL notes needs QCing!:
https://www.reddit.com/r/IMHHW/comments/dunjrn/konosora_retranslation_qc_findings_blog_entry_9/
Entry #10 - The Steam/MoeNovel version of the patch almost didn't happen
https://www.reddit.com/r/IMHHW/comments/dvouz5/konosora_retranslation_qc_findings_blog_entry_10/

whoever involved in this thanks a lot ! i was pissed about 17+ version without a choice and didn't know something like this started(didn't even play it yet), gonna wait how ever long it will take, seriously tho this is awesome ! 

Unfortunately, risk of disappointment--or even project implosion--is part of the crowdfunding experience.
Never back more than you're willing to see disappear with nothing to show for it. Don't back companies you don't trust. Don't back with any expectation of timelines being met or delays being properly communicated. Companies have no obligation to refund your money if you aren't satisfied.  If you have concerns about any of the above, you shouldn't be pledging in the first place.
That said, clearly Sol Press is in pretty dire straits if a few thousand dollars is more important to them than their company's reputation.  It sounds like their main concern right now is stopping the bleeding rather than long-term health.

A Sky Full of Stars - +18 Restoration
 
 

 
1. VN Info
2. Synopsis
3. VN OP
4. Project Introduction
5. Staff
6. Recruitment
7. Progress
8. Asking for Feedback
Edit (14.06.2021):
The project is dropped for the foreseeable future.

Mod Note: This thread was merged with another. Direct replies to this post start here.
Noratoto - 18+ Restoration Project

1. VN Info
2. Synopsis
3. VN OP
4. Project Introduction
5. Staff
6. Recruitment
7. Progress
 

I didn't back Iroseka KS, so I have no horse in this race, but I just wanted to share the following image as I found the subject relevant xD

I know Sekai is not a saint either, but in this case, I found it funny how they compare to Sol Press in this "asking for refund" case.

I see. Well, I wish you luck in finding someone who'd be interested in doing VNs.

I mean, we have some mangas in English.

Also, she's Mitsukasa Ayase from Riddle Joker.

you have to add me to the credits for all your releases now, in return, I will do nothing
chuffed to be 'working' with you lads

First of all, watch your language, that's the second time you've done this in this thread. If you want to actually explain your point, go ahead, but if you're just here to insult people, you might as well just refrain from posting.
To reiterate my point, Harukaze wanting to create an all-ages brand does not change what they have already released in the past under their current label. So, them releasing an old IP, Noratoto, in the west 18+ would not change anything. It's exactly the same game, and anyone actually googling the game will find the 18+ content anyways. It's an eroge, after all. In other words, their all-ages re-brand and their release of Noratoto could absolutely have been separate things, done under the two different brands. And since it has already been stated directly by their partners that the reason for the censored release was voice license costs, it's very obvious that this was just a move done to save money, not specifically a move done tactically along with this re-branding.

Thank for the voice of sanity @Inflatable Lemon.

Thanks, and I hope so too I'm not as involved in that project as I should be, but I know the other folks are motivated to finish it. We talked the other day about maybe doing a patch for the second Noratoto, but that depends on TLer's motivations and other things. While I'd love for both of these to happen, I don't want to get anyone's hopes high just yet.
I don't know what they are doing right now, but I pray to God they are not butchering my dear Cocoro Function

I don't know wtf is going on with the quoting right now, but uh, gonna have to leave this one like this too. Actually quoting breaks the whole site it seems :thinking:
Infernoplex quote 1:
Definitely true, and I wish it wasn't like this. Noratoto deserved more than a lackluster translation and a butchered all-ages release.
Fair, I can agree on them partially being at fault for that. I just feel more angry at Harukaze than Fruitbat regarding all of this. I see them as the main party at fault here.
 
Yup, it's a shame. Crossing my fingers you guys get the fan patch done one of these days, so people can at least enjoy the full game. Good luck on that, by the way.
Right. Yeah, the whole Moenovel thing is... really weird. They just went for that 12 year old French girl money and never looked back. 

There's one other thing about them to have in mind too. They let JAST license one of their older games back in the day. Or at least, JAST's subsidiary. So they definitely knew about one of the localizers at the time they released their first butchered translation (IMHHW). We can't say they didn't know at least something about the English side of localization business. Harukaze, maybe, but PULLTOP definitely wasn't completely ignorant on the matters of localization with their first western release. Actually... scratch that. Considering in what a poor state IMHHW came out, I guess their one partnership with JAST was for nothing.
Definitely true, and I wish it wasn't like this. Noratoto deserved more than a lackluster translation and a butchered all-ages release.
Fair, I can agree on them partially being at fault for that. I just feel more angry at Harukaze than Fruitbat regarding all of this. I see them as the main party at fault here.

Does this fix the borked formatting? Just think of this as a quote...
Yeah, of course, there are companies that can be convinced to mend their ways. But for every such example, there's another counterexample. To this day, nobody managed to convince PULLTOP/Moenovel to give us 18+ releases of their VNs, and it's widely speculated that Sekai didn't manage to convince Giga to give them a license for the 18+ release of Baldr Sky. There are likely more examples that I can't recall right now.
 
Yes, to many a fan's frustration, this is very true. Though, granted, Pulltop just self-published, and never reached out to anyone for help, outside of platforms to sell on.
This is going back to speculation, but yes, that is one possibility. Another is that they simply didn't know anything about the English market, (happens often,) and they either A) got contacted by Fruitbat, or B) knew someone who had a connection with them, (seeing as they have done obscure doujinge like Seabed, this could be possible,) which got them in touch with Fruitbat.
Do note that I have always specified them being partly to blame. At the end of the day, Harukaze made the final decisions here, but I personally feel like Fruitbat's involvement most likely had some hand in that, and as such, I see them as partly responsible. Of course, if there's actual proof out there of Harukaze just being like "fuck, nope!" then that's fair, but based on the situation and what we have to go off, I'd say the criticism is fair.

Not every JP dev is the same. Just because JAST managed to convince one doesn't mean anybody else can manage to convince any other JP dev. Granted, it's likely that Fruitbat doesn't have this negotiating power like JAST does (nor does Fruitbat look like they would care enough to bother that hard to get that 18+), but the final decision still lies at the JP side. If Harukaze had wanted it, they would've went a different route and got someone else to advise them. I mean... how did they even turn to Fruitbat of all in the first place :face_palm:
Not necessarily true at all. While Fruitbat indeed has no real incentive to bother Harukaze about it, that doesn't necessarily mean we would have 18+ version had some other company like Sekai or JAST taken the role of the advisor. You're saying this as if it would be easy to convince Harukaze to do something they may be very reluctant to do, no matter who bothered them about it. JP devs can be both easy and difficult to deal with. Who knows what's in these people's minds over there...

Fruitbat only signed on as the publisher after Noraneko was announced, and they have been explicit about the fact that they did not license the game, so it is pretty silly to blame them for something they had no part in:
 
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1010600/discussions/0/1639788130288331293/?ctp=7#c1643167006305644608

Pardon me, looks like I replied before you ninja-edited in that paragraph.
However, I also overlooked a statement to that effect in the thread that I originally quoted:
So it is quite clear that the discussion to release an all-ages version lies at the feet of Harukaze.
While it is regrettable that FF were not able to persuade Harukaze to release an 18+ version, it is still silly to blame them for a decision made by another company.

Hello again.
Ever since the last update, I have some great news. We have found a translator willing to do the branch school routes. They've completed a few projects in the past, and are capable of helping us finish this project. That being said, don't expect the pace that Ittaku had when he was working. They're gonna take their time and do the best job they possibly can.
We're also still searching for a second editor who is good enough to work on either the branch school section or the main school section. If you think you have the capabilities to do so, please contact me here or on Discord at VS#1496.
That's all for today. I don't know when this will be updated again, but look out for some positive progress in the future.

Forgive Shogun, he's not the best when it comes to announcing new information. I didn't bother to correct him, as I am too tired to say it every time.

It makes no sense here, since the protagonist has a unique design and personality, and plenty of scenes where his entire sprite is on screen, talking.
This is a bloody curse, I tell you!

I believe I've mentioned this elsewhere, but my problem with a lack of voices is when it's selective. Or, even more specifically, when it's just the protagonist who lacks voices. I'm fine with partial voices or no voices, but going out of your way so that only the protagonist lacks a voice irritates me to no end. There really is no reason for this on games such as this one.

It is funny, but it is a true phenomenon.
If you do something enough, the magic of it will disappear or lessen. And then something else needs to make up for the difference. This is the reason I don't consider cases like this "exploitation", exactly. As fans, people are willing to take on bad deals or volunteer for things. But this spirit will not remain forever. Once the magic is gone, they might end up feeling like they let themselves be exploited, but at the time they did not feel as such.
Regardless, fans that work for free enough will generally start to feel like that isn't enough anymore. Not out of greed or any such thing. It's not the desire for money that increases, it's the will to work hard for their hobby with no recompense that decreases.