February 6th, 2018: Translation Report

I'm two days behind schedule, but better late than never as I finally finished playtesting the first and second map. However there's something else I want to talk about. Like a lot of my posts here, it is a record of my feelings on a certain matter that I want to keep.

So today, DLsite had a press release. For those who are unfamiliar, DLsite is a Japanese digital store, kind of like Steam except without the client and social elements. Pretty much every indie Japanese developer sells their eroges through DLsite. 

Their press release was about how they've become a Steam publisher, and that they will be opening their publishing services in the future which will include English and Chinese translations. When I found out about the news, ashamed as I am, I had a kneejerk reaction to almost want to give up. End my dream of localizating eroges. After all, how could I compete I thought. Those same Japanese developers I'm trying to work with to localize their games onto Steam, who are already selling their games on DLsite in the first place anyway, would just turn to DLsite for selling their games onto Steam, and I would have no place in that picture.

But then I gave it a little more thought. First of all, I don't want to give up that easily. I think, I would regret it if I did. Second, I don't think it will be that big of a deal, an obstacle sure, but what's life without obstacles. Third, ultimately this suits my dream in the end.

I, want, under no uncertain terms, to see good eroges and good eroge makers, receive attention and support. To receive attention and support, they need to expand their audience and visibility to outside of Japan. And to expand outside of Japan, they need to be localized. And if those localizations are done properly, then people outside of Japan would be willing to spend money on eroges. Which in turn will give attention and support to the industry, and allow more good eroges to be created for the whole world.

I don't know what my future holds. I didn't know half a year ago what I would be doing. I don't know what I will be doing half a year from now. I probably need to put in some serious thoughts about it, specifically business and career-wise. But for now, I'm happily going to school, and in the near future I got Akemi in an RPG to work on, as well as the update to Meltys Quest. So, let's take this one step at a time.