8-4
 | |
| Limited company | |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | October 5, 2005 |
| Headquarters | Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan |
Key people |
Hiroko Minamoto, CEO Mark MacDonald, executive director John Ricciardi, COO |
| Services | Video game localization |
Number of employees | 5 |
| Website | 8-4 |
8-4, Ltd. is an independent video game localization company based in Shibuya, Tokyo.[1] The company was founded in 2005 by Hiroko Minamoto and former EGM editor John Ricciardi. They were joined by Ricciardi's EGM colleague Mark MacDonald in 2008. It performs Japanese-to-English translation on a contract basis with credits including Monster Hunter Tri, Nier and Shadows of the Damned.[2] The company is named after the final level of Super Mario Bros.[3]
Translation
8-4 generally gets involved in the localization process midway through a game's development, gaining access to a build of the game and script.[4] Occasionally, they are invited to participate throughout the development cycle, as with the case of Shadows of the Damned.[4] As publishers increasingly push for simultaneous worldwide release, they have noted earlier and earlier involvement in projects.[5] In the first step of the process, they familiarize themselves with the game and others in its series by playing through them multiple times and taking notes.[3][4] To perform the actual translation, they use large Microsoft Excel spreadsheets containing the script in both Japanese and English.[3] In addition to word translation, they suggest changes to make the game more accessible to Western audiences. For example, in Glory of Heracles, they recommended that the battle speed be tripled in order to make fighting more exciting.[6]
The team cites Richard Honeywood, founder of Square's localization department, as an influence on their translation style.[7] Beyond merely translating the words, 8-4 attempts to convey the same experience as that of the original language version through attention to tone, user interface, and cultural references.[6][8] Because of their text-heavy nature, most of 8-4's contracts are for role-playing video games such as Eternal Sonata, Tales of Vesperia, and Star Ocean: The Last Hope, which are beyond the capabilities of in-house translation teams.[5] In translating Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation, they inherited Honeywood's Dragon Quest style guide to aid them in keeping consistency between games.[7] Speaking of their favorite projects, they look to games like Baten Kaitos Origins where the developers allowed them to take over every aspect of localization including script, debugging, quality assurance, and voice production.[9]
Gameography
| Year | Game | Client | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Nier: Automata[10] | Square Enix | Japanese-to-English |
| 2016 | Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 | Inti Creates | Japanese-to-English |
| 2016 | Gotta Protectors[11] | Ancient | Japanese-to-English |
| 2016 | Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games | Sega[2] | Japanese-to-English |
| 2016 | Shovel Knight[12] | Yacht Club Games | English-to-Japanese |
| 2016 | Mighty No. 9 | Comcept | Japanese-to-English, Consulting, Community Management, Public Relations |
| 2016 | Super Time Force Ultra | Capybara Games | English-to-Japanese |
| 2015 | Xenoblade Chronicles X[13] | Nintendo | Japanese-to-English |
| 2015 | Neko Atsume[14] | Hit-Point | Japanese-to-English |
| 2015 | Rogue Legacy | Cellar Door Games | Japanese publisher |
| 2014 | Azure Striker Gunvolt | Inti Creates | Japanese-to-English |
| 2014 | Wind-up Knight 2 | Robot Invader | English-to-Japanese |
| 2014 | Threes! | Sirvo | English-to-FGJ |
| 2014 | Drakengard 3 | Square Enix | Japanese-to-English |
| 2014 | Boom Beach | Supercell | English-to-Japanese |
| 2013 | République | Camouflaj LLC | English-to-FGS |
| 2013 | Hay Day | Supercell | English-to-Japanese, Consulting |
| 2013 | Tales of Xillia | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2013 | Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate | Capcom | Japanese-to-English |
| 2013 | Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance | Konami | Japanese-to-English |
| 2013 | Fire Emblem Awakening | Nintendo | Japanese-to-English |
| 2013 | Skulls of the Shogun | 17-BIT | English Writing, English-to-FIGSPCJKR |
| 2013 | Rise of the Blobs | Robot Invader | English-to-Japanese |
| 2012 | Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP | Capybara Games | English-to-Japanese, Promotion, Marketing |
| 2012 | Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor | Capcom | Japanese-to-English |
| 2012 | Gravity Rush | Sony Computer Entertainment | English Editing |
| 2012 | Dragon's Dogma | Capcom | Japanese-to-English |
| 2012 | Skullgirls | Reverge Labs | Inter-Office Communication |
| 2012 | Touch My Katamari | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2012 | Tales of the Abyss | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2012 | Soulcalibur V | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English DLC Translation |
| 2012 | Tales of Graces f | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2011 | Fossil Fighters: Champions | Nintendo | Japanese-to-English |
| 2011 | Otomedius Excellent | Konami | Japanese-to-English |
| 2011 | The Black Eyed Peas Experience | Ubisoft | English Writing |
| 2011 | Aquaria | Semi Secret Software | English-to-Japanese |
| 2011 | Zoo Resort 3D | Ubisoft | Japanese-to-English |
| 2011 | Wind-up Knight | Robot Invader | English-to-Japanese |
| 2011 | Disney Epic Mickey | Disney Interactive Studios | English-to-Japanese |
| 2011 | Shadows of the Damned | Grasshopper Manufacture | Japanese-to-English, English-to-Japanese |
| 2011 | Dead or Alive: Dimensions | Tecmo Koei | Japanese-to-English |
| 2011 | Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation | Nintendo | Japanese-to-English |
| 2010 | Echochrome II | Sony Computer Entertainment | Japanese-to-English |
| 2010 | Adrenalin Misfits | Konami | Japanese-to-English |
| 2010 | Castlevania: Harmony of Despair | Konami | Japanese-to-English |
| 2010 | Monster Hunter Tri | Capcom | Japanese-to-English |
| 2010 | Nier | Square Enix | Japanese-to-English |
| 2010 | The Eye of Judgment: Legends | Sony Computer Entertainment | Japanese-to-English |
| 2010 | Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll | Sega | Japanese-to-English |
| 2010 | Star Ocean: The Last Hope International | Square Enix | Japanese-to-English |
| 2010 | White Knight Chronicles International | Sony Computer Entertainment | Japanese-to-English |
| 2010 | Glory of Heracles | Nintendo | Japanese-to-English |
| 2009 | Tekken 6 | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2009 | Petz Hamsterz Bunch | Ubisoft | Japanese-to-English |
| 2009 | Undead Knights | Tecmo | Japanese-to-English |
| 2009 | Katamari Forever | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2009 | Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2009 | Imagine: Makeup Artist | Ubisoft | Japanese-to-English |
| 2009 | Tenchu: Shadow Assassins (PSP) | Ubisoft | Japanese-to-English |
| 2009 | Star Ocean: The Last Hope | Square Enix | Japanese-to-English |
| 2009 | Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon | Nintendo | Japanese-to-English |
| 2009 | Tenchu: Shadow Assassins (Wii) | Ubisoft | Japanese-to-English |
| 2008 | Imagine: Ballet Star | Ubisoft | Japanese-to-English |
| 2008 | Castlevania Judgment | Konami | Japanese-to-English |
| 2008 | Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2008 | Eternal Sonata (PS3) | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2008 | Tales of Vesperia | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2008 | Soulcalibur IV | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2008 | Wild ARMs XF | XSEED Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2008 | Culdcept Saga | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2008 | Ape Quest | Sony Computer Entertainment | Japanese-to-English |
| 2007 | Eternal Sonata (Xbox 360) | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2007 | Wild ARMs 5 | XSEED Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2007 | Jeanne d'Arc | Sony Computer Entertainment | Japanese-to-English |
| 2007 | Brave Story: New Traveler | XSEED Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2007 | Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2007 | Lunar Knights | Kojima Productions | Japanese-to-English |
| 2007 | Rogue Galaxy | Sony Computer Entertainment | Japanese-to-English |
| 2006 | Every Extend Extra | Q Entertainment | Japanese-to-English |
| 2006 | Gunpey DS | Q Entertainment | Japanese-to-English |
| 2006 | Gunpey | Q Entertainment | Japanese-to-English |
| 2006 | Tales of the Abyss | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2006 | Baten Kaitos Origins | Nintendo | Japanese-to-English |
| 2006 | Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra | Namco Bandai Games | Japanese-to-English |
| 2006 | Warship Gunner 2 | Koei | Japanese-to-English |
| 2005 | Mario Tennis: Power Tour | Nintendo | Japanese-to-English |
Podcast
8-4 hosts a bi-weekly podcast dedicated to "Japan, video games, and Japanese video games", known as 8-4 Play. It is hosted by the "8-4some" consisting of Mark MacDonald, John Ricciardi, Hiroko Minamoto, and Justin Epperson. Being located in Tokyo, 8-4 has the opportunity to attend and share news about many Japanese video game industry events such as Tokyo Game Show, Capcom's Captivate, and Grasshopper Manufacture's Hoppers. As 1UP.com and EGM alumni, they maintain many of their video game journalism connections including James Mielke (now of Q Entertainment), Shane Bettenhausen (Ignition Entertainment), and David Abrams (Cheap Ass Gamer), who make regular appearances as guests on the show. They also occasionally have prominent designers as guests such as Tetsuya Mizuguchi and Akira Yamaoka.[15][16] Following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, 8-4 was involved in both Grasshopper Manufacture's Grasstream 2 charity event and Play For Japan: The Album, headed by Akira Yamaoka.
References
- ↑ "About « 8-4". 8-4. 2005-10-05. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- 1 2 "8-4 | Gameography". 8-4. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- 1 2 3 Akibatteru (2010-11-09). "Akibatteru アキバってる - Taipei Comic Fair, Game localization and Tokyo Anime Fair". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- 1 2 3 Robson, Daniel (2011-06-29). "Local heroes take Japanese video games to the world | The Japan Times Online". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2011-07-23.
- 1 2 Nutt, Christian (2008-12-11). "News - Interview: 8-4 & The New Potential For Game Localization". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2011-07-23.
- 1 2 Ashcraft, Brian (2010-11-02). "Found In Translation". Kotaku. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- 1 2 "8-4 Play 4/22/2011: PROJECT CAFÉ OLÉ « 8-4". 8-4. 2011-04-23. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- ↑ Ashcraft, Brian (2010-11-03). "The Surprising Ways Japanese Games Are Changed For Americans". Kotaku. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- ↑ Shoemaker, Brad (2008-10-17). "Giant Bomb Visits 8-4". Giant Bomb. Retrieved 2011-07-23.
- ↑ Jenkins, David. "NieR: Automata hands-on preview – 'I wanted to create a game where players would feel something'". Metro. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
- ↑ "Justin Epperson on Twitter". Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ↑ . Twitter. 2016-03-03. Retrieved on 2016-03-03.
- ↑ Nintendo of America. Twitter. 2015-08-28. Retrieved on 2015-08-29.
- ↑ Byford, Sam (30 October 2015). "Cute cult cat-collecting app Neko Atsume is finally in English". The Verge. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ↑ "8-4 Play 6/17/2011: CHILD OF MIZUGUCHI « 8-4". 8-4. 2011-06-17. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- ↑ "8-4 Play 7/15/2011: ¡QUE MAGNIFICO! « 8-4". 8-4. 2011-01-07. Retrieved 2011-07-18.