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[DNAbro]

EDIT
Atlus PR

Pretty much this. Also, this interview was done back during E3 - first day, I think. Still on track for 2015.

So false alarm?


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http://www.siliconera.com/2015/07/20/localizing-persona-an-interview-with-atluss-yu-namba/

This comes from an interview with Yu Namba, Senior Project Manager at Atlus USA.(native english speaker) Mostly questions about different things in localization but two parts related to Persona 5 stood out.

How do you approach localizing a game that is so densely rooted in Japanese Culture without taking the route that other publishers seem to, like Ace Attorney turning Tokyo into a fictional Los Angeles?



Yu Namba, Senior Project Manager: I mean, honestly, in the past, Atlus did go that route. For example, Revelations: Persona does a lot of that. That was one or two years before I joined the company. Since then, let’s say starting with Persona 2: Eternal Punishment… I think that was a turning point for the company in terms of localization, where we wanted to keep to the original content as much as possible. Of course, there are so many things that are so different—Japan exclusive, rather—that if you just translate, nobody here on the stateside would understand.



At the same time, especially with the Persona games from Persona 3 onward, the games had so much Japanese content that our goal was to try to maintain that to… I wouldn’t say educate, but maybe introduce Japanese culture to western game players. That’s what we’ve been sticking to up to now. I’m not sure how it’s going to be with Persona 5 honestly, but, at least for Dancing All Night, it definitely follows the trend.

Read more at http://www.siliconera.com/2015/07/2...iew-with-atluss-yu-namba/#dClGWRoz7OHjyxJi.99

Are you hoping that Persona 5 will touch on the same notes as the previous Persona titles in terms of themes? You know, Inaba is a countryside town but Persona 5 pits you in the middle of Tokyo.



YN: We’ll see! We will check the material as closely as possible and try to capture the essence of what the developer is trying to tell. We want to be authentic as possible.

Read more at http://www.siliconera.com/2015/07/2...iew-with-atluss-yu-namba/#dClGWRoz7OHjyxJi.99

As a note we don't have an exact time this interview was conducted, but it was posted today. With Yu saying that he doesn't know exactly how they are going to localize P5 when it comes to Japanese culture and then later says how they "will" be checking the material instead of "are" checking the material makes me think that P5 localization hasn't even started yet.

There are some other interesting things in there but felt like the P5 news stood out.

Just for reference to compare it to other Atlus localizations, back in April Erin Fitzgerald said they were about done with Persona 4 Dancing All Night voice work, for a game that is probably releasing in Septemeber.(don't believe that's official yet). That was for voice work so the script must have been done for a bit by then. And yet here is the Project Manager talking about these things in future tense.

Maybe I'm just inferring too much? What do you guys think? If it does happen to be true I don't see P5 actually being a 2015 release in U.S.

 

[Heroman]

It not coming this year in the USA and maybe in japan.

 

[Stereogatari]

Welp. There goes 2015 Worldwide.

 

[kamineko]

I'll read the article, hoping that future tense thing is just a translation issue or something

 

[Mauricio_Magus]

I'm getting a PS4 the day Persona 5 comes out, I'm not in a hurry but I wish it was this year.

 

[MatrixMan.EXE]

If this is true then I think its kind of disgusting that Atlus US have been so insistent that it'll launch in 2015 still. Just makes no sense that they'd keep saying that despite localisation supposedly not having started yet.

 

[Andrefpvs]

I'll read the article, hoping that future tense thing is just a translation issue or something

:'(

Yu Namba speaks perfect English, it's not a translation issue.

 

[Mobile Suit Gooch]

#HardinLied

 

[The End]

Does Sony have an internal localization house? I know they've been giving dev support to Atlus on PS4 pretty hard.

 

[zulux21]

there is absolutely no chance at all that atlus would repeatedly say a 2015 NA release if it hadn't already started localization. It would either be the shoddiest localization in the history of localizations if they did that or this is merely a mistraslation/misspeak.

 

[Aaronrules380]

And Atlus will continue calling it a 2015 western release even though it should've been obvious for a while that wouldn't happen. Seriously, I've been saying for a while that it'll come out near the end of the year in Japan, and then probably spring in the US. There's not even a Japanese release date set yet. People who think the western release will come within 3 months of the Japanese release (which would be pretty much necessary to get it out this year in the west) have always been deluding themselves

 

[Caronte]

I'm not surprised.

 

[vocab]

See ya in 2018.

 

[Wilsongt]

*table flip*

Oh well, I have FFXIV. I'm in no rush.

 

[IdreamofHIME]

Never expected it to hit this year.

 

[Astarte]

But they promised on twitter and facebook!
For real though, I'd be surprised to see this come out in the US in 2015. Really really surprised.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

Man, this is my most anticipated game this year. It's gonna hurt if it isn't 2015.

 

[Aaronrules380]

there is absolutely no chance at all that atlus would repeatedly say a 2015 NA release if it hadn't already started localization. It would either be the shoddiest localization in the history of localizations if they did that or this is merely a mistraslation/misspeak.

I've honestly had the feeling for a while that they don't really know when they're going to be able to get it out here, but have been mandated by higher ups to say 2015 for some reason

 

[E_Darkness]

#HardinLied

.

As a European, I'm not even fazed.

 

[ColossalLazy]

I just wish it comes in December so I can play it nonstop during the holidays.

 

[FunkyDealer]

Another major GOTY candidate just slipped into next year.

Looks like Zelda, Uncharted and Persona will be battling it out for me after all.

 

[Bousf]

2015 may be the year for Persona 5 to hit Japan. I think Atlus US should let go already (if this wording is anything to go by)

European here, so I can live with this lol

 

[Newtype-001]

Fuuuuuu

 

[Acquiescence]

This game isn't coming out in the West this year. It's just not happening, no matter how many times Atlus say otherwise.

 

[Sifl]

We were duped, hoodwinked and bamboozled.

 

[Lingitiz]

I can't see this coming this year with how silent they've been. Although Atlus has a fast localization turn around, the game would probably have to be out in Japan already for it make it to the US in time for holidays.

 

[McDougles]

Same-year worldwide release. BELIEVE!

Spoiler

Jan 5, 2016 in Japan, December 27 in NA.

 

[kenta]

Awaiting FluxWave to come in and tell us why we're wrong...

(I want to be wrong)

 

[robotrock]

I knew it

There was never a way this game was gonna hit 2015 for NA

 

[Kazer]

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Damnit. Hopefully early 2016 then.

 

[DNAbro]

Awaiting FluxWave to come in and tell us why we're wrong...

(I want to be wrong)

we had a slight discussion about this in the community thread. sadly i don't think he has anything to counter this.

 

[ckohler]

Stop toying with my emotions, Atlus.

 

[Kenzodielocke]

ffs why are you keep saying 2015 for US then.

 

[Yautja_Warrior]

Had a feeling this will slip till early 2016. But it will be awesome whenever it comes out.

 

[Reluctant-Hero]

Yup, not holding my breath for a 2015 English release. But I'll be there on day one whenever Atlus releases it in the U.S.

 

[TheJollyCorner]

Welp, more time for all you fellow Persona fans to make room for Fallout 4!

 

[BlackJace]

lol I made peace with this when it was announced.

 

[robotrock]

I have to learn Japanese

 

[Pellegri Testament]

there is absolutely no chance at all that atlus would repeatedly say a 2015 NA release if it hadn't already started localization. It would either be the shoddiest localization in the history of localizations if they did that or this is merely a mistraslation/misspeak.

Bruh...come on, you haven't looked into Trails in the Sky SC have you? Atlus could do much worse than just being off about the date by possibly a few months.

 

[Slaythe]

Still not a single word about EU release, ever.

So I wouldn't be surprised USA got delayed.

 

[flohen95]

Welp. There goes 2015 Worldwide.

It's not like it was ever gonna be "worldwide"

Spoiler

I'm prepared to eat delicious crow if they do manage a 2015 worldwide release

 

[Love Deterrence]

Oh well never expected 2015 anyway-- would be amazing if it happens, but the game will be masterful whenever it's out so 👀

 

[Ponn]

there is absolutely no chance at all that atlus would repeatedly say a 2015 NA release if it hadn't already started localization. It would either be the shoddiest localization in the history of localizations if they did that or this is merely a mistraslation/misspeak.

Sure they would. The PR people are the right hand, sometimes the left hand intentionally doesn't tell the right hand certain things or wait till the last possible minute. It's not like Atlus has never ever delayed a game before.

Persona 5 is NOT releasing in 2015 in the U.S. Spring/Summer 2016 at the earliest.

 

[Jarod McChicken]

What would you expect to hear from this ITW anyway ? It's pretty clear that Atlus USA don't have the right to drop a single clue on Persona 5 for now. Personally, I don't read anything special from that quote.

 

[mullet2000]

100% not surprised but I don't get why Atlus felt the need to lie about it being a 2015 game so many times.

 

[Nachos]

I know Yu usually heads up managing localization and is typically on-site for voice recording, but it's it possible someone else is taking the helm this time around?

I'll read the article, hoping that future tense thing is just a translation issue or something.

He's a native English speaker. There's nothing to mistranslate.

 

[ChaosAngel]

I was planning to have this beat by the time Fire Emblem Fates hit stateside >~<.

 

[Flame Lord]

Maybe he just forgot.

 

[Stone Ocean]

How do you start localization on a game that isn't done?

 

[FluxWaveZ]

Awaiting FluxWave to come in and tell us why we're wrong...

(I want to be wrong)

¯\_(&#12484_/¯

I have no idea what's going on anymore.