Hoping to make your life's design a bit more dynamic!

I will and have changed some game features based upon board inputs from players if their arguments are compelling, well researched, and presented in a mature manner - another definition of dynamic.

Indeed, seeking universal appreciation over one's deeds, however good, is little more than a fool's errand.
What is important is putting one's mind, heart and soul in the endeavor to find peace with oneself,
knowing the very best that could have been done on each aspect of a project was realized.
Those that understand this simple truth will see the luster of the efforts put into the work, while
those that rejoice in merely complaining and demeriting will see smudges even onto the most pristine of
surfaces; its just how people are.

Hahaha. Idiots. I never understood why someone would want japanese related stuff to remain in a script when most americans wouldn't even understand it.

You are doing a great job, WildBill and I was just saying that when I was reading the intro to Slayers the other day. You can tell the story is there to be written and done well. So what the elitist can have his way!? Let him / her speak ill of your work. It's one or a few speaking when many play and enjoy. That makes the difference. Now where's the Mystic Ark release!

That's exactly my point. I'm not talking badly of japanese culture, but I think that a game to be fully appreciated by a western audience needs to be related to western culture.

I miss Working Designs, I loved their work.

Well, at least NISA is going the same way. Just look at their work at Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia and Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica. They're masterpieces.

Well I'll give you that Ar Tonelico 1 was, but Ar Tonelico II um no. The story editing was kind of shotty. The game had a SERIOUS bug that actually crashed the game about 90% in (though it was able to be bypassed if you were fast enough beating that certain boss, it never should have been there at all) and (this isn't NIS fault) the story was half assed. The 2 main characters were some of the most cookie cutter I've seen in years. And Jacqli although more interesting than the first two (mostly simply because she was a carry over from game 1, was still far less interesting than she was in game 1 and/or could have been) It was a sad attempt to milk the franchise by the Japanese instead of a good follow up game. (Not the fault of NIS.)

However, NIS did redeem themselves after that. The story editing for Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy is by far better. Sadly, again the game was a pale comparison to the first (though much better than Ar Tonelico II). Another attempt to milk the franchise. NIS America has no control over this I realize, but the editing they do. I'm glad to see they redeemed themselves after Ar Tonelico II. They've done some great games so far. The entire Atelier Iris and Mana Khemia line has had great translations and editing generally. Ar Tonelico 1 was also great. I just think they knew Ar Tonelico II was going to stink up the joint and just didn't care. (Which could be a result of Atelier Iris III being a stink fest and they poured too much money into getting it perfect.)

Well, I know about the bug in Raki fight, but there are ways to get around that, and I'll not get into details.

Let me explain how I feel, so you can understand my opinion:

To me, playing games is all about having fun. So the most important attribute a game should have is the fun-factor.
I don't pay so much attention to games cookie-cuttery. It doesn't matter to me. I usually like games that make me laugh. In some parts of my first and second playthrough on Ar tonelico II, I almost couldn't stop laughing.
That's the reason I usually prefer funny games than serious ones.

I found the second Ar tonelico much funnier than the first. I really loved the game, couldn't stop playing it.
To me, it's one of the best games PS2 has to offer. And one of the best of all time.

Me, tool! I may analyze the writing here and there, but I never dwell on the flaws. Instead I search hard to discover what is always present, opportunities to learn something new.

It's a real challenge to "translate" Japanese humor into an English game version that works in the Western world, especially when we're slaughtering almost everything that moves! I guess we might call it gallows humor in some instances of story writing, but the Slayers culture may offer some opportunities. I viewed an anime video of Lina sitting with one of her female friends as they ate dinner. The companion grabbed and chomped on Lina's last piece of steak at the inn. Next, a different person tried to sneak up from behind and steal Lina's pack or whatever was lying on the floor near her seat. Lina spotted the thief and started simmering until she built up a head of steam. Then, she exploded, casting a spell that blew up the whole building around them. The gal who grabbed the bite of meat got buried in the rubble. Lina put her foot on the spot to keep the girl pinned underground, but the friend popped out anyway, laughing at Lina's temper tantrum.

The translation of the opening scene in the goblin pit (of the Slayers RPG) is depicted as suspenseful because Connie becomes so emotional, she breaks loose with a crying jag and spits out a bunch of names such as devil, berating Lina for maybe not taking her along. This overreaction seems to lend itself to a potential for offbeat humor because of what may prove to be a repeating character trait, a central metaphor that perhaps defines Connie. I'll learn more as I proceed. At this point, I only know that Slayers will definitely be different. I will need to proceed deeper into the game to discover if vehicles for additional humor are present. I did find one other spot for brief levity in the second introduction, in the village as the townspeople discussed the goblins that threatened to destroy their homes (of all circumstances), but I won't spoil it.

Wildbill,

Is the Slayer's script more or less roughly translated? I know you do lots of research for the games you write for and I wasn't sure if you were doing the script section by section because you were waiting for more translated parts or because the script is already translated and you were just going through it methodically to make it ready for the English speaking world.

It is almost completely translated, by Filler of Matt's Messy Room who is coordinating this joint project. The only thing holding me back from shooting forward is menu support, but Bongo` probably won't send me those fixes until I get off my duff with Mystic Ark V1.01 and release it! Filler is backstopping me on the Slayer's conventions, as he is familiar with the characters and the culture of the series.

As long as you don't use honorifcs in your english translations, I'll never complain of your decisions.