SS2 subtitles

[673fbfac899eeZylonBane]

So you ARE trying to phoneticize all of the enemies?

Uh... no? The above discussion is regarding a spoken sentence.

[673fbfac89d0cRocketMan]

Oh ok.  I got confused because of all the talk about utterances.

[673fbfac89e7fZylonBane]

This gets even better... since the non-verbal AI barks are so generic sounding, Irrational used some of them for multiple AI states. For example, the monkey schema has an "angry" sound that's used for both level 2 and level 3 alert barks. So the only way to do consistent descriptive subtitling ("[idle]", "[suspicious]", "[searching]", etc) would require duplicating WAV files and then updating the gamesys to use them. This would be a horrible hack, and also not an option for a drop-in subtitling pack. Sigh. Looks like "System Shock 2 for the Hearing Impaired" just isn't meant to be.

[673fbfac89f57RocketMan]

ME-TAL-GEAR!  ME-TAL-GEAR!

[673fbfac8a02eZylonBane]

I.... what?

[673fbfac8a2f5RocketMan]

!!!!!!

Remember?

[673fbfac8a40eZylonBane]

That was in response to the suggestion that sounds be represented iconically. As I just explained, this is impossible because the same sounds are used by different alert states.

[673fbfac8a5d3Kolya]

If some sounds are used generically then I suggest to give them generic subtitles. The general advantages of having subtitles at all should still far outweigh any disadvantages for the hearing impaired.

[673fbfac8a8efRocketMan]

That was in response to the suggestion that sounds be represented iconically. As I just explained, this is impossible because the same sounds are used by different alert states.

Ok, I didn't realize it was impossible.  I just figured there'd be duplication.  You understand the technical limitations better than I do though so I probably didn't get it.

[673fbfac8aa3eZylonBane]

Just noticed that space station Polidies is spelled "Polidies" in the strings, but "Poliedes" in the mission posting texture. A Google search for polidies brings up an SS2 wiki entry and then mostly just typos of "policies". "Poliedes", on the other hand, only brings up about 500 hits. But then "Polides" (which SS2 doesn't use at all), brings over 50,000 matches.

[673fbfac8ab03Kolya]

I think that name was made up. So unless you find some similar named celestial body, Google matches don't really count.

[673fbfac8abe4ZylonBane]

If it was just made up, then there's one text string vs one texture. No way to tell which one is the "correct" spelling.

[673fbfac8ae43Marvin]

Well, the string is easier to change ...

[673fbfac8af17ZylonBane]

Laziness is not a concern.

[673fbfac8afe1Marvin]

Might as well throw a dice then.

[673fbfac8b1f2Olfred]

As we all know, the art department is always making the errors. So the text one would be considered right.

Maybe someone want's so call up Ken Levine, just to be sure 

[673fbfac8b2f7ZylonBane]

Can't decide whether or not to transcribe SHODAN's verbal tics. E.g.--

"They have used their powers of mind control t-t-to gain access to the ship's c-c-computer."
vs
"They have used their powers of mind control to gain access to the ship's computer."

[673fbfac8b3f0Marvin]

Since the email and log texts don't do it, I don't know why you would start here. It's a little bit silly, anyway, if you also want to include the reverb or the changed vocals.

[673fbfac8b61dunn_atropos]

Also it would be a bit confusing to read.

[673fbfac8b777Carrot]

I dunno, if you were deaf, wouldn't you lose a little something of SHODAN's personality if you didn't know about the tics?

[673fbfac8b8ccvoodoo47]

if you are deaf, you already have lost the audio part.

[673fbfac8b9d5Marvin]

On top of that, rather than trying to read what a normal person would be able to hear, many deaf persons could be more interested in a clear and easy to read script. Besides, you should not forget about non-native speakers who want to play the game in English with subtitles and probably care more about an accurate, but concise text.

[673fbfac8baa2ZylonBane]

Majority rules. Good. Less work for me.

[673fbfac8bbcbMooztik]

hello ZylonBane
i'm new here.
i want to carry on french translation.
actually i m working on vCs and vTriggers audio files.
actually finished  (exept some missing or incomprehensive words) vCs wav to SRT files in english.(timed)
working on vTriggers audio files. exept xerxes , everything is translated to french.(timed)
converted french mails and logs files to SUB file (not timed)

i need some help for theses missing/incomprehensible words, and help you if you want.

i can post srt files here.