Game Freak explains the localization process for Pokemon Black/White, discusses 3DS ideas

A portion of a Eurogamer interview with Game Freak’s Junichi Masuda and Mana Ibe…

Eurogamer: What process do you go through when localising Pokemon games? Is that the main reason why it launches in Europe months after Japan?

Junichi Masuda: For Black and White we totally changed the scheme of the organisation. This time we translated directly from Japanese to all other languages. Before, we localised from Japanese to English, and from English to other European languages. So this time it was Japanese directly to European languages.

That made the launch timing a little closer to the Japanese launch. This time, the launch in Europe is 4th March, which is two days before the US launch. So we’re making an effort. This time we had many new localisation staff.

The gap between the Japanese launch and the European launch is because we always try to make the best videogame experience for not only Japanese users, but the people in other countries who enjoy localised videogames.

For example, we take care with the Pokemon names. We can all adapt Japanese names to Europe, but then sometimes it wouldn’t mean anything to the European kids and players. So we always take all the processes seriously when we localise.

Eurogamer: The Nintendo 3DS has a number of interesting connectivity features. Have you begun to think about how the 3DS can change the Pokemon series?

Junichi Masuda: There are many new and good elements. The 3DS has advanced technologies. If we consider producing and developing new games for the 3DS, we would like to take advantage of all those new technologies and elements.

Eurogamer: Have you had any ideas?

Junichi Masuda: Yes, but nothing fixed.