In fact, it was one of the most demanding localization projects we've encountered.) (That doesn't mean it was easy to localize. Higo: There are a few things here and there, but Symphonia was one of the easier games to localize in that regard. PGC: Were there some things in the game that were really difficult to translate? Not just limited to words, like concepts that Western audiences might not 'get?' We also change things that will prevent us from getting the right ESRB rating for the game. Higo: We try look at it from an average gamer's point of view, and if it won't make sense to the average player because it is too 'Japan-centric', we'll change it for the U.S. PGC: What's the process of determining what is and isn't suitable for the U.S. But in turn, the developers trust our decisions regarding the changes we do make. Ultimately, it's the vision of the original developers, so it's important to make sure you respect their creation. Higo: I think it's important to stay as close to the original while making sure it makes sense for the U.S. PGC: In a game such as this, where there's a lot to be translated, how important do you feel it is to stick strictly to the Japanese source? Two people from Namco attended the entire voiceover session (including myself), and directed the talents. Higo: The VO recordings were outsourced to and outside company, but I was closely involved with the casting process. PGC: Was the acting work outsourced to a company specializing in English anime dubs, or was Namco in charge of the casting itself?

version including programmers and artists. Higo: The number fluctuates throughout the project as some of the team members specialize in certain areas of production such as translation and VO, but we had up to 15 people working on the U.S. PGC: How large is the localization team on this game, and how long did the process take? Nao Higo: My name is Nao Higo, and I'm the localization producer for Tales of Symphonia. Planet GameCube: Please tell us your name and explain your role in the localization for Tales of Symphonia.

Tales of symphonia colette voice actor