How to play RPGMaker Games in foreign languages with Machine Translation
This is in part a rewrite of a friend's tutorial, and in part a more streamlined version of it based on what steps I found important, to make it a bit easier to understand!
Please note that as with any Machine Translation, there will errors and issues. You will not get the same experience as someone fluent in the language, and you will not get the same experience as with playing a translation done by a real person.
If anyone has questions, please feel free to ask!
1. Download and extract the Locale Emulator
Linked here!
2. Download and set up your Textractor!
Textractor tutorial and using it with DeepL. The browser extension tools are broken, so you will need to use the built in textractor API (this has a limit, so be careful), or copy-paste the extracted text directly into your translation software of choice. Note that the textractor DOES NOT WORK on every game! It works well with RPGMaker, but I've had issues with visual novels.
The password for extraction is visual_novel_lover
3. Ensure that you are downloading your game in the right region.
In your region/language (administrative) settings, change 'Language for non-unicode programs' to the language of your choice. This will ensure that the file names are extracted to the right language.
MAKE SURE you download AND extract the game with the right settings! DO NOT CHECK THE 'use utf-8 encoding' BOX.
This ONLY needs to be done during the initial download and extraction; once everything is downloaded+extracted+installed, you can set your region back to your previous settings, but test to ensure that the text will display properly after you return to your original language settings; there have been issues before.
helpful tutorials are here and here!
4. Download your desired game and, if necessary, relevant RTP
The tools MUST be downloaded and extracted in the game's language. For japanese games, they are here. ensure that you are still in the right locale for non-unicode programs!
5. Run through the Locale Emulator
YES, this is a necessary step, EVEN IF YOUR ADMIN-REGION/LANGUAGE SETTINGS ARE CORRECT. Some games will not display the correct text unless you also RUN it in the right locale. You should be able to right click the game and see the Locale Emulator as an option like this. Run in Japanese (or whatever language is needed). You don't need to run as Admin if you don't want to, it should work either way.
6. Attach the Textractor and follow previously linked tutorials on how to set up the tools and the MTL.
Other notes:
There are also inbuilt Machine Translation Extensions, but those have a usage limit due to restrictions on the API. The Chrome/Firefox add-ons in the walkthrough in step 4 get around this by using the website itself, which doesn't have the same restrictions as the API does.
This will work best for RPGMaker games. For VNs, the textractor can have difficulties hooking in to extract the text, and may take some finagling.
dededos
turnnoffyourmind
origamiaround
snowghoul
discoholicmusic
jbbartram-illu
yousharknotpass
areudirty
