8-4

{{About|the video game localization company|the calendar dates|August 4|and|April 8}}

{{Infobox company

| name = 8-4, Ltd.

| native_name = 有限会社ハチノヨン

| native_name_lang = ja

| romanized_name = Yūgen Gaisha Hachi no Yon

| logo = Profile8-4.jpg

| type = Private

| traded_as =

| key_people = {{ubl|Hiroko Minamoto (CEO)|John Ricciardi (COO)}}

| industry = Video games

| services = Video game localization, Video game publisher

| num_employees =

| caption =

| foundation = {{Start date and age|2005|10|05}}

| location = Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

| homepage = {{URL|1=http://8-4.jp/?lang=en|2=8-4.jp}}

| fetchwikidata = ALL

}}

{{nihongo|8-4, Ltd.|有限会社ハチノヨン|Yūgen Gaisha Hachi no Yon|lead=yes}} is a Japanese video game localization company based in Shibuya, Tokyo.{{cite web|url=http://8-4.jp/about-us/ |title=About « 8-4 |publisher=8-4 |date=2005-10-05 |access-date=2011-07-18}} The company was founded in 2005 by Hiroko Minamoto and former Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) editor John Ricciardi. They were joined by Ricciardi's EGM colleague Mark MacDonald in 2008, who departed in 2016 to work as VP, Production of Business and Development at Enhance Games. It performs Japanese-to-English and English-to-Japanese translation and localization on a contract basis with credits including Monster Hunter, Nier, Dragon Quest, Fire Emblem, Tales, Undertale and more.{{cite web|url=http://8-4.jp/gameography/?lang=en |title=8-4 | Gameography |publisher=8-4 |access-date=2011-07-18}} The company is named after the final level of the original Super Mario Bros., where Mario defeats Bowser and rescues Princess Peach for the very first time.{{cite web|author=Akibatteru |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnW_E61ONws |title=Akibatteru アキバってる - Taipei Comic Fair, Game localization and Tokyo Anime Fair |publisher=YouTube |date=2010-11-09 |access-date=2011-07-18}}

Translation

8-4 generally gets involved in the localization process midway through a game's development, gaining access to a build of the game and script.{{cite web|author=Robson, Daniel |url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nc20110629a1.html |title=Local heroes take Japanese video games to the world | The Japan Times Online |publisher=The Japan Times |date=2011-06-29 |access-date=2011-07-23}} Occasionally, they are invited to participate throughout the development cycle, as with the case of Shadows of the Damned. As publishers increasingly push for simultaneous worldwide release, they have noted earlier and earlier involvement in projects. In the first step of the process, they familiarize themselves with the game and others in its series by playing through them multiple times and taking notes. To perform the actual translation, they use large Microsoft Excel spreadsheets containing the script in both Japanese and English. In addition to word translation, they suggest changes to make the game more accessible to Western audiences. For example, in Glory of Heracles, they recommended that the battle speed be tripled in order to make fighting more exciting.{{cite web|author=Ashcraft, Brian |url=http://kotaku.com/5679476/found-in-translation |title=Found In Translation |publisher=Kotaku |date=2010-11-02 |access-date=2011-07-18}}

The team cites Richard Honeywood, founder of Square's localization department, as an influence on their translation style.{{cite web|url=http://8-4.jp/blog/?p=381&lang=en |title=8-4 Play 4/22/2011: PROJECT CAFÉ OLÉ « 8-4 |publisher=8-4 |date=2011-04-23 |access-date=2011-07-18}} Beyond merely translating the words, 8-4 attempts to convey the same experience as that of the original language version through attention to tone, user interface, and cultural references.{{cite web|author=Ashcraft, Brian |url=http://kotaku.com/5679474/the-surprising-ways-japanese-games-are-changed-for-americans |title=The Surprising Ways Japanese Games Are Changed For Americans |publisher=Kotaku |date=2010-11-03 |access-date=2011-07-18}} Because of their text-heavy nature, most of 8-4's contracts are for role-playing video games such as Eternal Sonata, Tales of Vesperia, and Star Ocean: The Last Hope, which are beyond the capabilities of in-house translation teams.{{cite web|author=Nutt, Christian |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21383 |title=News - Interview: 8-4 & The New Potential For Game Localization |publisher=Gamasutra |date=2008-12-11 |access-date=2011-07-23}} In translating Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation, they inherited Honeywood's Dragon Quest style guide to aid them in keeping consistency between games. Speaking of their favorite projects, they look to games like Baten Kaitos Origins where the developers allowed them to take over every aspect of localization including script, debugging, quality assurance, and voice production.{{cite web|author=Shoemaker, Brad |url=http://www.giantbomb.com/giant-bomb-visits-8-4/17-77/ |title=Giant Bomb Visits 8-4 |publisher=Giant Bomb |date=2008-10-17 |access-date=2011-07-23}} In 2022, 8-4 provided the translation for Masahiro Sakurai's YouTube web series, "Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games".{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxTgE5XGv4wlF-1WsQrp_0sh7Y5JYNB3mX |title=YouTube Community Post |last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |website=YouTube |access-date=5 October 2022}}

Games

class="wikitable sortable" width="100%" align="center"

align="center"

! style="width:5%; text-align:center;"|Year

! style="width:25%; text-align:center;"|Game

! style="width:25%; text-align:center;"|Client

! class="unsortable" style="width:45%;"|Notes

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| 2005

| Mario Tennis: Power Tour

| Nintendo

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

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| 2006

| Warship Gunner 2

| Koei

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

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| 2006

| Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2006

| Baten Kaitos Origins

| Nintendo

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2006

| Tales of the Abyss

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2006

| Gunpey

| Q Entertainment

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2006

| Gunpey DS

| Q Entertainment

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2006

| Every Extend Extra

| Q Entertainment

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2007

| Rogue Galaxy

| Sony Computer Entertainment

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2007

| Lunar Knights

| Kojima Productions

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

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| 2007

| Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2007

| Brave Story: New Traveler

| XSEED Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2007

| Jeanne d'Arc

| Sony Computer Entertainment

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2007

| Wild ARMs 5

| XSEED Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2007

| Eternal Sonata (Xbox 360)

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2008

| Ape Quest

| Sony Computer Entertainment

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2008

| Culdcept Saga

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2008

| Wild ARMs XF

| XSEED Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2008

| Soulcalibur IV

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2008

| Tales of Vesperia

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2008

| Eternal Sonata (PS3)

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2008

| Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2008

| Castlevania Judgment

| Konami

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2008

| Imagine: Ballet Star

| Ubisoft

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2009

| Tenchu: Shadow Assassins (Wii)

| Ubisoft

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2009

| Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

| Nintendo

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2009

| Star Ocean: The Last Hope

| Square Enix

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2009

| Tenchu: Shadow Assassins (PSP)

| Ubisoft

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2009

| Imagine: Makeup Artist

| Ubisoft

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2009

| Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2009

| Katamari Forever

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2009

| Undead Knights

| Tecmo

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2009

| Petz Hamsterz Bunch

| Ubisoft

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2009

| Tekken 6

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2010

| Glory of Heracles

| Nintendo

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2010

| White Knight Chronicles International

| Sony Computer Entertainment

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2010

| Star Ocean: The Last Hope International

| Square Enix

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2010

| Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll

| Sega

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2010

| The Eye of Judgment: Legends

| Sony Computer Entertainment

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2010

| Nier

| Square Enix

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2010

| Monster Hunter Tri

| Capcom

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2010

| Castlevania: Harmony of Despair

| Konami

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2010

| Adrenalin Misfits

| Konami

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2010

| Echochrome II

| Sony Computer Entertainment

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2011

| Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation

| Nintendo

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2011

| Dead or Alive: Dimensions

| Tecmo Koei

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2011

| Shadows of the Damned

| Grasshopper Manufacture

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English, English-to-Japanese

align="center"

| 2011

| Disney Epic Mickey

| Disney Interactive Studios

| align="left" | English-to-Japanese

align="center"

| 2011

| Wind-up Knight

| Robot Invader

| align="left" | English-to-Japanese

align="center"

| 2011

| Zoo Resort 3D

| Ubisoft

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2011

| Aquaria

| Semi Secret Software

| align="left" | English-to-Japanese

align="center"

| 2011

| The Black Eyed Peas Experience

| Ubisoft

| align="left" | English Writing

align="center"

| 2011

| Otomedius Excellent

| Konami

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2011

| Fossil Fighters: Champions

| Nintendo

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2012

| Tales of Graces f

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2012

| Soulcalibur V

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English DLC translation

align="center"

| 2012

| Tales of the Abyss

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2012

| Touch My Katamari

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2012

| Skullgirls

| Reverge Labs

| align="left" | Inter-Office Communication

align="center"

| 2012

| Dragon's Dogma

| Capcom

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2012

| Gravity Rush

| Sony Computer Entertainment

| align="left" | English Editing

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| 2012

| Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor

| Capcom

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

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| 2012

| Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP

| Capybara Games

| align="left" | English-to-Japanese, promotion, marketing

align="center"

| 2013

| Rise of the Blobs

| Robot Invader

| align="left" | English-to-Japanese

align="center"

| 2013

| Skulls of the Shogun

| 17-BIT

| align="left" | English Writing, English-to-FIGSPCJKR

align="center"

| 2013

| Fire Emblem Awakening

| Nintendo

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2013

| Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

| Konami

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2013

| Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

| Capcom

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2013

| Tales of Xillia

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2013

| Hay Day

| Supercell

| align="left" | English-to-Japanese, Consulting

align="center"

| 2013

| République

| Camouflaj LLC

| align="left" | English-to-FGS

align="center"

| 2014

| Boom Beach

| Supercell

| align="left" | English-to-Japanese

align="center"

| 2014

| Drakengard 3

| Square Enix

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2014

| Threes!

| Sirvo

| align="left" | English-to-FGJ

align="center"

| 2014

| Wind-up Knight 2

| Robot Invader

| align="left" | English-to-Japanese

align="center"

| 2014

| Azure Striker Gunvolt

| Inti Creates

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2014

| Tales of Hearts R

| Namco Bandai Games

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2015

|Rogue Legacy

|Cellar Door Games

| align="left" |Japanese publisher

align="center"

| 2015

| Neko Atsume{{cite web |last=Byford |first=Sam |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/30/9641008/neko-atsume-english-version-available |title=Cute cult cat-collecting app Neko Atsume is finally in English |work=The Verge |date=30 October 2015 |access-date=1 November 2015}}

| Hit-Point

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2015

| Xenoblade Chronicles X[https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/637339083145105408 Nintendo of America]. Twitter. 2015-08-28. Retrieved on 2015-08-29.

| Nintendo

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2016

| Super Time Force Ultra

| Capybara Games

| align="left" | English-to-Japanese

align="center"

| 2016

| Mighty No. 9

| Comcept

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English, Consulting, community management, public relations

align="center"

| 2016

| Shovel Knight[https://twitter.com/markmacd/status/705522441926213632]. Twitter. 2016-03-03. Retrieved on 2016-03-03.

| Yacht Club Games

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2016

|Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

|Sega

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2016

|Gotta Protectors{{cite tweet|number=758836896193589248|user=sprsk|title=If you're lookin for a fun new game to play, Gotta Protectors just hit the eShop today. An 8-4 joint, too! |accessdate=29 July 2016|date=29 July 2016}}

|Ancient

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

| 2016

| Azure Striker Gunvolt 2

| Inti Creates

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2017

|Nier: Automata{{cite web|last1=Jenkins|first1=David|title=NieR: Automata hands-on preview – 'I wanted to create a game where players would feel something'|url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/07/04/nier-automata-hands-on-preview-i-wanted-to-create-a-game-where-players-would-feel-something-5983324/|website=Metro|date=4 July 2016 |access-date=4 July 2016}}

|Square Enix

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2017

|Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/johntv/status/841813169316089856|title=John Ricciardi on Twitter|work=Twitter|access-date=2017-03-18|language=en}}

|Nintendo

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2017

|Undertale

|Toby Fox

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese, console ports, console publishing{{cite web|last1=Ricciardi|first1=John|title=Breaking Down Borders: Undertale's Journey to Japan and Back|url=https://blog.us.playstation.com/2017/08/08/breaking-down-borders-undertales-journey-to-japan-and-back/|website=PlayStation.Blog|date=8 August 2017 |publisher=Sony Interactive Entertainment America|access-date=8 August 2017}}

align="center"

|2017

|Egglia: Legend of the Redcap

|DMM.com

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2017

|Style Savvy: Styling Star

|Nintendo

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2018

|Monster Hunter: World

|Capcom

| align="left" |English translation support

align="center"

|2018

|Firewatch

|Campo Santo

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2018

|Slime Rancher

|Monomi Park

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2018

|Dragalia Lost

|Nintendo

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2018

|Return of the Obra Dinn

|3909 LLC

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2018

|Deltarune: Chapter 1

|Toby Fox

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese, console ports, console publishing{{cite tweet|user=everydayfoxlife|number=1096025573573312512|date=2019-02-14|title=aw yes! now that it's been announced I can finally share that I'm handling both the Switch and PS4 ports of Deltarune (*´∇｀*) (enlisted by 8-4, naturally)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804131739/https://twitter.com/everydayfoxlife/status/1096025573573312512|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-08-04}}

align="center"

|2019

|Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

|ArtPlay

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2019

|Celeste

|Extremely OK Games

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2019

|SaGa: Scarlet Grace - Ambitions

|Square Enix

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2020

|Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash!

|Grounding

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2020

|Tales of Crestoria

|Bandai Namco Entertainment

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2021

|Little Nightmares II

|Bandai Namco Entertainment

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2021

|Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139...

|Square Enix

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2021

|Hades

|Supergiant Games

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2021

|Nier Reincarnation

|Square Enix

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2021

|Spelunky

|Mossmouth

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2021

|Spelunky 2

|Mossmouth

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2021

|Deltarune: Chapter 2

|Toby Fox

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese, console ports, console publishing

align="center"

|2021

|Ikenfell{{cite web|title=魔法学園RPG『Ikenfell』の日本語版が配信決定。問題児の生徒6人が闇の真実を解き明かすため、校内を探索し怪物や教師たちと戦う|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/24a42ff9250b6e1d512456f80326ff437ca25662|website=Yahoo! Japan|date=September 23, 2021|access-date=September 24, 2021|language=ja|archive-date=March 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306235310/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/24a42ff9250b6e1d512456f80326ff437ca25662|url-status=dead}}

|Happy Star Games

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2021

|Jett: The Far Shore

|Superbrothers

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese, English-to-German

align="center"

|2022

|Disney Twisted-Wonderland

|Aniplex of America

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2022

|Gotta Protectors: Cart of Darkness

|Ancient

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English, North American and European publishing

align="center"

|2022

|Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes

|Nintendo

| align="left" |Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2023

|Out Zone

|Bitwave Games

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2023

|Truxton

|Bitwave Games

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2023

|Twin Cobra

|Bitwave Games

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2023

|Zero Wing

|Bitwave Games

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2024

|Unicorn Overlord

|Sega

| align="left" | Japanese-to-English

align="center"

|2024

|Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus

|Squid Shock Studios

| align="left" | English-to-Japanese

align="center"

|2025

|Deltarune: Chapters 3 and 4

|Toby Fox

| align="left" |English-to-Japanese, console ports, console publishing

align="center"

Podcast

8-4 hosts a bi-weekly podcast dedicated to "Japan, video games, and Japanese video games", known as 8-4 Play. It is hosted by the "8-4some" consisting of Mark MacDonald, John Ricciardi, Sarah Podzorski, and Justin Epperson. Being located in Tokyo, 8-4 has the opportunity to attend and share news about many Japanese video game industry events such as Tokyo Game Show, Capcom's Captivate, and Grasshopper Manufacture's Hoppers. As 1UP.com and EGM alumni, they maintain many of their video game journalism connections including James Mielke (now of Q Entertainment), Shane Bettenhausen (Ignition Entertainment), and David Abrams (Cheap Ass Gamer), who make regular appearances as guests on the show.{{Citation needed|date=May 2015}} They also occasionally have prominent designers as guests such as Tetsuya Mizuguchi and Akira Yamaoka.{{cite web|url=http://8-4.jp/blog/?p=412&lang=en |title=8-4 Play 6/17/2011: CHILD OF MIZUGUCHI « 8-4 |publisher=8-4 |date=2011-06-17 |access-date=2011-07-18}}{{cite web|url=http://8-4.jp/blog/?p=432&lang=en |title=8-4 Play 7/15/2011: ¡QUE MAGNIFICO! « 8-4 |publisher=8-4 |date=2011-01-07 |access-date=2011-07-18}} Since 2012, episodes of the podcast have been hosted on Giant Bomb.{{cite web |url=http://8-4.jp/blog/?p=1125&lang=en |title=8-4 Play 4/20/2012: S2E01 |publisher=8-4 |date=2012-04-20 |access-date=2012-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812203156/http://8-4.jp/blog/?p=1125&lang=en |archive-date=2014-08-12}} Following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, 8-4 was involved in both Grasshopper Manufacture's Grasstream 2 charity event and Play For Japan: The Album, headed by Akira Yamaoka.

References

External links

[http://8-4.jp/blog/?lang=en Official website]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110910230112/http://www.1up.com/do/minisite?cId=3181465 1UP.com site]

Category:Software companies based in Tokyo

Category:Video game companies established in 2005

Category:Video game companies of Japan

Category:Video game development companies

Category:Video game podcasts

Category:Japanese companies established in 2005

Category:2006 podcast debuts

Category:Audio podcasts