鋼のStephen Meyerink
@sjmtaelus.bsky.social
J-E translator & editor (Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, FE: Three Hopes, Ghostwire, Dragalia, Voice of Cards 2&3), author, currently at Pokémon, game design, dev・日英ゲーム翻訳や執筆・ゲーム開発者やプランナー・game music・ゲーム音楽・they/he・FFIX+FFXII+FFT神ゲー・日本語でもOK
https://sjmtaelus.com
https://sjmtaelus.com
Pinned
鋼のStephen Meyerink
@sjmtaelus.bsky.social
· Oct 18
Hi new folks! I'm a translator, editor, and game dev! I worked on stuff like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Fire Emblem Three Hopes, Voice of Cards, Dragalia Lost, plus neat stuff like FFXIV TTRPG + Chocobo and the Airship. Now I'm at TPCi!
Also, I don't discuss localization on here!
Also, I don't discuss localization on here!
don't read this thread if you haven't finished clair obscur but these folks get it
Additional point: Clair Obscur's third act is a thematic loop about how delaying the inevitable isn't healthy. You may feel temporarily good, you might even feel like a God among ants, but all you're doing is becoming a rotting husk and running away from inevitability.
Seeing other narrative design people say that Clair Obscur had a bad 3rd act or bad ending(s)…I just can’t follow you there man. That shit ruled. Sorry. You break the combat wide fucking open and then get your choice of doing genocide or walking toward Omelas and saying “torturing that child rocks”
November 27, 2025 at 7:12 PM
don't read this thread if you haven't finished clair obscur but these folks get it
Reposted by 鋼のStephen Meyerink
Hmph! Do you believe in Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving's turkey is forged of falsehoods. Its mashed potatoes are built on deceit. And its pumpkin pie is an instrument of deception.
It is naught but a cobweb of lies. To believe in Thanksgiving is to believe in nothing.
Thanksgiving's turkey is forged of falsehoods. Its mashed potatoes are built on deceit. And its pumpkin pie is an instrument of deception.
It is naught but a cobweb of lies. To believe in Thanksgiving is to believe in nothing.
November 27, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Hmph! Do you believe in Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving's turkey is forged of falsehoods. Its mashed potatoes are built on deceit. And its pumpkin pie is an instrument of deception.
It is naught but a cobweb of lies. To believe in Thanksgiving is to believe in nothing.
Thanksgiving's turkey is forged of falsehoods. Its mashed potatoes are built on deceit. And its pumpkin pie is an instrument of deception.
It is naught but a cobweb of lies. To believe in Thanksgiving is to believe in nothing.
Reposted by 鋼のStephen Meyerink
My Suikoden Localization Let's Play has finally come to a complete end! This overview covers the main points of the series, like "don't take words or punctuation at face value" and "consider the larger context," then dives into reviews of both the PS1 and HD Remaster English translations.
Localization Let’s Play: Suikoden 1 – Overview - Elizabeth Bushouse
I have to say, I did not think this project would be nearly this long when I first started it, but...here we are. Since it turned into such a behemoth of a
lizbushouse.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:42 PM
My Suikoden Localization Let's Play has finally come to a complete end! This overview covers the main points of the series, like "don't take words or punctuation at face value" and "consider the larger context," then dives into reviews of both the PS1 and HD Remaster English translations.
Reposted by 鋼のStephen Meyerink
Our Black Friday deal just dropped! Discount code BFCM25 at bossfightbooks.com for 20% off your order.
November 26, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Our Black Friday deal just dropped! Discount code BFCM25 at bossfightbooks.com for 20% off your order.
aka all sizzle, no steak
in my own experience only, as LLMs get “better,” all I am seeing is the production of texts that are just as wrong as they ever were, in ways that are just as fatally bad, but which now appear more consistently plausible to someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about
November 26, 2025 at 1:41 AM
aka all sizzle, no steak
someone at obsidian must be a fan 😍
November 25, 2025 at 8:47 AM
someone at obsidian must be a fan 😍
I think I'm at the end of Avowed. Underrated and very pleasant game. But it is weird to me that the world map has very obvious-looking 'this is a place you go' locations displayed that...you don't go to! Maybe meant for DLC in a world where the game got further updates? Or cut earlier? Hmm.
November 25, 2025 at 7:55 AM
I think I'm at the end of Avowed. Underrated and very pleasant game. But it is weird to me that the world map has very obvious-looking 'this is a place you go' locations displayed that...you don't go to! Maybe meant for DLC in a world where the game got further updates? Or cut earlier? Hmm.
for a show watched by apparently a gazillion people i feel like no one in my orbit is as excited (or commenting at all) about stranger things 5 this week but i am extremely excited LOL
November 24, 2025 at 9:31 PM
for a show watched by apparently a gazillion people i feel like no one in my orbit is as excited (or commenting at all) about stranger things 5 this week but i am extremely excited LOL
Reposted by 鋼のStephen Meyerink
this point really hits the nail on the head of why localization workers are so frustrated by “AI” loc companies.
freelancers have to beg for a single dollar wage increase, while tens of millions are dumped into a machine designed to replace them.
the machine doesn’t even work. freelancers do.
freelancers have to beg for a single dollar wage increase, while tens of millions are dumped into a machine designed to replace them.
the machine doesn’t even work. freelancers do.
one of the things that makes me most mad about genAI (and there are many) is we've been told there's not enough money for hiring. but there's billions poured into ai.
so not enough money to hire workers. but infinite money to pour into technology whose goal is never having to pay workers again.
so not enough money to hire workers. but infinite money to pour into technology whose goal is never having to pay workers again.
November 23, 2025 at 7:59 PM
this point really hits the nail on the head of why localization workers are so frustrated by “AI” loc companies.
freelancers have to beg for a single dollar wage increase, while tens of millions are dumped into a machine designed to replace them.
the machine doesn’t even work. freelancers do.
freelancers have to beg for a single dollar wage increase, while tens of millions are dumped into a machine designed to replace them.
the machine doesn’t even work. freelancers do.
GIVE
'Midnight Jazz FINAL FANTASY IX' arrangement album announced for February 11, 2026. Tracklist includes arrangements for piano, big band & both directed by Yuma Yamaguchi. Mega Jacket available through Amazon.co.jp w/ illustration by Satoshi Kuramochi.
Website:
www.jp.square-enix.com/music/sem/pa...
Website:
www.jp.square-enix.com/music/sem/pa...
November 22, 2025 at 2:11 AM
GIVE
Reposted by 鋼のStephen Meyerink
ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ2
33周年記念。
33周年記念。
November 21, 2025 at 1:33 PM
ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ2
33周年記念。
33周年記念。
Reposted by 鋼のStephen Meyerink
Thanks to @zorakc2c.bsky.social @musiconthedlo.bsky.social @rahulvanamali.com, I have finally achieved my dream of covering a Yakuza jazz bar theme: Silky Night (Yakuza 0-5), for when you're being educated on fine whiskey, or reflecting on that run-in with the Korean mafia (youtu.be/6wiBF0lf9Fs?...)
November 19, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Thanks to @zorakc2c.bsky.social @musiconthedlo.bsky.social @rahulvanamali.com, I have finally achieved my dream of covering a Yakuza jazz bar theme: Silky Night (Yakuza 0-5), for when you're being educated on fine whiskey, or reflecting on that run-in with the Korean mafia (youtu.be/6wiBF0lf9Fs?...)
Anyone have any recs for a solid lightweight laptop that can handle some creative tasks (a bit of work in unity, working in large spreadsheets, etc)--doesn't need to be great for gaming. My ye ancient teal vivobook that I love is much too long in the tooth now
November 21, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Anyone have any recs for a solid lightweight laptop that can handle some creative tasks (a bit of work in unity, working in large spreadsheets, etc)--doesn't need to be great for gaming. My ye ancient teal vivobook that I love is much too long in the tooth now
Reposted by 鋼のStephen Meyerink
I’m super happy to officially announce our next project, spearheaded by @threeohfour.bsky.social!
“Gilt” is a sci-fi/fantasy game about a priest haunted by a dying God.
Learn more (and wishlist!) over here:
store.steampowered.com/app/3979770
“Gilt” is a sci-fi/fantasy game about a priest haunted by a dying God.
Learn more (and wishlist!) over here:
store.steampowered.com/app/3979770
Gilt on Steam
Embark on a quest of redemption across the planet of Gilt to restore a disillusioned priest's faith, a dying God's power, and the waning hope of a people who have forgotten how to believe. A sci-fi fa...
store.steampowered.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I’m super happy to officially announce our next project, spearheaded by @threeohfour.bsky.social!
“Gilt” is a sci-fi/fantasy game about a priest haunted by a dying God.
Learn more (and wishlist!) over here:
store.steampowered.com/app/3979770
“Gilt” is a sci-fi/fantasy game about a priest haunted by a dying God.
Learn more (and wishlist!) over here:
store.steampowered.com/app/3979770
Reposted by 鋼のStephen Meyerink
The amount of people I know who have been laid off from games industry jobs and are deciding to leave games entirely as a result is not only extremely saddening (of course), but also genuinely scary. We have lost legitimately thousands of years of knowledge and experience in the last four years.
November 21, 2025 at 2:13 AM
The amount of people I know who have been laid off from games industry jobs and are deciding to leave games entirely as a result is not only extremely saddening (of course), but also genuinely scary. We have lost legitimately thousands of years of knowledge and experience in the last four years.
Reposted by 鋼のStephen Meyerink
I don't know which of my kouhais need to hear this, but because I'm seeing this in a ton of commercial J>E game locs: you really shouldn't retain quotation marks in the same places as the Japanese source text 9 times of 10, especially outside dialogue. Punctuation parity in general is often sloppy.
November 21, 2025 at 1:07 AM
I don't know which of my kouhais need to hear this, but because I'm seeing this in a ton of commercial J>E game locs: you really shouldn't retain quotation marks in the same places as the Japanese source text 9 times of 10, especially outside dialogue. Punctuation parity in general is often sloppy.
what a lovely speech from an incredible performer
Congrats to Jennifer English for winning the Best Lead Performer award at the 2025 #GoldenJoystickAwards!
And her acceptance speech about queer joy was a love letter to @aliona.bsky.social 🥹🌈
And her acceptance speech about queer joy was a love letter to @aliona.bsky.social 🥹🌈
November 21, 2025 at 2:22 AM
what a lovely speech from an incredible performer
Reposted by 鋼のStephen Meyerink
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, we remember the bright and courageous trans people whose lives were stolen by hatred. Their absence is felt across our city.
We will honor them by building a New York where every trans person can live safely, fully and freely.
We will honor them by building a New York where every trans person can live safely, fully and freely.
November 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, we remember the bright and courageous trans people whose lives were stolen by hatred. Their absence is felt across our city.
We will honor them by building a New York where every trans person can live safely, fully and freely.
We will honor them by building a New York where every trans person can live safely, fully and freely.
Reposted by 鋼のStephen Meyerink
Reposted by 鋼のStephen Meyerink
freelancing in 2025 feels so different than even a few years ago. healthcare premiums are so expensive, being disabled is so expensive. money worries grind down the ability to think creatively or engage deeply with the world outside day to day survival
November 18, 2025 at 4:56 PM
freelancing in 2025 feels so different than even a few years ago. healthcare premiums are so expensive, being disabled is so expensive. money worries grind down the ability to think creatively or engage deeply with the world outside day to day survival
This book is some of the translation work I'm most proud of. Translating artist notes years after they were made is hard!
1503. FINAL FANTASY XIV: A REALM REBORN - THE ART OF EORZEA - ANOTHER DAWN
👉 https://www.thevideogamelibrary.org/book/final-fantasy-xiv-a-realm-reborn-the-art-of-eorzea-another-dawn
#Books #Booksky #Gaming #VideoGames
👉 https://www.thevideogamelibrary.org/book/final-fantasy-xiv-a-realm-reborn-the-art-of-eorzea-another-dawn
#Books #Booksky #Gaming #VideoGames
November 20, 2025 at 2:26 AM
This book is some of the translation work I'm most proud of. Translating artist notes years after they were made is hard!
it's a shame clair obscur has become a weird flashpoint for bad takes, as well as beloved enough for the "actually it's not that good" takes (which I don't agree with at all but are valid), because I think it's incredible and easily the RPG I've loved most since BG3 and one of my favorites ever
November 17, 2025 at 11:57 PM
it's a shame clair obscur has become a weird flashpoint for bad takes, as well as beloved enough for the "actually it's not that good" takes (which I don't agree with at all but are valid), because I think it's incredible and easily the RPG I've loved most since BG3 and one of my favorites ever
Reposted by 鋼のStephen Meyerink
November 17, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Reposted by 鋼のStephen Meyerink
I *do* think however that it's grotesque to be giving awards to companies that have laid off huge chunks of the workforce that worked on these games that are now getting awards
November 17, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I *do* think however that it's grotesque to be giving awards to companies that have laid off huge chunks of the workforce that worked on these games that are now getting awards