AnsweRED Podcast 5 - Episode 5: Creative Adaptation in Games

In the fifth episode of the AnsweRED Podcast, our hosts Sebastian Kalemba and Paweł Burza are joined by English Adaptation Director Borys Pugacz-Muraszkiewicz and Localization Director Mikołaj Szwed.
Our hosts sat down with Borys and Mikołaj to discuss what separates adaptation and localization from translation, how they created the language of Cyberpunk 2077, their thought processes during casting and recording, and much more.
AnsweRED Podcast is an employer branding initiative dedicated to like-minded individuals interested in game development, providing a unique platform for them to gain knowledge from our team representatives’ insights, experiences, and cutting-edge expertise. We look forward to inviting more developers and guests from around the world in future episodes. The podcast is out now, and is also available on major streaming platforms:[ AnsweRED Podcast](KZbin "‌")

[@blackbradhz299]

We truly appreciate the humble approach for us getting to see what under the hood is a privilege we don't get with other devs i.e. Rockstar Games... So much love.

[@paweburza9408]

Glad you're enjoying the podcast! More to come in the near future!

[@whatsthisaboveme6064]

The very last thing that would make me happy with cyberpunk is if they add in a feature where we can replay old mission and quests. I can't really start over and go through the grind again

[@apexanimo]

heyyy it's been awhile. You've been busy with sequels, I've been busy with witchering and doing merc work! It's always nice to see devs talk with passion!

[@paweburza9408]

We’re back and we’ll try to keep that monthly episode cadence 🤞🏻

[@epilisium]

Borys has the coolest voice ever.

[@twcmultan3284]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpKWc5-qh8SEbKMsi=piWq8HZhTAbh_5Ma&t=300 thats fknn baad maaadd cd red has so much potential but they did not utilized it like a donkey mind why why u fo00ool for example why in withers 3 wild hunt you made amazing game ever but why not it has realistic real world like simulation on many thing all over for example peeling animal skins and crafting or smart NPC. check this link how you are defeated by red dead redemption game simulation system like how he is peeling in game everything like real??? hmm will you do this thing correct in witcher 4 ?????? reply

[@paweburza9408]

Fully agree! I remember when I joined the company I was fanboying really hard 😂 and I still am! 😂

[@andriiraboshchuk]

CDPR has an incredible approach and freedom for translators to adapt localization as much as possible to target region localization. And the diversity in characters' speech is wonderful, providing with the best material to work with.

[@twcmultan3284]

cvvc kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpKWc5-qh8SEbKMsi=piWq8HZhTAbh_5Ma&t=300 thats fknn baad maaadd cd red has so much potential but they did not utilized it like a donkey mind why why u fo00ool for example why in withers 3 wild hunt you made amazing game ever but why not it has realistic real world like simulation on many thing all over for example peeling animal skins and crafting or smart NPC. check this link how you are defeated by red dead redemption game simulation system like how he is peeling in game everything like real??? hmm will you do this thing correct in witcher 4 ?????? reply

[@coobushi]

So many amazing guests in these episodes, I think we need a second round with each pair

[@paweburza9408]

Any other departments you’d like To see featured?

[@coobushi]

​@@paweburza9408 would love to see an episode about designing a world like Cyberpunk 2077 from scratch (open world designers, lore and franchise (would be awesome to hear Patrick K. Mills, or Cian Maher cause he sounds like a cool bloke on twitter)). Level design could be a cool topic and of course there has to be an episode about music with P.T. Adamczyk!

[@coobushi]

@@paweburza9408 Would love to see an episode about designing a world like Cyberpunk 2077 from scratch with open world designers, lore and franchise designers. Level design could be a cool topic and of course there has to be an episode about music

[@evgenyyurichev]

Hey guys, you are the best!!! Congratulations with 9 year of Witcher 3 👏👏👏🎉 Please make patch for PS5 pro and Cyberpunk 2077 for PS VR2 and PC VR - thats can be incredible!

[@kabareciarz]

next episode with beer sounds like a total banger

[@paweburza9408]

Don't think the world is ready for that :D

[@nikolabankov8187]

I can tell you English-speaking Geralt and Russian-speaking Geralt are like two twin brothers with different personalities, albeit the same values and traits. The first one is serious and dry, the latter is more tonal and fun.

[@pinkyjulien77]

I'll always be impressed by CP77's localization and the care poured in it! My first playthroughs were in French, I then switched to English (and yes, it really does feel "wrong" and off the first few hours aha) I ended up modding all of V's voice lines back to using the french lines while keeping the rest of the game in English, simply because I got attached to French Male V's voice and it suit my V more, and I was really surprised by how well the two worked together, none of the dialogues felt weird, every conversations rolled smoothly- as if using a real-time translator implant! We need a second episode for sure, bring on the beers and the vodka 😌

[@samhall2130]

Very nice, looking forward to hearing more

[@matplayer1]

Witam CDP RED czy może zechcecie stworzyć serial o wiedźminie który był by wierną adaptacją książek Sapkowskiego a nie tym czymś co dostaliśmy od Netflix

[@jartotornroos4897]

Wow, thanks for opening this aspect of CP2077 ❤ After only few minutes of CP2077 gameplay and listening the dialogue, I very quickly thinking that wow, this game is REALLY going to be something else 😮❤ Now I understand, little bit better, why the characters, the whole city feel so real, so alive. A guy from Finland Definently EP. 6 with beer 😂

[@Sahrawiyun]

hope this podcast continues. one thing i'd really love would be a kind of crossover of "Behind the Settings" and answered. still a lot of cool technical stuff I hope you cover some day.

[@JawadBhuiyan]

I hope this podcast continues for a long time. I really like the in-depth discussions rather than say the short q&a videos.

[@Grotek]

I want a second episode! With beer and vodka!

[@MrNikoSrb]

Great episode

[@Adrenalyze]

The recent statement from Mikołaj at 4:03 provides insight into the challenges currently facing CDPR SA. The lack of accurate information and the promotion of a narrative without considering the detail, nuance, or reality of the situation are concerning. It is evident that the new Ministry of Diversity and Inclusion has accepted this approach, which is not aligned with the expectations of the broader community. While it is acceptable to be open to new ideas, they must be aligned with the principles of New Speak.

[@deepspacetravel9016]

Panowie, druga rundka z zimnym browarkiem, raz raz 😁ale bym obejrzał

[@makwikus]

Those are some cool looking chairs!

[@pavlonwilcz5650]

Guys if you're having a beer for the next AnsweRED, I'm having one too! Or likely "i'm having one, two"

[@twinmama42]

Hallo, German here. I really love the German and English localization of the Witcher games. We, the players, feel the care and passion that all of you put into the games, e.g. the fact, that I can read all the runes (the signs, posters, graffiti) and understand almost all of them (I have difficulties with the Polish ones) and laugh about the more nasty ones because they are in mirror script, it just blows my mind) and I want to thank you for that. BUT there is one mistranslation in the German version that drives me crazy every time I play the game or watch a LP or a video by xLetalis that contains it. Obviously, the German version was translated from English as this is a part-by-part translation. There is a talk in the tavern of White Orchard between the innkeeper and a patron about the Temerian coat-of-arms hanging on the beam. Coat-of-arms was translated to "Waffenrock". Waffenrock is an old word for battledress of uniform. The right translation is "Wappen" or "Wappenschild". Maybe, if by any means possible, could you correct it? I know that's difficult with voice acting and all. But nowadays, there are programs to use a voice and AI that can fix this.

[@mikolajszwed9080]

Hey! Mikołaj here - Thank you for your kind words about our localization! As for the mistranslation in German - I'm afraid the ship has sailed. I can only apologize for not noticing and fixing it in due time (with so many people looking and testing the game!), but this is what unfortunately sometimes happens in games of that size (Though I understand it happened in an important main story scene right at the beginning of the game, which doesn't help as an excuse). Sorry once again, I hope you could enjoy the rest of the game even with this irritating bug being present.

[@twinmama42]

@@mikolajszwed9080 I love the game to bits. Just keep the issue in a notebook or a dev-file for when in 30 years there will be a remake of the game it will not be overlooked again.

[@user-ec7vu7to6r]

There needs to be a zombies mod for the Pacifica area.

[@jimjamsam3482]

RedEngine. You were supposed to bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness

[@poznajislam3706]

DOBRY STAFF I STUFF.

[@all4chaos910]

New game+ for cyberpunk PLEASE AND FIX THE SHARDS ISSUE

[@Ralius-sv7nz]

Cyberpunk needs a hell of a lot more updates/fixes guys... chop, chop.

[@prattyv9208]

I don't totally agree with Mikołaj on the topic of localization. 4:03 He was referring to Unicorn Overlord and in this specific game in Japanese language two female characters an angel and a priest has a relationship of siblings, an elder sister taking care of her younger sister. But the localization team turned it into a lesbian relation which is not what localization team should do. What original creators want to portray is totally changed and that is why there was so much backlash online. Not just this single character but there were many instances when they couldn't figure out the nuance and turned it into typical western political messaging thing. When you are creating a game please keep your political stance aside and make a true enjoyable experience.

[@mikolajszwed9080]

Hey! Mikołaj here - to be perfectly honest I didn't know about the situation of changing the relationship between the two characters, I've read some articles about people criticising the English adaptation being more stylised than the Japanese original, and this was what I was referring to. I absolutely agree that a change in a relationship between the characters (if not discussed and agreed upon with the authors) should not happen as a result of a autonomous decision of the team localizing the game. If that really was the case (don't know the details though), it proves even more how important it is to have in-house experts that know the local language and oversee the localization process from the dev side (This is what me and my LPMs are doing for CD PROJEKT RED games). Cheers!

[@Adrenalyze]

​@@mikolajszwed9080 Let me be frank. In that case, you are not only misinformed but also actively involved in agitprop, adapting the position of the anointed priest. What I see is that you have no longer experts but people who might not speak up due to new company dogma that has adapted new speak. I have a very bleak outlook on terms of investments and future investments in the company as to their upcoming products.

[@witchersinc1953]

So does creativity and ESG compliance change the the initial idea ?

[@PCbeneden-pn2bi]

Go Woke Go Broke

[@MusaPatir]

Dehşet oyun firmasisiniz.

[@cozminr]

I won't buy any games from CD pr or from gog

[@joshuaa2278]

Congratulations?

[@cozminr]

@@joshuaa2278 quiet npc

[@lukran2015]

And?

[@cozminr]

@@lukran2015 and you stupid

[@kintaroggg7068]

Remake w2

[@rachelblack314]

Get woke go broke

[@Roan-xj1mg]

Please, don't become like Ubisoft. Don't ruin games with politics. Please

[@myownhome2959]

If cdpr decides to go on with the DEI plan you can 100% expect gamers wil boycot your upcoming games !!!!

[@Svedge]

DEI/ESG leaves no room for creativity and cultural enrichment! DEI/ESG have only one message and only one culture!

[@xAzureXHazex]

I reject your woke nonsense.

[@Hermanos22]

You have become cowards… your DEI reward.. developer apologising for saying nothing wrong.. the new Witcher is going to fail.. I already smell the wokeness

[@ronnyspanneveld8110]

Its dead jim, why no woman here ? oh they got a day off since they are on their period right ?. Let me guess you guys ran out of money after making cyberpunk and got some blackrock money right ? Look at that guy with the rainbow on his tshirt. waving his hands like he is... "oooooh we rrrr not gonna hit the table" well you know... Never again will anything of you guy's get into my house.

[@jeancouscous]

Bigot basement dweller

[@Scarface20x]

Done with woke cd project red

[@irishstew9951]

Oh damn there's me thinking yes this company actually cares for it's customers nah just another soylet company

[@SubFlow22]

Trash DEI company, boycotting for life. RIP Witcher. RIP CDPR.

[@Adrenalyze]

The behavior of CDPR RED SA with Michal Kalisz indicates the need for an investment advisory. It is no longer safe to assume that the next games will be hits, without considering the potential for backlash about cultural issues and less-than-expected revenue. CDPR has become a global conglomerate of ESG over game design, story, and inclusion by diversity. CDPR SA is therefore the next studio to undergo a reduction in personnel. The first wave will result in a 5% reduction, with a further 5-15% reduction in the second wave. This is a worrying trend for the industry, as it suggests that investments are less likely to succeed, as Developer and Publisher becoming less focused. The new focus is on an all-time diversity and inclusion strategy to make everyone feel welcome. This is an inherently impossible task. Another issue is that the core audience is being belittled and insulted as well, as the publisher searches for a new audience that isn't available in the future nor now. In my last interviews, there were no issues with inclusion and integration. However, there was poor plastic story design and integration of such topics, which hijacked existing stories, characters, and worlds. The initial backlash was instigated by special interest groups, including journalists and privileged white liberals.

[@ericwright3141]

Hey you guys might want to rein in your creative director that is having a spat with moon studio ceo. While you’re at it you might want to step away from esg and DEI before you lose your shirt on your next game. Gamers are done with this garbage.

[@valterreboredo]

The Witcher 4 is going to be so bad... Jesus Christ!!! 🙄

[@alvynnyamhanza2662]

Plz add gun animation and finishers in cyberpunk

[@yuronine8858]

I'm absolutely terrified of the practices you guys think are normal and just brush off as a part of creative work. That probably explains why Cyberpunk 2077 was such a mess at launch.

[@meta7517]

What exactly?

[@z-typelive1625]

Never buy your game again

[@andylaauk]

Didn't Earn It

[@nitehawk7652]

DEI - go woke go broke - being normal is too difficult… political correctness shouldn’t touch art of any sort - disappointed… kinda kill hype for Witcher 4 - probably it’s gonna be about lady of colour, maybe representing lgbt fighting with her menstrual pains lol