Unleashing the Wait: The Fascinating Journey of a Decade-Long Translation of a Haunting RPG
The Unlikely Legacy of Off: How a Small Game Became a Beloved Classic
In 2008, Mortis Ghost created a game with his friend, composer Alias Conrad Coldwood. The result was a surreal roleplaying game called Off, a game about a baseball player fighting ghosts. It was initially released for free on a French-speaking forum, where it gained a small but passionate following. One player, a 15-year-old Austrian writer and game developer, Quinn K, was particularly captivated by the game. While initially unaware of the impact Off would have on her life, she would go on to play a crucial role in its evolution.
The Game That Hooked Quinn K
As Quinn K finished playing Off, she found herself spending long nights thinking about the game’s ending, unable to shake off the experience. Wanting to share her newfound enthusiasm with her friends, she decided to translate the game from French to English. Although she knew she wasn’t the right candidate for the job, she took on the task, driven by her passion for the game. With the help of friends in proofreading and asset creation, her translation was complete by 2011.
Off found new fans on the Starmen.net forums, where it gained a reputation as a haunting, atmospheric game. K’s translation was imperfect, with many noting its numerous flaws. Despite this, it sparked a community around the game, with fans creating their own art, cosplay, and fan creations.
The Rise of a Beloved Classic
The game’s popularity grew, with Off becoming the 6th most-talked-about game of the year on Tumblr, behind major franchises like Pokémon, Animal Crossing, and Kingdom Hearts. While it was free, its fan base spread through word of mouth, unparalleled in its success.
Acknowledging the Imperfections
Quinn K reflected on her early translation, admitting to its "very severe flaws" but also its importance: "It was full of very severe flaws… It was full of mistakes in both languages." This honesty stands in contrast to the often- unrecognized or taken-down nature of fan translations in the gaming industry.
A New Era for Off: The Remake
With the original game’s 17th anniversary, Mortis Ghost announced a remake, "aiming to completely preserve the original atmosphere while polishing everything that could be." The remake will feature an improved script, updated combat mechanics, new animations, and additional content written by Ghost. This balancing act will be crucial in maintaining the original game’s essence and attracting new fans.
The legacy of Off is a testament to the power of passion, community, and creative collaboration. As Quinn K and Mortis Ghost continue to work on their respective projects, Off‘s story serves as a reminder of the importance of acknowledging and building upon the work of others.
