Hey everyone. Just thought I'd offer up this translation of the first entry of the GS4 Developers' Blog, which started today. There's not really much info in it (yet), but for people who are interested in hearing the "voice" of GS creator/writer/director/overseer Shu Takumi, here you go...
Anyway, I'm going to try to keep translating new entries as they're posted -- hopefully we'll see some interesting insights into the upcoming game.

FYI, the blog in its original Japanese can be found here:
http://www.capcom-fc.com/saiban4/

The translation is a bit of a rush job, so my apologies if it's a little rough around the edges.
Anyway, enjoy!

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March 20, 2007 (Tuesday)

< Greetings >

Hey everyone.
This is Shu Takumi from the Gyakuten Saiban team.
As you may know, I scribbled together the story for all the games -- which I guess makes me the
main culprit behind it all. (<- I've finally decided to turn myself in.)
Starting today, we'll be using this blog to post exclusive information straight from the development team.
We hope you'll stick around.

Man... "Gyakuten Saiban 4." Who would've thought that I'd have the chance to do this all again?
When we were working on the first Gyakuten Saiban, it was still the year 2000... last century.
"'Gyakuten Saiban' begins and ends with this one game, so let's give it all we've got!"
I dove into the project with a burning passion, and we were able to put together a story which couldn't be topped (or so I thought at the time).
Then the game came out. We got good feedback from all of you who played and enjoyed it, which led to a green light for the sequels. (Although the first game didn't sell as well as we'd expected.)
"Well, looks like 'Gyakuten Saiban' will be a trilogy after all. Let's go all out!"
Our passion burning even more, we managed to bring the series to a perfect (or so I thought) conclusion.

But it seems that this wasn't the end of the story.
Now I'm here again today, as we prepare to open court again with our new protagonist, Housuke Odoroki.
When I think about it, what always strikes me is that the energy to come up with new cases time and time again -- it all comes from the support of fans like all of you.
I really can't thank you enough.

So anyway, here we are... "Gyakuten Saiban 4."
Our goal this time around is the same as it's always been... to make a good mystery.
We think you won't be disappointed.

For this new chapter, we had two aims.
First, we wanted it to be an entirely new story, one that even newcomers could enjoy to the fullest.
At the same time, though, we wanted it to be a *familiar* new story that would appeal to series veterans as well.
So we put in a number of things to strike a balance between these two seeming contradictions.
Did we suceed...? I hope you'll take the opportunity to judge for yourself.
Three weeks until release.
The team and I -- our collective hearts are pounding in anticipation.

With the series turning over a new leaf, we've seen major changes in the development team as well.
The scale of the game is larger than ever this time around, and I had a number of new colleagues helping me out.
Now, I'm going to have them help me out with this blog as well.
Our next entry will be from Mr. Endo, our "director" who took charge of the GS4 production office for me.

I think back to ten years ago...
I was working on "Scary High School Rumors: Here Comes Hanako!" (Gakkou no kowai uwasa ~ Hanako ga kita!) -- my first game -- and a new staff member joined our team. This was Endo.
I'd come to work here with the goal of making an interesting mystery, and Endo was my "comrade" with the same goal.
Back then, Capcom was in its golden age of fighting games -- the "jock" of the video game industry -- and how two skinny little nerds like us got in is a mystery in itself.
But anyway, I have vague recollections of a late night at the office, when -- over a single bowl of instant yakisoba noodles that we shared between the two of us -- we made a vow:
"We're going to make a mystery!"
(Just recently, I came across an old photo from back then. I had a bowl of instant yakisoba for the first time in ages, and it brought a tear to my eye.)

So, how about Endo? Does he remember our promise of that day long past...?
All this and more will be revealed... next time!

So with that, I'll pass the baton to him.
See you again soon!

Sweet. Thanks for the translation!

Supports my theory that it'll primarily be a "transition" game, too :D I can't WAIT.

I'm totally gonna import it from Japan and have Yoshiko help me play it >.>

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Sweet! This is a million times more readable then Bablefish and Google! I look forward to the updates =D

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Very cool. Thanks for the translation, it's very much appreciated.

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Takumi-san is absolutely adorable.

Thanks for the translation!

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Thanks for the info!

April will be a great month indeed!

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Translation! How people who can speak Japanese and English are envyed.

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Cheers for that, keep up the translations :)

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Thanks for the feedback, guys.

I was going to keep up with the translations pretty much regardless of whether or not there was a positive response, but still... it's nice to know people are interested in reading these. It should give me a little extra motivation not to slack off.
I'm not sure if there will be an update today or not (it's a national holiday here in Japan) but if there is, I'll be "on the case."

Well, in my case, at least, I certainly wasn't born (or raised) this way. I'm not sure how old you are, but it's probably not too late to learn a new language. (Though I'll admit that it does take a certain type of masochist to devote years to learning one as convoluted as Japanese. <- This has been me many times since I started studying the language.)

P.S. Thanks, Croik, for the front page link! It's much appreciated!

You have done a great service for the community.

Great translation! I must study more English.

http://www.capcom-fc.com/transmission/a ... nds_10.php
Every Tuesday and Friday (In Japan) update. Perhaps 13:00.
Next update is March 23.

Japan: March 23, 13:00

US
Eastern Standard Time: March 22, 23:00
Central Standard Time: March 22, 22:00
Mountain Standard Time: March 22, 21:00
Pacific Standard Time: March 22, 20:00

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Wait... So u're a real JAPANESE GIRL????

thank you for the translation XD when I saw that blog, I was totally dazed with the japanese letters XD lmao~ I wish I understand japanese!!

I'm a real Japanese, but girl...? Hahaha. it's secret.
GS was totally unpopular in the days of 2000.
But now, there are GS fan all over the world!
I haven't imagined that GS fan sites open abroad.

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This is Very Handy :D

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No problem. If you don't mind, I'd like to keep recording the translations to post on the page itself later, since GS4 won't be in the News section forever.

Can I ask how long you've studied? Always glad to meet a fellow language buddy.

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No problem at all, I'd be honored if you'd use them. いや、なんか・・・恐縮です。

Of course. Well, I did six years of actual "study" (4 years in college, 2 years of grad school), plus a couple of years of "self-study" after that -- which in my case means slacking around while living/working in Japan... I don't really 'study' anywhere near as much as I should.

Likewise, if you don't mind my asking... I see (in your profile) that you're a professional (I assume?) translator. What field are you in, and how did you break into the industry? Just curious, as I'll be looking for another job around this time next year.

(Feel free to PM me if you think this is getting too far off-topic.)