Future Volume Release Schedule
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I believe that this info is basically in the "how JNC works" and FAQ sections on the main web page- but one has to look for it
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@Jon-Mitchell I apologize if I've missed something, but I went back to both the How It Works and the FAQ pages, and I couldn't find this information.
HIW says the following: "read the latest volumes as they are being translated," "sign up for our mailing lists to get the latest info on releases," and "weekly releases of ~40 pages a week per series, tons of series to be announced."
FAQ says the following: "find out the latest information and announcements, check our release schedule," and "for each series, we will release 1 part of the volume we are currently translating for Members to read online or on our apps. These parts will generally be about 30-40 pages, but can vary week to week."
Neither of these pages explain what is mentioned in this forum: there is usually a break after a volume is finished, and the schedule isn't updated until the next volume begins. Even if it was mentioned somewhere that I missed and you just have to "look for it," people still asked about it on the forums, which means that wherever the information was, it wasn't easily accessible enough.
As a side note, if the information does get added to the FAQ (or elsewhere on the site), I think it would also be worth adding some supporting information from this thread on volume delays, which states:
"As you may know, we license volumes, not series; so when a new volume of an ongoing series comes out, it has to be licensed separately; and for long series, we don't license the entire series at once, just a small batch of volumes. This means we periodically have to send more license requests to the publishers, which is a process with many steps and back and forth."
I certainly wouldn't have known these details without reading it there. I'm not sure whether it plays a role in the usual volume breaks JNC has (as the thread refers specifically to pandemic delays and backlog) or if the normal breaks are just for the translators' sake, but if it is at all relevant, it would help give context for why the breaks are in place to begin with.
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@MasterLillyclaw
agreed, it isn't clear.
weekly installments of currently being translated - doesn't discuss how long between volumes.I get that from JNC's viewpoint, this isn't an known/interval that they want to commit to. They should add to "how it works" and/or FAQ's that intervals are variable, often two weeks or so, but are often longer, and subject to a number of conditions (some of which are out of JNC's sphere of control).
the time between volumes seems like is subject to conditions beyond what we in the consumer end of things are (or should reasonably expect) to be privy to
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What happens with December release?
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@Abessa I am sorry, could you please explain a bit more what your question is?
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I agree with the idea that on the individual novel pages, there should be more info about it's upcoming release schedule.
That way I don't need to scroll though the coming soon list on the top/news page looking for info on a particular novel I'm interested in. -
Are you gonna release the 6.5 of Holmes of Kyoto? I would like to know because from what I have read about it, it is like a fanbook with an SS.
And, what about the 2 volumes of side stories of Ascendance of a Bookworm?
Thank you!
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@almainera The first Bookworm side story isn't supposed to be released until after P4V4 so we still have some time before we hear anything about it.
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@legitpancake Thank you for your feedback!!
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@legitpancake there are also side stories? Fanbook, side stories, regular novel. Damn, im really surprize that, they took their time with the anime release. There are series got anime with 5-6 vol release.
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@hopebestman don't forget manga, and there are junior bunkos too, but I don't know whether their contents are different from light novels...
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This is the topic with information about future volume releases in JNC's prepubs. Please take all other conversation to a new or appropriate existing topic.
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Is there any chance of this policy changing? It would be great if JNC moved to a policy of having rough approximations of when the next volume would start. Being wrong isn't a problem, being completely in the dark is. JNC has to actually know this information internally (especially as release date approaches), but there seems to be resistance to releasing it.
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@mlindner said in Future Volume Release Schedule:
Is there any chance of this policy changing? It would be great if JNC moved to a policy of having rough approximations of when the next volume would start. Being wrong isn't a problem, being completely in the dark is. JNC has to actually know this information internally (especially as release date approaches), but there seems to be resistance to releasing it.
I know this inquiry has been left to linger for a very long time now, but I thought now was as good a time as any to provide a response.
When you asked last year, the simple answer was that we didn't have enough manpower to manage stuff like this. You said "being wrong isn't a problem," but we do have to reschedule and rework a lot of stuff behind the scenes, which is work that the average reader here doesn't see/isn't exposed to. By waiting until there was absolutely no way there could be a delay, we completely eliminated that extra cleanup work.
I also have very specific examples in memory of times when we did say that a new volume would be ready on X date, we missed that date for some reason, and we got a lot of negative feedback from people eager to start reading that next volume. So while you yourself might not mind delays, that's not true for everyone.
All that said, members might have noticed that some volumes are starting to be posted a few days in advance. This is on a case-by-case basis as our staff determines that everything is ready and we have the time to do all the prep work in advance. We may be able to start doing this for more series earlier in the process in the future, but I can't promise anything at this time.
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@myskaros said in Future Volume Release Schedule:
@mlindner said in Future Volume Release Schedule:
Is there any chance of this policy changing? It would be great if JNC moved to a policy of having rough approximations of when the next volume would start. Being wrong isn't a problem, being completely in the dark is. JNC has to actually know this information internally (especially as release date approaches), but there seems to be resistance to releasing it.
<snip>
I also have very specific examples in memory of times when we did say that a new volume would be ready on X date, we missed that date for some reason, and we got a lot of negative feedback from people eager to start reading that next volume. So while you yourself might not mind delays, that's not true for everyone.Amen.
I've been dealing with this in one form or another since... early 90s, I think? First time, it was a computer system utility; the company said it would be released on <x> date. It missed the date several times, through circumstances mostly out of their control, and it resulted in a large loss of customer goodwill. I was one of the annoyed people; I was waiting the new version with baited breath, and each delay made it worse.
After that first experience, I got a little wiser and I ended up much happier... and with a lot more respect for the companies smart enough to avoid over-promising. It's happened many times since then... crowdfunded projects are a common example today.
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Might be unwelcomed necrod of a post but I was wondering even if not giving any dates it would be useful to know for the users if the licensing of the volume is there or not.
For example I don't see volume 10 of x series that already released in Japan, volume 9 is already released here. Now I don't know if it's being worked on or there are still in the licensing process (or even the unfortunate situation where the licensing has failed and the series is out of your hands).
At least putting the volume 10 with a coming soon once the licensing has been obtained would be nice in my opinion
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@jl The assumption is that negotiations are underway. What the results of said negotiations is, is, well, future knowledge which we do not have.
We cannot influence them, unfortunately.
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@SomeOldGuy I get that, but I have to assume as it is with a lot of companies that once the licensing has been done work needs to be done before they have anything to share right?
So let's say that ln volume 10 of x licensing has finally been obtained.
Adding the entry to the volume with a coming soon would basically tell you that they're already working on the translation (or at least that it's in queue) instead of licensing limbo.
I wouldn't expect any news before they obtain the license, but I would appreciate some news after they do (without giving any date)
Being able to see that it's definitely coming is nice for the readers in my opinion, without commiting to any deadlines
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In the past when we have shared too much information people have gone to social media to talk directly to people they believe are “holding up” the translation.
This includes translators, editors, staff members, and yes, authors and Japanese publishers.
We (J-Novel Club) take the blame to keep our business relationships respectful. Those past situations have lead to awkward conversations and apologies.
So this is where we are.
Sorry but J-Novel Club does not publicly comment on any potential licensing decision or acquisitions.
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