So I'm looking to translate Super Adventure Rockman, the Japanese-only FMV game for the original Playstation.  In fact, the bulk of the heavy lifting for the main story has been completed here.  Theoretically, it would be a simple matter to put subtitles into each of the .STR video files, properly timed to the dialogue, and include subtitles translating the options when the player gets to the "choose your path" points in the game.

The question is this: Is there an effective way to convert .STR to .AVI and back without @#$%ing up the file sizes/compression/resolution/etc.?  With Google, I've found a few programs that can convert one way, and one program that says it can convert back, though it's got mixed reviews.  I was wondering if anyone here had any advice on the matter.

Will the conversion process and/or subtitle insertion break the disk image?  Does a game like this check the size of the video file, or just check for the file's presence with the proper title?  Is there a way to edit the STR directly, without converting?

Exactly!  Honestly, I'm surprised there aren't, like, a dozen STR-AVI-STR converters out there . . . you'd think in-game FMV subbing would have a higher priority in the translation community.  Of course, I can see why it doesn't . . . making a "patch" would be more or less impossible, the translator would actually have to provide every STR pre-subbed so they could be reinserted into an ISO, and for something like SupAdvRock, that would practically be the whole game, all three disks of it.

Still, I'm hoping someone around here can give me a direction to start with.  Might take a while for anyone to get back to me though . . . stupid me, posting this question at the beginning of friggin' spring break.   :banghead:

Awww, why you be hatin' the Rock?

Seriously though, thanks for the advice on the topic title, and for the Gemini/Bloody Bride tip.  I may track them down and ask them directly for suggestions.

Please, others?

Do you know the name of the program, or have a link to it?  My Google searches have been turning up empty.

As for fair use . . . can a person even purchase a PS1 SDK from Sony anymore?  If not, I don't see the issue.

No worries, I'm patient.  But if you never get back to me, I'ma gonna cut you!! 

No seriously, if you can't find it, that's cool.  There are other methods that I've been kicking around.  Like it occurred to me that the action sequences in SAR are basically just Flash games, and if I could convert the STRs to AVIs (I CAN find a program to do just that), then make them into Flash video, and finally rip the sprites/artwork from the game sequences, the entire game could theoretically be made into a Flash app.  A REALLY damn big Flash app, and I seriously don't want to remake the shooter sections myself, but it could be done.