RE: This.

Well, I finally got my e-mail back up online after about a year... sheesh. Lots of spam.

Anyway, just to let you guys know, don't be surprised if you see responses to e-mails coming from... well even up to months ago. Do you know how much it sucks not to have a computer system of your own for over a year? Well, not to blame you or anything...

Regardless, I'm going through the lot of it piece by piece, and responding to things which may still apply. If you have anything imperative to tell us (read: asking when we're releasing next or stuff of that nature will be ignored with a vengeance), then feel free to start using the Contact Form again.

Oh. And HxB removed. Sorry guys! Pre-order over here!

Having trouble getting in contact with some of my old photoshop editors (which isn't exactly surprising). We do have a couple active (reliable!) translators now however, and expect to be releasing quite a bit over the next few months, so therefore we're needing a couple people interested in working on photoshop editing, as I'll be more busy scanning. Please apply in IRC by PMing Sumiregawa-kun in #otenba @ irc.rizon.net.

We'll also be picking up a couple of one-shots -- Isuzu no Counter by Kurogane Kenn, and Goshujin-sama to Issho by Himawari Souya (originally a Yuri Hime 4 one-shot, officially dropped by Lililicious). Expect to see those coming down the line.

PS - Don't despair. I mean it this time. :)

Okay, kids. I'm needing some hard-working, perfectionist photoshop editors. Secondly, if you have at least passable skill in translating (doesn't have to be perfect, that's what we have the more experienced translators go over it for...) and are interested in translating a project as part of our Translation Team, please also visit us at #otenba@irc.rizon.net. You can speak either to me, Sumiregawa-kun (aka Hitsugi), regarding photoshop work or to Shouko (aka Kanu) regarding translation work. Please be patient; we both have work and/or school schedules to work around, so understand that initially it may be more of a 'tag' game.

There are tests involved for both positions. We look forward to meeting you all!

Two of our three manga projects in one hit? Ow.

With Tokyopop and Seven Seas announcing Kannazuki no Miko and Hayate Cross Blade respectively at San Diego Comic Con, we'll be dropping both projects. I know, I was looking forward to finally completing KnM too. Anyway, please buy them from Tokyopop and Seven Seas when they're released! Especially HxB <3

As for Shoujo Sect, fear not, we're still working on it. Unfortunately, Sumi's computer has died on her so it'll be a little bit before we can release another chapter. Our apologies for that, but please be patient with us a while longer.

We're also interested in hearing what you all might be interested in us working on now that we're short on projects. Can't guarantee you we'll choose it, but we're definitely curious and up for your suggestions.

Have you ever noticed how everyone at the end of summer gets a month-long vacation, but you don't?

Well, probably not... but I didn't and some very fundamental people that help to move the group did. So no releases, sorry.

Just letting you all know we're all still alive at least.

Just been doing some simple cleanup. You'll find that Kannazuki up to Chapter 5 is hosted on direct download now. Check its project page to see the links. Also, I tossed up a batch torrent for volume 1 for it, same idea as with the Read or Dream batch. Just place all the zip files into a folder in order to help us seed. Thanks!

All right everyone - we're in need of a couple things now. As always we're interested in getting in some good japanese-english translators, though I'm happy to say we have a 'new guy' on the block that seems very enthusiastic that has responded to our call for help on the last post. ^^

Now, we're also in need (since our opening - this is your big chance!) for some hard-working Quality Check specialists. QCs should have strong skills in english, and the ability to work within a reasonable timeframe. Read: if a chapter is given to you, please do your best to complete your check of it within 5 days, maximum. A test may or may not be required, and access to IRC is optimal.

If you are interested in such a position, please either email us using the contact form or give either me (Sumiregawa-kun/Dhuran) or Tsutako/Shizuru a PM in IRC. Thanks again!

You heard it right. :(

According to Anime-on-DVD, Viz has licensed Read or Dream. As per our legal disclaimer, we'll no longer be releasing anything further related to this series. (Trust us, it's a bummer for us too, considering the work that has already been put into it.) We'll still host the current chapters for up to 2 months before street date. But be sure to pre-order your copy today. Here is a link to Amazon. ^_^

Secondly, it's with heavy heart that I'll have to note that yes, my hard drive really is deader than a doornail. However, I've been hard at work scrounging up the backups, and our QCs now have their plates being filled as I speak, so I would expect a release or two now pretty soon.

Focus will now shift back again to Kannazuki, to finish it out, and Shoujo Sect. Also, our new project will likely emerge here over the next month or 2, after we've cleared out the queue a bit.

Status? Attempting to resurrect a rather important harddrive (120 gig T_T). Please bear with us for this delay. I'm going to attempt to figure out if it really is completely dead or not, and in the meantime try to scrounge together all the backups I've got. This may delay things a week or so, which is sad because we had a couple of releases nearly ready...

Thank you for your understanding...

I want to thank you all for your submissions for the editors tests. The last few admissions are being reviewed now, so I'm going to close the testing.

In the meantime - keep an eye out at your favorite japanese book ordering sites - Shoujo Sect volume 2 is being released this month in tankouban form. Pre-order those copies soon!

Okay, all. Otenba is hirin' once again.

Of course you all know we're still looking for skilled translators willing to work on our projects.

<strike>However we're also now currently hiring some more editors now that we do indeed have a couple of relatively active translators. ^^;; If you're interested on testing out, grab the test here and take a hack at it. There is only one page, however it is a raw scan. You will need show your skills in 3 areas: 1) level, 2) edit, 3) prepare for sizing. The first 2 are pretty self-explanatory - the third it should be prepared for sizing at 800x1200. This test should be your honest attempt at a RELEASE-GRADE page. Please do not submit anything less.

You should be prepared to submit a psd (perferrably) with layers. When you're ready to submit, just hit up the contact form and we'll get back with you shortly to figure out the best way for the transfer to happen. ^^

Thanks a lot for reading through and here's to hopin' for some good submissions. :D</strike>

We're not dead...yet. ._.

I just wanted to let you all know that we've gotten a sort of breath of life back into us. Look forward to some actual releases this month - we now have 2 new translators in our midst: Lelei and SaturnOolaa!

Let's be sure to welcome them - in fact meet and greet them personally along with the rest of the Otenba staff in the IRC chatroom: #otenba@irc.rizon.net.

It's a new year - and we plan to make the most of it!

Currently we've been extremely busy - lifewise. Mainly my holdback right now, as I've said in the past several posts, is that I need translators. Life has picked up for my translation checker/sfx person. I have lots of things (in all projects!!) just sitting there waiting for words, but nothing to put on the page.

I'm willing to work with you. If you want, perhaps we can work out an arrangement where if you help to do work on say 6 or 7 chapters we can get you a hardcopy of any of our projects. This deal applies to translators only for right now. If you want to take us up on this, and are an *experienced* translator (ie, you know up to at least some kanji, and can speak decent english [yes, that is a must]) then PLEASE come into IRC. My nicks there are either Sumiregawa-kun, Dhuran, or Wolfie.

Again, I apologize to those who have been following us so faithfully and supporting us with donations. I've been extremely distracted with my work over at Static-Subs on Mai-Otome, and that's really not a good excuse. As soon as I find my external HD from my moving apartments this weekend, I'll be seriously pressing to finish off some sort of release to give to you. Again, sincerest apologies... -_-;

I have made a few updates to the website. We now have avatars next to our posts. Also, the number of posts on the front page have been reduced, with a link to our full archive at the bottom.

I also hope to clean up some of the site design and other small items soon. If you have any site comments, feel free to reply. I'll look into implementing them if they can be done.