Excuse me for being a noob about this matter (and sorry if I shouldn't have posted this here) but, I don't really get this. Why are so many teams deciding to compete with each other on scan(s)lating a single series out there? I think it's kind of wasteful when some groups double-up on the coverage.

The only reasoning that I can assume semi-logically (but, it really isn't from my perspective) is that different groups have the same interest... and so, naturally they want to cover a series no matter what. But, the investment in time and effort isn't really necessary, I think.

Also, I keep seeing more and more animosity between different groups. It's a bit saddening since people who are doing the work should be supportive of each other, no?

All in all, if groups want to cover the same series, I think folks should join forces and then put their supposedly extra hands/energy to work on other series...

Anyway, someone care to share their thoughts?

You're thinking is all wrong.

Most scalations don't do this for "helping other people who like manga", but rather because they want to be acknowledged about the work they do. That's the reason why they would always "fight" for the most popular series and watermark they job.
There are some scalatins that really don't care about all this, but that just a small about (they are the best tough)

But don't get me wrong, thanks to they wanting the "fame" we get the manga so is a win-win situation.

🤣      🤣      🤣   

Edit: It's also never a good a idea to tell them this 'cos guilt tripping them might end in you having no manga at all (since they actually don't have no obligation to do nothing)

What I have observed is that usually, these competing groups have different standards, and each group wants to have it their way. So, one group might have better editors preferring to prioritize scan quality over translation, and the other group might have a better translator while not giving a crap about scan quality. I agree 100% that these groups should simply pool their efforts and work together, but sometimes scanlators let their ego run the show and refuse to collaborate out of stubbornness or some kind of superiority complex or something equally stupid. Also, another factor against collaboration is that getting more people involved just slows down the process (too many cooks spoil the broth, as they say), unless your group(s) are well-organized and coordinated.

Also, BlackOrion, I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, but the fact that you think most scanlators are in this for the e-peen is quite baffling to say the least. Many scanlators think this way, yes, but MOST? I'd have to disagree with you there. The fame-whoring groups being the loudest ones does not mean they form the majority.

inb4 flaming war.

[img]http://i43.tinypic.com/351e59t.jpg[/img]

Quote from Kirjava

What I have observed is that usually, these competing groups have different standards, and each group wants to have it their way. So, one group might have better editors preferring to prioritize scan quality over translation, and the other group might have a better translator while not giving a crap ...

You might be right, it could be an exaggeration.

But there are several hundreds (you might not believe this, but if you take into account Spanish scalation and other languages it's true) of Naruto only scalation with little to none quality, that "translate" (often they just use someone else trans) naruto just for getting the thank you, if you take them into account then my statement is pretty much the true.

Don't get me wrong, there are several groups that i think do an amazing job and deserve a lot of respect but they don't overlap the others scans.

Motivations vary. Some groups steal projects from others because the projects are popular and they want more recognition. Nowadays, many groups have found ways of making money off scanlations, so they steal popular titles for profit as well. This is the majority of the cases.

In some cases, a group might honestly think that the original group is either too slow or not doing a good enough job. If you ask a scanlator about why they stole a project, they'll always claim this as the reason. But in reality it's probably less than 10% of all cases.

Finally, there's revenge stealing. Someone steals from you, you nurse a grudge for a few months, then steal something from them when opportunity presents itself.

As for the question of why groups don't just pool their resources together, that is possible only with the second motivation, which is the vast minority of all cases. Additionally, group leaders are comically incapable of effectively communicating with each other, so most joints go sour. I guess it's the personality type attracted to that position. XD

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Meh, the main reason we scanlators don't work with each other is because we can't stand each other. Everyone has there own way of doing things and when you bring that together things explode, that's why joints very rarely work out. It's just simpler to work on our own. It's always been this way.

As for project snatching, it depends. Ya'll got to remember this is just a hobby for us and we will do what ever we want. Sure, for the most part we have no trouble letting another group have a project and not double up the work. But sometimes we just really like the project and want to do it. Or the other group may be pulling out a LQ or MQ version and someone wants to do a HQ. With the exception of the Big Three, that is mostly the reasons.

So ya, the main thing is. It's just a hobby, not some big business. So we are going to do what ever the hell we want.

Meh, the main reason we scanlators don't work with each other is because we can't stand each other.

I don't think this is true. Many, if not most, scanlators work with multiple groups and have fingers in many pies. It's the group leaders who have problems getting joints to work. Typical issues are broken promises and failure to communicate. Couple that with enlarged egos, and you get an explosive combo.

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Joints are very complicated and like someone said earlier, it doesn't always churn out releases faster, but the opposite. One group has their staff do half of the work, and then the other group has the other half, but there's individual people doing each position. One individual from the other group can be working extremely slowly and there's nothing that the group can do to speed the other group up without sounding sort of rude. They're just so troublesome that it's better to just work with your own group unless you don't have translators.
Though I don't agree with a bunch of groups wasting their resources on one manga when there's other great manga to work on, that's their choice.

♪MONSTARR~ will eat all your cookies and steal your bishies~♪ Φ_Φ