John Hokanson Jr. (isamu@USAGI.COM)
Tue, 31 Aug 1999 01:59:28 -0700
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook 8.5, Build 4.71.2173.0 Message-ID: <000501bef38f$21f79860$da5b443f@isamu> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1999 01:59:28 -0700 From: "John Hokanson Jr." <isamu@USAGI.COM> Subject: Re: Petition For Sakura 3> -----Original Message----- > From: Sakura Taisen Mailing List > [mailto:SAKURATAISEN-LIST@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU]On Behalf Of Jose > Barragán > Sent: Monday, August 30, 1999 10:32 PM > To: SAKURATAISEN-LIST@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU > Subject: Re: Petition For Sakura 3 > > > >> That's not exactly true. The story itself and the dialogue and > >> plot points are preserved pretty much intact. Vic showed us a > >> comparison of a 'straight' translation from Lunar: SSSC and what WD > >> had done to it, and basically they just made the language a bit more > >> flowery and added a few metaphors, but preserved every single line > >> of the original. > > > >I wonder though if that's an isolated incident as he has ALSO said that > >WD lowers the emotional atmosphere if they feel it's too over the top, > >or add in places where they think more is needed. He could be talking > >about titles other than Lunar (which is their flagship title). > > > I confess I never read that particular RGVSega post, so I really can't > comment in what context he was saying it. That's because it could have been the Sony group. It was probably in response to one of ZFP's posts. Can't quite remember... > > >I think that's a crock. You're still going to get the product placement, > >and the Americanization that you always get. It's like DaveZ said, they > >have to have those "Classic WD moments". I don't believe Vic can *DO* a > >preserved translation of anything. > > > Two words: Iron Storm. ;) Oh shut up! :P > Still, I wonder if he'd be as eager to put in many anachronisms > in something > like Sakura Taisen...would he maybe change some of the jokes in > the game to > ones more easily understood by a typical American gamer? Probably. But I > think he'd steer away from anachronisms and sex humor. Obviously you have more faith in them then I do. > > > > >> Dragon Force was similar in this respect, since the only > >> extraneous dialogue > >> was that of the various generals one could command in battle. > > > >This is true. I don't think he messed up the main characters too badly. > > > >I've heard real horror stories about Zach Meston's script to Albert > >Odyssey Gaiden though. > > > Zach Meston did Albert Odyssey a _favor_. That game was _extremely_ > mediocre. The humorous translation made the game a lot of fun to play. > Also, I think it's the worst offender as far as changes in WD translations > go. Eh. Lunar 2 probably still surpasses it. I mean, even Vic admits he went WAY overboard. > Considering the type of game AO was, I honestly can't blame WD for making > the changes it did. > > > > >> The story > >> sequences were not changed at all in content. > >> If push comes to shove, why don't we simply ask Vic on > RGVSega? I'm sure > >> he'd be happy to respond to a hypothetical question if phrased the > correct > >> way (i.e., if we asked him politely what kind of translation > >> style he'd have > >> used on Sakura Taisen, as to whether it would have been a 'straight' > >> translation or whether he'd have changed/added anything...hmmm, maybe I > >> should ask him). > >> > > > >Isn't Sakura Taisen a fanboy game? I mean, seriously. Do you really think > >that the average gamer will be interested in it? > > > Vic obviously thought so, since he almost translated it. > Japanese audiences > obviously thought so. I mean, just look at how the title did over there. There's a difference between Japan and the US. You can be "normal" if you like something in Japan in the Japanese format, and then called a "fanboy" if you like it over here. It would be really convenient for somebody like me to present the fact that an item of merchandise is well recieved by many in Japan, and therefore I'm not a "fanboy" for wanting it presented in a format similar, but there's always somebody there to point out we live in America and thus my example is invalid. > Remember, only a little while back, stuff like Final Fantasy and > Lunar were also considered games for fanboys. > True. > > > >It really grates on my nerves that he attacks people who ask him to > >reel himself in a bit as fanboys, and then goes for the niche market, > >anime-esque titles. > > Y'know, I'm sure if when Vic had started to post in Usenet, he'd received > some well-written and concerned letters about his translations, though he > probably wouldn't have changed his translation style, he would have > responded respectfully and given his reasons for his company's changes in > ported games. Sheeya...right. Just like he did with Rayearth. I defy you people to read the posts made by people like Terrance and I regarding the Rayearth opening song and conclude that they were anything but "well-written and concerned". By that point, we had long given up on getting the original Japanese opening and were simply critiquing Vic's rewritten dub (and personally, I think we many of us were extremely civil about it). And there of course there's the matter that Vic didn't get nearly the number of snide "fanboy" comments that he was expecting when he released the joke version. He was trolling, and not too many took the bait (good for them). Kinda puts a crimp in the justification for his overraction. I mean, all of the above is pretty much conceded to by Vic as well.... None of this stopped us from eventually getting our teeth kicked in by his typical knee-jerk reaction. > However, considering how badly Vic is bashed by the fanboys > and otaku, it's only natural that he's defensive. He really doesn't like > fanboys and otaku 'cause all they do is bother him, insult his company and > degrade his work. Bear in mind, I don't like the word "fanboy". It's one of those really tedious elastic words. At least otaku is somewhat more tangible. I'm sarcasticly using it in this case because of Ireland's love for the word and the fact that many of the titles he releases *could* loosely be defined as such... As for "degrading his work", you have to bear in mind that for many devout anime fans that looks like exactly what Vic is doing. > I wouldn't be handling it so well if I were in > his shoes, let me tell you. > > (I'm not defending Vic here, fellas, I'm just telling it like I think it > is...) > > > > >You wanna know what guys? I think Vic is a closet Otaku who doesn't > >want to admit it. > > > *shakes head* Doubtful. If he were an otaku, he'd do very straight > translations and would make no changes save for shortening > loading times and reducing slowdown in his games. > Who says you have to be a purist to be an oatku? Nevertheless, he is an anime fan. I've grilled him to the point where he finally admited that (wasn't surpising to me, I mean, look at what he releases). He's just not a purist. - John H.