terrence huey (thuey@UCDAVIS.EDU)
Sat, 4 Sep 1999 12:40:36 -0700
X-Sender: ez073369@runner.ucdavis.edu Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.4.10.9909041150020.10995-100000@runner.ucdavis.edu> Date: Sat, 4 Sep 1999 12:40:36 -0700 From: terrence huey <thuey@UCDAVIS.EDU> Subject: Re: Compromise of Standards> There's a big difference though between Sailor Moon SS (which I agree it > one the biggest pieces of crap ever) and a decent English translation. Some > of us like to have things in our own language. And some of us just like to have a decent game. I don't see why the SMSS game is soo different than a translation. In fact, it's easier with a translation issue because you have a choice. You can always buy the import. > And it seems you can't > understand that not all of us are proficient enough in Japanese to want to > toil through a game in Japanese that IS READILY AVAILABLE in English. And I understand that. Even I could hardly be called fluent. In comparison with Yanachan and Kayama, I pale in comparison. (They are hardly fluent either). But you know... if you guys were on a NG, I would expect this kind of opposition to my views. But we're on a ML. Not just any ML, but the Sakura Taisen ML, a game that has never been seen in any form in English. Thus I always speak as if importing is a realistic option. But disregarding that, and talking soley about the game, let us assume that the import committed no wrongs. And also let us assume that an American company picked it up and did it injustic by bad voice acting, taking out what they felt was "unnecessary", etc. Yet, I assume many of you will buy this. Why? Because it's immediately accessable to you, ie its in English. Well, why? It's not the import's fault. It's obviously not the guilty party here. Do I expect all of you and go learn Japanese? Well, no. It is my hope, perhaps. But no. > the Japanese game is really that different enough, I would probably get the > Japa version too (provided I liked it enough(, but so far it's only come up > once (Dracula X2). You mention Grandia -- I was ready to get Grandia, > expect there were tons of rumors about it coming on PSX, then to the US. > Well, it happened. I'm totally hyped. If the game tuns out to be good > enough -- I'll find the Saturn version (and perhaps Digital Museum too). Ok, let's talk Grandia. Let's say that because of the crappy PSX port, you *don't* like Grandia. Heck, that's what most of gamers will see... Grandia was made for the saturn, taking into account all the things the hardware could do. I can not even believe the PSX version is choppier considering the fact that it's a 3dish game. So already, that's one thing going against it. Something made for the saturn doesn't come out good on the PSX. But we all know it's not what's better, only what's more popular. But now Jose is saying that it's going to be horribly dubbed into English. Oh yes. I'm all excited about the English PSX version now. I'm sure everyone will be saying how Grandia beats the pants off of FF8, right? Sarcasm aside, you won't be playing it the way it was meant to be played(on the saturn, in japanese). As a result, you may not like it. Jose is the opposite case in which he does have the import. But perhaps the fact that it's in Japanese made him stop playing. But I suppose that when he gets the English version, he will like the game itself more and maybe he'll even go back to playing the import Saturn one. Even if the English PSX one turns out to suck, HE has a choice and could play SS Grandia for the "game" and play PSX one for the "plot". And although that may seem like a pro for an English port, it's really not. The import Saturn version is the real "pro" in that scenario. As I said, it's not the import's fault if we don't Japanese. I'm sure that if baddly ported, badly dubbed, Jose would definitely want a better version. But you know what? He's already bought the crap version. Sony will rake in its sales. Sony will continue to do what they do. > Anyways, there are also some things some people like that others don't. You > may not like WD's treatment of Rayearth and Lunar, but besides the dubbing > (which I agree is merely 'good for a dub'), I think they jokes ect (at > least in those two games) they add do nothing but ADD to the games. Oh yeah, and the originals were soooo devoid of humor, right? I found myself laughing... in Grandia... in Rayearth... in both Lunars. There's actually a lot of jokes in Grandia (esp with the townsfolk who each have an average of 3 different dialogs), so I wonder how Sony will handle that. >I really don;t think people 'don't care'. Show me one person that said 'I >don't care what they do as long as it's in English'. It's more of what >you are willing to ACCEPT. And that's just it. Why do you have to accept anything? Why do we have to accept a sloppily put together 2d fighting game just because we get to hear Usagi yell "Moon Healing Escalation!" I say it again. Since US ports come out after(sometimes years) the Japanese originals, is it too much to ask for them to be of the same quality? They should be better, but of course that's a lost cause. I'm glad Sega is doing things with their DC titles, but most companies don't. But you are saying you are willing to accept some things in order for you to fully understand a game. Why not expect a fully-translated game with no cuts, no drop in quality? As I said, I'm not fluent and I too would be interested in an english version-be it subbed dubbed, whatever IF it did justice to the original. I like the English Lunar songs. I think they do justice to the originals. I would be more than happy to support something which consistently "does justice". But why should *I* have to sacrifice some things... to accept dubious changes? Yes I do feel comfortable with playing imports. But part of the reason is because I control my destiny. If I don't understand Black/Matrix as well as I want to, ok then. It's my fault as I don't know as much as I want to know. But if I work at it, I can learn to understand it. Learn new vocab. Learn new grammar. There aren't any compromises involved with this process. It's learning. On the other hand, when a domestic port is created, they tend to mess with the game... and that's what I object to. It means that no matter what you the gamer do, you won't get the "full experience" that you speak of. It is out of your hands. The fate of the game has been decided by game politics. By companies. >vocal about it too. But why is it so hard for you to understand that I'd >still rather play the slightly worse English version? I just don;t >understand why I should be yelled at for wanting to play something in my >own language. Yes, you would rather accept the inadequacies than to learn another language. That's 99% of the people. I yell at you not for wanting to play a game in your native language. I'm all for that too. I yell at you for willingly accepting changes in games, thus dumbing down your standards. I yell at anyone who knows and understands inferiority(or crap in case of SuperS game), yet continues to support it. Don't throw away your standards just because the big companies tell you to. -T