Gyakuten Saiban's English Localization: Japanese reactions

Sat Dec 19, 2009 12:59 am

MissFEH

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So... to my knowledge the English versions were released on the DS versions of the first 3 Gyakuten Saiban games. I have to wonder what do Japanese gamers think of the changes made to it? I mean, Japan isn't exactly overflowing with people who are fluent in English, so the decision to include that version seems kinda weird. tbh I could imagine the English version having a lot of its meaning lost on Japanese gamers... kind of like what would of happen if we were to play Gyakuten Saiban with it's script translated with babel fish.
I deeply appreciate the work the Capcom localization team has done for us... the effort gone through to communicate the game to westerners. But would that be appreciated by the Japanese audience? Do they think that it disgraces the "original" or not?

Re: Gyakuten Saiban's English Localization: Japanese reactions

Sat Dec 19, 2009 1:01 am

Yaragorm

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Ma'am, I'll have you know that there are always going to be people who are repulsed and hateful of any translation, localization, or editing of Japanese media.

No matter how good it is...

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Re: Gyakuten Saiban's English Localization: Japanese reactions

Sat Dec 19, 2009 2:01 am

MissFEH

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So I suppose that means I'm dealing with an unreasonable fanbase on both sides of the pond then? :/

Re: Gyakuten Saiban's English Localization: Japanese reactions

Sat Dec 19, 2009 2:04 am

Yaragorm

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Yes.

Welcome to the Internet.

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Re: Gyakuten Saiban's English Localization: Japanese reactions

Sat Dec 19, 2009 2:51 am

Lunaria42

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Don't let the opinions of the uniformed sway you. That would be rather unfortunate.

I believe they included the English localization as a selling point for the game on DS. Anyone who had the game already didn't really need to buy the games again, so included the game in another language that a majority of the population is expected to study is a good selling point. It allows them to practice their skills with something the are familiar with. I think this is especially true with the second and third games. The first one's new selling point was the added case and DS touch screen features, but the other games didn't have much else going for them new content wise.

As for the question at hand, I haven't heard any complaints from the few Japanese users we have on these boards. I hope they share their experiences to enlighten us first hand at what they or their friends that play the game think.

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Re: Gyakuten Saiban's English Localization: Japanese reactions

Sun Dec 20, 2009 4:26 am

MissFEH

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Oh, cool.
Yeah, I'm pretty new to the fandom so I may get the wrong impression to what the people are like. So far it looks like the majority of North American fans embrace or are at least accepting of the English version, which is cool.

Re: Gyakuten Saiban's English Localization: Japanese reactions

Sun Dec 20, 2009 1:10 pm

Bad Player

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Couldn't the Japanese just play it in Japanese if they didn't like the English version? Also, I'm not sure how many North American fans have the direct and original Japanese version to compare. I'd personally take a localized version over a direct translation any day, especially if I wouldn't understand any of the jokes/puns in the direct translation.

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Re: Gyakuten Saiban's English Localization: Japanese reactions

Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:00 am

Lunaria42

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Bad Player wrote:

Couldn't the Japanese just play it in Japanese if they didn't like the English version? Also, I'm not sure how many North American fans have the direct and original Japanese version to compare. I'd personally take a localized version over a direct translation any day, especially if I wouldn't understand any of the jokes/puns in the direct translation.

Apparently their English version is the same one we have.

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Re: Gyakuten Saiban's English Localization: Japanese reactions

Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:48 am

Croik

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There was a Japanese blog that used to post about the English versions of the games, explaining the localized names and new English puns for Japanese folks. They even reported on us a few times. I'm not sure if they're still around, but the tone there was always interest and amusement. I've heard of Japanese fans that look on our English fandom and wonder why we like it (since they see it as being "very Japanese" in terms of the spirit channeling and yakuza and such) but I've never encountered a Japanese fan who blamed the localization for ruining the game or anything like that.

And in the case of the English speaking fandom, there almost was none before the localization was announced, so we have very few snooty "I refuse to use anything but the original Japanese names!" type fans too. Overall the fandom is pretty peaceful compared to some.

Re: Gyakuten Saiban's English Localization: Japanese reactions

Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:02 am

Kinlyu

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^ Agreed, there are much worse fandoms around, and as an animefan I do dislike dubs most of the time - but I admit it's often just because I'm used to the Japanese version, and because the voice acting (American, often) annoys me a bit. There's very little anime on tv here (Belgium... we have, what, Bakugan?), and all dubbing is done by a relative small number of people (in the Netherlands, even), so they all seem to appear in every series there is. ànd in commercials.

But enough of that, localization is needed, depending on certain factors - aka there are limits. I can't say I have anything to complain about when it comes to the Ace Attorney games. I think capcom did a great job on these! I could go on about localization problems in translations, but I won't, since it 'll all be about things that have nothing to do with the AA series - because it's been localized so well. XD

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Re: Gyakuten Saiban's English Localization: Japanese reactions

Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:11 pm

MissFEH

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Oh, that's good to hear.

Looking stuff up on the Japanese fandom, I've found in quite a few places where the localized version is discussed that people seem to get the impression that Maya is supposed to be of Chinese decent. This one confuses me. Is it the name? Maya has multiple origins, including Hindi and Greek, while Fey is German/Irish (Tina Fey anyone?)

Re: Gyakuten Saiban's English Localization: Japanese reactions

Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:22 pm

Arkillian

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Court Records wrote:

Name Origin:
English: "Fey" was probably chosen as a last name because of it's connection to magic/spiritualism (as in, Morgan le Fay). Maya is pretty close to her Japanese name, Mayoi.

Japanese: The creator picked Mayoi from a list of kanji he liked. Together they mean, “True Evening,” a “mysterious name that fits perfectly with the opening setting of Reversal Sisters.”

Her english name is Maya Fey, but her Japanese name is Mayoi Ayasato. I hope this clarifies that,

Re: Gyakuten Saiban's English Localization: Japanese reactions

Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:52 pm

Croik

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I think it's because "Fey" is so obviously not a Japanese surname, it's easier to associate it with the Chinese-sounding Fei. The localized version never tries to explain why an ancient family of Asian spiritualists is living deep in the California mountains, so people have to theorize.

Re: Gyakuten Saiban's English Localization: Japanese reactions

Fri Jan 15, 2010 2:31 pm

Karmi-Sempai

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I dunno... I've always had this weird assumption that Ryuuichi is more soft-spoken compared to Phoenix. That's how many view the Japanese, anyway... But from looking at his sprites, I guess I can't be right about that.

And I still get pretty annoyed that they mix up the eye colors...

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