Topic: EDITORIAL: Socially Acceptable

[nemo_83]

Well the title of gamer isn't exactly the first thing that comes out when I meet people, particularly ladies.  Really they don't care to hear about it so I don't bring it up.  I talk to my friends that want to talk about it and leave the history and future of the gaming industry at home when I'm with people who could care less.  I ask they don't bring up sports around me in return for example, because I could care less.  I try to find the middle ground, like movies, music, or books.  It never hurts to bring up Milton when in an interview.  But if you bring up Zelda, you better be applying for something videogame related.  People are just like, "what?"  

[KnowsNothing]

Wow, I didn't even think of anime, but that happens to me too.  A girl in my class saw a copy of Spirited Away on my teacher's desk- he was planning on showing it to his younger kids.  A girl in my class saw it and flipped out, telling him never to let your kid watch that stuff.  I wanted to butt in, but she was vicious.  She went on to insult some otakus, and others joined in, so I didn't mind that as much.  But it really bothered me how she was so vehemontly anit-anime that she went out of her way to stop a dad from showing some to his kid, saying that it will "ruin" them.

Spirited Away rocks too, I can only hope he didn't take her advice.  Whore.

[ruby_onix]

Quote
...but I'll never understand how someone can call an excellent localization of an anime that isn't *exactly* like the source "bad."

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And most companies don't generally select "broken" products for localization in the first place. (And even when they do, one man's trash is another man's treasure.)

I'm not Wapanese (Japanese wannabe). I'm fully capable of appreciating dubs. But IMO, when someone takes something that's already great, and tries to make it "better", they're being arrogant, presumptious, and disrespectful. Can their egos not handle "simply" being a messenger of good taste? Do they have to interject themselves into everything they touch? And they usually find excuses for what they do, by insulting their audience ("the masses").

Almost every time I examine the changes made in localizations, I find that they are changes made for the worse. It seems to be embedded into their very nature. If you're capable of truly appreciating a product, then you're not one of the mindless masses, and the changes were not made for you.

However, I'm capable of enjoying things without dwelling too much on the flaws. It's just a "philosophy" issue that bugs me in varying degrees, depending on how it's implemented.

IMO, Nintendo of America is fundamentally on the wrong side in that philosophy, but they don't seem to be a problem (lately). However, NoA's favorite allies (like 4Kids) are a really big problem.  

[TheYoungerPlumber]

It is a good localizer's job to make the plot and dialogue of an anime/game MAKE SENSE to native speakers of the localized language.  You may prefer a direct translation, but they have to appeal to the more general audience.  Of course, they can do that through tasteful means (totally new/replaced stuff like the crows in PMTTYD or Animal Crossing) or by chewing up a plotline and spitting it out.  Ideally translators WOULD change colloquialisms, etc., because they need to keep their general audience in mind.

Anime localization teams are certainly aware that there is a group who would want a direct translation, and is also aware of fansubs ;-)

EDIT: Just read the post about Spirited Away, KN.  Sheesh!  I mean, I actually didn't like Spirited Away (neither did my dad, who surprisingly was the one who rented it!), but it's amazing how people can throw all animation from one country in one gaint bin.  It's like she's putting that film next to Yu-Gi-Oh....

[mantidor]

that bitch!  Spirited Away rocks and its better than any western animated film, period!... yeah, I know how I look when I said that

great editorial, its the geek stigma I suppose, which fortunately isnt as bad here, you are actually kind of cool of you play videogames or watch anime, probably because its not as easily accesible for everyone as in the states for economic reasons, so that makes you kind of special, still in "geeky" way of course.

The one thing that made me raise an eyebrow was that ESA survey, the average gamer's age is 30? I highly, highly doubt that.

[KDR_11k]

Yes, the average age of gamers is 30. Remember, a person playing online poker or something like that is counted as a gamer here.

[Mario]

Very good editorial. A refreshing break in the recent trend of editorials that merely whine and whine and offer no resolution. When I talk to people about games I say it proudly, and if they shrug it off then it's their loss not mine... unless i'm applying for a job, but then, I woudln't want to work for a person who dislikes games would I?

[xts3]

I agree that gaming is still stigmatized and the so called "mainstreaming" of gaming is only with those under 25-30 mostly, anyone beyond this age who never was into games will most likely disdain it.  But lets not forget that gaming's popularity has become an unhealthy obsession for many of us, I mean look we have a website on the internet exclusively dedicated to the gamecube!  I mean if that doesn't screem diehard video game fan, rather then a "casual" passing interest, what does?

[nickmitch]

All the cool kids watch dubbed anime.

And I'm the most hardcore gamer at my school. But they're mostly just casuals and madden fanatics. Some buy no more than 3 or 4 games a year. I, on the other hand, bought 4 games just today. There were other hardcore gamers like me at the school but I'm loosing them to the harsh reality of BFHS education.  

[KDR_11k]

All the "cool" kids are idiots that need a way to define themselves as alpha males and if it means picking on weaker people until they go postal.

[stevey]

Were do you get the money TVman? I'm already selling sand to idiot and call it firework and I'm still broke.

[nickmitch]

Savings, my friend, savings. Plust they were all DS games so it wasn't that bad.

And if it makes KDR happy: All the lazy kids watch dubbed anime.

[stevey]

But were do you get the money you save? and what kind of dubbed anime the bad vo, bgm, rewrote story or the good removal  of smoking and child nudety.

[nickmitch]

The kind that I can watch on TV.
And, you know, around. . .

[Dasmos]

Let's just say he goes out late and when he returns he smells of lovin'......

[KDR_11k]

But were do you get the money you save?

Sorry, but that's beyond ridiculous. Try to keep it a little more believable.

Plust they were all DS games so it wasn't that bad.

'round here that'd mean 160 Euros, 150 if one of the games was Polarium. Roughly 200$... To think how many PC games you could buy for that money...

[nickmitch]

Well, I went to Game Stop and purchased:
1. Kirby: Canvas Curse for $34.99
2. Bomberman for $29.99
3. Feel The Magic XX/XY for $29.99
4. Pac Pix for $29.99
Pre total: $124.96
Add 9% Louisiana sales tax ($11.25) and my total comes to $136.21.

I almost didn't get Pac Pix because I thought that I wouldn't have enough but I did!
I had like $170 saved up plus a few extra dollars (which I spent today at Sonic) when I went so I was left with about $38. But I had to loan money to my brother (which I regret because I could have gotten Polarium)

[Hostile Creation]

I understand this article totally.
I disassociate myself from gamers as much as possible; I do not want to be compared to some of the morons that play games.  In fact, I hate the vast majority of gamers.  And I don't mean Xbox and Playstation fans, some of them are great, but it's hard to find someone who's actually fun to play with (however, I usually find that in Nintendo fans).
Since I try to avoid association with gamers, I seldom bother mentioning that I like Nintendo.  I don't shy away from it if it's brought up, but I don't list it as a hobby or anything either, go out of my way to talk about it.  I'm not ashamed of my gaming nature, of course, it's just something I don't feel compelled to bring up among others unless we're actually talking about games.

[Dasmos]

I do not go telling the world that i am a gamer, nor that as a gamer i prefer nintendo. It is not because i am ashamed it is just that it isn't doesn't normally come up during everyday converstaion. I will start a conversation about a new game i bought or a game that i just started playing again but usually it doesn't last too long.  

[Dasmos]

~*!DOUBLE POST!*~