Japan???

[rand2207]

I am living out in Japan and will still be here when Bioshock finally makes it's appearance here. I was wondering something. Some games here still have the original English game left in and depending on the settings of your xbox the language will change. However, there are some games which are completely overhauled to make all of the English parts of the game Japanese. Ironically, it is these games which tend to flop. I was wondering if the final Japanese version will be able to be played in the original English or will it be completely overhauled to Japanese. I am not sure if my explanation here is good enough so if anyone needs me to explain it better let me know. Also when will I be able to save Rapture in Japan??

[Newbeing]

Just out of curiosity, other than language, what sort of things do they change when they overhaul western games for Japan.

[jackinthebox]

Just out of curiosity, other than language, what sort of things do they change when they overhaul western games for Japan.

i don't think they change other things (besides gore factor) o.O that would be strange... i could however think of it in china...

[2K Elizabeth]

I am living out in Japan and will still be here when Bioshock finally makes it's appearance here. I was wondering something. Some games here still have the original English game left in and depending on the settings of your xbox the language will change. However, there are some games which are completely overhauled to make all of the English parts of the game Japanese. Ironically, it is these games which tend to flop. I was wondering if the final Japanese version will be able to be played in the original English or will it be completely overhauled to Japanese. I am not sure if my explanation here is good enough so if anyone needs me to explain it better let me know. Also when will I be able to save Rapture in Japan??

i did a bit of digging for you but nothing is confirmed at this time. we are working on it, so stay tuned.

[Hatesink]

Just out of curiosity, other than language, what sort of things do they change when they overhaul western games for Japan.Sometimes a lot of stuff gets changed. One quite well-known example is Tomb Raider, where the developers had to alter the system so that Lara Croft didn't die (because the Japanese market didn't like it). They apparently had to re-engineer the game so that she'd loose weapons and resources. These days I don't really imagine they'd do that, but I guess it's always a possibility that something could be changed.

They like all of their characters highly stylised or super deformed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_deformed) also.

[Newbeing]

Yeah I see what your saying. I remember on a G4 special for Crash Bandicoot, that for Japan they had to change his teeth or something odd like that. Interesting.

[pn18]

wait, there are actually 360s in japan? wow.:D

[v.dog]

Or he could be a PC gamer.

I understand what he's saying; It's like movies with subtitles are always better than dubbed versions. More specifically with regards to Bx, Would Japanese signage fit within an Art Deco enviroment?

[Newbeing]

Or he could be a PC gamer.

I understand what he's saying; It's like movies with subtitles are always better than dubbed versions. More specifically with regards to Bx, Would Japanese signage fit within an Art Deco enviroment?

It worked for Blade Runner...

[rand2207]

Not a lot of things get changed. They are pretty liberal over here. Just take a look at some of the porno games they sell. The main thing is the country of origin for a game. If it is made in Japan then it will come out in Japanese first then they will let the other countries mess around with it. However, if the company is from an English speaking country there is a good chance it will come out with the basic English version still intact. The noticable exception is Ubisoft, with completely overhauls everything and messes it up. In Japan they love their special editions in fancy cases with ten bonus cds, special edition booklets and figures.

[rand2207]

One more thing. In game signs and stuff wont change because they can't change the original game world but more or less everything else will be different. Character voices, subtitles, documents you pick up, things like that change.

[Hatesink]

Or he could be a PC gamer.

I understand what he's saying; It's like movies with subtitles are always better than dubbed versions. More specifically with regards to Bx, Would Japanese signage fit within an Art Deco enviroment?If it was properly stylised, I think so. Maybe not to the western eye, but definitely to a native. Having said that I think it'd look crazy.

And having someone shouting at you in Japanese over the intercom.

[v.dog]

One more thing. In game signs and stuff wont change because they can't change the original game world but more or less everything else will be differentDepends on whether it's a 2D texture or modeled as part of the level. If it is the later, you're right, they're not likely to change it and the lack of consistency could be jarring.

[rand2207]

I don't mean the game world as in the ingame world. I mean the whole world of Rapture. If they change the signs and stuff then It's not Rapture it's just gonna be some seedy Japanese lunacy. With signs for things like 'Mr Spakuru'

[Hatesink]

I don't mean the game world as in the ingame world. I mean the whole world of Rapture. If they change the signs and stuff then It's not Rapture it's just gonna be some seedy Japanese lunacy. With signs for things like 'Mr Spakuru'Lol and 'Ringo-utstarr!'

They might not change it, but who knows. Do they go as far as altering scenery when they regionalise games?

[rand2207]

Only if there are some things that will be offensive in a foreign culture