Importing Vidya Games - The Merits of Doing So Even if "idgi"

[trancehime]

So, uh, this person sitting next to me right now is playing this online Nipponland game called Poupee Girl which is basically some sort of dress-up sim game or something. I couldn't help but notice that she was also sporadically spamming Google Translate which is total shit unless you're translating single words, in which case it is marginally better. Yes, the game has some semblance of English in it but it's a freaking MMO-lite game in Nipponland so people are going to speak Nipponese. In this vein, I was thinking about the merits of playing such games in languages you don't understand. What exactly is the point of playing a game you don't understand?

In this vein, I was prompted to think about the multitude of people who are extremely excited for games coming out in Japan. Some know that they will be localized - this was very evident in things like P3P, which is already out stateside, and Etrian Odyssey 3, which WILL be out stateside sometime this year. Then there are those Japan-only games, like 7th Dragon in Japan released a couple of years ago. Nobody really bothered to pick it up for localization because it was "too hard." None of the JPN-made Wizardry-likes save for Dark Spire was released in the US, either. So I can acknowledge that these people who are genuinely interested in the Japan-only games will import it, but is it /really/ worth it, especially if you don't understand half the shit that's going on in it?

It's one thing to know how to play it, a different thing totally to appreciate the underlying elements in it and such. This mostly applies to RPGs that people import, since I know people who order shmups from Nipponland but those are shmups you don't need much Japanese to know that!!!

So what's your take on it folks?

[Drake]

Only games I've been intent on importing are Tales games and Touhou. In any case, belonging to communities and figuring out plot pieces that I don't quite understand myself is very helpful. Other than that, the specific plot detail aren't really a key component to me. I can take the bigger picture and fit together small pieces while playing, but I don't really care enough to actively translate the whole games in my head with multiple dictionaries beside me.

Tales games are fucking awesome, and the good ones aren't available in the NA. That's all.

[Bananamatic]

Tales games are fucking awesome, and the good ones aren't available in the NA. That's all.

just be glad you are american, we didn't even get Abyss

wouldn't import anything nonshmup myself

[orinrin]

I import SRW games because how else am I going to get my fill of awesome?  The dialog is fairly simple and chances are you probably already watched the shows if you are playing the game.  All about the game play for the most part.  :V

[Drake]

just be glad you are american

死ね

[Bananamatic]

死ね

glorious google translate

[Erppo]

I have played through SRWs R, D, W, K, Z, MX, Alpha and Alpha 3 all without any knowledge of Japanese besides being able to read katakana. Of course it's a shame to miss all the little details in dialogue, but there are pretty good translation guides available for the games and the stories are all pretty straight forward. Huge robots kicking each other's asses is understandable enough for me.

[An Odd Sea Slug]

So, uh, this person sitting next to me right now is playing this online Nipponland game called Poupee Girl which is basically some sort of dress-up sim game or something. I couldn't help but notice that she was also sporadically spamming Google Translate which is total shit unless you're translating single words, in which case it is marginally better. Yes, the game has some semblance of English in it but it's a freaking MMO-lite game in Nipponland so people are going to speak Nipponese. In this vein, I was thinking about the merits of playing such games in languages you don't understand. What exactly is the point of playing a game you don't understand?

In this vein, I was prompted to think about the multitude of people who are extremely excited for games coming out in Japan. Some know that they will be localized - this was very evident in things like P3P, which is already out stateside, and Etrian Odyssey 3, which WILL be out stateside sometime this year. Then there are those Japan-only games, like 7th Dragon in Japan released a couple of years ago. Nobody really bothered to pick it up for localization because it was "too hard." None of the JPN-made Wizardry-likes save for Dark Spire was released in the US, either. So I can acknowledge that these people who are genuinely interested in the Japan-only games will import it, but is it /really/ worth it, especially if you don't understand half the shit that's going on in it?

It's one thing to know how to play it, a different thing totally to appreciate the underlying elements in it and such. This mostly applies to RPGs that people import, since I know people who order shmups from Nipponland but those are shmups you don't need much Japanese to know that!!!

So what's your take on it folks?

Playing certain games in their native languages isn't a problem if their shooters either. I'll take S4 League as an example. Its a no brainer, as all you really need to know is 'aim at enemy, blow his face off.' Cosmic Break is a lesser example; same rule as above applies, though that game would admittedly require a bit more trial and error. I wouldn't know, as I haven't touched the Japanese version; take that with a grain of salt.

I fail to see the point of importing JRPG's myself, unless one knows moonrunes. I mean, not only are you missing the story, characterazation, and possibly an understanding of the battle system, but you may wind up stuck somewhere due to 'playing blind.'

[Tsubame]

So I can acknowledge that these people who are genuinely interested in the Japan-only games will import it, but is it /really/ worth it, especially if you don't understand half the shit that's going on in it?

Ouendan was really worth it, and I plan on importing Ouendan 2 at some point in time. :3

Personally, the college I'm in requires you to speak at least 3 different languages in order to graduate (including native language). Since I can speak English to some extent (even if I fail at it... Oh yes, and Spanish is my native language), I plan on learning Japanese next. After that I'll be able to understand what's going on in those games.

In fact... The reason I learned English was not because everyone insists it was needed to progress in life. I learned it because I wanted to know what was happening in video game endings. Then discovered many useful guides and information that was in English, as well.

[KOA]

死ぬがよい

Fixed. :V

Anyway, I know a bit of Japanese so it's not exactly an issue.
However, in terms of importing, I'll either import shmups or pretty much any game that's instantly easy to pick up and play. I'm still pretty hesitant in picking up the language-heavy stuff like VNs/Dating Sims/RPGs though.

[Ghaleon]

I can't read Japanese past good morning/night, thanks, nice to meet you, etc, and only in hiragana. I've tried playing some Japanese games like fushigi no gensokyo, Touhou disgaea, etc. But the fact is they aren't fun like that. I do not regret purchasing Japanese doujin games however because I feel like those developers have earned their buck more than many game devs get, the asking price of their products is dirt cheap too. Last, it will be both good incentive AND learning material towards learning Japanese.

Playing with a dictionary used every word sounds boring as fuck though IMO.

[Sriggle]

Well, it started with a game that was based on one of my favorite manga. So I buy it, play it, and I'm happy to see my favorite characters, I'm happy to hear some of them talk. I'm happy to play the game part of it all, beacause the game is genuinely fun and well done.

In short, since I liked the characters, and the gameplay was fun, I ended up having a good time. This might be why people get IdolM@ster...

Also, I'm learning Japanese at the moment, so it's a good way for me to memorize kanji, plus I do know some kana. When I was younger and DLed games for emulators, the gameplay was what got me stuck. I came for the Sailor Moon characters and figured out the rest through trial and error.

Though, I've tried to read comics with a dictionary beside me. It's slow, really slow. And frustrating. It fdoes work, though, but it's really not reccomanded.. It's like you have a slow computer. You can play games on it, and you will yawn the entiere time. It's better to work on making the compouter a little faster and then spend time playing games the way they were meant to be played.

[trancehime]

I'm sorry if it wasn't clear, but I wanted to limit the scope of importing Nippon gaems strictly to RPGs and other related kinds of games, since those are the kinds of games where knowing moonrunes matter the most. I mean, if you import a game like Ouendan (which is goddamned awesome by the way PLAY IT) it doesn't really matter if you know Japanese or not, you can easily figure it out by trial or error or if you played Elite Beat Agents beforehand.

Most people I know who've resorted to importing jRPGs have typically asked me what "so-and-so" means or "how to get past this-and-that." I mean, I once had to play through the entirety of Tales of Vesperia PS3/X360 (yes both of them) for a FRIEND because they didn't get moonrunes.

I can't read Japanese past good morning/night, thanks, nice to meet you, etc, and only in hiragana. I've tried playing some Japanese games like fushigi no gensokyo, Touhou disgaea, etc. But the fact is they aren't fun like that. I do not regret purchasing Japanese doujin games however because I feel like those developers have earned their buck more than many game devs get, the asking price of their products is dirt cheap too. Last, it will be both good incentive AND learning material towards learning Japanese.

Playing with a dictionary used every word sounds boring as fuck though IMO.

>Touhou disgaea

WHEREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE  :getdown:

[Ghaleon]

>Touhou disgaea

WHEREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE  :getdown:

I got my CD from N-Forza during the last Winter Comiket. Some people say it's not Touhou disgaea, just a TRPG, but it really does look like it's meant to use Disgaea's "soul" if you will, IIRC I even saw a demo video where they are picking people up in a tower and throwing them around.

Here's a video of the first stage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4jvDQE9ouI&feature=related

I also note that the main Character is Utusho, with the big flapping cape and all...So yeah, I think it's supposed to "rip off" disgaea somewhat.