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[Pellham]

I don't really see what you have to argue.

keeping the names benefits importers because they are used to those names
changing them benefits non importers

majority rules, names get changed.

you keep making this argument that changing names is so horrible yet you have not once explained why. I, truly, can not even understand your argument at this point to try and see your point of view. All I see right now is someone whining because they have to learn new names if they want to play the game again. And the only thing you keep bringing up is what is done elsewhere and precendence and all that. Well sometimes things change, and often times they change for the better. Ignore what everyone else does for the time being and explain to me why this is bad for fire emblem and only fire emblem without making reference to any other medium or franchise, and then maybe I can see where you are coming from.

yes, I am an anime fan, and changing names of the characters in those series would only bother me because I am used to the original names. But for any anime series I've not yet seen, I don't care at all what names are changed.

And the meaning of names is very important if you actually care about story and character development. Even amongst americans, where apparently because we like things 'americanized' we are somehow mentally incapable of understanding metaphors and depths of meaning.

yes?

and I've yet to see an argument of why thats a bad thing. Sometimes its better to keep things original so that we ca experiances cultures other than our own. But when the meaning behind it is lost completely due to a literal translation, whats the point?

Wow either you are just blinding supporting Nintendo or you don't really know what you are talking about.

You are trying to justify changing character names. I am trying to tell you that translators should not be changing anything, market reason or otherwise. I cannot seriously believe that you think it's okay to change character names in novels, movies, games, whatever whenever they get translated over here.

Me, whining? You don't see me making petitions or doing other stupid things like that. I am merely pointing out my disappointment in Nintendo treating Fire Emblem like a mass market product like Pokemon, instead of respecting Fire Emblem as an RPG like other companies treat RPGs.

I like how you try to insult me by saying my problem is that I don't want to get used to new names. That is not the issue. The issue is that the changes are not only unnecessary but violate the original game's story. The localizers should be translating the story faithfully, not making absurd changes like changing the character names. Nobody gives a fuck about the context and reasoning behind why the names were originally made. We only care whether the names sound cool or not.

But when the meaning behind it is lost completely due to a literal translation, whats the point?

We are talking about character names. We're not talking about contextual jokes or cultural references. CHARACTER NAMES! there is absolutely no reason to change them, there never has been. And if you look at the translations of any major hollywood movie into other markets, you'll notice one thing: THE NAMES DON'T GET CHANGED. I've worked in Localization for several years, I know what I am talking about. NOA is only doing this because they feel like Fire Emblem's character names are too Japanesey/strange, not because they think that they need to be culturally adapted.

 

[Scrow]

NOA is only doing this because they feel like Fire Emblem's character names are too Japanesey/strange, not because they think that they need to be culturally adapted.

seems like much of a muchness

 

[slayn]

you talk and talk and talk, and yet you still can't answer a simple question.

you believe character names should not be changed.

why

I point out all the benefits of it, and you have not given me a single downside to changing names other than some purist, 'Thou must not change names!'


edit:

the argument as I see it is thus:

I feel changing names is fine
you do not

I have explained why I think changing names is fine
I am still waiting for your reasoning as to why they should not be changed.

I can't do anything to continue this (rather interesting imo) argument other than repeat myself until you complete the required step and explain your reasoning.

Pretend for a moment that you live in a world where all translators change names because they fucking feel like it. That is the norm. And everyone in the world agrees with me. It is up to you to explain why that thinking is wrong. Not state that it is wrong, not state that its not the norm, explain why it is wrong. And... go.

edit2:

I missed a sentence that is a brief, brief glimps are your true argument that you have been hiding from me:

The issue is that the changes are not only unnecessary but violate the original game's story. The localizers should be translating the story faithfully, not making absurd changes like changing the character names. Nobody gives a fuck about the context and reasoning behind why the names were originally made. We only care whether the names sound cool or not.

unneccisary is hardly a reason for not changing them. It merely means the changes were not needed, not that they in some way hinder the game.

if names are so unimportant and all that matters is that they sound cool in your opinion, that how can somethign so trvial possibly violate the game's story?

you say they should translate it faithfully, not make absurd changes, but you neither explain why the changes are absurd, nor why a faithful translation is better than a translation that we would prefer.

sorry but its late. I am interested in what you have to say, but won't be replying till morning (assuming u are still here)

 

[Red Scarlet]

Are you gonna play the US version of DQ8 Pell? It's definitely gonna be..interesting with all the name changes.

Dragona: I haven't played Advance Wars..FFT pretty much is the ONLY on-hand experience I've had with a strategy-type game. So that doesn't help much. :/

 

[Scrow]

Nintendo's press site has an update for FEoR. All it says is Fire Emblem™: Path of Radiance - Updated Game Info. Not sure exactly what was updated, but here it all is anyway.

Fire Emblem™: Path of Radiance
Format: Nintendo GameCube™
Launch Date: 10/17/05
ESRB: T (Teen): Fantasy Violence
Game Type: Fantasy Role-Playing/Strategy
Accessories: Memory Card, Game Boy® Advance SP, Nintendo GameCube™ Game Boy® Advance Cable
Players: 1

Developed by Intelligent Systems Co., Ltd.

KEY INFORMATION
All of Tellius is torn in a bloody war that has set the human empires against the nations of the shape-shifting laguz. A small band of mercenaries, led by the earnest but inexperienced Ike, possesses the means to end this war, but a hard path lies before them. Players must master strategy, steel and sorcery to restore order to the seven kingdoms.

* The best-selling strategy series Fire Emblem takes on a new dimension. The stunning 3-D graphics put players right on the battlefield, pitting their soldiers
against legions of enemies.

* Customize fighters with new skills. Equip fighters with Stealth to guide them past guards undetected or give them Vantage and guarantee them the first strike in combat.

* Bring peace to a land divided. Take familiar soldiers like Pegasus Knights to the air, or transform new laguz shape-shifters and unleash their ferocious claws on enemies. Plot moves carefully, because if soldiers fall in battle, they're gone forever.

Game Storyline: Near a mercenary stronghold in Crimea, a kingdom on the continent of Tellius, a mercenary named Ike rescues a woman he discovers to be the princess of Crimea. The neighboring Daein kingdom has invaded her homeland, and she must travel to Gallia, home to the half-man/half-beast laguz, demi-humans with the ability to transform into animals. War spreads across the continent as Ike and his swords-for-hire fight to protect the princess and confront headlong the racial tensions and prejudices that have torn a rift between humans and laguz. As they fight, they learn the true reason for the war as well as the mystery behind the very creation of their divided world.

Characters: Ike is the leader of a company of mercenaries formed by his father, Greil. Titania is Ike's second in command and trusted advisor. Soren is a tactician and mage with a bleakly realistic world view. Ike's sister, Mist, also plays a prominent role in the game. There are dozens of other characters as well, both allies and enemies, each of whom has a unique personality, back story and set of abilities. There are several different breeds of laguz, too: the cat tribe, the winged raven and hawk tribes, and the powerful dragon tribe.

How to progress through the game: Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is a turn-based strategy game with a fantasy setting. The player alternates turns with the computer opponent, moving his pieces (units) and attacking enemy units on the battlefield. There are dozens of units and different weapons and magic spells, each with its own strategic benefits: Armored knights wield swords, fast-moving mounted cavaliers can use swords and lances, unarmed monks use healing staves and so on. As units grow closer together in the story, players can initiate support conversations to see some of the units' back stories and to enhance their effectiveness together.

Special powers/weapons/moves/features: In addition to the usual character classes from the previous Fire Emblem games, Path of Radiance features new classes like Sword, Axe and Spear Knights, each with specific weapon proficiencies. The new Skills customize units with special abilities that allow them to attack multiple times, hide from foes and much more. Skills can be assigned to any unit, but because each unit can only have so many skills, players will need to be careful in how they assign these unique abilities.

At key points, players receive Bonus Experience, points that can be assigned freely to any unit to help it improve in levels. Players can spend these points however they like, using them to make their favorite characters stronger or to improve their overall team's effectiveness. Several other new features enhance the Nintendo GameCube version: The game environments are three-dimensional, and players can adjust the camera for the best perspective. Each in-game element, from strategy to movement, has an extensive tutorial that can be reviewed at any time.

Connecting a Game Boy Advance SP with a copy of either Fire Emblem™ or Fire Emblem™: The Sacred Stones to a Nintendo GameCube playing Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance will unlock exclusive character art and challenge maps.

Not long now till the US release. Australia gets it on December 1.

http://www.nintendo.com.au/nintendo/games/gameoverview.php?gameid=741