Ever wondered where the GnR names for the X5 bosses came from? Well now we know.

Started by Flame, April 30, 2011, 08:26:06 AM

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Flame

April 30, 2011, 08:26:06 AM
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MMX5 English localizer Alyson Court, perhaps best known for her role as Resident Evil's Claire Redfield and star of The Big Comfy Couch, spent some time this evening reminiscing on her work on Mega Man X5 via Twitter, subsequently revealing the history behind the game's infamous localization:

"Apparently the localization (text editing) I did for a Capcom game is *famous*. Er, make that infamous. Who knew?"
My then husband was responsible 4 text localization. He asked me 2 do it &, since he was a GnR fan, I changed the names 2b GnR references. I didn't know the game nor did I know how mad fans wld be that Id changed the characters' names. But yrs later ppl now like it!"
"My ex-husband had his own company, GenAzea, which did localization for many Capcom games. I did a lot of that work."
"At first my hubby laughed & liked it [the GnR names]. Then when fans started complaining he got mad at me. I meant well."
credit protodude

I was expecting something a bit better than that, but hey, its cool to know either way. It almost serves as a "rub in" to the GnR song X3 ripped off.

That said, I LOVED Big Comfy couch when I was younger. Who would have thought that girl would be involved in X5's localization. Or at least, related to the guy that was. Damn, its a small world.
Quote from: marshmallow man on April 25, 2010, 04:55:26 PM
...When Larry the reploid accountant goes maverick of his own accord, he's certainly formidable during tax season, but he isn't going to provide X the challenge needed to make him grow as a warrior and reach his potential.

Align

#1
April 30, 2011, 12:38:55 PM
QuoteMy then husband was responsible 4 text localization. He asked me 2 do it &, since he was a GnR fan, I changed the names 2b GnR references.
did she write this on a [tornado fang]ing cellphone

Hypershell

#2
April 30, 2011, 03:40:25 PM
Well, it is a tweet...

Quote from: Flame on April 30, 2011, 08:26:06 AMIt almost serves as a "rub in" to the GnR song X3 ripped off.
Rosered's stage is considered a visual GnR reference as well (roses with gun-shaped buildings), so that's two that came from Japan.  I can also appreciate one wanting to stick to the general musical motiff that the series is known for (wish we had a bit more of that mentality in ZX and Powered Up...), but at the same time I'm not sure who in their right mind considers Mattrex more "palatable" than Burn Dinorex.

Either way, Zero's dumbed-down attack names concern me more.

I'm curious who else was involved in X5's translation/localization, and how well if at all they "knew the game", as Alyson says she did not (take from that what you will).  Anyone who's tried to dissect the story knows that GnR is the least of X5's translation woes.  Between that and the consistently badly done manuals of pretty much the entire console generation, we these days get a lot of fans who would rather make their own assumptions as to the context of fan-translated japanese sources (LIGHT CREATED THE VIRUS!) than even look at an english localization.  And really, a PROPER localization team should have access to relevant background information (as I believe I have seen stated in the L3 Devroom already) rather than simply throwing them the script and be done with it.

EDITS: Found it.
QuoteIn English, these seemingly minor details can change the entire structure of a sentence or at least change certain words, so the localizer must always be well informed on the surrounding context and general scenario. Otherwise the text might end up inconsistent with the actual game content.
I'd say that was a lesson which Capcom learned the hard way.
Also on DeviantArt, Rumble, DLive.tv, and the Fediverse (@freespeechextremist.com and @bae.st)

Kieran

#3
April 30, 2011, 05:16:59 PM
You imply that Capcom has actually learned that lesson at all.
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Reaperoid

#4
April 30, 2011, 05:23:19 PM
It's like how some people say that Rush is a namesake of a band of the same name: musical references, etc.
Quote from: Flame on September 26, 2015, 10:41:15 PM
I guess all I can really say is it isn't exactly what I'd expect out of a $4.4M game

It doesn't even have mouth animations

Rin

#5
April 30, 2011, 06:42:07 PM
Welp, I find all of this hilarious. Especially the part with:

Quote"At first my hubby laughed & liked it [the GnR names]. Then when fans started complaining he got mad at me. I meant well."

Dohohohohohoho.

Flame

#6
April 30, 2011, 08:57:27 PM
Quote from: Hypershell on April 30, 2011, 03:40:25 PM
I'm not sure who in their right mind considers Mattrex more "palatable" than Burn Dinorex.

Dont know about palatable, but it was worth it if only for-
Quote from: marshmallow man on April 25, 2010, 04:55:26 PM
...When Larry the reploid accountant goes maverick of his own accord, he's certainly formidable during tax season, but he isn't going to provide X the challenge needed to make him grow as a warrior and reach his potential.

Hypershell

#7
May 01, 2011, 03:41:29 AM
Touche, Flame.

Quote from: Kieran on April 30, 2011, 05:16:59 PM
You imply that Capcom has actually learned that lesson at all.
Maybe they haven't perfected it, but I'd say that there's been a significant drop in in-game localization blunders since around Z2, and that from X8 onward the game instruction manuals aren't nearly as ludicrous, either.

Most translation issues brought up since then are either a questionable choice of terms (Mega the lab assistant being most infamous), or a matter open to interpretation, as opposed to the sheer nonsense that pops up throughout X5, destroying and distorting several key plot points (hey, remember X's old evil comrade?).
Also on DeviantArt, Rumble, DLive.tv, and the Fediverse (@freespeechextremist.com and @bae.st)

Flame

#8
May 01, 2011, 07:52:50 AM
Quote from: Hypershell on May 01, 2011, 03:41:29 AM
(hey, remember X's old evil comrade?).
Uhhhhh...

Hmmm....

Vile...? :D
Quote from: marshmallow man on April 25, 2010, 04:55:26 PM
...When Larry the reploid accountant goes maverick of his own accord, he's certainly formidable during tax season, but he isn't going to provide X the challenge needed to make him grow as a warrior and reach his potential.

MrBaryl

#9
May 01, 2011, 09:21:28 AM
Is it really that big of a deal?

Gotham Ranger

#10
May 01, 2011, 11:18:31 AM
Just your typical translation herp and derp.

Flame

#11
May 01, 2011, 02:49:09 PM
Consider it "funfacts"
Quote from: marshmallow man on April 25, 2010, 04:55:26 PM
...When Larry the reploid accountant goes maverick of his own accord, he's certainly formidable during tax season, but he isn't going to provide X the challenge needed to make him grow as a warrior and reach his potential.

Mirby

#12
May 05, 2011, 08:38:29 PM
*cue Bill Nye's NOW YOU KNOW... voiceover*
Quote from: OBJECTION MAN on September 13, 2014, 04:31:11 PMOH [parasitic bomb] IM USING LINK AND I ACCIDENTALLY FINAL SMASHED A CUCCO OH GOD HELP
Quote from: VirusChris on September 16, 2017, 03:55:20 PMJust enjoy yourself, don't complain about everything

The Great Gonzo

#13
May 05, 2011, 09:53:54 PM
And of course, there were many dipshits over on PRC who wanted to physically assault Mrs. Court and/or her ex-husband for this. Christ.

(For whatever reason, I'm again wondering how much of X5's story was actually in the goddamn game. I'll bet that could muck up a translation just as badly as anything else)

Rin

#14
May 05, 2011, 11:19:56 PM
Quote from: The Great Gonzo on May 05, 2011, 09:53:54 PM
And of course, there were many dipshits over on PRC who wanted to physically assault Mrs. Court and/or her ex-husband for this. Christ.
PRC?

Also, those people need to chill out, take a deep breath...
[spoiler]And then shoot themselves in the head, thus helping all of humanity.[/spoiler]

The Great Gonzo

#15
May 06, 2011, 12:06:30 AM
Quote from: Kharaxel on May 05, 2011, 11:19:56 PMPRC?

Protodude's Rockman Corner. I really need to learn not to read the comments there anymore.
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