Author Topic: Naming Japanese Games  (Read 3746 times)

Re: Naming Japanese Games
« Reply #15 on: April 26, 2016, 09:27:03 pm »
It's more common to see a mixture.

Here's a few examples that use some Kanji.

Kyojin no Doshin
巨人 の ドシン
(Doshin the Giant)

Hoshi no Kirby
星 の カービィ
(Kirby of the Stars)

Zelda no Densetsu
ゼルダ の 伝説
(Legend of Zelda)

Yume Penguin Monogatari
夢 ペンギン 物語
(Dream Penguin Epic -or- Story of the Dream Penguin)

Akumajo Dracula
悪魔城 ドラキュラ
(Devil's Castle Dracula -aka- Castlevania)

Doubutsu no Mori
どうぶつ の 森
(Animal Forest -aka- Animal Crossing)
« Last Edit: April 26, 2016, 09:29:34 pm by badATchaos »

telly

Re: Naming Japanese Games
« Reply #16 on: April 28, 2016, 09:52:15 am »
NOTE: This specific post outlines the guidelines that one should follow when making and editing Japanese games in the database.
The rest of the topic provides background information on what was discussed and agreed upon. The style guide and foreign language guide should be referred to for games released in other languages that are not Japanese.

~

Examine the languages used on the front cover of the case very carefully. There are several rules to keep in mind when naming games from Japan in the database.

Any part of the game’s title that is English or has any characters of the Latin alphabet must be included in the title that is entered into the database.

Any part the game’s title that is in katakana must be written as its English translation. For reference, writing in katakana uses more simplified, angular strokes, and is used for words that are meant to be in the English language but are difficult for Japanese speakers to say. It’s usually used for pronouns or very specific names or brands.

Any remaining portion of the title in kanji or hiragana that is not already represented by another form above must be romanized using the most recognized transliteration. Hiragana and kanji are typically used for native Japanese words, and usually are what makes up a game's subtitle. Kanji in particular features complex and compacted symbols, and can sometimes represent a whole word rather than sounds.

Some examples to look over, with listings for reference:

Example 1 - Super Mario Bros. (FC) [JP]
Name on Japanese Case: スーパーマリオブラザーズ
…becomes Super Mario Bros. in the database
http://vgcollect.com/item/103212

Example 2 - Sonic Adventure DX: Director’s Cut (GC) [JP]
Name on the Japanese case: ソニックアドベンチャーDXデラックス...
…becomes Sonic Adventure DX: Director’s Cut in the database
http://vgcollect.com/item/99231
 
Example 3: Legend of Zelda: Triforce of the Gods (SFC) [JP]
Name on the case: ゼルダの伝説 神々のトライフォース...
...becomes Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce in the database
http://vgcollect.com/item/16884

Example 4 - Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (X360) [JP]
Name on the case: Ace Combat 6: 解放への戦火...
…becomes Ace Combat 6: Kaihou e no Senka in the database
http://vgcollect.com/item/97309

Example 5 - Mega Man Battle Network 6: Cybeast Falzar (GBA) [JP]
Name on Japanese Case:  Rockman EXE 6 電脳獣 ファルザ
…becomes Rockman EXE 6: Dennoju Falzar in the database
http://vgcollect.com/item/103635
Larger image: http://www.gamefaqs.com/gba/929992-mega-man-battle-network-6-cybeast-falzar/images/170194

This style is the overall accepted method when Japanese games are talked about in English speaking countries, so it’s not inherently difficult to find the right translation. However, it does warrant additional caution when creating or editing names of Japanese games
« Last Edit: August 15, 2017, 11:42:38 am by telly »
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Re: Naming Japanese Games
« Reply #17 on: April 30, 2016, 10:12:13 am »
の (no) is Hiragana.

The Smash Bros example you gave isn't really correct. The series is Dairantou Smash Brothers.
大乱闘スマッシュブラザーズ
Dairantō doesn't really have a direct translation. It's commonly translated as Melee. If you break apart the characters you can read it as a large disorganized fight. Also, the word super is not present.
« Last Edit: April 30, 2016, 10:13:57 am by badATchaos »

telly

Re: Naming Japanese Games
« Reply #18 on: May 01, 2016, 09:51:59 am »
Ah I see. Does it make sense to put Hiragana and Kanji in the same category? As being romanized rather than translated, that is.

For Smash Brothers, I was taking the name from the first game; that's what my link points too. I'm pretty sure the first game has all that "Nintendo All Stars" stuff in the beginning (at least the title here in the database does).
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Re: Naming Japanese Games
« Reply #19 on: May 01, 2016, 01:31:25 pm »
I guess? Hiragana and Kanji are both used for native words. Kanji is logographic, meaning each character can represent whole words. Hiragana is more of a traditional alphabet like katakana, symbols represent sounds. There's all kinds of examples that use Hiragana:

Doraemon
 ドラえもん

Kururin Squash
くるりんスカッシュ

Ganbare Goemon
がんばれゴエ

Pikachu Genki Dechu
ピカチュウげんきでちゅう

Puyo Puyo
ぷよぷよ

Doubutsu no Mori
どうぶつの

telly

Re: Naming Japanese Games
« Reply #20 on: May 01, 2016, 01:37:19 pm »
Ok, that makes sense!

It just seems like it would make more sense to have both kanji and hiragana as transliterated, since the symbols are both used for native words. I feel like things will look strange if one was translated or otherwise treated differently compared to the other one. Does that seem acceptable?

I updated my old post to include hiragana/kanji, but keep the colors the same.
« Last Edit: May 01, 2016, 01:48:08 pm by telly »
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tripredacus

Re: Naming Japanese Games
« Reply #21 on: June 05, 2016, 10:03:52 am »
Toh Shin Den S
http://vgcollect.com/item/42171

I have already found online, various wikia sources, saying that this is the name in Japan. Can either of you see if the cover artwork is actually implying the name is to be spaced out like this instead of being rendered as Toshinden like the rest of the titles in this series?

telly

Re: Naming Japanese Games
« Reply #22 on: June 05, 2016, 01:05:07 pm »
The Japanese PS1 game has Toh Shin Den in English on the box, and has it spaced out like that in two places. It seems like most places online have it spaced out, except for GameFaqs (and here suprisingly). I'm assuming if the first game is spaced out like this, than the other initial games in the series are. It seems like they shifted to Battle Arena Toshinden on later titles in both NA and Japan

The first game on PS1: http://vgcollect.com/item/55532
Bigger image of the front box art: http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps/572396-battle-arena-toshinden/images/133493
« Last Edit: June 05, 2016, 01:13:33 pm by telly »
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tripredacus

Re: Naming Japanese Games
« Reply #23 on: June 14, 2016, 10:51:29 am »
These particular budget titles for Nintendo DS:
http://vgcollect.com/item/105146
http://vgcollect.com/item/105161
http://vgcollect.com/item/105853
are お買い得版 aka Best Version.