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Why Don't They Have Original (Japanese) Audio With Subtiles For Game Like With Anime?

Category: Question Of The Day Game: Default Posted on Nov 30, 2008 10:14 pm


I have always been boggle by this, why can't games have an option where you can pick original Japanese audio with english subs like we have with animes? I always think about this when I watch a game trailer that is in Japanese and it sounds so so much better. Better voice acting, better synchonization -- to get to the point, better in EVERYTHING! I might have a slight idea why they don't do it, but if it is correct then it shouldn't that of a big deal, unless they are just plain lazy. >__< One idea is the size of the game? With 2 different audio tracks it can make the game very large and they can't put it all into one dvd? ...If that is the case, then make 2 dvds? Look at PS one games, they had 4, sometime 5 discs per game. (keke I used to love that concept in the PS one days, I would always buy RPG's with extra discs because I knew it's going to be a long game, with lots of graphics and extra gameplay =3) My second guess is that may be some kind of copyright issue?  But I doubt that is the reason, they are already exporting the actual game, what's purpose of keeping the audio? My final guess is American players not wanting it (or not wanting it badly enough)? -- WRONG! This definitely cannot be the reason, just look at the Anime enterpise, they started putting Japanese audio with US release due to customer's demand caused by the "not so good" english dubbing. So why is this any different? (But i do have to admit, english dubbing for gaming is better than anime) I'm sure there are many gamers out there, like myself, who wants this option for their role playing games experience.

So, I am clueless to why this issue has not risen amongst gamers everywhere (maybe it has and I don't know about it)... If you have some insight on this issue or know the answer to my question, please elaborate, thank you. ^^

comments ( 3 )

bswa
Post Time : May 31,2009 2:56 pm

You ,my friend just hit the bull's eye!!!

I am also always baffled by this issue. I also really wish that game companies would keep the original japanese aduio and just add subtitles....like for example..crisis core...man...i want to buy japanese ver. as thier voice actting is way better but i can't understand japanese...and i don't want to buy eng version...cause'...plainli...the dubbing sucks...in the end i had to buy eng....cause' that's the onli way i could ever play that crisis core!!!!: THis applies to other japanese rpg/action games which i wanna play!

man,your article made me happy....cause' now i know i am not the only one.

pauL11686
Post Time : Dec 01,2008 3:29 am

Here's my opinion. So far, I can only think of 2 reason why they're not using Japanese audio and English subs apart from what you have mentioned earlier; 1.The amount of time it takes to convert audio and edit in the subs. But I doubt gaming companies will have much difficulty with the time in their hands. But then again, they have deadlines to meet; 2.I guess for most people, gaming wouldn't be much fun if they were to read all the subs instead of watch the amazing cinematics going on. I know I am, but I'm used to it already. So yeah, I guess that's the reason.

Tangdoo replied at 12:05 am Dec 02,2008
I see what you are getting at with your first reason but I'm thinking, with technologies nowadays it shouldn't take that long, right? (who knows). As for your second reason, it might be true the first time around or at least when it's the CG parts. But what I'm focusing on are the normal in game cut-scenes, where the characters interacts with one another. But yeah, I can see what you mean and I can relate to it (I would have my eyes glue to the awesome graphics). Now that i think about it, I guess what I was trying to get at was, I would just like to have the option to play the original audio when I play the game the second (or third) time around, which is usually when I go for 100% completion of the game. And plus, it adds something new to the game so I wouldn't get bored so easily. =D

PS: Thanks for your insight. ^^
KuramaShuichi
Post Time : Dec 01,2008 3:02 am

Well, some games actually HAVE japanese audio option :) .Hack for example. But yeah, a lot of them don't have it, >__< that's too bad.

Tangdoo replied at 11:32 pm Dec 01,2008
Oh really?? Hmm, that's good to know. I never tried out the .hack series before, maybe I'll give it a try. Nevertheless, it's good to see there are gaming companies out there heading in that direction.