Why are console games not transparent about their language options?

[coates32]

Whenever I hear about a new JRPG, that I'm interested, coming to the US, I always get nervous if the game will have an English dub or not. Unless someone ask the publisher about the game's localization, I usually have to wait to see gameplay footage of the game, after it has came out, just to see if it has a dub or not.

So my question is this, why do you guys think that game companies aren't more transparent about their games' language options (such as stating it on the case or on their console-specific digital storefront)?

 

[TheMysteriousGX]

I think, for a lot of people, it doesn't matter. Or at least doesn't matter to the point that they would care too much about disclosure.

I mean, fully voiced games are still kinda novel to me, having grown up when "voice acting" equated to Link's shouts sometimes. So I'm mainly focused on text boxes which I then go through, snipping the ends off of dialogue because I read faster than people talk anyway.

And if a game isn't a jRPG (or other reading-text heavy genre) then it's even more of a moot point. It will be in the language of the area or it will be unintelligible. Just a foreign language jabbering on In my headset when I'm busy shooting aliens.

 

[coates32]

I think, for a lot of people, it doesn't matter. Or at least doesn't matter to the point that they would care too much about disclosure.

I mean, fully voiced games are still kinda novel to me, having grown up when "voice acting" equated to Link's shouts sometimes. So I'm mainly focused on text boxes which I then go through, snipping the ends off of dialogue because I read faster than people talk anyway.

And if a game isn't a jRPG (or other reading-text heavy genre) then it's even more of a moot point. It will be in the language of the area or it will be unintelligible. Just a foreign language jabbering on In my headset when I'm busy shooting aliens.

Well, I guess that makes a fair bit of sense, even though that is kind of bad for me given that I don't like playing games with voice acting that isn't in English.

Speaking of Zelda, if something like the idea I through out was implemented, how would the game companies handle games with no audible dialog and games with only a made-up language (such as The Sims)?

 

[coates32]

Yeah, I just dont care. I'll just ready the subtitles, and unless it's a super action heavy game like Astebreed where reading the subs will distract from the actual gameplay and make me fail, nothing will be lost.

I already think that voice acting has basically killed RPGs as they used to be. Why would I want what's probably going to be an even more niche game to be weighed down by those costs too?

If anything, that will only make the game more likely to fail, and reducing the chance the later games will come to America too.

I see your point about budget thing I don't mind playing games that originally have no voiced dialog, except for most RPGs. My first JRPG and one the only titles that I've that didn't have voiced dialog was Final Fantasy 7, which makes going into a voiceless RPG a bit difficult for me, unless it's an action RPG.

 

[Something Amyss]

I mean, fully voiced games are still kinda novel to me, having grown up when "voice acting" equated to Link's shouts sometimes. So I'm mainly focused on text boxes which I then go through, snipping the ends off of dialogue because I read faster than people talk anyway.

You think that's bad, I still remember when an arcade game speaking to you was a novelty.

Hell, I still remember arcade games.

But yeah, more on topic: I think the number of people who actually care are pretty limited. You look at the subtitle purists, and they seem to be more vocal, but they're still fairly limited. And if nobody cares, there's no real need to specify.

The only examples where it tends to matter to me are the above-mentioned action games, where reading can distract from playing. Also, Dynasty Warriors and other Koei games, because I got used to the campy voices and want them everywhere, dammit.

 

[cathou]

I mean, fully voiced games are still kinda novel to me, having grown up when "voice acting" equated to Link's shouts sometimes. So I'm mainly focused on text boxes which I then go through, snipping the ends off of dialogue because I read faster than people talk anyway.

You think that's bad, I still remember when an arcade game speaking to you was a novelty.

Hell, I still remember arcade games.

i still remember when ROB was actually new and working

anyway. maybe it's just because i'm not in an english market, but here, we pretty know all the time when the game is in english or not. even site like best buy give that information. and honestly very few games dont have a dub nowaday

 

[Something Amyss]

i still remember when ROB was actually new and working

I remember when ROB was new, but not working.

 

[cathou]

i still remember when ROB was actually new and working

I remember when ROB was new, but not working.

you're harsh with ROB, it was working perfectly with gyromite. at least the first 3 or 4 times...

 

[CritialGaming]

I remember when ROB worked down at the Walgreens on the corner.......wait I don't think I am thinking of the right thing.

 

[FPLOON]

Because they don't care about my options?

Honestly, they won't say it until provoked... or they actually want to talk about that shit... For me, if I'm going to hear voices while doing something that will need more of my undivided attention, then either speak in a manner of understanding or don't say anything... Regardless, subtitle that shit in its localized language, yo!

Other than that, I think you'll only get full language option transparency 100% of the time is if it's part of the overall gameplay mechanic or something...

 

[NPC009]

I mean, fully voiced games are still kinda novel to me, having grown up when "voice acting" equated to Link's shouts sometimes. So I'm mainly focused on text boxes which I then go through, snipping the ends off of dialogue because I read faster than people talk anyway.

You think that's bad, I still remember when an arcade game speaking to you was a novelty.

Hell, I still remember arcade games.

Oh, poop, I remember playing that Simpsons game on NES and Bart says stuff like 'eat my shorts' occassionally and I was like "OMG, technology is amazing!"

Anyway, despite being a pretty big fan of Japanese games, I sometimes don't even notice the Japanese voice track being there or not. Western publishers usually hire experienced VAs, so quality is rarely a concern, and I like 'American anime cute' a little more than 'Japanese anime cute'. The later tend to sound as if they're dubbed by helium addicts.

I only really care if it's Ar Tonelico, but that's mostly so I don't have to explain to people walking in why the characters are yelling penetration jokes.

 

[monkeymangler]

Depends on the game. Tecmo Koei's games don't really sell on this side of the Pacific very well. Combined with everyone jumping on them for certain dub characters being bad (Zhang Jiao), and now they don't dub at all and and all releases are digital only except for certain circumstances.

 

[NiPah]

I mean, fully voiced games are still kinda novel to me, having grown up when "voice acting" equated to Link's shouts sometimes. So I'm mainly focused on text boxes which I then go through, snipping the ends off of dialogue because I read faster than people talk anyway.

You think that's bad, I still remember when an arcade game speaking to you was a novelty.

Hell, I still remember arcade games.

But yeah, more on topic: I think the number of people who actually care are pretty limited. You look at the subtitle purists, and they seem to be more vocal, but they're still fairly limited. And if nobody cares, there's no real need to specify.

The only examples where it tends to matter to me are the above-mentioned action games, where reading can distract from playing. Also, Dynasty Warriors and other Koei games, because I got used to the campy voices and want them everywhere, dammit.

I'm not sure they're such a minority though, in JPRGs at least it seems most prefer the original Japanese dub and anything outside of well known series tank.
I guess it could also be because dubbed series have to make such a bigger return to come out in the green, vs. a subbed game not having to bring in much at all to return a profit.
That said I am biased towards Japanese dubs so I may be reading my own bias into it.

 

[COMaestro]

i still remember when ROB was actually new and working

I remember when ROB was new, but not working.

you're harsh with ROB, it was working perfectly with gyromite. at least the first 3 or 4 times...

ROB was the most pointless accessory ever, and I say that as someone who owned it at one point (and might still, if it's at my parents house and hasn't been tossed out). Gyromite was far easier to play using a controller in each hand and I have no idea how ROB got approved.

OT: I usually don't pay much attention to the language in a video game and just stick with the default. Occasionally I might switch over to another voice option if there's one available just to see how it sounds. There are the rare occasions where I just can't stand the dubbing for a game and go to the original language (especially Dynasty Warriors games, when available).

 

[Something Amyss]

Oh, poop, I remember playing that Simpsons game on NES and Bart says stuff like 'eat my shorts' occassionally and I was like "OMG, technology is amazing!"

I was specifically thinking "Fire!" "Hang on, April!" so we weren't too far off in our examples. XD

I agree about "Japanese cute voice," BTW. Mostly because it tends to actually hurt my ears.

I'm not sure they're such a minority though, in JPRGs at least it seems most prefer the original Japanese dub and anything outside of well known series tank.
I guess it could also be because dubbed series have to make such a bigger return to come out in the green, vs. a subbed game not having to bring in much at all to return a profit.
That said I am biased towards Japanese dubs so I may be reading my own bias into it.

Do you have examples of games which tanks vs not?

 

[NiPah]

I'm not sure they're such a minority though, in JPRGs at least it seems most prefer the original Japanese dub and anything outside of well known series tank.
I guess it could also be because dubbed series have to make such a bigger return to come out in the green, vs. a subbed game not having to bring in much at all to return a profit.
That said I am biased towards Japanese dubs so I may be reading my own bias into it.

Do you have examples of games which tanks vs not?

All I can think of off hand was someone from Bandai saying they haven't been able to get a foothold in the US market with the Tales series while a small company like NISA can find success with Altelier, Ar Tonelico, and Neptunia. My other evidence would be talking to the Gamestop manager years ago about how many disks get sold back once people find out it's dub only.
Last example would be how long it took Nintendo to release Xeno/The Last Story/Pandora's Tower, I don't believe Nintendo releases dual audio so them not releasing these titles would likely mean they didn't expect them to make a profit, follow this with NISA releasing Time and Eternity (instead of Bandai, who made the game and likely could have released it themselves cheaper but did not).

 

[CaitSeith]

I don't play many JRPGs so, I don't know how many are dubbed, how many have language selection option and how many have Japanese voices only. I think most console games sold in USA are either made in North America or regionalized with voice acting in English, so I haven't noticed the games that don't have English voices.

 

[Trunkage]

They don't have things like graphics options let alone audio ones

 

[coates32]

I don't play many JRPGs so, I don't know how many are dubbed, how many have language selection option and how many have Japanese voices only. I think most console games sold in USA are either made in North America or regionalized with voice acting in English, so I haven't noticed the games that don't have English voices.

Well I was using JRPGs as an example since the new Digimon game came out recently, but I immediately lost interest in it due to not having a dub. Admittedly, I would prefer for all games to have as many voiced language options as possible so that more people can enjoy those games.

There were other games, besides JRPGs, that had no English dub, such as all of the DOA games except for DOA 2 (PS2 version), DOA Dimensions, DOA Xtreme 2, DOA Paradise, and DOA 5.