Why the heck is Resident Evil called Biohazard in Japan?

[karmapolizei]

Ok, maybe I'm a little thick. But no matter where I looked, I couldn't find a conclusive answer on this question:

Why is Resident Evil called Biohazard in Japan and South Korea?

Did they change the name for the Western world in order to stay clear of lawsuits from the band of the same name?

Again, I'm sorry, I guess everyone knows that, but as far as console-only games (alas, with poor ports) are concerned, I've really been living under a rock.

 

[AlphaOmega]

Because it was about a virus, aka a biohazard

i r smrt

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

Biohazard probably sounded too ambiguous.
See, we Americans tend to be... rather thick, all told.

So the marketing execs likely decided "let's give it a scary name so Americans will want to buy it. We can name it along the lines of a chemical spill, or we can call it... Localized Malice. No, wait... I have a better one. Let's call it Resident Evil."

 

[karmapolizei]

Guys, no offense, but I can make presumptions on my own. I need someone who knows why they did, presuming it is known. 'cause you don't market a game under two different titles because you bloody feel like it, there must be an acutal, tangible reason.

 

[karmapolizei]

Because Biohazard was the original name of the series. However due to some pathetic nothing band that no one has heard of already having that name they had to change it for legal reasons.

Thanks, I presumed that, but good to know. Biohazard were kind of huge at that time, so it fits.

It's still weird, what with RE1 having had a mostly global release, but then again, I will probably never understand the pitfalls of 90s Japanese console game marketing...

 

[Yokomitsu]

Probably something unlucky about calling it Resident Evil 5, just like on there hotels there no such floor as 13 , dosent exist why??

 

[Yoshimota]

Probably something unlucky about calling it Resident Evil 5, just like on there hotels there no such floor as 13 , dosent exist why??

What could be unlucky about that?

And I just think it's weird how they have no floor 13.

 

[Danzaivar]

Probably something unlucky about calling it Resident Evil 5, just like on there hotels there no such floor as 13 , dosent exist why??

What could be unlucky about that?

And I just think it's weird how they have no floor 13.

I thought it was floors with 4 in it? Because the kanji for 4 is the same as the kanji for death? Or was that just in hospitals? Meh.

 

[Theo Samaritan]

The gametrailers RE Rundown put it as a change of branding for a change of market, which is valid (Indigo Prophecy/Fahrenheit)

 

[Tonimata]

I bet there is some alternate japanese forums asking the exact same thing in reverse. And I wouldn't be surprised. Besides, all said, Resident Evil does sound more appealing or at least nicer.

 

[Avatar Roku]

The gametrailers RE Rundown put it as a change of branding for a change of market, which is valid (Indigo Prophecy/Fahrenheit)

That was just so people wouldn't confuse it with Fahrenheit 911, which came out around the same time.

 

[Maheemo]

When games change name in diffrent regions it's safe to say there is some legal trouble behind it to keep the original name, like the whole Mike Bison, Vega, Balrog thing in Street Fighter and Megaman is called Rockman in Japan. Can be a little of a mindfuck sometimes

 

[Theo Samaritan]

The gametrailers RE Rundown put it as a change of branding for a change of market, which is valid (Indigo Prophecy/Fahrenheit)

That was just so people wouldn't confuse it with Fahrenheit 911, which came out around the same time.

Fahrenheit 9/11 was released in June 2004, Fahrenheit was released September 2005.

If they were still concerned of people getting confused then it does not give much credit to America being honest.

 

[Syntax Error]

Probably something unlucky about calling it Resident Evil 5, just like on there hotels there no such floor as 13 , dosent exist why??

What could be unlucky about that?

And I just think it's weird how they have no floor 13.

The building I had my internship had no 4th floor. Go to the elevator and you'll see G-2-3-5-6-7. Probably cuz it's a Japanese company.

When games change name in diffrent regions it's safe to say there is some legal trouble behind it to keep the original name, like the whole Mike Bison, Vega, Balrog thing in Street Fighter and Megaman is called Rockman in Japan. Can be a little of a mindfuck sometimes

OR When games in a series don't all make it across the ocean (See: Mother and Final Fantasy, granted all FF games in the main numerical progression eventually made it to NA).

 

[Yoshimota]

Probably something unlucky about calling it Resident Evil 5, just like on there hotels there no such floor as 13 , dosent exist why??

What could be unlucky about that?

And I just think it's weird how they have no floor 13.

The building I had my internship had no 4th floor. Go to the elevator and you'll see G-2-3-5-6-7. Probably cuz it's a Japanese company.

Maybe that other guy that quoted me was right, maybe it is 4, not 13.

Probably something unlucky about calling it Resident Evil 5, just like on there hotels there no such floor as 13 , dosent exist why??

What could be unlucky about that?

And I just think it's weird how they have no floor 13.

I thought it was floors with 4 in it? Because the kanji for 4 is the same as the kanji for death? Or was that just in hospitals? Meh.

Yeah him/you. haha

Don't know why I thought it was 13, you guys seem to think it's 4.

**If any one find out any info on the unlucky numbers for Japan, please, tell me.** (sorry about the Off-Topic)

 

[feanorean@gmail.com]

You guys all realise that these games had names in Japan FIRST, before they were changed for release in western countries. Biohazard or Rockman for example are the legitimate names.

So when stinkychops says "The japanese change a lot of things, and I generally don't like them." You need you consider that without the Japanese you wouldn't be playing the game in the first place.

 

[SmilingKitsune]

Biohazard probably sounded too ambiguous.
See, we Americans tend to be... rather thick, all told.

So the marketing execs likely decided "let's give it a scary name so Americans will want to buy it. We can name it along the lines of a chemical spill, or we can call it... Localized Malice. No, wait... I have a better one. Let's call it Resident Evil."

Oo oo, "ocupant menace" teehee this is fun.