The Language of Game Names

[molotovwars]

I haven't contributed much on the site in quite awhile, but I've been living my life here in Korea and studying quite a bit. My job is to teach English, but I dedicate the majority of my time to either studying Korean or preparing for the GREs. I enjoy learning more about languages and as I went through the GRE words I would occasionally see a word that I would be familiar to gamers.

The easy one that comes to mind is emulate, but there were others, words we've maybe all seen, but have either taken for granted or haven't thought much about.

I also got to thinking about all the English titled games in other countries. In the USA we use the name Streets of Rage, but in Japan the same series goes by the name Bare Knuckle. How many Japanese people actually know what a knuckle is? Much less a bare knuckle. I guess we have the reverse of Japanese game titles not being changed much in the US, but I think its mostly the subtitles of games where titles get wild.

So, what games can you think of that use words that are probably unfamiliar to the general public, or more likely, the gaming population that plays them?

I'll try to look through my words tomorrow and see if I find what sparked my idea for this thread.

[Breetai]

Ninja Gaiden might be one of the best known.

Castle of Shikigami
Gunpei (not really a word, since it's an actual person's name)
Raiden
Ikaruga
I'm too lazy to think of more.

[molotovwars]

Yeah, there will be lots of Japanese language ones. I'll see what English title games I can come up with later.

I quickly looked at a list of DS games and picked out Mega Man ZX: Advent. Advent for those that don't know, is a noun meaning "The arrival of a notable person, thing, or event" In Christianity it marks the season preceding Christmas, in which the notable person refers to Jesus Christ.

[Breetai]

Yeah, there will be lots of Japanese language ones. I'll see what English title games I can come up with later.

I quickly looked at a list of DS games and picked out Mega Man ZX: Advent. Advent for those that don't know, is a noun meaning "The arrival of a notable person, thing, or event" In Christianity it marks the season preceding Christmas, in which the notable person refers to Jesus Christ.

Haha, I guess I got it backwards. There are tons of words in English game titles that many people didn't know previously to having seen the game. Here's the best one:

Skitchin'

[Inazuma]

Okami (Ookami)
Okage (Oukage)
Odama (Oodama)
Otogi
Katamari Damacy (Katamari Damashii)

[dunpeal2064]

I thought of Guwange. Which then made me think of most shmups, like Dodonpachi, Soukyugurentai, Mushihimesama Futari, etc.

None of those are english though.

[pakopako]

The first game that comes to mind? Jet Set Radio

It is so not "Jet-Set". The US re-titling "Jet Grind" makes more sense... but doesn't roll off the tongue as well.

[BoringSupreez]

The first game that comes to mind? Jet Set Radio

It is so not "Jet-Set". The US re-titling "Jet Grind" makes more sense... but doesn't roll off the tongue as well.

At least the sequel was called by the Jet Set name.

[AppleQueso]

As I understand, the weird english in some japanese titles has to do with the fact that various english words have a very different and 'exotic' sort of sound to native japanese speakers. We do similar things in the US with other languages, though honestly I can't think of any good examples off the top of my head.

[hashiriya1]

This made me think of the Ryu Ga Gotoku series. Of course with a title like that they would have to change it if they want to sell it overseas. What's funny is they they changed it to another Japanese word, "Yakuza", as opposed to an English title. If you actually play the game, the word "yakuza" is rarely said. They say "gokudou" instead, which is a better term for a Japanese gangster. They only time you really see or hear the word "yakuza" is when it is being said in a condescending manner, which kind of contradicts the title.

Another game with a foreign language title is Gran Turismo. It's a Japanese game with an Italian name. I don't think many people outside of the car fanatic world know what it means....but it sounds cool to them nonetheless.