The Language of Game Names

[Inazuma]

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 the word "yakuza" is when they are being condescending, which kind of contradicts the title.

Just like Ninja Ryuukenden being called Ninja Gaiden here. From one Japanese name to another.

[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 the word "yakuza" is when they are being condescending, which kind of contradicts the title.

Just like Ninja Ryuukenden being called Ninja Gaiden here. From one Japanese name to another.

Yeah, and what's more interesting is that the newer versions in Japan adopted the overseas name.

[Inazuma]

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 the word "yakuza" is when they are being condescending, which kind of contradicts the title.

Just like Ninja Ryuukenden being called Ninja Gaiden here. From one Japanese name to another.

Yeah, and what's more interesting is that the newer versions in Japan adopted the overseas name.

Maybe the Japanese are at least using the word gaiden correctly. It made no sense how the main series of games were called side story in America.

There is an Akumajou Dracula game on the Japanese PS2 that is called Castlevania.

[brunoafh]

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.

I thought of this immediately too.

There is an Akumajou Dracula game on the Japanese PS2 that is called Castlevania.

The current gen 360/PS3 game adopted the Castlevania name too, if I'm not mistaken.

[molotovwars]

Game abbreviations in Korean are also interesting. Like English, the Korean alphabet also has an alphabet, however the "letters" in their alphabet have to be joined together to make a symbol (each symbol representing a single syllable). Because of this you can't just take the first letters of words to abbreviate something, you have to use a full syllable. So instead of FF for Final Fantasy or SFC for Super Famicom they've got a different system.

Here are a few examples:

버쳐 파이터 - Virtua Fighter 2
(beo-chyeo pai-teo) -- So they they the first symbol from each word and go around calling the game 버파 (beo pa)

슈퍼패미컴 (suu-peo paemikom) - Super Famicom gets shortened to 슈패미 (Supaemi) which I think may have also been used in Japan, at least there is some accessory that I recall having that name.
[EDIT]: http://cgi.ebay.com/Super-Famicom-SNES- ... 154wt_1139

피날판타지 (pinal pantaji)- Final Fantasy gets shortened to 피판 (pi-pan)

킹오브파이터즈 - king ohbeu paiteojeu) - King of Fighters gets shortned to 킹오파 (king oh pa)

[BoringSupreez]

Game abbreviations in Korean are also interesting. Like English, the Korean alphabet also has an alphabet, however the "letters" in their alphabet have to be joined together to make a symbol (each symbol representing a single syllable). Because of this you can't just take the first letters of words to abbreviate something, you have to use a full syllable. So instead of FF for Final Fantasy or SFC for Super Famicom they've got a different system.

Here are a few examples:

버쳐 파이터 - Virtua Fighter 2
(beo-chyeo pai-teo) -- So they they the first symbol from each word and go around calling the game 버파 (beo pa)

슈퍼패미컴 (suu-peo paemikom) - Super Famicom gets shortened to 슈패미 (Supaemi) which I think may have also been used in Japan, at least there is some accessory that I recall having that name.
[EDIT]: http://cgi.ebay.com/Super-Famicom-SNES- ... 154wt_1139

피날판타지 (pinal pantaji)- Final Fantasy gets shortened to 피판 (pi-pan)

킹오브파이터즈 - king ohbeu paiteojeu) - King of Fighters gets shortned to 킹오파 (king oh pa)

That's rather interesting. We do the same thing in English sometimes, but not too often.