Interview with the translator of Metal Gear Solid 2 & other games

[eastx]

Agness Kaku interview - 3 pages long, make sure to read 'em all.

A very interesting interview with Agnebs Kaku, who translated MGS2 and the first five Katamari games. It seems that Konami doesn't respect their translators much, and she never even got to play any of the Japanese originals she translated for them. Kind of explains why some translations come out so awkward. Plus, some awesome criticism:

I don't think Kojima's a writer. The fact that he would even be considered one shows how low the standards are in the game industry. Nothing in MGS2 is above a fanfic level. He wouldn't last a morning in a network TV writers' room, and those aren't exactly turning out the Dark Tower series or The Wire.

[Alucard]

I officially love her for her gigantic diss of kojima, which she is 100% right.

[calintz]

replace kojima's name for almost all game writers, imo...

[eastx]

Originally Posted by calintz

replace kojima's name for almost all game writers, imo...

Quite true, but she's just commenting specifically on the games she worked on. Kojima in particular does love the long, endless monologues and such that doesn't even really work well with games.

[stroopwafel]

MGS2 is one of the most unique games ever made. The game's subtext is meant to be a satire on videogaming conventions and the storyline itself an exercise in information manipulation. It's unique because its the kind of story that only a videogame can pull off, namely because of the active participation. It also showed the mediums largely wasted potential to be significant on an intellectual level.

Unfortunately all that is lost on the game's translator, who's a cunt.

He wouldn't last a morning in a network TV writers' room, and those aren't exactly turning out the Dark Tower series or The Wire.

I would call that a compliment because minus a few exceptions(espescially the second season of the Walking Dead) I can't think of a single TV show that isn't routine garbage.

[eastx]

Originally Posted by stroopwafel

Unfortunately all that is lost on the game's translator, who's a...

Somebody sure can't handle criticism.

[stroopwafel]

Not if its derogatory diatribe.

[IoriYagami n8]

Originally Posted by stroopwafel

MGS2 is one of the most unique games ever made. The game's subtext is meant to be a satire on videogaming conventions and the storyline itself an exercise in information manipulation. It's unique because its the kind of story that only a videogame can pull off, namely because of the active participation. It also showed the mediums largely wasted potential to be significant on an intellectual level.

Unfortunately all that is lost on the game's translator, who's a cunt.



I would call that a compliment because minus a few exceptions(espescially the second season of the Walking Dead) I can't think of a single TV show that isn't routine garbage.

A person can read way too much into anything. Personally, MGS2 is a solid game in terms of gameplay, and at the time was quite pretty to look at, but in terms of story is is pretty average fair by video game standards as far as I'm concerned. Not because I don't understand the point your trying to make, but simply that I don't see enough evidence within the game to suggest any truth behind it.

Even a Michael Bay film can have moments of brilliance in the hands of the right critic. While I can draw parallels between colonial expansion and Independence Day, I know it's just me making up crap. There just isn't any substantial evidence to show otherwise, there are a few "subtle" things one might think lends to such an argument, but when you look at the rest of the movie there just isn't enough there to prove it. Analysis of art and literature is very subjective and opinionated. But to a point an author needs to support his works with enough evidence within the story (or artwork) to show real definition, otherwise we end up with a guy throwing paint on a canvas and calling it art because some drops look like something to a few people.

[Einhander]

Originally Posted by stroopwafel

MGS2 is one of the most unique games ever made. The game's subtext is meant to be a satire on videogaming conventions and the storyline itself an exercise in information manipulation. It's unique because its the kind of story that only a videogame can pull off, namely because of the active participation. It also showed the mediums largely wasted potential to be significant on an intellectual level.

Unfortunately all that is lost on the game's translator, who's a cunt. .

MGS 2 is pretentious meta, self aware shit that tries to pass itself off as art. I like the series as a whole, but I *loathe* meta shit, and MGS2 is no exception.

The ending of that game is pure garbage.

The only cunts are people that like the ending and think it's artistic.

[Drunken Savior]

Originally Posted by stroopwafel

MGS2 is one of the most unique games ever made. The game's subtext is meant to be a satire on videogaming conventions and the storyline itself an exercise in information manipulation.

Obviously Otacon's diatribe about having sex with his mother while his sister nearly drowned in a pool, scarring her emotionally from swimming was clever symbolism for how the government is having sex with the corporations and letting the common people, Emma, drown.

And Vamp is obviously Dick Chaney.

[Zack]

Originally Posted by stroopwafel

MGS2 is one of the most unique games ever made. The game's subtext is meant to be a satire on videogaming conventions and the storyline itself an exercise in information manipulation. It's unique because its the kind of story that only a videogame can pull off, namely because of the active participation. It also showed the mediums largely wasted potential to be significant on an intellectual level.

Unfortunately all that is lost on the game's translator, who's a cunt.



I would call that a compliment because minus a few exceptions(espescially the second season of the Walking Dead) I can't think of a single TV show that isn't routine garbage.

mgs2 and walking dead suck

[Drunken Savior]

Originally Posted by stroopwafel

I can't think of a single TV show that isn't routine garbage.

The Wire

[Einhander]

Originally Posted by stroopwafel

I would call that a compliment because minus a few exceptions(espescially the second season of the Walking Dead) I can't think of a single TV show that isn't routine garbage.

Doctor Who and Sherlock to start.

Also Scooby Doo, Where Are You?, Tin Tin, Night Hood, Dr. Snuggles, and Batman TAS

Don't knock my fucking cartoons!

Originally Posted by Badrats Studio

To be frank, I cannot recall any translator who did appears in the credit title. So that's mean all translators are... insignificant ? Maybe that's the reason why she did the whole things. To get acknowledge for her works.

But she didn't have to talk bad, though

Jeremy Blaustein wasn't mentioned in MGS1 either. Nor was the translator for MGS3. Konami just seems to enjoy screwing over their translators. So according to your logic, all translators are insignificant, which is a ridiculous idea.

[Badrats Studio]

Originally Posted by Einhander

Jeremy Blaustein wasn't mentioned in MGS1 either. Nor was the translator for MGS3. Konami just seems to enjoy screwing over their translators. So according to your logic, all translators are insignificant, which is a ridiculous idea.

But I've never said that they are insignificant

[Badrats Studio]

That took guts.. to diss someone's quite powerful in the industry like Hideo Kojima.