Japanese Gamers Divided on Subtitles vs. Dubs

[Gamegodtre]

to me it all depends on the actors in the versions.

 

[capnjack]

Because that takes effort and resources. I doubt game companies care enough to do both.

You doubt they care enough about 50% of their potential market?

Besides, if you've included dubs, subs require exactly zero effort to implement. Just transcribe the dub and give people the option to disable either one.


EDIT: Wait, what am I saying? You don't have to transcribe anything. For the dub to be created, you have to have the written text first. Might as well include both or JUST subs if you really can't afford the extra money on voice acting.

 

[Simalacrum]

I personally, (as a half Japanese myself) definitely prefer sub titles when it comes to ANY language - the original voicing is almost guaranteed to be better, afterall.

 

[AboveUp]

It's not even that surprising though. Look at the Resident Evil/Biohazard series, the original Japanese version of those games already have English voice acting with subtitles. I think the same goes for a lot of Capcom's work. They generally do that to create a more "American" feel to a game.

Keeping that in mind, it's not hard to see them so well adjusted to the idea of having subtitles in the games. Most people who dislike subtitles are people who aren't used to seeing them. Being European myself, I'm used to seeing everything on TV in English with subtitles, so I never even got the whole point of the "too lazy to read while watching" argument.

I usually have subtitles turned on with games anyway. Not in Dutch obviously, but in English. With games it's often hard to hear what characters are saying, there's often too much background noise to hear them right (especially in action games).

 

[Charli]

Ha!

So the Japanese are to Western media as Westerners are to Japanese media.

I wonder if a Japanese nerd has ever said something like, "I prefer to hear the pure sound of the original Western soundtrack. The voice actors are way superior to our own."

I can confirm your suspicions, a Japanese Teen has had this conversation with me and said exactly thus. Some Japanese dubs are indeed terribly received.

Which is why I appreciate a good dub when I hear it in our own language. Because it's not like it can't and hasn't been done.

 

[kawaiiamethist]

I don't understand why voice dubbing on movies and games is considered a second rate experience. If the people who translated the script know the language, wouldn't that make it the exact same experience, except with dialog someone like me can actually understand?

So I guess my response to this article is give the people the most immersive experience possible, which means audio dubbing. Subtitles only draw focus away from where attention really should be paid.

Unless you've got subpar voice actors like...well, something like this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAtC1SzWSXg].

I watched this a while back. I thought it was a terrible, yet humorous, fan dub when I first heard it. Then I realised it was for real and died inside. It isn't the worst dub I've ever heard, though, that goes to Magna Carta. Thank jeebus Magna Carta II was improved in every way imaginable, including the dub.

 

[Brandonn Richmond]

Pretty close results.

Dubbing a game without the lipsynching looks too funny to be considered serious, especially with a serious game. I prefer subtitles, only because I am a speed reader and I can switch focus between the action on screen and what I read them saying.

Is that true? On DVDs you only have one video stream and separate audio streams. And on Jap or Eng it always looks like it fits.

I always prefer Dubs because I do have trouble reading and watching. I can do both fine, but I can't really appreciate the details. And I like most Jap stuff because the art is very nice and full of detail. I do enjoy the original audio, it's fun that way to, so I understand the other side as well.

 

[Tireseas_v1legacy]

I personally, (as a half Japanese myself) definitely prefer sub titles when it comes to ANY language - the original voicing is almost guaranteed to be better, afterall.

As a half-Chinese, I agree as well. In fact, I say that, as a general rule, all games released outside their home market should be released with their original voice track and subtitles and then, if the localization team decides to do so, puts in a localized dub.

On topic, the split looks similar to the vibe I get from other gamers who play non-US made games.

On a similar note: Heavy Rain would probably sound awesome in French, if only because my idiotic English and Japanese language limitations would shield me from the moments of poor voice acting.

 

[CheckD3]

Why can games not have either option nowadays? We have the technology...we can do it...why don't we?

 

[john_alexander]

The only reason I dig subs more than dubs is because, while the voice acting is still probably terrible, I don't understand the language, and thus don't understand how bad it is. Also, I'm usually more forgiving of some of the stupid dialog that comes out of anime if I pretend 'that's how they talk over there' rather than thinking 'god, that writing is shit'.

 

[Firia]

I like most of my anime subbed rather than dubbed (certain exceptions apply, like Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop). So with anime-like games, I find myself gravitating towards subs. But if the dubbed voice acting is tollerable at all, I'll take it. I do like to look away on occation, and not miss anything.

 

[wasalp]

Huh. I always find it interesting to look at things from different perspectives, and this is no exception. I usually prefer original audio with dubs when it comes to anime, but the question never crossed my mind as to what Japanese people like when experiencing Western media. I can't say I'm surprised, but I do find it interesting. On this note, I wonder what French people think of playing Ubisoft games, which often seem to be made for a primarily English-speaking audience, even though the company is French.

well I cant talk for my European brothers but here in Canada its not even a thought. We are just too used to having everything be English...and most of us are bilingual. Also would like to add that English movies dubbed in french are horrible,same with tv(and probably also with games I have never dared to try the french option).There are too exceptions to the rules: south park and Simpson.

 

[The_Blue_Rider]

I prefer subtitles, it looks cleaner than dubs and usually other languages sound cooler than english

 

[Arisato-kun]

I'd just like developers to include both. For me, it really depends on the game. Some games just do a better job at dubbing than others. I could never play, say, Ar Tonelico II in English but I would never want to change out the English audio for Persona 4. Luckily there are some games that get both right and I can just switch at my leisure, like Blazblue.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Is that true? On DVDs you only have one video stream and separate audio streams. And on Jap or Eng it always looks like it fits.

I always prefer Dubs because I do have trouble reading and watching. I can do both fine, but I can't really appreciate the details. And I like most Jap stuff because the art is very nice and full of detail. I do enjoy the original audio, it's fun that way to, so I understand the other side as well.

Lipsynching was aimed mostly at games, DVDs to a lesser extend but only if they are CG movies.
Dubbing is hit and miss, sometimes the english dubs arent done very well.

 

[BobisOnlyBob]

Dubbing a game without the lipsynching looks too funny to be considered serious, especially with a serious game. I prefer subtitles, only because I am a speed reader and I can switch focus between the action on screen and what I read them saying.

A number of companies - such as Valve - use automated lipsynching. It's not as accurate as individually re-animating every last syllable by hand or motion capture, but the fact that the various phonemes can be mapped to distinctive facial muscles and their respective contortions of the mouth and surrounding tissue means that with sufficient tech, the "dubbing mouthflap" can be avoided. Watch "Meet the Heavy" in English and then Russian if you don't believe me. I'm sure any company that cares enough to both dub and sub their games will license or build their own version of this technology.

 

[FBPH]

Ha!

So the Japanese are to Western media as Westerners are to Japanese media.

I wonder if a Japanese nerd has ever said something like, "I prefer to hear the pure sound of the original Western soundtrack. The voice actors are way superior to our own."

Har

As for my own opinion: If it weren't for dubbing we wouldn't have been exposed to the enormous talents of Steven Blum, Crispin Freeman, Johnny Young Bosch, Wendee Lee, Beau Billinslea...etc, etc...

This.

I don't know if anyone would agree with me, but I rather like Ron Pearlman, and Dan Green just a bit too. I find his range of voices to be amusing.

Liam Neeson was pretty good in Fallout too. AH! there's also Mark Hamill for (IMO) defining the Joker trademark laugh.

Both the Japanese and us Westerners have our awesome/legendary voice actors. Guess this just means talent doesn't choose sides.