Final Fantasy VIII | Translation Study | Card Addiction & Directory

Channel:

Birds of Play

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Published on July 3, 2021 5:30:01 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X_qYnQAhP8

Game:

Final Fantasy VIII (1999)

Duration: 10:59

1,246 views

139

Final Fantasy VIII was released in 1999, just two years after the release of Final Fantasy VII, meaning that it had some very large shoes to fill with Final Fantasy VII not only being a massively popular game but also being the game that popularized Japanese role playing games in the West. So, starting with Final Fantasy VIII, the Final Fantasy series started to be developed as something proven to have a global appeal. Compared to the translation of Final Fantasy VII the translation of Final Fantasy VIII appears, at least on the surface, to be a lot more solid, with less obvious mistakes - which results in a gameplay experience wherein the translation itself isn’t getting in the way. However, the main issue people have had with the translation, is how it depicts the character of Squall, with a lot of players feeling that the English version is somewhat off putting or unpleasant - the sort of major point of argument being his signature catch phrase: “Whatever” which appears on numerous occasions during the course of the game, all the while the Japanese text has a number of other more nuanced lines that might portray his character a bit differently.

As my second Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy VIII holds a very special place in my heart and it's also the second Final Fantasy game I actually played in Japanese, back when I was still studying the language, and now that I’m actively studying Final Fantasy games, both as someone who runs a Final Fantasy YouTube channel and as an aspiring academic, this video is a part of an on-going project for me to better understand the game and the localization process and to become an expert in the field, all the while inviting you to come along with me so that we can learn together. In order to do this, I will be playing both versions of the game and adding the English text into the Japanese version in order to compare them. If you speak Japanese feel free to give your own input and don’t worry if you feel like your interpretation is different from mine.

And if you’re learning Japanese or just interested in the language don’t hesitate to ask questions that might help further your understanding of the language. I mean a part my time studying Japanese was spent playing games like Final Fantasy VIII, and it made the whole process a lot more fun, even though one of my teachers in Japan was convinced that I would ever have to use a word like Jikan asshuku, which mean time compression, after I had written it on the blackboard in class. But actually compared to a lot of Final Fantasy games I think that Final Fantasy VIII has a lot of useful everyday vocabulary, especially because a part of it takes place in this sort of modern high school inspired environment.

Just one more thing before we get started. If this something that you want to see more of or if this is a project that you want to see continued, please consider subscribing to the channel, and liking the video, leaving a comment and maybe even clicking the bell or sharing the video, just to give me some indication that this is something people might find value in. Because I want to spend my time creating something people can actually use.

But with all of that out of the way, I think it’s time for us to dive right in. So I present to you, Whatever: A Tale of Translation.

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