Baten Kaitos question

Tara · Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 594 Location: San Jose, CA

Hello RPG fans,

Got a question for you about Baten Kaitos, Namco's RPG from Monolith Soft. You've probably seen this logo or the same one without the background imagery:

My question is, what do you think of the Japanese subtitle? It means "Endless Wings and Forgotten Seas". Would you prefer an English subtitle instead? Do you like that it's in Japanese? Would you prefer no subtitle at all? How do you feel about subtitles in general?

Give us your thoughts!
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Jinon · Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 140

I think the subtitle goes well with what the story is supposed to be about. For the US version though, they should put it in english. That's my opinion of course. I kind of like subtitles. I think they should of put a subtitle for FFX-2 because that looks a little weird. Oh well, just my opinion.
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Emral · Joined: 06 May 2004 Posts: 485 Location: Derris-Kharlan

I would keep the subtitles japanese, it always makes it look more...Mysterious, wich I love! Very Happy

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Lunar Eclipse · Posted: Sat May 22, 2004 7:45 pm Post subject:

Though the Japanese subtitle is probably prettier visually, I'd really like a translation in this case. The title "Baten Kaitos" in itself would be mystifying enough to most, so having a highly descriptive phrase like "Endless Wings and Forgotten Seas" helps to better explain the game.
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rune_devros · Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 15120 Location: Mayohiga

Isn't "Baten Kaitos" itself Greek or something? I think we should keep the logo with the Japanese lettering and under that put "Endless wings, Forgotten oceans" in an ancient script font.
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Lunar Eclipse · Posted: Sat May 22, 2004 8:15 pm Post subject:

I thought it was Arabic or something similar.
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Tara · Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 594 Location: San Jose, CA

Abicion · Posted: Sat May 22, 2004 9:51 pm Post subject:

I say keep the Japanese subtitle. It's eye-catching and the random kana in the background of the title didn't stop anyone from buying Evangelion.
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Ashe · Joined: 02 May 2004 Posts: 748

Was just about to say, that no Baten Kaitos isn't Greek. =)

As for the subtitle, I'd rather see it in english though with the same font size that the Japanese subtitle has.

I know that Japanese is cool and very stylistic for titles, though often times it seems that many people either do not care for the Japanese lettering, wonder what the Japanese lettering says, or sometimes believe that the Japanese subtitle is the way to write the name of the game in Japanese.

Generally, I say translate as much as you can. The only exceptions would be if the text is specifically oriental in nature or just doesn't come off in good english or is quoting something and finally names. Example would be Shion's Lunar Blade with the Japanese characters melting on the screen. The German subtitle of Xenosaga episode I and II (which quote from books).

Another idea is that you could do an overlay. Keep the Japanese text for the subtitle, and then overlay the english translation on top. It would keep a similar stylistic approach. If you guys have the time, you could create several different banners, titles and such and then poll and see which one everybody likes the most. Working Designs did this when they were trying to figure what font would be best for the title Growlanser: Generations.

skcll · Joined: 05 May 2004 Posts: 364

I'd like to see the subtitle in english. The japanese doesn't seem to make it look special or anything, imo.

caramelpopcorn · Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 6321 Location: good ole' US of A

I think if you left in the Japanese subtitle of "Endless Wings and Forgotten Seas", non-Japanese speakers will think that it's just how you write "Baten Kaitos" in Japanese. (I mean, come on, how would we know better if you didn't tell us?) "Endless Wings and Forgotten Seas" is really beautiful-sounding, so I don't want the phrase to get lost on us because it's in Japanese everyone assumes is just "Baten Kaitos".

If you must make a foreign subtitle (you have to admit, they're pretty Smile

) I would use Arabic, to tie in with "Baten Kaitos".

Plushpenguin · Joined: 06 May 2004 Posts: 157 Location: Canada

I like the English subtitle, but it seems a little long to me. Maybe it could either be just "Endless Wings" or "Forgotten Seas", going with the title that is more important to the story.

If you keep the subtitle in another language, then I say use the Evangelion overlay idea for a sort of logo design. Though I don't know if the logo behind "Neon Genesis Evangelion" was a subtitle or not; I just assumed it was japanese for 'evangelion'.

Vagrant Zero · Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 240 Location: Los Angeles

I say translate it to English. It's more mysterious THAT way seeing as how the subtitle doesn't make a whole lot of sense really. Laughing

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Asbel · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 3035 Location: Efinea

Leave it Baten Kaitos

oh, and translate it.. Endless Wings sounds cool
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rune_devros · Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 15120 Location: Mayohiga

Another advantage of translating Endless Wings Forgotten Oceans is that it givese you a vague idea as to what the game's about. Non-arabic speakers won't have a clue at first glance as to what Baten Kaitos is.
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