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[The Chairman]

Scott Strichart, senior localization producer at Sega of America had an interview with Polygon where the localizer admits to changing a scene in Judgment to educate the Western audience, mainly males, on catcalling politics, because this video really moved him and he wanted to do something about it lol




The interview:

Judgment localizers want catcalling scene to feel ‘gross’ for players…

archived 11 Jul 2019 06:26:08 UTC

archive.li

“Sensitive scenes are tricky to get right,” Strichart told Polygon. “I knew right away we had to be careful with it.”

“People talk about how Kamurocho feels real, lived in, and we get a lot of praise for the attention to detail in everything from the dirt on the windows to the reactions of NPCs when you point your camera at them, but with that realness comes the unfortunate reality there’s sometimes there’s an ugliness too, and not every character in this city is meant to be sympathetic.



[…] In a weird way, I saw something of an educational experience here, because our player base is primarily male — and I do kinda hope that being thrust into the first-person perspective of a woman being catcalled felt a little gross. I hope there’s some level of sympathy for Saori, and on the larger scale, empathy for women who deal with it on a regular basis.”

“In the English dub, though, this was changed to ‘smile for me.’ It’s admittedly a liberal change, and maybe I’m just still kind of haunted by the gall of that sentence [in the video], but I think that kind of codified it as catcalling a little more for an English speaking audience who would choose to play the dub.



I guess I couldn’t fathom the arrogance.”

Oneangrygamer made a detailed article about this where he compared the altered and un-altered version of the scenario

One Angry Gamer - Delivering Gaming News Without Remorse

Delivering Gaming News Without Remorse

www.oneangrygamer.net

As a Yakuza games fan i'm glad that i didn't buy this game, the last thing i need is a nobody localizer to educate me about western politics especially since i'm not even western or live in the west.

 

[Azula]

Okay. I agree cat calling is bad. But it’s not really on a localization person to “educate” people. I don’t think being anti cat calling is political. But I’m disturbed by people using their jobs to push political opinions, when it isn’t your creation. If a developer wants to let their game be political, that is one thing. People can choose not to buy it if they don’t want to hear that stuff.

In cases like this does the devs have final say? Are they always made aware of the changes and the reasons for them? Or does the publisher ultimately have the that say?

I’m not sure about this specific example. My post is just about a larger topic. The change doesn’t seem like it’s out right cutting it out?

 

[Whitecrow]

Another one here not even seing a video about this game.

 

[Deleted member 471617]

Rented the game from GameFly and beat it. A great 8/10 in my opinion carried by the story, characters and narrative. Gameplay needs a major overhaul though for the next line of Yakuza games.

 

[pr0cs]

So exactly the antithesis of what obsidian is doing for Outer Worlds.

Watch now how twitter applauds this wokeness to educate. Games like this will be avoided by me like the plauge, maybe the game is good, maybe the message is good, but going about it this way guarantees I'm not going to play it

 

[Mista]

Another prick in the business. I finished the game and enjoyed, just don’t give a shit about politics and what anyone wants me to believe. I’m not an idiot to believe in some kind of PC just because it was shown in a video game.

 

[Alexios]

So they just changed a "fuck she's hot" (maybe not directed to her explicitly but the NPC's clearly looking at her and speaks loud enough for her to hear, it's not like he whispered it) to a "smile for me" and that's being a politically correct heathen forcing his political views on you and not letting you think cat calling is fine or censoring ugly reality from games? I can see why that sequence reminded him of the video, the set up is quite similar with almost every guy commenting on her and I could see the original being inspired by that as well, or just being a coincidence, it makes no difference either way. NPC self expression, what? What?! Maybe if they had changed the scene to the guy you escort in that scenario instantly dropping a righteous drop kick on everybody that commented in that manner you'd have a point, now it's just a mountain out of a flat field regardless of the intent.

 

[Soltype]

They did this before.They didn't like the message rinas substory gave in kiwami,so they changed it.

THAT’S NOT WHAT SHE SAID (or: It was better in Japanese …)

UPDATE: To read my (new) full translation of Rina’s substory, without the angry commentary, go here. FINAL UPDATE (March 2019): This interview with Yakuza localiser Sam Mullen confirms that t…

dojimasdragongirl.wordpress.com

 

[The Chairman]

So they just changed a "fuck she's hot" (maybe not directed to her explicitly but the NPC's clearly looking at her and speaks loud enough for her to hear, it's not like he whispered it) to a "smile for me" and that's being a politically correct heathen forcing his political views on you and not letting you think cat calling is fine? I can see why that sequence reminded him of the video, the set up is quite similar with every guy commenting on her and I could see the original being inspired by that as well, or just being a coincidence, it makes no difference either way. NPC self expression, what? What?! Maybe if they had changed the scene to the guy you escort drop kicking everybody that commented on her in that manner you'd have a point.

It's not about what is changed but rather the reasoning behind it where he is doing it to educate the ignorant western male gamers.
he is a fucking localizer dude, its not his job to do this virtue signaling in a game he didn't develop, he should just translate that shit and shut the fuck up about his feelings.

 

[The Chairman]

.

 

[#Phonepunk#]

i don't get the purpose of this. a man getting cat called is not going to have the same effect. i WISH that women openly leered at me.

at any rate this is a video game, it's not there to educate anyone on anything.

 

[mejin]

They did this before.They didn't like the message rinas substory gave in kiwami,so they changed it.

THAT’S NOT WHAT SHE SAID (or: It was better in Japanese …)

UPDATE: To read my (new) full translation of Rina’s substory, without the angry commentary, go here. FINAL UPDATE (March 2019): This interview with Yakuza localiser Sam Mullen confirms that t…

dojimasdragongirl.wordpress.com

holy shit. this way worse.

Jesus...what can we do? those rats are everywhere.

 

[Kazza]

I think this is a bit of a nothingburger, but I'm still glad that there is the option of a mre direct Japanese translation. That said, this dude from the linked article makes a good point:

“Sounds to me like they took the “opportunity” (liberty) to change that scene and the reaction of Japanese men and a Japenese audience to make a point about harassment in western countries against western women? Which is kinda silly since the draw of the games is to play a game set in modern Japan, and the person in question is Japanese.

If you listen to the Japanese audio track in the game, the staunch translation of the first catcaller would be, “Fuck, she’s hot.”

Helppls555 continues:

“Fuck, she’s hot.” is an expression made to oneself. The NPC doesn’t adress her at all, and just expresses that he’s taken off guard by her beauty, as if he couldn’t hold in. It is simply meant to translate that people react to her new look. Same with “ooh” sounds in the background.

“Smile for me” is a completely different beast, that directly, and creepily involves the character. The overall intent is definitely not captured. Sounds like they completely changed the nature of the scene from an “ugly duckling turn” kind of moment and the relative reaction to it, to a statement reminiscing the 10hours in NY as a women video because the translator got reminded of it.”

Personally, I think I'll stick to the Japanese dub with direct translation.

 

[MeatSafeMurderer]

This is fucking retarded. Does anyone living in the real word really think asking someone to smile is that bad? I've seen nutjobs liken it to sexual assault...which is just frankly ludicrous. The guy responsible should be reprimanded for that; it's his job to localize, not change the meaning or message of scenes in order to inject his retarded politics into the game.

 

[EightBit Man]

People like him should never be in such positions, infecting titles with a certain bias. Just translate games, and keep your things to yourself. That's not a lot to ask is it?

 

[Saber]

i don't get the purpose of this. a man getting cat called is not going to have the same effect. i WISH that women openly leered at me.

at any rate this is a video game, it's not there to educate anyone on anything.

I feel like at same time people makes drama and complains about those matters in video game, they still praise the most controversial tv shows, series and films. It's quite ironic.

 

[Dunki]

It makes it more relatable here but they did not really change a scene or outcome. Besides I never did play the english DUB^^

 

[bobone]

I mean very few of those comments in the video were rude. Many said God bless and called her beautiful.
I guess people are so bored with their easy lives they need to make up these atrocities to feel entertained?

 

[GreenAlien]

Why do the most inept people always end up in the game industry? Or, maybe better, why does the industry tolerate them?

 

[DeepEnigma]

It is like a cult.

 

[Alfen Dave]

I feel like at same time people makes drama and complains about those matters in video game, they still praise the most controversial tv shows, series and films. It's quite ironic.

In a decade or so, one movie or series will start making fun of everything and everyone again and the audience/critics alike will call it ''wow! it so refreshingly controversial''...

 

[Fuz]

I never catcalled in my life and I don't need a stupid game to "educate" me about that.


Guys. Guys. Guys.
Vote with your wallets.

 

[BlackOlivesMatter]

Someone needs to educate this dipshit on the harm that soy does to the male body. Specifically the testicles.

 

[Phunkydiabetic]

Can you imagine the shit storm if it was a Western game being translated for Japan and someone took it upon themselves to "educate" the Japanese on some sort of social issue?

 

[HarryKS]

You smash people's head on bare concrete in this game... do they not see what they're doing?

 

[LOLCats]

Ya that is lame. Im really tired of soyboys

 

[ExpandKong]

Well thank god I have glorified video game translators to teach me such valuable lessons like “catcalling bad.” Since I get all my lessons about behaving in human society from Sega games.

 

[Boss Mog]

All I see in that video is people of color catcalling her yet white males are the ones constantly being called out for that behavior in the media, can somebody explain to me why that is?

 

[zeorhymer]

It's not as bad as Funimation changing a scene in Dragon Maid and adding all the SJW bs. But I do agree that people who can influence media are overstepping their bounds by putting their ideologies instead of what the creator wanted. It's like how a contractor would put carpet instead of the hard wood floors because it looked better and not because the owner wanted it.

All I see in that video is people of color catcalling her yet white males are the ones constantly being called out for that behavior in the media, can somebody explain to me why that is?

Because it's the cool thing to do. Dog pile on all white men for some unknown reason, rake in the outrage clicks and call it a day.

 

[A.Romero]

This really aggravates me. I'm a fucking adult capable of deciding what's right and what's not.

I'm not getting any games localized by Scott, including this. It's a shame, I was looking forward to it.

 

[Zeusexy]

This is just pathetic. The literal translation of what the guy said was something like "hey look, what a fine woman".
And yet the condescending idiot took the freedom to change it and lecture us.

Change job, dear senior localization producer.

 

[xrnzaaas]

I guess localization is not the same as translation. A shame I don't know Japanese and lack free time to learn it.

 

[Harlock]

The soy is strong on him.

 

[Aurelian]

This is fucking retarded. Does anyone living in the real word really think asking someone to smile is that bad? I've seen nutjobs liken it to sexual assault...which is just frankly ludicrous. The guy responsible should be reprimanded for that; it's his job to localize, not change the meaning or message of scenes in order to inject his retarded politics into the game.

It's not horrific, but the women I know really don't like it. It's the product of a double standard (men can look grumpy, women 'must' look happy to please men). And while this wouldn't be a problem if it were a once-in-a-blue-moon thing, imagine if you regularly got those "smile for me" remarks... yeah, even if they weren't inherently patronizing, the novelty would wear out quickly.

This isn't to say that the changes to the game are accomplishing much, to be clear -- I can think of better ways to tell men to let women go about their business.

 

[JunkerWoland]

The issue I take with this situation is it being another example of someone in a production-level job deciding on their own accord a need exists to educate consumers on a pet topic.

The scene in the original Japanese is unnatural, straddling an awkward line between being a catcall and a private conversation. The NPCs staring at the player-character, while she walks past, only further muddies things. Instead of erring on the side of caution and allowing the player to form their own opinion about the NPC's comments, SEGA's localization producer decided he wanted these to be catcalls, in which case the "smile for me" line is somewhat justifiable.

Bottom line, the SEGA employee failed at his job. Instead of localizing what's actually happening in the scene, he inserted his own personal message or desired interpretation of things into the game.

 

[Hendrick's]

Nothing wrong with a little cat calling. I would bet anything that most women like it and for those that don't, just fucking ignore it. I get harrased walking around NYC as well, people asking for money amongst other things. Just keep walking and ignore it.

 

[Nymphae]

Wokalization?

 

[The Cartographer]

SEGA, patch the game and nerf this guy out of his job.

 

[MeatSafeMurderer]

It's not horrific, but the women I know really don't like it. It's the product of a double standard (men can look grumpy, women 'must' look happy to please men). And while this wouldn't be a problem if it were a once-in-a-blue-moon thing, imagine if you regularly got those "smile for me" remarks... yeah, even if they weren't inherently patronizing, the novelty would wear out quickly.

This isn't to say that the changes to the game are accomplishing much, to be clear -- I can think of better ways to tell men to let women go about their business.

Sure, I can see how even if you found it endearing the first couple of times it'd quickly get annoying. I disagree however that "women 'must' look happy to please men" and think it simply comes down to men not liking to see unhappy or "grumpy" women and are trying to cheer them up a bit in a ham fisted manner. For what it's worth I wish women would ask me to smile. Here's the dil-do...there's plenty of things in life that are annoying. To me intent matters more than impact. If people mean well and they're not like, genociding the Jews or something in the process, then my suggestion to those who don't like it is just to ignore it and move on. Nobody is forcing them to pay it any mind.

Besides...personally I don't go around doing either but I consider making a remark like "Fuck, she's hot!" indiscreetly within earshot to be rather worse than asking her to smile.

 

[kunonabi]

So is the change only in the dub with the english subtitles unaltered?. If so I'll still grab the game although I'll buy a used copy instead of digital.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Problem with game makers is they see a tweet complaining about something and they assume everyone else thinks the same way and does changes in hope of good pr and scraping up every sale.

Those tweets might be from 0.001% of gamers who are interested in getting the game.

If you look at the top selling games, basically none really give a shit about politics (aside from some upcoming lou2 lesbo kissing). Bfv put a political slant in and look how that turned out.

So if the big sellers like sports, shooters, sony sp games, rockstar macho man games dont care why do devs for all these smaller games care?

 

[Trojita]

In a decade or so, one movie or series will start making fun of everything and everyone again and the audience/critics alike will call it ''wow! it so refreshingly controversial''...

But we have Gumball

 

[Dunki]

It's not horrific, but the women I know really don't like it. It's the product of a double standard (men can look grumpy, women 'must' look happy to please men). And while this wouldn't be a problem if it were a once-in-a-blue-moon thing, imagine if you regularly got those "smile for me" remarks... yeah, even if they weren't inherently patronizing, the novelty would wear out quickly.

This isn't to say that the changes to the game are accomplishing much, to be clear -- I can think of better ways to tell men to let women go about their business.

As a man i also would not like IT At all. Even once. Telling a random Person to smile sounds rüde. You Do not even know what is going on in this Person life.

As for going on their Business. I think if you. Are interested on a Person you should be able to come over and say hello. Especially Ina big City the chamces to see this Person again is almost Zero. So take your Chance they hi and if He or she rejects you move on.

I personally do not like the motion of people arguing that it is harassment when you try to talk to a women while sje is reading a book sitting in a Cafe etc. That is how people meet.

 

[Aurelian]

Sure, I can see how even if you found it endearing the first couple of times it'd quickly get annoying. I disagree however that "women 'must' look happy to please men" and think it simply comes down to men not liking to see unhappy or "grumpy" women and are trying to cheer them up a bit in a ham fisted manner. For what it's worth I wish women would ask me to smile. Here's the dil-do...there's plenty of things in life that are annoying. To me intent matters more than impact. If people mean well and they're not like, genociding the Jews or something in the process, then my suggestion to those who don't like it is just to ignore it and move on. Nobody is forcing them to pay it any mind.

Besides...personally I don't go around doing either but I consider making a remark like "Fuck, she's hot!" indiscreetly within earshot to be rather worse than asking her to smile.

You kinda validated my point -- it stems from this misguided notion that a woman with a bland or grumpy look needs "fixing." Sometimes that's just the way you look regardless of how you're feeling; it's often healthy to acknowledge how you're feeling rather than to hide it under an insincere smile.

And I don't think these are good intentions. It's about control, about wanting the superficial appearance of happiness. If they actually wanted to make things better, they'd ask if everything was okay, not "smile for me."

 

[MeatSafeMurderer]

You kinda validated my point -- it stems from this misguided notion that a woman with a bland or grumpy look needs "fixing."

No...that's not what I said at all. Look, we're social creatures. Looking grumpy, scowling or frowning are all social cues. These all prompt an emotional response in the people around you. Nobody likes seeing anyone who is feeling down.

And I don't think these are good intentions. It's about control, about wanting the superficial appearance of happiness.

Ever heard of Hanlon's razor?
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity / ignorance."

 

[DeepEnigma]

Something tells me the vast majority of what is usually shy and insecure gamers are not the primary "cat callers" in society.

When are they going to find the term "cat calling" degrading as well?

 

[Dr. Claus]

You kinda validated my point -- it stems from this misguided notion that a woman with a bland or grumpy look needs "fixing." Sometimes that's just the way you look regardless of how you're feeling; it's often healthy to acknowledge how you're feeling rather than to hide it under an insincere smile.

And I don't think these are good intentions. It's about control, about wanting the superficial appearance of happiness. If they actually wanted to make things better, they'd ask if everything was okay, not "smile for me."

No, Cunty. No one validated your point as your point is the only thing misguided here. A person can bring down a room and when you see a friend, colleague, or simply a person on the street in a poor mood - be them man, women, or child - it is generally understood by sociologists, psychologists, and anthropologists that those attitudes can have a direct effect to those around them. Asking them to feign happiness would lead to a cascade effect of improved moods and attitudes. There is a reason why cashiers, waiters, teachers, and others feign happiness in their jobs instead of looking at you with a scowl.

 

[Fuz]

But we have Gumball

Ahahah oh my god. I need to watch this show.

 

[BlackOlivesMatter]

Wokalization?

You win

 

[Virex]

Seems like these worthless little pussy whipped #metoo male feminists have infiltrated everything.