So, I guess the term "word-wide" doesn't nessesairly include 日本

Submitted by phill on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 12:04.

Yeah,

looks like GTA 4 will not be coming to Japan the 29th. I am not surprised at all. There is an "Asian" version (アジアーの版) of the game but for some reason or another アジアー版 doesn't include Japan. Japan is an Asian country right? It's probably some kind of intellectual property legality, financial, and/or some other issues that go along with media releases.

However, I wonder if the underlining issue is language? Most games are released late in Japan because everything is usually translated. It does create translation and localization jobs and it is always nice to have something in the language that you are fluent in. However, while the rest of Asia is being exposed to the 本物 and more or less getting some basic English practice Japan doesn't.
This is a big reason why people in Japan find it hard to flow with spoken English.

As much as it is めんどくさい for me. I think that it possibly has a very positive impact on Japan as a whole. Somehow, Japan has managed to keep it's language and culture somewhat intact in comparison with other Asian countries かな？. I guess in a sense not being good at English works in Japan's favor. In other countries where everyone can more or so have a chat in English, the value of English decreases and the native language is used less and less. In Japan English still has a value. Which in turn creates jobs where there might not have been before. It might not be efficient but it keeps everyone busy.

I guess little things like this is what makes Japan, Japan.

So, I have to find a way to order the Asian ver. from amazon...anyone want to send me their credit card info...?

Or do you think that they might have it in Tokyo? If so, who wants to roll with me tomorrow?

‹ Taxes (Americans only. And Californians, too.) New in Maebashi (and Japan) ›
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bahia's picture

Depends who you ask...

Submitted by bahia on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 14:22.

I think to people in most other countries Japan is part of Asia. But to Japanese people, Japan is not part of Asia. It is Japan. Wholly separate!

-Bahia
ALT Advisor
Gunma Prefecture
sm-bahia at pref.gunma.jp

phill's picture

yeah, why is that? America

Submitted by phill on Mon, 2008/04/28 - 14:55.

yeah, why is that?

America is funny too.

American version and U.S.A. version

We tend to forget about our North American pal Canada, Central America, and South America.

ilovecritters's picture

Mexico!

Submitted by ilovecritters on Wed, 2008/04/30 - 08:52.

Dude Mexico is part of North America too XD

In Mexico the USA is just called Estados Unidos(EEUU for short; i don't know why the letters are doubled)-just the United States since they don't represent the whole of the Americas; and Mexico is actually called Estados Unidos de Mexico (United States of Mexico)

phill's picture

Oh Snap... I didn't even

Submitted by phill on Wed, 2008/04/30 - 10:40.

Oh Snap... I didn't even know that. That's sad.

phill's picture

Oh Snap... I didn't even

Submitted by phill on Wed, 2008/04/30 - 10:40.

Oh Snap... I didn't even know that. That's sad.

Something to consider -

Submitted by fuji on Tue, 2008/04/29 - 09:51.

Something to consider - apparently the Xbox 360 version version is region locked whilst the PS3 version is region free

Dann0's picture

o man

Submitted by Dann0 on Tue, 2008/04/29 - 11:54.

That sucks big time if it is region locked. In a so called globalising world, with lots of people living abroad, the region locked thing is getting a bit old. plus the language thing...well...I even have trouble getting drivers for peripherals, why does Japan insist on so many exclusive versions of software? frustrating...

typical...

Submitted by Hyakuman on Wed, 2008/04/30 - 10:18.

i heard stories of the previous GTAs being completely toned down in terms of the 'bad' content in japanese versions of the past. this may explain the reason why japan has lagged behind the rest of the world because its busy censoring the content of GTA4.

Dann0's picture

yup

Submitted by Dann0 on Wed, 2008/04/30 - 10:44.

just buy the asian version, it has full english and is not region locked. Its almost always the Japanese versions that have problems, unless you really want a game that can only be bought in Japan, the J version (unless it is multi region and language), is just not worth it.

phill's picture

wasted money

Submitted by phill on Wed, 2008/04/30 - 10:47.

I ordered the Asian ver. from Amazon... racked up a bill of 9000 yen. I will get the game Friday. Man, I never thought I would drop 9000 on a game. I am not even a big fan of GTA. I am just getting it in hopes that the on-line multi player is on point.

I really need to stop gaming.

dude, why didn't you buy it

Submitted by Hyakuman on Thu, 2008/05/01 - 13:11.

dude, why didn't you buy it off play-asia? they have the asia versoin for 6200 yen with free shipping.

the wait is eating away at my insides

Submitted by doug on Wed, 2008/04/30 - 15:42.

got the parents to mail me the game from america.

does anyone know if discs from different regions can play against each other on xbox live?

it would be nice to play people in my timezone.

region locking has

Submitted by Hyakuman on Thu, 2008/05/01 - 13:12.

region locking has absolutely nothing to do with xbox live. that would be beyond pointless if you could only play players who have the same disc as you...

phill's picture

yeah... i know. last i

Submitted by phill on Fri, 2008/05/02 - 12:34.

yeah...

i know. last i checked they had a week wait for the game
and were taking pre-orders.

so i figured i just drop the the extra 3000 yen to get it sooner. just to find out that people who ordered it on play asia are getting it the same time if not earlier than me...

大失敗です