A matter of names...

We all wonder why Sega of America has made those strange, inaccurate translations of the names, don't we? Maybe the translator wasn't good, they consider the plot too "japanese" and thought it would be a disaster in the European or American markets (or they consider it too "dangerous", different ways of life, I mean), they wanted to create another universe (or another game), we don't know. The only thing left is to accept the changes... and to try to guess in what things the translator/s was/were thinking about when they should have been thinking in the proper translation. =P *  

Phantasy Star

Alis = Alisa

Translator (T1)= "Hmmm... this means Alisa, I think. But "Alisa" has five letters, and I only have space for four letters. So... so nothing. I'll put Alis and it's all over!"

Odin = Tyrone

"Yikes! This thing means "Tyrone"! Oh, God! It won't enter! Well, I'll have to think in another name... "Tyro".... no. "Rone".... it sucks! I have no idea! The guy is strong... now I must think in someone powerful whose name has 4 letters... (*after several hours thinking*) I got it! "Odin"!"

Myau = Myau

"Oh, thanks! One easy!"

Noha = Lutz

"What the hell says here! I have no idea! Well, let's put Noha because I like it!"

Lassic = LaShiec

"Again, it won't enter! Let's analize the sounds... LaShiec... Lassic... Yes, Lassic! As it isn't a playable character, so I can put it wothout any changes... but I don't like LaShiec... Who would notice that! I have the power, I'm the All-Mighty translator and I'll do whatever I please with this!! HAHAHA.....

Phantasy Star 2

Well, now the translator is another person, who only knows the "basics" of the story (this means: the ending and the name of the main protagonist). So, this will be thouger than thought...

Rolf = Eusis

Second Translator (T2) = "Well, let's see... now I have to translate PS2. Well, first name... !!! It's too long, and it sucks! Well, let's put a four letters name (*telephone rings*) Hi, darling! How are you doing. Of course I won't forget the birthday of our sweet Rolf, how can you think that... (after the call) Well, let's put Rolf, as my son. Anyway, the players can change the name if they don't like it, so why I should waste lots of time with this?"

Nei = Nei

 "Oh, an easy one! Well, let's see the following one"

Rudo = Rudger

 "Oh, it won't enter! Let's call him... not, Arnold hasn't a suitable short form, and I won't put "Arny" for nothing in the world!. Let's call him... (*some hours later*), well, he'll become Rudolf, aka Rudo!"

Amy = Anne 

 "Oh, bad luck! This is so subjetive! It could be Anna, Amy or tons of other options! Well, she seems a sweet character so Amy will suit her well..."

Hugh = Huey

"Finally, it fits in the space!!! (*crazy translator starts jumping*) But I don't like it... well, Hugh is something similar to that japanese name..."

Anna = Amia

"Amia... I don't want to put any Japanese name so... it could be Amy, but there's also one and this one has nothing of "sweet girl" so... Anna!"

Kain = Kainz 

"Buaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! (*desperate, crying translator*) What does it mean!!!!!!!  That Kainz or whatever will be... Kain. Oh, my... I should have thought it better before becoming a translator..."

Shir = Shilka

"It won't enter, no way... Well, let's made up a name... (*more hours thinking, in one moment, T2 picks up "The Jungle Book" and reads.... "Shere Khan"...hmmm*), well, Shir it will be! Thanks Rudyard Kipling!"

And now, the planets....

Algo = Algol 

"Just one letter mising, who'll notice it!"

Palma = Palm; Motabia = Mota; Dozoris = Dezo

"Just short names for now, then, before handing in the script I'll change them to their original form" (note of the writer of this "theory": HAHAHA!!!!)

Various item names

"They are too long", or "I don't understand a word"

And now, the story...

After reading and translating the whole Japanese script, our friend T2, said: 

"Oh, Goodness! This is too... eastern. How can I put this? Let'smake that Kain a bit more.... incomprensive, change a bit Nei's death (that part about the DNA it's too defficult, at least, I don't understand it); the final shots of every character are too violent, I can't allow this, I'll have to change them too. Then, oh, that Shir, that's crime eulogy, if I could so something about that, but that's the programmers business... etc, etc, etc..."

Phantasy Star 3

A new translator comes here! Welcome Translator 3 (T3)! Hope you'll enjoy your work...

Rhys = Kane

"Well, well, what do we have here? Oh, Phantasy Star 3! Let's see... "This could be... Kane, maybe? It's not a very nice name, let's think another..."

Wren = Shirren

"Oh, what a headache! What does it say here? Could be W, could be Shir... not, definetly it's a W"

Maia = Marlena

"Marlena... yucks, it sucks! Maia is more gentle than Marlena"

Thea = Lann

"Lann? Ugh... this is more difficult than what I expected... Let's see a name that begins with my brother's name), the second letter is the second letter of my surname, the third one is the last letter of my nickname and the last letter is the second letter of the original name... Thea!"

Sari = Lynn

"Lynn is a "sweet" name, thus this gal seems like an assassin. Hey you, (shouts to another person) pass me the police section of the news, please!"

Nial = Lane

"Lane? They have no imagination! Let's do the same that I did with "Lann""

Alair = Luise

"This is one is the easiest one! But I'll change it! I don't like "normal names"

Laya = Laia 

Just a grammatical error

Sean = Shiin

"Let's put the closest thing to this thing"

Crys = Noin

"What?!? This is the stupidest name I have ever translated! Well, I can think of a new name for it"

Adan = Fuin ; Aron = Ruin

"And I thought that the previous one was the most stupid..."

Kara = Luna

"This seems like a Spanish name, not a Japanese one. I'll think of another because I don't want to call her "Moon".

Lyle, Lena, Ayn = the same

"What a lucky guy I am"

Domes and moons names

"Let's translate a bit and change them if I don't like them

And the surnames?

"Oh, I forget the surnames! Oh, well, who would care about it? Only a very curious player can ask that... besides, who they think I am? They can't got all so easily..."

Alisa 3

"Well, yes, here it says Alisa, so I'll put this as in the original"

Phantasy Star 4

And finally, a new translator comes (T4). Unlike the others, he/she knows a bit more about the story of the previous games. 

Chaz = Rudy

"Rudy? Isn't it too childly? I'll put another strange name..."

Alys = Lyla

"I don't like Lyla at all. Besides, she looks a bit like the Heroine of the first game, so why don't I call her the same way, with a slight difference?"

Hahn = the same

"I won't waste more time with this one"

Rune = Thray

"It won't enter, It won't enter... I have to find another name..."

Gryz = Pyke

"I read here Gryz, maybe it's another thing, but I read Gryz"

Rika = Fal

"It enters in the four letter space but... (there's always a "but") it has no meaning in English. Let's find another name. (starts doing the same than T3 when he/she had to choose a name for Thea or Nial)

Demi = Freyna

"It's too long, it's too long...... I must find something to replace it, or a short form... (*the telly is on, and you can hear: today, showing the latest Demi Moore's film...*) I got it!"

Wren = Forren

"Another long name...humm, too bad. Let's see the main characters of the other games, maybe there was an android there, too... ohoh, in PS3 there was an android called Wren..."

Raja = Raja

"Thank Goodness, one easy!"

Kyra = Shess

"I could put Jess, but... I don't know. (*picks a magazine and starts reading it*) I got it, Kyra!"

Parma, Motavia, Dezolis, Rycros (Ryucross)

Evidently, T4 had another consideration than T1.

*= hey, don't hate me! I am not as nasty as I seemed above! I just try to put a bit of "humour". I know that translating things is quite difficult, especially in a very different language where a word may have different sounds and meanings (hey, it seems like English! =P) and its grammar is quite different, so, if someone is offended, sorry. By the way, before you ask, no, I don't know a word of Japanese (just some easy ones, as "densetsu" or "tenshi" or things like that =P. Oh, wait, I can recognize the "no" symbol. =D)