Obituary: biohazard4 - first trailer translated

[Guest]

I recently read this thread again.
This really got me interested in the original trailer once more, so I watched it and translated the text.

Turns out that Capcom's localisation team got it "wrong" again. It's no biggie since the version was scrapped, but it's interesting nonetheless.

始祖ウィルス発祥の地
レオン・S・ケネディ
侵食
汚染
暴走

The Cradle of the Progenitor Virus
Leon S. Kennedy
Invading
Contamination
Possessed

The Birthplace of the Progenitor Virus
Leon S. Kennedy
Invasion
Contamination
Getting Out of Control

1. The "birthplace": Probably the most interesting of the lot. So Leon was investigating the place the Progenitor Virus originated from, where it was discovered. Previous information hinted at Spencer, Ashford and Marcus discovering the virus in Raccoon City, at the Arklay Research Facility.

2. That kanji compound of "invasion" can also mean "erosion" or "penetration", as in "eating slowly into one's organism".

3. "Contamination" is pretty clear, it's that thing Leon is infected with.

4. The kanji compound of "Getting out of control" can also mean "to go rampant". That's a consequence that wasn't mentioned in the original translation, there, Leon was just "possessed" which only alludes to him being defeated by that thing, but not actually doing bad things because of it.

3.5 > 1.5
I'd still favour that game as one last interquel before the series continues with the new Umbrella ark.


"That's all Folks!"

[Gradon]

That's an interesting translation, thanks for taking your time to do what Capcom made a mistake of.
On a side note, we now know more about 3.5, though not the third beta were no footage was shown...
And on the 3.5 > 1.5, I still say 1.5 would be better, though graphically and superior with gameplay, 3.5. It probably and most likely used our loved classic gameplay. xP

[Krispy]

I wouldn't say they really made a mistake here. Birthplace and cradle can be interpreted as the same thing, hence "cradle of man" often recurring to Africa. It is symbolism for the birthplace.

Previous information hinted at Spencer, Ashford and Marcus discovering the virus in Raccoon City, at the Arklay Research Facility.

Huh? The Arklay Research Facility wasn't built until after the virus was found. I'll quote my own writings on the virus:

A number of Capcom external texts such as Archives and a timeline accompanying the 10th Anniversary Biohazard stamp set state 1967 as the year of discovery for the Progenitor virus; however, this is impossible upon further investigation. If Marcus' Diary 1 is to be believed, that would make the exact date of discovery December 4th, 1967. This would make the discovery of the Progenitor nearly a month after it was tested on Jessica and Lisa Trevor on November 10th, 1967. As well, if the Progenitor was not discovered until 1967, there would be no reason for Spencer to contract the construction of an underground laboratory in 1962. Because of these reasons, this date is considered a mistake on Capcom's part and disregarded.

And onto the next discrepancy. I don't believe "Possessed" was a mistranslation either. The localization team had the challenge of finding a word that would describe "暴走" entirely. Possession, while not completely accurate certainly isn't wrong. The possession, especially in this case, implies it is done so by evil.


Now I'm not saying your effort was worthless, it is certainly more clear because it isn't shrouded by design choices, but it is hardly a fuck up on their part. Give them a little credit!