learning japanese for a videogame (GiTS)

[markgreyam]

has anyone ever considered this? i did a while ago, but never really did anything about it.

but since i have finally obtained a modded ps2, the whole "waiting for US NTSC games to be released as PAL" problem has rapidly changed into a "'waiting for JAP NTSC games to be released in an english format" problem. but to be honest its a problem i like to have.

the Ghost in the Shell : Stand Alone Complex game on ps2 is absolutely awesome, but i cant understand a single bit of the story, given its all in japanese. and Bujingai looks awesome, although admittedly the story etc probably is easily ignored anyway. im just glad that GiTS points the way quite obviously with clearly defined waypoints.

i think both these games are supposed to be released in a NTSC/UC format in May this year, but i dont know if that will happen for sure, and also, who wants to wait that long for games that are obviously awesome and just want to be played now?

having said all this ill probably order them both in the next couple of days anyway. just wondering if anyone has considered doing this because there are a lot of other games that this would be useful for anyway, including some games that may not make it to an english release. where would someone suggest i start if i wanted to start to learn basic japanese?

[charlesr]

Welcome to NTSC-uk!

First stop, our homepage www.ntsc-uk.com and look at the "Guide to Japanese" which will let you work out options screens and basic text.

[darkangel]

Welcome dude!!!!

[Tom Salter]

Learn Katakana - easily the most valuable lesson in Japanese.

Then buy a book, learn basic grammar. E.g A is B, A isn't B, A belongs to B, etc etc.

Then start playing with a dictionary and keep that vocabulary up

I started my Japanese learning with Shenmue 4 years ago - and my Japanese is at the level where I can very briefly get wtf is going on. There's so much to learn....

I don't want to dishearten you though - putting 6 hours a week into Japanese will make you a good reader in no time

[johnjwaters]

and you say you did no revision for your alevels, man, I don't know anyone who puts 6 hours into a hobby.

he lies he lies!

[Tom Salter]

I've only recently been putting that much time in :P

[markgreyam]

thanks for the welcomes, this forum looks like the place to be ... lots of people playing lots of different games, and not just the mainstream crap or whatever happens to work on xbox live, like the 'gaming' forum i most often frequent at the moment.

anyway, thanks for the advice EB, i have gotten some more helpful advice from another person in the process of learning as well, so i reckon im nearly prepared to get into it, once i get the necessary books and stuff.

[Tom Salter]

Good lad - there's a good thread in Off Topic forum called "Learning Nihongo" you might want to look for, lots of good resources in there!