Not much for updates, but just wanted to make a post.
Started internship, moved to new apartment. It’s a big place, especially for Boston area. It’s pretty cheap for its size/area, too, so that’s good, and the roomies are nice. The internship itself is a bit over my head, so here’s to catching up and learning lots and lots over the summer! (Help T_T )
For a change of pace, and because people seemed to have liked the other SS, I did one SS for LD from the first anniversary books.
Finished playing DRAMAtical Murder. My feelings on it are split. Absolutely mindblowing presentation and graphics, but I think they put so much effort into that, that one day they looked at the time/space they had left on the DVD and went “holy crap!” and thus crammed what was definitely 20hours worth of story into 5.
That aside, I wasn’t kidding about it being wonderful in almost all other aspects. The GUI is just as unique as all other Nitro+Chiral games. There’s much more video presentation in this rather than just still pictures. In addition, there’s just little stuff like … if you keep clicking to advance the text, the voice will actually keep talking until you get to the next voice clip, so you won’t end up having the voice constantly cut off.
Aoba, though ❤ Ren ❤ Omg, this is the only time I’ll love a Pomeranian.
Other than that, the E3’s going on atm, so be sure to check out Siliconera for up-to-date coverage! (In other news, it looks like The Last Guardian is still having trouble. This is … uh … vaguely worrisome. Yoshida’s sheer incredulity at the rumor is kind of funny, though.)
Finally, I have a question for everyone from Tennenouji! I hope to get a few responses before typing them up for them!
Their question is, “What are your impressions — as Americans — of the ‘America’ as it’s appears in Lucky Dog?” (If you’re not from America, which a few of you aren’t, feel free to share your thoughts on the game in general!) Do try to write something more than “I love this game” and “When’s Bad Egg+ coming out?” though, lol. Hopefully we’ll have replies only we non-Japanese can provide!
I’ll stop collecting answers Sunday ^^ Answer away!
Updates:
Lucky Dog 1 – 1st Anniversary Short Story – Valentine’s Day – Bittersweet once more (Joshua, Gian)
Playtests:
Gungnir (PSP) – A Sting RPG, which means innovative fighting system (for an SRPG), story-heavy plot, and … weak characterization. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s worth a look, especially if you liked such games as Riviera, Yggdra Union, or Knights in the Nightmare.
Currently Playing:
UtaPrince Sweet Serenade (PSP)
Lamento (PC)
Pokemon Leaf Green (GBA) <- don’t ask. Just don’t.
O the tales we tell 
Jun 06, 2012 @ 13:52:36
LD is mobster-era, and as I wasn’t around in the 20’s-30’s… I can’t tell how well this accurately portrays America? There are plenty of mentions of Ivan’s docks, and given the large prison they’ve escaped from, I’ve been imagining Alcatraz in my head, regardless of how different the surrounding area is from San Fransisco… I’m mentally placing it sometime in the 1920’s (there is far too much extravagancy for it to be the depression of the 30’s), even though I think(?) that there was mentions of alcohol, so… It’s a game. It isn’t/wasn’t real, and I’m just over-thinking it. I think the only thing that could have made it more spot-on would be mentions of something that actually happened/existed during the timeline, but I have a feeling that something would get lost in translation if it were.
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Jun 07, 2012 @ 16:58:41
Well I don’t really know too much about the 20’s, but I think that was around the prohibition and the Great Depression, correct me if I am wrong. At the time I think the going was rough for common people and very very good for the rich. The mobsters were almost heroes to many of the people because they tended to steal from the rich and banks who many people thought were corrupt. I think 🙂 So I think that this is a very… innocent?…look at the time period. I kind of enjoy it because there is no realish events depicted. I do like the loyalty that the mobsters have to their family, and I think that maybe the only time in history when the bad guys had a shred of honor. Overall I love this for the romanticism of the period during a very dark time in American history. Haha maybe too much info sorry. just finished finals and I am in a “contemplative” mind set still.
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Jun 07, 2012 @ 19:18:48
Lucky Dog takes place in the early 1930s, but you’re close enough, and yeah, you’re right about the end of the prohibition era and the Great Depression (the former is mentioned in the Lucky Dog drama CDs).
You’re also correct in thinking that this is a pretty “innocent” view (though that may not be the right word to use, given events in other routes…) compared to most media on this era (mostly movies), which usually talk about the “fall” much more than the “rise.” About the only movie I’ve watched that depicts life as a gangster that resonates with Lucky Dog is Goodfellas (if you haven’t seen it, watch it!). Both talk about the “fun” part of Mafia life and why people liked it so much as opposed to “omg, bad guys are bad.”
I liked that about LD, too. I’ll admit, I was a bit disillusioned when I started looking for the “family” in the Mafia films of other genres and it was just like … wow. No. Go LD! XD Nevertheless, that’s also the aspect I like about a LOT of other series, including Criminal Minds and KHR. Solidarity, ftw.
I’ll be sure to tell them what you think =) Thanks for the comment!
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Jun 08, 2012 @ 10:05:44
Americains in Lucky Dog… Well I don’t really know exatly how they were in 30’s, but they’re (the caracters) almost like i would imagine them in that time… I mean it’s the afterwar ( i don’t know if it can be said like that), they’re italian mafia against american gang and even they would be “bad american” the caracters are good in the way they are good mafioso: they have good and bad side like people and mostly like mafioso, i mean… they think the family is like their family the boss has always right (or almost) and they don’t think lower members are bad-in-nothing ( i don’t say that for gd –‘ )
Sorry if i didn’t answer correctly and for my bad english –‘ I’m french…
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Jun 08, 2012 @ 10:19:37
Don’t worry, there’s no correct or incorrect answer. Yours is plenty perfect =3.
Let me see of I have the main points captured, though. The characters feel pretty accurate for their time period. Even though everyone is technically a bad guy, they still have good traits that characterize them as the “good guys” as opposed to the GD who are bad through and through. Part of it is because all the characters have good and bad sides, and part of it is because of the Mafia idea of family.
Is this what you’re saying?
(Thanks for the reply!!! And for taking the effort despite English not being your native language. =) )
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Jun 09, 2012 @ 19:07:23
Oh it’s nothing since I love lucky dog and your translation help me a lot. Thank you for your work 😀
Yes mostly since generally mafia is “bad” but with their point of view it’s like a totally “correct group”… I mean they’re normal people ( with a lot of luck and action ;P) and i like that in lucky dog.
In a lot of game, the hero has often powers, well i like those game too but sometimes, it’s good to play a game with “normal” person =3
And i also like the personality of the caracters, who are funny and serious when they have to, because even if they make us smile, the story is a little more serious when we reach to daivan and that don’t break the game’s atmosphere at all. I think it’s a good point of this game too 🙂
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Jun 10, 2012 @ 14:47:45
I’ve actually been lurking here for a few days, but I figure it’s about time to come out and say hey. I’m really grateful for your translations. They’re very profesionally done and have the ability to evoke so much emotion. Everything the characters say feels real and in-character, which is amazing. LD1 is actually my first BL-game and so far I’ve been loving it to pieces :). Keep up the good work!
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 16:02:45
I’ve been thinking about Tennenouji’s question since you put this up. There isn’t much to say about it. I thought so, until something struck my mind, but I was hesitant on sharing it in a comment. After having racked my brain for a long time, I have finally decided to write it here after all.
The position of the steering wheel in the following page’s pictures has been bothering me:
I’m not sure, but I believe Americans have always been driving on the right side of the road (no pun intended… maybe) and therefore had the steering wheel placed at the left of their cars. I googled it and from what I found, the US indeed had the mayor part of the country drive right (both during LD’s time period and currently).
In Japan, cars drive on the left side of the road, and the steering is placed right. This is probably the reason why they drew it like this.
I know you can find cars with the steering placed right in right-driving countries too, but it should be rare, right? Or do both cars just happen to be right-driving ones? Ivan’s Mercedes is German, so that one’s unlikely to have the steering on the right. The Apha Romeo is Italian though (and they produced ‘steering-right’ cars until mid-way last century) and is thus probably correctly drawn.
Some food for thought?
Ps. lol, there’s too much ‘right’ and wrong here.
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 18:09:20
The only thing I can say is that the Alfa Romeo and Mercedes both have their steering wheels on the right side, true, but a later CG (that I unfortunately can’t show due to an agreement) with Ivan shows that his Mercedes has the steering wheel on the left side. Make of that what you will, although keep your judgment until the end of Ivan’s route (if you don’t know what already happens) =P Finale spoilers are the most spoilerific of all! XD
Good eye, though.
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