Jeremy Blaustein
Encyclopedia
Jeremy Blaustein is a Japanese
translator and localization coordinator specializing in the localization of video games, such as Metal Gear Solid
and Silent Hill 2
, as well as anime
and other television programs, such as Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl. He currently resides in Japan with his wife and three children, where he operates his own translation agency, Zpang, Inc. His sister was Maddie Blaustein
, a voice actress of anime (known for playing Meowth
in Pokémon
).
IGN
said of Valkyrie Profile, "this is one of the best English scripts I've ever read in a role-playing game... Characters speak like they ought to - some rough, some formal, some friendly, some distant - and you relate to them accordingly."
GameSpot
noted Alundra 2s localization as one of the game's strongest points, saying "The character voices are lively, and the text is grammatical, occasionally amusing, and pretty natural - Activision's localization team has done a great job."
GameSpot also praised Blaustein's work on Dark Cloud 2, saying, "Dark Cloud 2's translation and voice acting deserve special mention because they show how far the localization of Japanese games has come in the last decade or so. The dialogue's phrasing is imaginative and the voices are of the caliber you'll find in any animated television show. ... Sony clearly put some real effort into localizing Dark Cloud 2, and the work pays off big."
In their review of Shadow Hearts: Covenant, PSM said, "This amazing sense of humor is one of the game's greatest strengths. Excellent localization and quality voice-overs deliver an incredible level of sarcastic humor, as well as RPG-standard melodrama and personality. Amazingly scripted with more humor than every RPG put together."
For Silent Hill 4, IGN said, "One of the best changes in the series since its humble beginning is the improvement in voice work. Even since Silent Hill 3, the voice work in this version has markedly improved. ... Conversations are much more realistic and fluid. ... The dialog has also improved to stay in step with the voice-over work." Furthermore, Gaming Target
said, "However, it's definitely the evolving story that lies within Silent Hill where you'll get the peak of performance from the actors' as you'll get to view some of the most inspired death sequences in gaming right here. Great cast. Great acting. Good going, Konami."
While working at Konami
in Tokyo
, Japan
in the early 90s, he also contributed to the localizations of the following games:
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
translator and localization coordinator specializing in the localization of video games, such as Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid
is a videogame by Hideo Kojima. The game was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and first published by Konami in 1998 for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Kojimas early MSX2 computer games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake...
and Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 2 is a survival horror video game published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 and developed by Team Silent, a production group within Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo...
, as well as anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
and other television programs, such as Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl. He currently resides in Japan with his wife and three children, where he operates his own translation agency, Zpang, Inc. His sister was Maddie Blaustein
Maddie Blaustein
Madeleine Joan Blaustein was an American voice actress...
, a voice actress of anime (known for playing Meowth
Meowth
Meowth, known as in original Japanese language versions, is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Meowth first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and...
in Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
).
Style
Blaustein is well known in the gaming community for his translation work. GameFan praised Snatcher, calling the translation "perfect" and the voice acting "flawless," while GameCritics said, "The writing and adaptation from the original Japanese is so good that you don't even think about what an achievement it is for the video-game industry," with the voice cast "going above and beyond anything the industry had previously seen."IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
said of Valkyrie Profile, "this is one of the best English scripts I've ever read in a role-playing game... Characters speak like they ought to - some rough, some formal, some friendly, some distant - and you relate to them accordingly."
GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
noted Alundra 2s localization as one of the game's strongest points, saying "The character voices are lively, and the text is grammatical, occasionally amusing, and pretty natural - Activision's localization team has done a great job."
GameSpot also praised Blaustein's work on Dark Cloud 2, saying, "Dark Cloud 2's translation and voice acting deserve special mention because they show how far the localization of Japanese games has come in the last decade or so. The dialogue's phrasing is imaginative and the voices are of the caliber you'll find in any animated television show. ... Sony clearly put some real effort into localizing Dark Cloud 2, and the work pays off big."
In their review of Shadow Hearts: Covenant, PSM said, "This amazing sense of humor is one of the game's greatest strengths. Excellent localization and quality voice-overs deliver an incredible level of sarcastic humor, as well as RPG-standard melodrama and personality. Amazingly scripted with more humor than every RPG put together."
For Silent Hill 4, IGN said, "One of the best changes in the series since its humble beginning is the improvement in voice work. Even since Silent Hill 3, the voice work in this version has markedly improved. ... Conversations are much more realistic and fluid. ... The dialog has also improved to stay in step with the voice-over work." Furthermore, Gaming Target
Gaming Target
Gaming Target is a website covering video games and gaming culture that was founded on February 17, 1999 by Matt Swider.-History:When it launched in 1999, Gaming Target focused solely on the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color...
said, "However, it's definitely the evolving story that lies within Silent Hill where you'll get the peak of performance from the actors' as you'll get to view some of the most inspired death sequences in gaming right here. Great cast. Great acting. Good going, Konami."
Video games
| Title | Year | Platform(s) | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dynasty Warriors 7 Dynasty Warriors 7 is a hack and slash video game and the seventh official installment of the Dynasty Warriors series. It is developed by Omega Force and published by Koei. The game has been confirmed to be PS3 exclusive in Japan. The story is based on Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.... |
2010 | Xbox 360 Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles... , PlayStation3 |
Translator |
| Velvet Assassin Velvet Assassin Velvet Assassin is a stealth action video game for Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows, released in North America on April 28, 2009. Velvet Assassin's working title was Sabotage.... |
2009 | Xbox 360 Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles... , PC Personal computer A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator... |
Translator |
| Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao is a hand-to-hand action video game developed by Blitz Arcade and published by Namco Bandai Games for the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. The game tells the story of Han Tao, aka General of a Thousand Victories, who attempts to rescue the Star of... |
2008 | Xbox 360 | Translator |
| Holy Beast Online Holy Beast Online Holy Beast Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game , developed by Easyfun Entertainment of Taiwan. It began beta phase on the 21st of May in the USA.-Feature:... |
2008 | PC Personal computer A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator... |
Translator |
| SimCity Creator SimCity Creator SimCity Creator is a video game in the Sim game series by Electronic Arts. It was released for the Wii in September 2008.-Overview:SimCity Creator follows the basic SimCity formula that sees players managing a city and placing residential, commercial, and industrial zones for buildings in addition... |
2008 | Wii Wii The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others... |
Translator |
| Rune Factory 2 | 2008 | DS Nintendo DS The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP... |
Translator |
| Imagine: Figure Skater | 2008 | DS | Translator |
| Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations, released in Japan as , is an adventure/visual novel video game developed by Capcom. It was originally released for the Game Boy Advance and was later ported to the PC. An enhanced version was released for the Nintendo DS... |
2007 | DS | Translator (with Nanica Co., Ltd., edited by Capcom) |
| Hamsterz Life Hamsterz Life Hamsterz Life is a hamster simulation video game released by Ubisoft for the Nintendo DS. Hamsterz Life is also known as Love ♥ Hamster or Love Love Hamster in Japan.-Gameplay:... |
2006 | DS | Translator and coordinator (with Gabe Glick) |
| .hack//G.U. | 2006 | PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
Translator and coordinator (with Gabe Glick) |
| Shadow Hearts: From the New World Shadow Hearts: From The New World is a console role-playing game developed by Nautilus and published by XSEED Games in 2005. It is the third official game in the Shadow Hearts series.... |
2005 | PlayStation 2 | Translator, scriptwriter, English VO director, voice actor |
| Shadow of Rome Shadow Of Rome Shadow of Rome is a video game for the PlayStation 2 console. It is a hybrid fighting/stealth game set in ancient Rome and loosely based around the assassination of Julius Caesar.-Gameplay:... |
2005 | PlayStation 2, PC Personal computer A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator... |
Translator, English VO director, motion capture director |
| Silent Hill 4 Silent Hill 4: The Room Silent Hill 4: The Room is the fourth installment in the Silent Hill survival horror series, published by Konami and developed by Team Silent, a production group within Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo. The game was released in Japan in June 2004 and in North America and Europe in September of... |
2004 | PlayStation 2, Xbox Xbox The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console... , PC |
Translator, English VO director, motion capture director |
| Shadow Hearts: Covenant Shadow Hearts: Covenant Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a console role-playing game developed by Nautilus and published by Midway in 2004. It is a direct continuation of Shadow Hearts and the second official game in the Shadow Hearts series. The game features two DVD-ROM discs instead of the usual one, which provides,... |
2004 | PlayStation 2 | Translator, scriptwriter, co-directed certain sequences |
| Airforce Delta Strike Airforce Delta Strike Airforce Delta Strike, known as Airforce Delta: Blue Wing Knights in Japan and Deadly Skies III in Europe, is the third installment in the Konami Airforce Delta series. It was released in 2004 exclusively on the PlayStation 2... |
2004 | PlayStation 2 | Translator, English VO director, motion capture director |
| Silent Hill 3 Silent Hill 3 Silent Hill 3 is a survival horror video game published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 and developed by Team Silent, a production group within Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo. It is the third installment in the Silent Hill series and a direct sequel to the first Silent Hill game... |
2003 | PlayStation 2, PC | Translator, English VO director, motion capture director |
| Lost Kingdoms II Lost Kingdoms II Lost Kingdoms II, known as in Japan, is a role-playing video game developed by From Software and published by Activision in North America and Europe. It is the sequel to Lost Kingdoms... |
2003 | PlayStation 2 | Translator, scriptwriter, English VO director |
| Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits is the first of two Arc the Lad games for the PlayStation 2, the second being Arc the Lad: End of Darkness. The game was re-released in Japan as a premium box set... |
2003 | PlayStation 2 | Translator and coordinator |
| Dead or Alive: Extreme Beach Volleyball | 2003 | Xbox | Translator |
| Dark Cloud 2 | 2002 | PlayStation 2 | Translator and coordinator |
| Beach Spikers | 2002 | GameCube Nintendo GameCube The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia... |
Translator |
| EOE: Eve of Extinction EOE: Eve of Extinction EOE: Eve of Extinction is a 3D beat-'em-up game released on February 26, 2002 for the PlayStation 2. It was published by Eidos Interactive and developed by Yuke's... |
2002 | PlayStation 2 | Translator |
| Fatal Frame Fatal Frame (video game) Fatal Frame, known in Japan as and in Europe as Project Zero, is a survival horror video game for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox consoles. It is the first game in the Fatal Frame series, and the only one to be rated T in North America.... |
2001 | PlayStation 2, Xbox | Translator and coordinator |
| Silent Hill 2 Silent Hill 2 Silent Hill 2 is a survival horror video game published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 and developed by Team Silent, a production group within Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo... |
2001 | PlayStation 2 | Translator, English VO director, motion capture director |
| Ape Escape 2 Ape Escape 2 Ape Escape 2 is a platform video game developed by Sony and published by Sony in Japan and Europe, while Ubisoft published it in North America for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was first released in Japan on July 18, 2001, and was later released in Europe on March 14, 2003, and in North... |
2001 | PlayStation 2 | Translator and English VO director |
| Shadow Hearts Shadow Hearts is a series of role playing games for the PlayStation 2. The original Shadow Hearts was developed by Sacnoth and released by Midway in the United States on December 11, 2001. The sequel, Shadow Hearts: Covenant , was also made by the same group, although Sacnoth reformed itself into a company... |
2001 | PlayStation 2 | Translator, scriptwriter, English VO director |
| Dragon Warrior VII Dragon Warrior VII Dragon Warrior VII, known in Japan as is a Japanese console role-playing game developed by Heartbeat and ArtePiazza, and published by Enix for the PlayStation in... |
2000 | PlayStation PlayStation The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000... |
Translator and coordinator |
| Valkyrie Profile Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is a console role-playing game developed by tri-Ace and published by Enix for the PlayStation. It was released on December 22, 1999 in Japan and on August 29, 2000 in North America... |
1999 | PlayStation | Translator and English VO director |
| Alundra 2 Alundra 2 The game received an average score of 70.12% at Game Rankings, based on an aggregate of 24 reviews, and was much less successful than its predecessor.... |
1999 | PlayStation | Translator and scriptwriter |
| Suikoden 2 | 1998 | PlayStation | Translator and coordinator |
| Metal Gear Solid Metal Gear Solid is a videogame by Hideo Kojima. The game was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and first published by Konami in 1998 for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Kojimas early MSX2 computer games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake... |
1998 | PlayStation | Translator and assistant-directed English VO sessions with Kris Zimmerman Kris Zimmerman Kris Zimmerman is a voice director, casting director, talent coordinator, and voice actor. She is also sometimes credited as Kris Zimmerman Salter.-History:Zimmerman is most known for directing the English voices for the Metal Gear Solid series... |
| Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, known in Japan as , is an action-adventure game developed and published by Konami in 1997. It is the 14th installment of the Castlevania series, the first installment released for the PlayStation, and a direct sequel to Castlevania: Rondo of Blood.Symphony of the... |
1997 | PlayStation | Translator |
| Vandal Hearts Vandal Hearts is a turn-based tactical role-playing video game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo for the PlayStation and later ported to the Sega Saturn by Konami Computer Entertainment Nagoya. The PlayStation version was distributed in Japan, North America, and Europe. The Saturn version was... |
1996 | PlayStation | Translator |
| Snatcher Snatcher is a cyberpunk-themed graphic adventure game produced by Konami, originally released in Japan for the NEC PC-8801 and MSX 2 computer platforms in 1988. It was followed by a CD-ROM-based remake released for the PC Engine video game console in 1992, which was subsequently ported and localized into... |
1994 | Sega CD Sega Mega-CD The is an add-on device for the Mega Drive video game console, designed and produced by Sega and released in Japan, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The device was also released in North America under the name Sega CD, for the Sega Genesis... |
Localization supervisor (with translation by Scott T. Hards) |
While working at Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in the early 90s, he also contributed to the localizations of the following games:
- The Adventures of Batman & Robin
- Animaniacs
- Biker Mice from MarsBiker Mice from Mars (1994 video game)Biker Mice From Mars is a Super Nintendo Entertainment System video game made in 1994 by Konami, based on the animated series of the same name. The object is to take on the role of Throttle, Modo, or Vinnie, and defeat space enemies Lawrence Limburger, Dr. Karbunkle, and Grease Pit in a series of...
- International Superstar SoccerInternational Superstar Soccer (video game)International Superstar Soccer is a football video game developed by Konami for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System...
- Lethal Enforcers II: GunfightersLethal Enforcers II: GunfightersLethal Enforcers II: Gunfighters is a 1994 arcade prequel to the original Lethal Enforcers, takings place in the American Old West.-General information:...
- NBA Give 'N GoNBA Give 'N GoNBA Give 'N Go is a 1995 Super Nintendo Entertainment System basketball video game that uses licensed teams from the National Basketball Association. The game is essentially a home version of Konami's arcade game Run and Gun, which featured similar graphics and gameplay but no NBA license...
- Rocket Knight AdventuresRocket Knight Adventuresis a 16-bit generation side scrolling platformer produced and released in 1993 by Konami for the Mega Drive/Genesis console, designed by Nobuya Nakazato, designer of several titles in the Contra series such as The Alien Wars, Hard Corps and Shattered Soldier...
- SparksterSparkster (SNES)is a 16-bit generation side scrolling platformer produced and released in 1994 by Konami for the Super Famicom/Super Nintendo Entertainment System, directed by Hideo Ueda...
- Tiny Toon Adventures: Wacky Sports ChallengeTiny Toon Adventures: Wacky Sports Challenge (SNES)Tiny Toon Adventures: Wacky Sports Challenge is the second Tiny Toon Adventures-based game, released on the Super NES, released in 1994, and developed and published by Konami...
TV shows
- Pokémon: Black & White (2011–2012)
- Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors (2010–2011)
- Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles (2009–2010)
- Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension (2008–2009)
- Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl (2007–2008)
- Pokémon: Battle Frontier (2006-2007)
- Pokémon: Advanced Battle (2005-2006)
- Pokémon: Advanced Challenge (2004-2005)
- Pokémon: Advanced Generation (2003-2004)
- Ninja WarriorSasuke (TV series)Sasuke is a Japanese sports entertainment television special in which 100 competitors attempt to complete a four stage obstacle course. An edited version, renamed Ninja Warrior, is screened in at least 18 other countries....
(2008-2009) - Muscle RankingsKinniku Banzukea.k.a. Unbeatable Banzuke was a weekly Japanese television program and the premier sports entertainment variety show of the Tokyo Broadcasting System . Its successors were and . They succeeded by Muscle Musical...
(2008-2009)
Movies
- Pokémon: Destiny DeoxysPokémon: Destiny DeoxysPokémon: Destiny Deoxys, originally released in Japan as is the seventh film in the Pokémon series, complementing the seventh season . It is the second film released under Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation in Japan. The original Japanese version was released in theaters on July 17, 2004...
(2005) - Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of MewPokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of MewPokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, originally released in Japan as , is an anime film directed by Kunihiko Yuyama as the eighth film in the Pokémon franchise. It was released in theaters in Japan on July 16, 2005, followed by the Japanese DVD release on December 22, 2005...
(2006) - Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (2007)
- Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai (2008)
- Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior (2009)
- Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life (2010)
- Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions (2011)
- Pokémon the Movie: Black - Victini and Reshiram (2011)
External links
- Zpang, Inc.
- Jeremy Blaustein at MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...
- Interview with Superfami.com's Chris Barker mirrored at JunkerHQ.net