Dumb question about Japanese games...

[rodneycrystal]

I see alot of foreign games in mame that I would love to play but I can't read Japanese! I know it's a dumb question but are they a way to translate into english via a patch or special emu? 

[bkenobi]

Learn Japanese and translate in your head.  That's the only patch I know of.

[jholman76]

Learn Japanese and translate in your head.  That's the only patch I know of.

ya, thats the patch that works for all EMU's and all future Japanese games too!   

[romshark]

and movies, and Anime, and Hatsune Miku music videos...
Personally, I've been learning using this. Although, if you have the money, Rosetta Stone software seems to be popular too.
Right now, my weakest area is verb conjugation, and my Hiragana and Katakana isn't as strong as I'd like either. But I keep working at it.

[Ginsu Victim]

Tried hosting a hot Japanese exchange student to translate for you?

[Benevolance]

To learn to speak I recommend JapanesePod101.com. The most recent podcasts are always free, written components need a membership. Wait for a sale before committing to a membership. Sales come up pretty frequently.

How is My Japanese Coach? Do you know how far into the kanji it progresses? The dictionary boasts 12000 words, but does the game use and quiz you on that full vocabulary? And is it just written, or does it actually give verbal feedback?

When I learned kana, I used Real Kana. You can basically set it up as a mini-game in browser and use whichever lists of hiragana and katakana you want to practice. Just tick your selections and go. It was very useful for that sort of brute memorization needed.

I've been using Japanese-kanji.com to practice kanji, but it's not nearly as engaging or customizable. And I don't have another trip planned for a while, so I lack the motivation to really practice daily. I think a game might be more helpful.

[shateredsoul]

I know this is off topic, but do you goes know any podcast for learning Spanish?  I learned Spanish as a kid, and I might be tutoring an 11 year old.  I'm trying to look for different things he can do that are not boring.  They wanted to get him a pc program meants for 4 year olds... that would only bore him.

[Benevolance]

The Innovative Learning Company that does JapanesePod101 does a SpanishPod101. I cannot vouch for its quality, as I have not listened to it. But I have listened to their Chinese and German classes and they are pretty good, so I don't know why spanish wouldn't be. And, well, it's free to get started. So not a terrible investment there.

[romshark]

How is My Japanese Coach? Do you know how far into the kanji it progresses?

I haven't gotten to Kanji yet (as noted, I've been working on verbs and such, so I try not to take on too much). I do have access to a Kanjii dictionary in the game, if I ever need one.  However, I can easily count to 999 in Japanese, and have most of the days of the week down.

My biggest problem is that I don't dedicate as much time as I should. I'm thinking of going to Japan for vacation next year, and I'd like to be able to speak decently by then.

[Benevolance]

If you go, the most important thing to remember - absolutely, positively, do not under any circumstances forget this: DS games are not regionally locked. You can buy them in Japan and play them on your North American DS. Booyah!

But I guess some basic language skills couldn't hurt, either.

[romshark]

I know. I actually have a few games I bought online from Japan. The PSP and I believe PS3 games are also region free. I have what I need to watch DVDs from any region, and recently learned they have the same blu-ray region as the US.