So...now that Mk2 is coming here, who's going to buy it?

[Sik]

@ pringles, you cant learn japanese playing mk2 that well since they have the basic english for importers...such as Hp X %, and word event popping out, well thats just on my part majority of my basic understanding comes from 6 years of anime

In practice UI text is probably the worst place to learn a language =P Especially with Japan's tendency to spell out all the technical terms in katakanaicized English (e.g. "full screen" is フルスクリーン, which literally spells "furu sukuriin", and comment fields say コメント which spells "komento").

[FauxSho]

I meant more from the actual conversations with L2 subs and less from the UI since that's 99% adopted English words~

[Ghaleon]

I honestly don't think playing games in Japanese or watching japanese anime will really teach anybody any reasonable amount of japanese at all. Sure, you will probably pick up really common lines like ittedakimasu and ohaiyou gozaimasu or whatever. But that's really not much better than just anybody can do with a couple questions remembered to a Japanese friend.

HOWEVER, if you're trying to learn the language with textbooks/tutors/teachers/class-style, etc in addition to it. The games/anime probably wont be very significant in comparison to your own studies, HOWEVER, you will most likely NEVER EVER forget the meaning/spelling/etc of the words you learn in a text, that you also see/hear in anime/games. Furthermore, it helps with pronunciation as well. For example when I learned the word irasshaimase, I never ever forgot its meaning or pronunciation for a moment because i heard it used in the game Raccetear (and I had no clue what it meant in game before).

However, when your understanding of the language is still incomplete (I mean REALLY incomplete, as in pepole would know it's not your primary language if aliens dumped you off in their country), playing a game in that language really does reduce the fun factor for it.

[Sik]

In practice you should probably go to places where people are speaking Japanese normally instead of a fictional setting anyways. Internet makes that relatively easy though, just go to a site where people can post comments or something like that... although in that case you'd end up catching a lot of internet slang so that's dangerous too.

[FauxSho]

Depends on what you consider reasonable, but it's definitely helpful. Any little bit helps, doesn't matter how small. I know I must have picked up English words and phrases from watching cartoons as a kid. Did that alone teach me English? Of course not, but I'm willing to bet it helped. And I'm not really big on text books. No one really learns their native language through a text book. It's learned through exposure and interaction. They don't really learn it, they get used to it. And yes, there was class work for vocabulary and sentences but you didn't really need a text book for that either. In the end, it doesn't really matter what you do as long as you do something that takes you forward. That's the way I feel about it.

And I would consider picking up slang a huge bonus, actually. That's definitely something you won't find in a text book. Languages are usually taught with formalities, and I would think being overly formal if you're talking with people your own age will only help in distancing yourself from them. But I do agree that participating in forums helps build language skills. I definitely refined the way I express myself through heavy use of message boards when I was younger.

But yeah, back on point.. won't be picking this up since I have the Japanese version with me already. But hey, that just means one extra copy to someone else for a game that will most likely be as rare as the first so more power to that guy/girl who picks it up in my stead. ^^

[Sik]

And I would consider picking up slang a huge bonus, actually.

The problem is that internet slang is completely different from real life slang. Try to say "lol" or "ex-dee" instead of laughing while you're speaking to somebody who doesn't tend to hang around in internet and you'll understand what I mean. Same with memes (which technically do make some part of the internet slang), etc.

[Ringwraith]

And I would consider picking up slang a huge bonus, actually.

The problem is that internet slang is completely different from real life slang. Try to say "lol" or "ex-dee" instead of laughing while you're speaking to somebody who doesn't tend to hang around in internet and you'll understand what I mean. Same with memes (which technically do make some part of the internet slang), etc.

Don't even get me started on using such acronyms or smilies in conversation, it really irks me for some reason, probably because it's so incredibly redundant.

[vampko]

And I would consider picking up slang a huge bonus, actually.

The problem is that internet slang is completely different from real life slang. Try to say "lol" or "ex-dee" instead of laughing while you're speaking to somebody who doesn't tend to hang around in internet and you'll understand what I mean. Same with memes (which technically do make some part of the internet slang), etc.

Don't even get me started on using such acronyms or smilies in conversation, it really irks me for some reason, probably because it's so incredibly redundant.

xD

It's the type of conversation one would use around close friends. But you don't use it around just friends, or acquaintances.

[Ringwraith]

The problem is that internet slang is completely different from real life slang. Try to say "lol" or "ex-dee" instead of laughing while you're speaking to somebody who doesn't tend to hang around in internet and you'll understand what I mean. Same with memes (which technically do make some part of the internet slang), etc.

Don't even get me started on using such acronyms or smilies in conversation, it really irks me for some reason, probably because it's so incredibly redundant.

xD

It's the type of conversation one would use around close friends. But you don't use it around just friends, or acquaintances.

It's not even that, it's the fact that "lol" is a way of expressing laughter via text, thus is completely redundant used verbally, just laugh! Sorted!

[vampko]

It's not even that, it's the fact that "lol" is a way of expressing laughter via text, thus is completely redundant used verbally, just laugh! Sorted!

Nah, it brings about a certain charm to the conversation ~

Normally, one is laughing when saying it.

Like I said, very close friends. The type of friends who you can be a total idiot around and not have to worry about a thing.

[Ghaleon]

Lol's original meaning is laugh out loud sure. But it actually CAN be used in a unique way in verbal Convorsation. Of course as vamp said it's probably beat to use it with those you're close to only.

Anyway you don't say it IRL as a substitute for actual laughing, but as a way of saying "that's funny even though I'm NOT laughing". Sometimes things ARE funny, but not enough to make you laugh, you want to express you enjoyed the humor/mirth/irony but making a fake laugh is lame, and calmly saying "that's funny" sounds sarcastic or fake... "lawl" with a smile works great IMO.

[vampko]

Lol's original meaning is laugh out loud sure. But it actually CAN be used in a unique way in verbal Convorsation. Of course as vamp said it's probably beat to use it with those you're close to only.

Anyway you don't say it IRL as a substitute for actual laughing, but as a way of saying "that's funny even though I'm NOT laughing". Sometimes things ARE funny, but not enough to make you laugh, you want to express you enjoyed the humor/mirth/irony but making a fake laugh is lame, and calmly saying "that's funny" sounds sarcastic or fake... "lawl" with a smile works great IMO.

True...I sometimes use it to just make my laugh have more umph though xD

(True fact : vampko sometimes says "xD" IRL)

[FauxSho]

Well I'm sure most people didn't have a clue what lol was when they first encountered it. I know I had to ask way back when. But once you figure out what it means and how to use it, then you know when it's appropriate to use. Not to mention that the Internet isn't necessarily devoid of general street slang which is beneficial to have in the back of your head so you can actually understand what someone is saying when they use these words.

And I'm in agreement with vamp when he essentially said that it's fun to say it around your close friends who wouldn't look at you funny for saying it. Saying "lawl" and referencing Internet memes is pretty awesome. You probably wouldn't be saying this with everyone but I've been pleasantly surprised before by people who laughed at similar utterances who I wouldn't have expected to find that sort of thing humorous.

[kazunga]

For the lulz *votes last option*

[Libra]

Don't know if I'll get this. Depends on what the pre-order bonuses or premium edition has to offer.