2014-03-05, 12:33 AM
Well, one thing to keep in mind is that localization departments were basically just starting out at the time. It was extremely rare for the localizers to have any direct contact with the development team, even if they were actually part of the same company. Also consider that the Internet didn't have the same level of information on it 15 years ago that it does now. If you couldn't get in contact with the development team, the only way to find the source for some obscure reference would be to go look through mythology books at your library. I'm impressed that they got as much right as they did!
If you're interested, a couple of the recent 8-4 Play podcasts had interviews with Alexander O. Smith (Final Fantasy VIII, Vagrant Story) and Jeremy Blaustein (Metal Gear Solid, Castlevania: SotN) where they talk about early localization.
Things are certainly different these days! Atlus is definitely on the ball with mythology references now. Which is great, because they kind of have to be when the Shin Megami Tensei games and spinoffs are their bread and butter.
If you're interested, a couple of the recent 8-4 Play podcasts had interviews with Alexander O. Smith (Final Fantasy VIII, Vagrant Story) and Jeremy Blaustein (Metal Gear Solid, Castlevania: SotN) where they talk about early localization.
Things are certainly different these days! Atlus is definitely on the ball with mythology references now. Which is great, because they kind of have to be when the Shin Megami Tensei games and spinoffs are their bread and butter.