Jeremy Blaustein

Jeremy Blaustein (born June 7, 1966 in Long Island, New York) is a Japanese translator and localization coordinator specializing in the localization of video games, such as "Metal Gear Solid", as well as anime and other television programs, such as "". He currently resides in rural Massachusetts with his wife and three children, where he operates his own translation agency, Zpang, Inc.

elected works

Video games

While working at Konami in Tokyo, Japan in the early 90s, he also contributed to the localizations of the following games:

*"The Adventures of Batman & Robin"
*"Animaniacs"
*"Biker Mice from Mars"
*"International Superstar Soccer"
*""
*"NBA Give 'N Go"
*"Rocket Knight Adventures"
*"Sparkster"
*""

tyle

Blaustein is consistently recognized for his superior work. GameFan praised "Snatcher", calling the translation "perfect" and the voice acting "flawless," ["GameFan", Issue #26] 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." [cite web |url=http://www.gamecritics.com/feature/greatgame/snatcher/page03.php/ |title=The Great Games - Snatcher |publisher=GameCritics.com |accessdate=2007-12-06]

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." [cite web |url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/163/163185p1.html |title=Valkyrie Profile Review |publisher=IGN.com |accessdate=2007-12-06]

GameSpot noted "Alundra 2"'s 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." [cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/adventure/alundra2/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;review |title=Alundra 2 Review |publisher=GameSpot.com |accessdate=2007-12-06]

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." [cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/darkcloud2/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary%3Breview&page=2 |title=Dark Cloud 2 Review |publisher=GameSpot.com |accessdate=2007-12-06]

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." ["PSM", November 2004]

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." [cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/545/545387p4.html |title=Silent Hill 4 Review |publisher=IGN.com |accessdate=2007-12-06] 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." [cite web |url=http://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?artid=3675&gameid=1737 |title=Silent Hill 4 Review |publisher=GamingTarget.com |accessdate=2007-12-06]

Trivia

*His "ghost" may be viewed in Metal Gear Solid by taking an image of or near the corpse of Sniper Wolf. Many of the production staff of that title are immortalised in this way.
*His brother Michael Blaustein worked for Konami of America, and can be seen as a shotgun-wielding badguy in "Lethal Enforcers II".
*He is the brother of voice actress Maddie Blaustein.

References

External links

* [http://www.zpang.com/ Zpang, Inc.]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,37201/ Jeremy Blaustein] at MobyGames
*imdb name|id=1183515|name=Jeremy Blaustein
* [http://junkerhq.net/Jeremy.html/ Interview with Superfami.com's Chris Barker mirrored at JunkerHQ.net]