Mr. Karate II
Edo Express Delivery Guy
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2014
- Posts
- 340
Speaking of which, one of the things I most wanted to get out of this interview is to finally give you some official credit, so that your contribution to the NEOGEO world doesn't just remain a secret reserved for insiders, but that it becomes a universally recognized topic even in virtual encyclopedias, which still today host and continually update information about the SNK world.
So, I will now proceed to ask you one of the most challenging questions of this entire interview. That is to say, do you remember all of the roles that you were involved in during your time working with SNK?
The ones I remember from memory are the following titles: please tell me if I'm doing something wrong or if there is need to add information regarding missing tasks.
Narrator/Referee:
1990:
Q2:
'Baseball Star Professional'.
'Top Player's Golf'.
Q4:
'The Super Spy'.
'Cyber-Lip'.
'League Bowling'.
1991:
Q3:
'Eight Man'.
Q4:
'Roby Army'.
'Fatal Fury King of Fighters'.
1992:
Q1:
'Football Frenzy'.
'Soccer Brawl'.
Q2:
'Baseball Stars Professioanal 2'.
Q3:
'Art of Fighting'.
Q4:
'Fatal Fury 2'.
'Super Sidekicks'.
1993:
Q1:
'3 Count Bout'.
Q3:
'Fatal Fury Special'.
1994:
Q1:
'Art of Fighting 2'.
Q2:
'Super Sidekicks 2'.
Do you consider this list to be complete? Is there anything to edit? Are there any roles missing that you are sure you have absolutely participated in?
I had my doubts about this title by the way, but by any chance did you also take care of the introductory video for 'Sengoku 2'?
In 'Cyber-Lip' how did you feel about playing a seemingly positive character, but one who ultimately turned out to be the true enemy of humanity?
When the characters in 'Eight Man' get power-ups is the robotic voice you hear always yours? For this title and 'Soccer Brawl' how was this particular mechanical effect achieved on your performance?
In 'Robo Army' when the narrator pronounces the title it seems to be different from your usual tone used during the other games: as a voice actor did you modulate your voice or was it someone else who pronounced the name of the game?
In Japan 'Fatal Fury' and 'Art of Fighting' have been great national successes; in the USA even the wrestler John Cena said he loved the 'Baseball Star' series [in this specific case however, he talked about the chapter released on NES] and in Europe and South America even the football series of 'Super Sidekicks' and 'Soccer Brawl' probably hasn't been any less. I ask you then how did it feel to have been an integral part of this?
One of the vanguards of the NEOGEO was also the fact that practically all the games in the catalog were marketed through a multi-language system: soccer games in particular were not only translated, but were also dubbed by the people from those particular countries. How did this particular kind of coordinated process take place? After all in that historical period internet did not exist or was practically insignificant.
Now let's talk about 'Fatal Fury': one of the series that even at the time of this interview has many fans asking for a sequel or a modern remake.
Your voice is present both in the Japanese version and in the English one, but why in the Japanese edition it's not you who pronounces the title 'Garou Densetsu', but immediately afterwards we hear your voice pronouncing 'PRODUCE BY SNK'?
Also, what's the name of your Japanese colleague, he lent his voice in the Japanese introductions of the sequels of this series as well, right?
In the English version who is that pronounces the title of 'Fatal Fury'?
By the way, when did the development of this first chapter of 'Fatal Fury' really start? Because in the introduction you can clearly see written 'OCT. 1990. PRO. NEO. GEO'.
At the time, nobody knew that the developers of the first 'Street Fighter' had moved in SNK and started the NEOGEO myth, so people at the time kept saying that 'Fatal Fury' and SNK fighting games were just copies of 'Street Fighter II' (even though it was actually the updates of the latter that copied the innovations of the games released on the NEOGEO).
So, did you ever think that if SNK had released 'Fatal Fury' earlier, you would have avoided all this bad publicity and above all you could have capitalized on the fighting game boom that broke out during that period?
Aside from you, is it true that the first 'Fatal Fury' was not voiced by professional voice actors, but by the same developers who created the game? If so, do you remember the roles of each of them?
Also, I've heard that for this very reason the president Kawasaki got very angry and that's why starting from the following chapters professional voice actors from the theater were employed. Is all this true or is it just an urban legend?
Do you remember if this kind of very amateur dubbing also happened in other titles of the same period?
As the narrator of the first 'Fatal Fury' your emphasis is very contagious (TERRY BOGARD~ Versus~ RICHARD MAYER~!).
Was this all the result of your own personal improvisation or did you receive direction from someone else?
In addition to the narrator, did you dub anything else for this chapter? Like for example the character of Michael Max?
Why in the Japanese versions of 'Fatal Fury 2' and 'Fatal Fury Special' were the introductions not dubbed by you, but despite that, SNK left your voice intact as the referee/narrator within the games themselves?
In 'Fatal Fury 2' and the special chapter you were the one to dub the characters of Krauser, Axel and Duck King? What was it like to dub these last? Why is Axel essentially a replacement for Michael Max? And have you heard that in 2022 the latter character will make an appearance in a stage in the brand new 'The King of Fighters XV'?
Is it true that these characters' phrases were all made up from your improvisations? And were you aware that some of your quotes for the Japanese became of the memes?
For example, with 'Fatal Fury', the 'You an angel baby!' By Duck King was perceived as 'OBENJO, BABY!' ('THE TOILET, BABY!'), while Axel for them seems to say 'ESSASSA', which sounds like the typical incitement that is done during Shinto processions in Japan.
In your case, the misunderstandings with 'Art of Fighting' occur when Mr. Big says 'Over so soon' for them has become like 'Omiso Soup', in fact, even a youtuber of this nation has decided to nickname himself so (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR9NGrpYzexH-sqAH0-mzQ) and lastly the 'Die, yabo!' (Die, ambition!) of Geese Howard for them it became 'Itai ago' ('My jaw hurts') or even as 'Diamond'.
In the NEOGEO versions of 'Fatal Fury 2' and 'Fatal Fury Special' the endings of the characters are dubbed by their respective voices, however, in the Japanese version there is a discrepancy between what is written on the screen and what is pronounced by the voice actors (who instead refer to the scripts of the English translated version). Can you explain the reason for this?
Why is it that in the introduction of 'Fatal Fury 3' the spoken is in Japanese, but all the text (apart from the logo) is left in English with the same lines spoken for the foreign edition?
In 'Art of Fighting' what have you dubbed besides the referee/narrator? Can you confirm that you played Jack Turner, Micky Rogers, Mr. Big and Geese Howard? What was it like dubbing these latter characters?
When Jack Turner wins the fight in the first 'Art of Fighting', what exactly is it that he says?
Also, when the same character wins without ever taking damage in the second chapter, does he happen to say 'Ah, Perfect!'? [https://youtu.be/n89HCY58TlI?t=726]
When in 'Art of Fighting 2' Geese wins the fight, the character exclaims 'Die, yabo!' ('Die, ambition!'). Why did you mix English and Japanese in one and the same sentence?
Do you happen to know the names of the other voice actors that worked with you in the first works released on NEOGEO, but that still today unfortunately do not result to have been accredited yet?
I'm talking about titles like 'Magician Lord', 'Top Player's Golf', 'Ninja Combat', 'League Bowling', the 'Sengoku' series, 'King of the Monsters' 1 and 2, 'Blue's Journey', 'Alpha Mission II', 'Burning Fight', 'Quiz Daisousa Sen'1 and 2, '2020 Super Baseball' and 'Mutation Nation' for example.
In the credits of 'Mutation Nation' is present the writing 'PRESENTED BY SNK TOKYO TEAM'. I had never heard of this division, could you explain its history and who it was composed of?
Have you ever known or have you ever worked with external companies, that have produced their own exclusives on the NEOGEO? And as in the previous question, do you know the names of the voice actors who worked on games like 'Ninja Commando', the 'World Heroes' series, Windjammers, 'Karnov Revenge', 'Gururin', 'Fight Fever', 'Aero Fighters' 2 and 3, 'Aggressors of Dark Kombat', 'Power Spikes II', 'Street Hoop', 'Puzzle Bobble' and 'Galaxy Fight'?
So, I will now proceed to ask you one of the most challenging questions of this entire interview. That is to say, do you remember all of the roles that you were involved in during your time working with SNK?
The ones I remember from memory are the following titles: please tell me if I'm doing something wrong or if there is need to add information regarding missing tasks.
Narrator/Referee:
1990:
Q2:
'Baseball Star Professional'.
'Top Player's Golf'.
Q4:
'The Super Spy'.
'Cyber-Lip'.
'League Bowling'.
1991:
Q3:
'Eight Man'.
Q4:
'Roby Army'.
'Fatal Fury King of Fighters'.
1992:
Q1:
'Football Frenzy'.
'Soccer Brawl'.
Q2:
'Baseball Stars Professioanal 2'.
Q3:
'Art of Fighting'.
Q4:
'Fatal Fury 2'.
'Super Sidekicks'.
1993:
Q1:
'3 Count Bout'.
Q3:
'Fatal Fury Special'.
1994:
Q1:
'Art of Fighting 2'.
Q2:
'Super Sidekicks 2'.
Do you consider this list to be complete? Is there anything to edit? Are there any roles missing that you are sure you have absolutely participated in?
I had my doubts about this title by the way, but by any chance did you also take care of the introductory video for 'Sengoku 2'?
In 'Cyber-Lip' how did you feel about playing a seemingly positive character, but one who ultimately turned out to be the true enemy of humanity?
When the characters in 'Eight Man' get power-ups is the robotic voice you hear always yours? For this title and 'Soccer Brawl' how was this particular mechanical effect achieved on your performance?
In 'Robo Army' when the narrator pronounces the title it seems to be different from your usual tone used during the other games: as a voice actor did you modulate your voice or was it someone else who pronounced the name of the game?
In Japan 'Fatal Fury' and 'Art of Fighting' have been great national successes; in the USA even the wrestler John Cena said he loved the 'Baseball Star' series [in this specific case however, he talked about the chapter released on NES] and in Europe and South America even the football series of 'Super Sidekicks' and 'Soccer Brawl' probably hasn't been any less. I ask you then how did it feel to have been an integral part of this?
One of the vanguards of the NEOGEO was also the fact that practically all the games in the catalog were marketed through a multi-language system: soccer games in particular were not only translated, but were also dubbed by the people from those particular countries. How did this particular kind of coordinated process take place? After all in that historical period internet did not exist or was practically insignificant.
Now let's talk about 'Fatal Fury': one of the series that even at the time of this interview has many fans asking for a sequel or a modern remake.
Your voice is present both in the Japanese version and in the English one, but why in the Japanese edition it's not you who pronounces the title 'Garou Densetsu', but immediately afterwards we hear your voice pronouncing 'PRODUCE BY SNK'?
Also, what's the name of your Japanese colleague, he lent his voice in the Japanese introductions of the sequels of this series as well, right?
In the English version who is that pronounces the title of 'Fatal Fury'?
By the way, when did the development of this first chapter of 'Fatal Fury' really start? Because in the introduction you can clearly see written 'OCT. 1990. PRO. NEO. GEO'.
At the time, nobody knew that the developers of the first 'Street Fighter' had moved in SNK and started the NEOGEO myth, so people at the time kept saying that 'Fatal Fury' and SNK fighting games were just copies of 'Street Fighter II' (even though it was actually the updates of the latter that copied the innovations of the games released on the NEOGEO).
So, did you ever think that if SNK had released 'Fatal Fury' earlier, you would have avoided all this bad publicity and above all you could have capitalized on the fighting game boom that broke out during that period?
Aside from you, is it true that the first 'Fatal Fury' was not voiced by professional voice actors, but by the same developers who created the game? If so, do you remember the roles of each of them?
Also, I've heard that for this very reason the president Kawasaki got very angry and that's why starting from the following chapters professional voice actors from the theater were employed. Is all this true or is it just an urban legend?
Do you remember if this kind of very amateur dubbing also happened in other titles of the same period?
As the narrator of the first 'Fatal Fury' your emphasis is very contagious (TERRY BOGARD~ Versus~ RICHARD MAYER~!).
Was this all the result of your own personal improvisation or did you receive direction from someone else?
In addition to the narrator, did you dub anything else for this chapter? Like for example the character of Michael Max?
Why in the Japanese versions of 'Fatal Fury 2' and 'Fatal Fury Special' were the introductions not dubbed by you, but despite that, SNK left your voice intact as the referee/narrator within the games themselves?
In 'Fatal Fury 2' and the special chapter you were the one to dub the characters of Krauser, Axel and Duck King? What was it like to dub these last? Why is Axel essentially a replacement for Michael Max? And have you heard that in 2022 the latter character will make an appearance in a stage in the brand new 'The King of Fighters XV'?
Is it true that these characters' phrases were all made up from your improvisations? And were you aware that some of your quotes for the Japanese became of the memes?
For example, with 'Fatal Fury', the 'You an angel baby!' By Duck King was perceived as 'OBENJO, BABY!' ('THE TOILET, BABY!'), while Axel for them seems to say 'ESSASSA', which sounds like the typical incitement that is done during Shinto processions in Japan.
In your case, the misunderstandings with 'Art of Fighting' occur when Mr. Big says 'Over so soon' for them has become like 'Omiso Soup', in fact, even a youtuber of this nation has decided to nickname himself so (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR9NGrpYzexH-sqAH0-mzQ) and lastly the 'Die, yabo!' (Die, ambition!) of Geese Howard for them it became 'Itai ago' ('My jaw hurts') or even as 'Diamond'.
In the NEOGEO versions of 'Fatal Fury 2' and 'Fatal Fury Special' the endings of the characters are dubbed by their respective voices, however, in the Japanese version there is a discrepancy between what is written on the screen and what is pronounced by the voice actors (who instead refer to the scripts of the English translated version). Can you explain the reason for this?
Why is it that in the introduction of 'Fatal Fury 3' the spoken is in Japanese, but all the text (apart from the logo) is left in English with the same lines spoken for the foreign edition?
In 'Art of Fighting' what have you dubbed besides the referee/narrator? Can you confirm that you played Jack Turner, Micky Rogers, Mr. Big and Geese Howard? What was it like dubbing these latter characters?
When Jack Turner wins the fight in the first 'Art of Fighting', what exactly is it that he says?
Also, when the same character wins without ever taking damage in the second chapter, does he happen to say 'Ah, Perfect!'? [https://youtu.be/n89HCY58TlI?t=726]
When in 'Art of Fighting 2' Geese wins the fight, the character exclaims 'Die, yabo!' ('Die, ambition!'). Why did you mix English and Japanese in one and the same sentence?
Do you happen to know the names of the other voice actors that worked with you in the first works released on NEOGEO, but that still today unfortunately do not result to have been accredited yet?
I'm talking about titles like 'Magician Lord', 'Top Player's Golf', 'Ninja Combat', 'League Bowling', the 'Sengoku' series, 'King of the Monsters' 1 and 2, 'Blue's Journey', 'Alpha Mission II', 'Burning Fight', 'Quiz Daisousa Sen'1 and 2, '2020 Super Baseball' and 'Mutation Nation' for example.
In the credits of 'Mutation Nation' is present the writing 'PRESENTED BY SNK TOKYO TEAM'. I had never heard of this division, could you explain its history and who it was composed of?
Have you ever known or have you ever worked with external companies, that have produced their own exclusives on the NEOGEO? And as in the previous question, do you know the names of the voice actors who worked on games like 'Ninja Commando', the 'World Heroes' series, Windjammers, 'Karnov Revenge', 'Gururin', 'Fight Fever', 'Aero Fighters' 2 and 3, 'Aggressors of Dark Kombat', 'Power Spikes II', 'Street Hoop', 'Puzzle Bobble' and 'Galaxy Fight'?
Last edited: