Pokemon fans in Hong Kong are disgruntled by the recent news of Pikachu’s name change in the upcoming Pokemon titles Sun and Moon. The two titles will be released in traditional and simplified Chinese in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
In previously released titles, different regions in China had their own translations to reflect their region’s local language, which is not going to be the case in the new series. These changes will mean that Pikachu’s name will be changed from 比卡超 (Bei-kaa-chyu) in Hong Kong to 皮卡丘 (Pikaqiu). Quartz’s Zheping Huang explains the situation:
“Pikachu was originally translated as 比卡超 (Bei-kaa-chyu) in Hong Kong. Now it is named 皮卡丘 (Pikaqiu). While the name 皮卡丘 in Mandarin sounds similar to the global name Pikachu (as it was always called in China and Taiwan), it reads as Pei-kaa-jau in Cantonese, which doesn’t sound the same at all.”
Quartz explains that the biggest impact with the name change is in Hong Kong, this is because Cantonese has traditionally been the common language. The issue relates to some people in Hong Kong believing that the Cantonese language is being threatened by the Chinese government.
This change has left Hong Kong based Pokemon fans taking to Nintendo’s Facebook page to express their dissatisfaction. Along with this, a small group of protesters have gathered in front of the Japanese Consulate in Central, singing the Cantonese theme song and demanding that they change the name back. There is also a Facebook community and an online petition gathering 6000 signatures so far.
Thanks, MasterPikachu6
“And all the smallest violins begin to play” lol:D
||Demand…it back…no…mercy…||
Let me play you guys the world’s smallest violin
Welp, I can’t quite relate to their frustration or struggle but I feel no need to belittle it or their efforts because I’m not trying to be a douche. Here’s hoping everyone who wants to can enjoy Sun and Moon when they release this year!
This wouldn’t have happened if they could have decided to speak the same damn language but China is simply too big I’m not surprised the language is split up. Either way it’s ‘Pikachu’ and it should be translated as closely as POSSIBLE in all languages. No BS.
That’s the issue, normally games without voice acting wouldn’t have this issue as the same characters have the same meaning in both Mandarin and Cantonese, but when they try to spell character names phonetically (like Pikachu) issues arise.
That’s not how languages work….thats like saying why doesn’t everyone in Switzerland decide to speak the same language….
You know what I want? I want Pikachu to make the noise it originally did when it comes out of its Pokéball. I don’t want its cry to be unique from the rest. It’s just stupid.
I guess that’s what happens whens you put fundamentally different languages under the same umbrella term. Unless companies see profit in catering to both language communities, this is not going to change.
Besides, China is a behemoth of a country awaiting fragmentation. It’s only a matter of time before different regions develop their own sense of nationality, if it isn’t happening already.
Sure, people make fun, but if they changed the English name to “Piquichieu” blood would run in the streets.
Piquie Piquie! ^^
how very childish it’s fucking fiction be better if that yellow bastard never existed but i cant have everything. Personally I’d call it “KON” the french word for- I’ll let you guys work it out
but over 10s need to grow the fuck up Pokemon is for kids for fuck sake not for 30+ year olds
“Pokemon is for kids for fuck sake not for 30+ year olds”
Says the one with a Splatoon profile pic.
Just because someone’s choice for entertainment is accessible by children doesn’t mean it’s “for kids”. Maybe once you grow up you’ll understand that. Nintendo makes games suitable for all ages. It’s always been that way.
You obviously haven’t played Pokémon for 15 years anyway prolly so sftu. Go watch tentacle porn. The math that goes into pokemon these days is too complicated for 10 year olds.
wrong i retired after pokemon y so get your facts right pal
“Pokemon is for kids for fuck sake not for 30+ year olds”
Video games in general are for kids. That’s their main audience. Stop being a hypocritical fuck.
We’re all kids at heart anyway
not always plus the vast majority of a few games are not child friendly (manhunt, GTA, Fire Emblem, Devil May Cry, Metal Gear Solid Tekken, Mortal Kombat) those are not kids games.
Child friendly? No.
But you can bet your ass that the consumer audience is largely comprised of small children.
only for the call of duty franchise and shooters the whole gamer franchise is out of sync kids liking game not set for their own age and older people liking games for younger gamers
No. Rather older people coming to the realization that just because a game is “appropriate” for children doesn’t mean it’s only geared toward children nor that only children should play it.
The exact opposite goes for the kids playing mature games. They place way too much emphasis on a game’s “mature” rating and thus they play mature games to try to prove that they’re more grown up than they actually are.
Very good point there Bacon
The world protest over a fucking yellow mouse getting a name change, but can’t protest for world peace or to stop nuclear weapons? This would has their priorities fucked up, yo
How come YOU are posting on here instead of protesting for World Peace or to Stop Nuclear Weapons?
Your priorities are fucked up, yo.
Where in the samfucking hell did you get the idea that people don’t protest for world peace
A Pikachu would be a Pikachu no matter how you would slice it when it comes down to pronunciation. Basically a bunch of hollering and crying over the smallest of dumb crap.
But it doesn’t. That’s the point. Cantonese speakers don’t pronounce it in the same way as the others, hence the outrage.
Outrage over the pronunciation of a fictional pet? What the hell is going on?
The comment section here seems to be missing the point. People are trying to make the whole thing sound ridiculous as if it is a bunch of sweaty nerds simply angry over a fictional character’s name being changed.
On the surface, you could very well say that is the case. However, that is extremely one-dimensional thinking.
The real problem here isn’t Pikachu’s name change, the problem here is the people in this region of China’s fear that their language and way of life is being trod upon or taken over by a growing power.
Changing the language in an area WILL affect people negatively.
Changing the name of an iconic place or in this case a character WILL cause friction and issues aplenty.
These people are afraid that the changimg of Pikachu’s name, in addition to the many other changes most likely being made within their home region, will cause their language and such to disappear.
They are scared, and whether or not you would feel the same way in their situation doesn’t apply here. The fact of the matter remains that they are scared, and for a pretty serious reason.
||The human cattle…can only think…in one dimension…except for…a very limited…quantity…of individual specimens…||
Although It doesn’t really seem a problem unless they are a Over 30yo Pok’e Nerds that bitch over a franchise that’s the same fucking thing and story ” explore & catch then rinse and repeat” yet you idoits still lap this crap up (Oooo new Pokemon game almost could die from the hype!) Me: facepalm great just like Mario’s franchise that’s milked to death like the call of duty franchise.
Lol fuck boi
well Pokemon is just a repetitive thing
Ooh, dumb@ss pikahue
first to cross of my bucket list
Second see the players that haven’t seen tits or a dick in their life !
third players saying they wont play it due to the name change but then realizing that they would lose out doing the same bullshit they have been doing for the few decades. then buying it to do it again
and finally fourth seeing a pokenerd die of constipation while playing the game and fallin on their fat ass while i stand there and laugh.
Just let people like whatever they like.
Stop being so goddamn butthurt that people play pokemon.
I understand your opinion, but still, dont go make a rant about 30yo still playing this.
It’s not a rant really it’s because i’m part of Nintendo Events and the over 30s use all this IV and EV bullshit which to me sucks the fun out of who the game is targeted for that’s my real reason and i feel sorry for the players that are 6-12 and they get thrashed by players old enough to be their parents
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