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SFC Why Sega
CD? Considering that both the Turbo Grafx CD ROM/Duo and the Sega
CD enjoyed about the same amount of market success in the US and that there
was no Japanese MegaCD version of Snatcher but there was a Japanese PCE
Super CD-ROM version, wouldn't it have been easier to just translate an
existing game than to do a whole new build of the game?
MB I think they eventually enjoyed about the same market success, but at the time, there was a greater expectation that the Sega CD would take off. Remember, the Sega CD was launched with a huge big marketing effort. We didn't really see that with the Turbo Duo. SFC Which Japanese version of Snatcher was the US Sega CD version based on? MB Don't know if I can answer that one. I would guess it was the PC ENGINE, though. SFC What was "left out" (besides twitching dog body and Alien from the bar scene)? MB If I remember, there was some brief nudity in the shower scene that was changed (I think so anyway...), and obviously some of the more suggestive dialogue was altered in the translation. I also remember that there were some drug references that were thought to be too sensitive, so they were removed. SFC What was "put in"? MB Really, the major additions came with the dialogue. Conversations were entirely changed so that they would have a more "western" sensibility, and just generally to add humor. New names (of Konami staff members) were placed in JORDAN, and I think there were also a few graphical changes. SFC Were there any concerns about releasing a game with relatively mature content in the US? MB I'm sure there was. But the feeling was that the Sega CD was aimed at an older user, so why not put a more mature product on that machine. SFC No other version of Snatcher before the Sega CD version supported a controller/gun interface. Whose idea was it to include this feature in the US release? MB I Don't know that any one person can take the credit for it, but I do think that it was a conscious effort to get more use out of Konami's light gun (The Justifier in the US), which was considered among the best of these peripherals. SFC What is "Rug Hunt"? MB Not sure on the reference, but I would bet it was meant to be "Bug Hunt", but with a typo. SFC What is significant about December? (MG2SS & Snatcher) MB In terms of what, the month the game takes place? I think it is probably just for atmosphere. End of the year...snow falling...that kind of thing. SFC Any additional comments? MB The only additional comments I would add are that I think the game really "pushed it" in terms of content and theme (for games of that period, at least in the US. And the voice acting set a standard that only a few games have matched since (probably MGS). Neokobe.net would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Blaustein for taking the time from his work to answer these questions. |