Jeremy Blaustein

File:Jeremy Blaustein SH2.jpg

Jeremy Blaustein at the Silent Hill 3 recording session in 2002.

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 and Silent Hill 2, as well as anime and other television programs, such as Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl. He currently resides in Japan with his wife and three children, where he operates his own translation agency, Zpang, Inc. His sister was Maddie Blaustein, a voice actress of anime (known for playing Meowth in Pokémon).

Style

Blaustein is well known in the gaming community for his translation work. GameFan praised Snatcher, calling the translation "perfect" and the voice acting "flawless," 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."

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."

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."

GameSpot also praised Blaustein's work on Dark Cloud 2 (known as Dark Chronicle outside North America), 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."

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."

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." 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."

Selected works

Video games

Title	Year	Platform(s)	Role
Banshee's Last Cry	2014	iOS, Android	Writing and Adaption
Silent Hill: Book of Memories	2012	PlayStation Vita	Localization Director, 7 languages
Dynasty Warriors 7	2010	Xbox 360, PlayStation 3	Translator
Velvet Assassin	2009	Xbox 360, PC	Translator
Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao	2008	Xbox 360	Translator
Holy Beast Online	2008	PC	Translator
SimCity Creator	2008	Wii	Translator
Rune Factory 2	2008	DS	Translator
Imagine: Figure Skater	2008	DS	Translator
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations	2007	DS	Translator (with Nanica Co., Ltd., edited by Capcom)
Hamsterz Life	2006	DS	Translator and coordinator (with Gabe Glick)
.hack//G.U.	2006	PlayStation 2	Translator and coordinator (with Gabe Glick)
Shadow Hearts: From the New World	2005	PlayStation 2	Translator, scriptwriter, English VO director, voice actor
Shadow of Rome	2005	PlayStation 2, PC	Translator, English VO director, motion capture director
Silent Hill 4	2004	PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC	Translator, English VO director, motion capture director
Shadow Hearts: Covenant	2004	PlayStation 2	Translator, scriptwriter, co-directed certain sequences
Airforce Delta Strike	2004	PlayStation 2	Translator, English VO director, motion capture director
Silent Hill 3	2003	PlayStation 2, PC	Translator, English VO director, motion capture director
Lost Kingdoms II	2003	GameCube	Translator, scriptwriter, English VO director
Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits	2003	PlayStation 2	Translator and coordinator
Dead or Alive: Extreme Beach Volleyball	2003	Xbox	Translator
Dark Chronicle (Dark Cloud 2 in North America)	2002	PlayStation 2	Translator and coordinator
Beach Spikers	2002	GameCube	Translator
EOE: Eve of Extinction	2002	PlayStation 2	Translator
Fatal Frame	2001	PlayStation 2, Xbox	Translator and coordinator
Silent Hill 2	2001	PlayStation 2	Translator, English VO director, motion capture director
Ape Escape 2	2001	PlayStation 2	Translator and English VO director
Shadow Hearts	2001	PlayStation 2	Translator, scriptwriter, English VO director
Dragon Warrior VII	2000	PlayStation	Translator and coordinator
Valkyrie Profile	1999	PlayStation	Translator and English VO director
Alundra 2	1999	PlayStation	Translator and scriptwriter
Suikoden 2	1998	PlayStation	Translator and coordinator
Metal Gear Solid	1998	PlayStation	Translator and assistant-directed English VO sessions with Kris Zimmerman
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night	1997	PlayStation	Translator
Vandal Hearts	1996	PlayStation	Translator
Snatcher	1994	Sega CD	Localization supervisor (with translation by Scott T. Hards)

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
• Lethal Enforcers II: Gunfighters
• NBA Give 'N Go
• Rocket Knight Adventures
• Sparkster
• Tiny Toon Adventures: Wacky Sports Challenge

TV shows

• Pokémon: Black & White (2011–2012)
• Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors (2010–2011)
• Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles (2009–2010)
• Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension (2008–2009)
• Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl (2007–2008)
• Pokémon: Battle Frontier (2006–2007)
• Pokémon: Advanced Battle (2005–2006)
• Pokémon: Advanced Challenge (2004–2005)
• Pokémon: Advanced Generation (2003–2004)
• Ninja Warrior (2008–2009)
• Muscle Rankings (2008–2009)

Movies

• Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys (2005)
• Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2006)
• Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (2007)
• Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai (2008)
• Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior (2009)
• Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life (2010)
• Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions (2011)
• Pokémon the Movie: Black - Victini and Reshiram (2011)

External links

• Zpang, Inc.
• Jeremy Blaustein at MobyGames
• Jeremy Blaustein at the Internet Movie Database
• Interview with Superfami.com's Chris Barker mirrored at JunkerHQ.net
• Hardcore Gaming 101: The Life and Games of Jeremy Blaustein
• An Unsung Gaming Hero - an Interview with Jeremy Blaustein