Lost in Translation

Fanslations have always been an iffy business for me. On one hand, people in the TCG want to know what future awaits in the Western meta, thus encouraging them to translate up and coming OCG cards. Unfortunately, unless the translation was done a professional, which in most cases it isn't, a lot of things can be lost in translation. 

Why do I bring this up?
 

Well, while browsing Pojo Forums, as I typically do on occasion, I came across a post by Kevin Tewart, whom most know as Konami's current U.S. head of development for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game. The post was a respond to a previous post about a player referring to the Exceed Monster known as No. 17 Revise Dragon:

Leviathan Dragon. It's Leviathan Dragon, not "revise dragon".

This is another example of how naming things in English, but using Japanese characters, doesn't really work that well. In many cases the English name is the correct name, since the real name is, well, English.

"Exceeds monster" is another such misnomer.

Exceed Monster is a misnomer? I don't know about everyone else, but every time I've watched an episode of Zexal, I distinctly hear エクシ一ズ  (Ekushīzu). So naturally I was confused upon hearing this and didn't understand what he meant until I saw the advertisment for Starter Deck 2011 on Toywiz:

 

Name: Yu-Gi-Oh 2011 Dawn of the XYZ

Manufacturer: Konami

Series: YuGiOh ZEXAL

Release Date: May 2011

For ages: 4 and up

Details (Description): Exciting times are upon us for the Yu-Gi-Oh! property. There’s a brand new Yu-Gi-Oh! animated series on the horizon, and with it comes an all new kind of monster! These revolutionary monsters will make their spectacular North American debut in the 2011 Starter Deck. The 2011 Starter Deck serves two roles. It’s designed to teach new players the ins & outs of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG. It’s also to teach current players about this brand new category of monsters. And it’s the first place for Duelists to get their hands on these hot new monsters. The first booster set with the new monsters will be releasing in August 2011. But Duelists who want to be ahead of the game will get a leap forward by picking up their new monsters in this Starter Deck!

Each Starter Deck Contains: 40 Common Cards, 1 Ultra Rare Card, 2 Super Rare Cards, 1 Beginner’s Guide, 1 Game Mat – Plus the debut of the new Xyz monsters!

*Notes: Picture is a Konami placeholder, not final image!

Xyz Monsters? WTH! If this is accurate, which it may or may not be knowing Toywiz's track record, this would be one of the worst name changes ever. And to make matters worse they changed No. 39 Aspiring Emperor Hope to Number 39: Utopia? Much less dramatic than I'd have hoped. -__-

I'm at a loss for words.

Remember players, the game ends with you.