thoughts about fake kana

[kossai]

on topic of fake kana , strictly from game design and attention to detail perspective¹ ?
fake kana just annoy .
understand might not want all signage to have important detail , but still look like signs . OK ... use basic lines . represent with basic colour and shape . fill in some background detail in simple ways without compete so much for attention .

even if could guarantee audience 100% is functionally monolingual english speakers , with little to no knowledge of japanese ... some people do actually like attention to detail of know that could read signage , if would just learn .

kossai really appreciate about yakuza games that where level of detail allow , all text on set pieces is real text . of course , japanese developers for japanese players first , would not need to fake japanese text - but could choose to only develop proper signage for anything important to story , and go very light on background details .
instead , feel like just about everything that can have text detail will .

with ability to read basic japanese , this help to navigate and get bearings without rely just on awkward and slightly imprecise map markers . know how to look for club asia , ebisu pawn shop , and karaokekan with japanese signs , not just club segas and poppos of world with latin letter signs - and background details become little landmarks along paths , even if only partially able to read .
that is not luxury which fake kana give . if there is no consistency , can not read words to use as landmark or become familiar in any way - and if there is consistency , why not just use real kana ?

and even when entirely useless , without any impact on player navigation or otherwise - just like to read things , sometimes . remember watch lovers play yakuza 0 and force to pause at particularly neat food shop sign in sotenbori , because really interest to know what say .

just think real disservice to everyone if assume fake kana is perfectly fine as is , and should not make any effort for real depiction of language .
players who belong to culture feel alien in what should be own world .
players who do not , but have at least some ability to read and recognise , do not have that recognition anymore .
and players who do not even care simply continue see as meaningless set piece , that will never mean anything to anyone , " so why is there problem ? "

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1. kossai is white - other people can and have much better address other concerns .