Be attitude for gains...wait, what?!?!?!?

boagman · Post by **boagman** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:58 am

Okay, I understand that there's a certain language barrier between Japanese and English, and given that English (my native tongue) is such a hodge-podge of a language, it's probably more our fault than anyone else's, thus resulting in the wonder that is Engrish.

This...*phrase*, though, just never seems to leave my brain. "Be attitude for gains". That's just so *way* out of control, that it's open to so many different interpretations as to what it should actually mean, even in the context of "A large enemy is approaching..." and what-not.

So...is there any actual definitive idea as to what the actual, proper meaning of this is supposed to be?

it290 · Post by **it290** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:59 am

I've always interpreted it as 'have the right attitude/mindset and you will succeed'.

UnscathedFlyingObject · Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:26 am

I think it means get ready to take opportunity of chances.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:13 am

It means "English looks way cooler when you choose words that aren't grammatically correct but fit in a confined space". It's not even close to the worst offender though.

www.engrish.com

moozooh · Post by **moozooh** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:43 am

If I had to express the same idea in four words, it'd be "Have attitude for success".

Frederik · Post by **Frederik** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:59 am

it290 wrote:I've always interpreted it as 'have the right attitude/mindset and you will succeed'.

moozooh wrote:If I had to express the same idea in four words, it'd be "Have attitude for success".

That´s how I interpreted this, too. Quite a nice catchphrase, really.

MX7 · Post by **MX7** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:01 am

"Adopt an aggressive attitude for the best results"

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:01 am

I think it290 got it right, I suppose it means something like "You need the right attitude to succeed"

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:47 am

GaijinPunch wrote:It means "English looks way cooler when you choose words that aren't grammatically correct but fit in a confined space".

Lolz.

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:00 pm

You too can create your own Engrish with simply the aid of a computer.

First find a web site that translates English to Japanese by computer.

"To be the best one must practice shmups every day！"

Becomes

"最高の1つをshmups毎日練習しなければ！"

Now type that into a Japanese to English translator to get a second layer of odd added.

"One of the best shmups have to practice every day!"

Our dear friend Pixeru_Outraw-san wins again.

Elixir · Post by **Elixir** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:19 pm

Pixel_Outlaw wrote:You too can create your own Engrish with simply the aid of a computer.

Elixir was here. Broken English is for losers!
エリクサーはここにありました。ブロークン英語は損失者向けです!
Here was Elixir. Broken English is for loss persons!

Hm, I see what you mean. Broken Japanese is for winners.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:58 pm

moozooh wrote:If I had to express the same idea in four words, it'd be "Have attitude for success".

Those four simple words would be fitting in the ST-V/Saturn game of Radiant Silvergun...a Japanese native speaker would have to have complete mastery of American English to come up with that catch-phrase though... ^_~

I once went to a Japanese bank in Kyoto and asked for a bank teller that spoke English. A gentleman approached me and spoke American English perfectly and without an accent at all. It seemed to me that he went to the USA and mastered California accent English, indeed...or could it be that he was a Japanese American to begin with? It was uncanny to hear that kind of English spoken in Japan... ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

benstylus · Post by **benstylus** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:28 pm

the phrase always made sense to me.

It instructs you on what you need to do or how you should play (be attitude) in order to beat the boss (for gains).

It's the actual instructions that sometimes confused me...

though the message of "be praying be praying be praying" is quite clear... you're in for a tough fight and you need all the help you can get

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:25 pm

I vaguely recall someone saying that it might be a pun on the word "beatitude", but I'm not sure whether it was ever "proven," if such a thing is possible. Though of course the Engrish possibility is infinitely more amusing...or shall I say "has circumstance for jollity."

FIL · Post by **FIL** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:31 pm

The beatitude thing seems to be a product of ZOMG religion, Radiant Silvergun is so DEEP!

Zebra Airforce · Post by **Zebra Airforce** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:32 pm

IT'S LIKE I'M PLAYING A MOVIE

kozo · Post by **kozo** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:37 pm

Be Attitude For Gains is like, my motto for life. Makes sense to me. ;D

Also makes for a great text-only screen saver.

Impervious · Post by **Impervious** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:06 am

WHAT IS A MAN!

GaijinPunch wrote:www.engrish.com

www.rahoi.com

long a go, a friend of mine showed me this website that had the absolute FUNNIEST action figure ripoffs, i couldn't help but shit myself. i forgot the website, though, but should anyone find it, check it out when you're baked.

Impervious · Post by **Impervious** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:10 am

p.s.: "Slaves for fashion dislike bulges"

CS2 ftw.

trivial · Post by **trivial** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:49 pm

has circumstance for jollity

Fatty Arbuckle achieved infamy at a "gin jollification"

D · Post by D » Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:56 pm

I like Dimahoo's:
ARE YOU GREAT?
I think it means:
Do you have what it takes to take out the enemy forces that are attacking the innocent.
I sometimes use the phrase is this kind of way: "are you great, or what?"
If somebody provides excellent info I needed, I'll write: Are you great?

Andi · Post by **Andi** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:32 pm

Hey.

Castle Shikigami 2?

boagman · Post by **boagman** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:02 am

it290 wrote:I've always interpreted it as 'have the right attitude/mindset and you will succeed'.

And that's one of the myriad possible interpretations I had come up with, and it very well could be the "right" one. That being said, it's still one of the most up-in-the-air things I've seen written as a result of Engrish.

nimitz · Post by **nimitz** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:04 am

boagman wrote:And that's one of the myriad possible interpretations I had come up with

What are the others?

boagman · Post by **boagman** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:05 am

FrederikJurk wrote:That´s how I interpreted this, too. Quite a nice catchphrase, really.

I fully agree that it's a great little catchphrase, and that it has the capacity as sort of a conversation starter regarding shmups. Still, the grammar/spelling cop within me just bristles a bit, especially considering that I *like* the phrase.

boagman · Post by **boagman** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:14 am

nimitz wrote:
boagman wrote:And that's one of the myriad possible interpretations I had come up with
What are the others?

1. "Things are looking up!"
2. "Be optimistic to win!"
3. "Cheer up! Here's another big opportunity!"
4. "Insert your own cheery interpretation followed by an exclamation point here!"

Honestly, I had several more thoughts when I wrote the original post a coupld of days ago, but some have left my brain. It's just so...open-ended a phrase. And yet, I like it!

boagman · Post by **boagman** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:16 am

D wrote:I like Dimahoo's:
ARE YOU GREAT?
I think it means:
Do you have what it takes to take out the enemy forces that are attacking the innocent.
I sometimes use the phrase is this kind of way: "are you great, or what?"
If somebody provides excellent info I needed, I'll write: Are you great?

I like this as well, but it doesn't have near the charm that "BAFG" does, because "ARE YOU GREAT?" makes total grammatical sense/order, and it's easily understood.

ED-057 · Post by **ED-057** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:22 am

To me it seemed pretty clear in the context of the game.

Be = imperative
attitude = playing style/strategy
gains = scoring

modify your strategy to focus on scoring

zaphod · Post by **zaphod** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:29 am

Btw, i think"prayers" is bad romanization.

"Highly responsive to pLayers" makes a bit more sense to me.

KBZ · Post by **KBZ** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:14 am

I used to have "be attitude for gains" written on my apron when I worked at home depot. Customers were nicer to me. Management was not...

Maybe the Japanese just seem to find some phrases much more interesting than we do, even critically WRONG ones. I'm sure those of us in Japan see it all the time. Myself living in Vancouver, everyday I see all sorts of southeast asians wearing those giant shirts that display large words in english with the lamest phrases even an emo scenester, or your mom in the 80's would never wear.

like so...

"I'M GOING STRAIGHT TO THE POLICE!".
....ok, makes sense I guess...

"I WISH I NEVER HURT INSIDE AGAIN"
....I'm gonna put on your sweater and cry through my glasses.

"WE WILL LOVE MY BROTHER!"
....homodictatorship?

I kinda wish I could have my own parody on one of those shirts.