So you think you're an Otaku?

[Warakia]

well take the exam!

http://www.otaken.jp/

I do warn you that A) it is entirely in Japanese (but it is not too hard) and B) and much more importantly the pass rate is 6.59 percent. Out of 1107 people only 73 made it!

However if you pass you get a certificate to show your friends (if applicable!) + you can sleep knowing your hobby is validated.

Well I just did the exam and it is bloody hard, the questions on comiket are surreal. I have been a couple of times but the level of knowledge is hardcore. I did OK on the otaku language, history of manga and games but I far from passed overall.

Here is the link to the home game section. (page 4)

http://www.otaken.jp/pdf/001.pdf

Even if you don't speak Japanese try putting all the consoles on the time line. (Not hard but you gotta be careful of the dates (I made a mistake in the NEC line))

Oh and while there check out the Comiket section - that is hardcore! Even passing the exam does not give you the ultimate reward, you also have to work in the industry in some fashion to be an "otaku elite"!

[willkells]

man thats some hard out stuff....how did you discover it??

willkells

[Warakia]

A Japanese friend sent me the link a while ago. However I think it was also covered in Akibablog at some point.

There are a quite a number of this kind of Otaku exam, but this is the only one that is "official"!

[GaijinPunch]

My wife always jokes that I should take this test. She'd be surprised to know that I probably won't be able to pass it.

[bhl88]

That test is so hardcore. It would probably take years of immersing in the otaku subculture... (thinking: I wanna take the test)

[andoba]

It doesn't work for me (I get one of those blank sites for selling domain names).

[bhl88]

Yeah... same here... but try searching for otaku exam... in google.

OT: Made my own Hare Hare Yukai song otaku style (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=67454). <- link is here

[Jamtex]

The post was originally made over a year ago...

However the information is in the web.archive.org site.

http://web.archive.org/web/20060411205704/http://www.otaken.jp/pdf/001.pdf

For the games thing.

[bhl88]

Looks like a reviewer of sorts... now the only problem is reading it XD I also need to watch as much as I can including getting tons of otaku friends XD and learning how to otaku-speak

[Tatsujin]

lol..ordering and guessing release dates of consoles is like boring history lessons back in elemtary school :lol:

[bhl88]

rather get as much correct answers as I can even though they are boring XD

[andoba]

Is this a joke? You've gotta know where is everything located in Comiket, perfectly?

[phate]

Wow... thread from the grave...

[ASSEMbler]

Zombie thread

[bhl88]

@andoba: Yep. from the looks of it.

[GodofHardcore]

I don't think I want to be an otaku.

[GaijinPunch]

Like a black friend of mine in elementary school that didn't want to be black.

[Tatsujin]

:lol:

[Mr. Casual]

I don't want to be so much of an Otaku that I say silly stuff like Japanese gamers are more hardcore than other gamers, and that mediocre Japanese games are better than western equivalents just because they are Japanese.

I'm not singling anyone out here, but on another forum I DO know people who think like this...

[GaijinPunch]

I'm not singling anyone out here, but on another forum I DO know people who think like this...

They aren't otaku in this sense. No more than anyone else, anyway. In the original post of the thread, we all are, whether you wank to Marvel comic books, know exactly what Linux kernel is on your PDA and the differences between it and the last kernel, or pitch a tent when you think of 13 year old loli manga shit. You're thinking of a Japanophile or one of it's many other terms.

I happen to like J-games over western (pretty much across the board) but I think most of the Japanese ones these days suck massive balls.

[Mr. Casual]

You're thinking of a Japanophile or one of it's many other terms.

I happen to like J-games over western (pretty much across the board) but I think most of the Japanese ones these days suck massive balls.

I guess I am thinking of Japanophiles, because some of them think shitty budget crap like anything NIS pumps out is better than, say, Oblivion. I cant help but laugh when a Japanophile or an actual Japanese person for that matter criticizes that game for being "too hard" because its not turn based.:lol:

[GaijinPunch]

NIS is Nippon Ichi Software, or some company that localizes games? Google gave me this:
http://www.nisamerica.com/games.htm

Some of the better strategy/RPG games for the PS2 are on there (Atelier Iris series I'm a fan of, although it's gone downhill as of EM2). Looking at Oblivion (on art style alone) I can't say that there's much of anything I would like less than that. Most 3D leaves me high and dry. At that point, it needs to be a pretty charming game to suck me in, and I don't see that happening. Descent 3 I loved, and I play an FPS once every few years.

Now if you want to talk difficulty, come give a few of my PCBs a try. Make sure you bring some band aids and tissues!

[Mr. Casual]

I like the generic fantasy style, rather than the Japanese style that tends to look like it was created by French artists. There are some JRPGs with art styles that I like, but for the most part, I don't like the style.

As for Oblivion, its pretty fun and there are tons of Japanese styled mods for it. The Japanese seem to love using it as a Sephiroth and sex simulator. You might like Morrowind more, as its the only ES game that tries another setting other than generic fantasy worlds. Fallout 3 is considered "Oblivion with guns" and when it comes out, it will really be similar to Fist of the North Star, so you might like that more. Or not. Just depends on if you like Fist of the North Star. Oblivion is more like an action adventure FPS with stats and swords and sorcery, but IMO it IS fun to play. I'd rather play it than another generic JRPG with turn based battles. It could be that I'm tired of JRPGs like that, from years of playing them. I dont mind turn based fights in overheard SRPGs like Fire Emblem though.

I've never played Atlier, but most NIS games I own are the same thing, same engine, over and over again. Judging by Atlier's screens, they at least changed the engine for that game. I think the ones I'm talking about are apart of the Marl Kingdom series. Most of the said games are like Rhapsody, except they artificially lengthen a 10 hour game to a REALLY long one via Grind.

One of my favorite SRPGs to ever play was probably Fire Emblem. Its a neat mix of anime and old school fantasy that I enjoy, and its actually quite hard and challenging if you want to keep everyone alive. Someone told me that Fire Emblem was glorified puzzle solving and that Disgaea was better (Did I also mention that levels are more important than strategy in Disgaea? LOL!!) without really backing up what he said as to why it was the better game. I might get pilloried for saying this, but speaking of isometric SRPGs, I didn't like FFT quite that much. I mean, I liked it, but I never was much of a fan of that particular genre of SRPG, so I might be a little biased. Theres tons of OP characters in SRPGs like that as well, I've come to find out.

FFT has TG Cid, Agrias, etc
Disgaea has the main character, who is strong enough to kill anything else already, therefore making classes just meat shields for him. I cant speak for ALL of the games but this is a recurring trend in many of them.
Tactics Ogre (Only played GBA version) Angel Knights and making weapons from your allies = unstoppable God units. Its been a while since I've played this one, but it bored me to DEATH.

I think the "Truest" SRPG I own is Dragon Force, and it does have overpowered units, but its really really really freaking hard.

[GaijinPunch]

The Eternal Mana series uses a Grandia style fight system. Not as many frames of animation, but it is the gem of the series. Without it, I wouldn't play it (although the sprites are some of the best around, even if a bit kiddie). I've never played Disgea or Fire Emblem. Don't have anything against them, other than I have to be in the mood to play an SRPG to the end. Senjou no Valkyria was the exception: excellent game.

Then again, the last handful of games I've played over and over I've spent well over a grand on each, so I realize my tastes aren't consistent w/ todays J-lover.

[bhl88]

Even passing the exam does not give you the ultimate reward, you also have to work in the industry in some fashion to be an "otaku elite"!


Does that mean working in the Akiba Research Center/Tourist in Akiba or something?

[Warakia]

Yeah something like that. The general consensus is that the True Otaku must commit their working life to the cause as well as their hobby.

It is only a minor change in the certificate you can obtain for passing an exam like this. I might grab a pic of an advert for the latest Otaku exam when I go to akiba tomorrow. You know my University is about 5 minutes from Akiba!

On that note bhl88 I will get back to you once I have finished my exams at Meiji Uni about your other questions. My attendence has been a bit bad this term thanks to my Yandere girlfriend! So I really need to pass all my exams. So sorry I have not got back to you sooner.

[bhl88]

It's okay... I'll wait.

Can they do programming for a fee? Or do they make doujin games for free?

[GaijinPunch]

You know my University is about 5 minutes from Akiba!

I thought you went to Meiji, school boy!

[bhl88]

OT:
http://www.jbox.com/PRODUCT/PHS672 (Konata)
http://www.jbox.com/PRODUCT/PHS240 (Haruhi)

It would be great to pass the otaku exam though XD

[cez]

I thought you went to Meiji, school boy!

Probably Surugadai Campus @ Ochanomizu: http://www.meiji.ac.jp/koho/campus_guide/suruga/access.html

[GaijinPunch]

How convenient, considering they put him in Suginami-ku.

[ASSEMbler]

The correct word is wota hehe

[bhl88]

wota?

[andoba]

wota?

ーヲタ, never watched Densha Otoko?

PD: キタアアアアー

[bhl88]

oh yeah... oh wait... I only watched episode 1... what's wota?

[Warakia]

OT - Yeah Suragadai for 95 percent of my classes. Pisses me off that they found me an apartment next to the 1st and 2nd year campus then realised that I could not actually do any fing classes there. Arses in the office, they even call me as late as 9 at night!

But yeah nice bonus being able to walk to akiba right after classes, pop to Hey almost every day, then a bit of food, then back to Meiji to be bored by some 60 year old.

[Barc0de]

I don't see the big deal with being obsessed with another' s country

[Jamtex]

But yeah nice bonus being able to walk to akiba right after classes, pop to Hey almost every day, then a bit of food, then back to Meiji to be bored by some 60 year old.

Literally? Having to find some way to pay your way then? :lol:

[GaijinPunch]

I don't see the big deal with being obsessed with another' s country

We know you draped an American flag over your shoulders when you typed that.

[bhl88]

XD he won't understand it anyway...

[Mr. Casual]

XD he won't understand it anyway...

Bhll88, I gotta ask. Are you a troll or are you like 15 years old?

And I agree with Barcode. I don't see why some people go absolutely apeshit over Japan. Bear in mind, I'm probably thinking of the worst possibly type of Japan fanboy, but still.

[GaijinPunch]

I don't see why some people go absolutely apeshit over Japan.

It's not unique to just Japan. Plenty of people are enamored of other countries. I try to enjoy the best of all worlds. I definitely like my games Japanese though.

[Mr. Casual]

It's not unique to just Japan. Plenty of people are enamored of other countries. I try to enjoy the best of all worlds. I definitely like my games Japanese though.

I can understand that, but I can't picture people acting similar to Japanophiles about European or other countries. I think most Japanophiles like it so much because Japan is basically the novelty item capital of the world.

[GaijinPunch]

They just stick out more (due to all the spikey hair and cute bullshit). There are plenty of kids (goth idiots, especially) that are Eurotrash worshipers. Japan just has some much lame, annoying shit that anyone that partakes in it sticks out like a sore thumb.

[bhl88]

Probably invented all the weird stuff these days.