Daniel Owsen Explained

Daniel Owsen
Known For:Translator of many Nintendo video games
Occupation:Nintendo of America Localization Manager
Nationality:American

Daniel "Dan" Owsen is an American video game translator at Nintendo of America (NOA), best known for his role in the translation and localization of many Nintendo video games, playing a large role in the translation of The Legend of Zelda series. He is also known for his now-discontinued "Ask Dan" column on Nintendo's official website. As of 2015, Owsen lives in Seattle, Washington.

Career

Owsen started at NOA in 1989. He started in Consumer Service during the days of the Nintendo Entertainment System, and has since moved from department to department, first going to Publications, then to Product Development, then back to Publications as the on-line manager.[1] He has worked with Shigeru Miyamoto's R&D team, writing screen texts for Legend of Zelda titles A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening and Ocarina of Time.[2] Owsen is one of the first English-language voices used in any Nintendo console, as his voice can be heard at the beginning of Super Metroid – "The last Metroid is in captivity... the galaxy is at peace."[3] [4]

Owsen had translated around 10 percent of the script of EarthBound, including some of the game's "most iconic phrases", before handing over the project to Marcus Lindblom and moving on to a different project.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Interview with Dan Owsen. The Gaming Intelligence Agency. Vestal. Andrew. 1999. 2015-06-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032050/http://thegia.com/archive/features/f981125.html. 2016-03-04. dead.
  2. Web site: Exclusive Interview: Dan Owsen Talks Zelda Timeline. Zelda Dungeon. Hagopain. Mases. 2011-05-20. 2015-06-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20151010055850/http://www.zeldadungeon.net/2011/05/exclusive-interview-dan-owsen-talks-zelda-timeline/. 2015-10-10. dead.
  3. Web site: The MDb Interviews Dan Owsen. Metroid-Database.com. Rappel. TJ. 1998. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150315080234/http://www.metroid-database.com/features/owsen.php. 2015-03-15.
  4. Web site: The Opening Sequence To Super Metroid Is A Masterpiece. Kotaku Australia. Wong. Kevin. 2014-12-20.
  5. Web site: The Man Who Wrote Earthbound . January 25, 2014 . Schreier . Jason . August 23, 2013 . . . https://web.archive.org/web/20140201135722/http://kotaku.com/the-man-who-wrote-earthbound-1188669175 . February 1, 2014 . live .