If you're like us (lucky!), at times you've wondered while munching on green herbs why Capcom opted to rename Resident Evil from its original, if not equally silly sounding Japanese title, Biohazard. It turns out this is one scheme that can't be pinned on Albert Wesker. Capcom's Chris Kramer explained to GamesRadar that, as with so many conspiracies, it all came down to marketing.
"In late 1994, Capcom Entertainment in the US was starting to ramp up marketing plans for the game," explained Kramer, who pointed out that while the company had settled on the name Biohazard for Japan, "it would be next to impossible for Capcom to register the name in the US." He called out a "crappy DOS-based game" and a New York-based punk band, both named 'Biohazard,' as potential hurdles to securing the title. "As a result," recalled Kramer, "the head of marketing held a company-wide contest to come up with a new name for the game."
The winner, of course, was 'Resident Evil,' a groan-worthy pun given that the first game took place in a mansion. It's a title that Kramer himself voted against, calling it "super-cheesy." And now you know. And knowing is half the ... OH CRAP, BEHIND YOU!
Reader Comments (50)
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 2:05AM ch3burashka said
Gamesradar FTW.
BTW, listen to the Talkradar podcast. It's like the Joystiqcast, but better.
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BTW, listen to the Talkradar podcast. It's like the Joystiqcast, but better.
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 2:10AM (Unverified) said
to be fair, "biohazard" is an even cheesier title
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Posted: Apr 10th 2009 2:21AM iHavePants said
At least Biohazard works as a name for sequels. What are they residents of in 5? Africa?
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Posted: Apr 10th 2009 2:48AM (Unverified) said
@Ihavepants
It's not to dissimilar from the continued use of "Final Fantasy". If you know the history behind the name, it makes sense for the first title. After that, it just stuck because of brand recognition and because it sounds good. I'm not too familiar with most of the Final Fantasy games, but from what I gather the story lines aren't related or are very loosely related so for the most part few, if any, of them can truly be called sequels.
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It's not to dissimilar from the continued use of "Final Fantasy". If you know the history behind the name, it makes sense for the first title. After that, it just stuck because of brand recognition and because it sounds good. I'm not too familiar with most of the Final Fantasy games, but from what I gather the story lines aren't related or are very loosely related so for the most part few, if any, of them can truly be called sequels.
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 5:22AM (Unverified) said
@Foetoid
Ah okay thanks. So then I'm right about how the continued use of the "Final Fantasy" + # naming convention doesn't make a lot of sense in a traditional manner considering there is no continuity between the differently numbered games.
I think "Resident Evil" sounds cool. It almost sounds like they were trying to make the title a metaphor for "the lurking evil that lives inside us all." I'm not really sure they achieved that even if it is what they were going for, but it does at least sound eerie.
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Ah okay thanks. So then I'm right about how the continued use of the "Final Fantasy" + # naming convention doesn't make a lot of sense in a traditional manner considering there is no continuity between the differently numbered games.
I think "Resident Evil" sounds cool. It almost sounds like they were trying to make the title a metaphor for "the lurking evil that lives inside us all." I'm not really sure they achieved that even if it is what they were going for, but it does at least sound eerie.
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 8:14AM Level 5 said
@Nick8708
I might be wrong with this, but I believe that Final in Japan has a connotation of being a synonym for Best or Greatest. You're right though, this is confusing to native English speakers, as the titles aren't related.
Still, Biohazard only makes me think of the red "Sharps" containers at the doctores.
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I might be wrong with this, but I believe that Final in Japan has a connotation of being a synonym for Best or Greatest. You're right though, this is confusing to native English speakers, as the titles aren't related.
Still, Biohazard only makes me think of the red "Sharps" containers at the doctores.
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 9:09PM CJLopez said
Actually, this are the direct sequels prequels to different final fantasy
Final Fantasy 4
Final Fantasy 4: The After (Years) - Phone/WiiWare
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core - PSP
Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus - Ps2
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X-2 - PS2
And really, i preffer Resident Evil than Biohazard, even though the second makes more sense to the current history, but then again, if we appoint to one Residen Evil, it would be Albert Wesker. He is a resident of the Earth and he's evil, :D
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Final Fantasy 4
Final Fantasy 4: The After (Years) - Phone/WiiWare
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core - PSP
Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus - Ps2
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X-2 - PS2
And really, i preffer Resident Evil than Biohazard, even though the second makes more sense to the current history, but then again, if we appoint to one Residen Evil, it would be Albert Wesker. He is a resident of the Earth and he's evil, :D
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 2:48AM (Unverified) said
Juuuuuuudgment Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!
Crap.... I just dated myself didn't I?
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Crap.... I just dated myself didn't I?
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 6:47AM Pure Black World Tendency said
Welcome to the old grumpy men club. I saw them live back in...could it have been 97?
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Posted: Apr 10th 2009 8:42AM baby sea tuna said
Man, I saw them with House of Pain and a (then) completely unknown band called Korn in...94? Then again with Pantera and Sepultura. I've still got my clear orange State of the World Address record somewhere.
I think the most amusing thing to ever come out of that band is the fact that the singer is now in porn and is married to Tera Patrick. How weird...
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I think the most amusing thing to ever come out of that band is the fact that the singer is now in porn and is married to Tera Patrick. How weird...
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 1:38PM zuburi said
I *think* I saw Biohazard open for Slayer in 1994 or 1995 at the Aragon in Chicago. I know I went to a concert of theirs, but I just can't remember who the other acts were.
And I am pretty sure I have a Sepultura T-shirt in a pile of rags somewhere! They were, from what I remember, another really great progressive metal band.
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And I am pretty sure I have a Sepultura T-shirt in a pile of rags somewhere! They were, from what I remember, another really great progressive metal band.
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 11:26AM Shagittarius said
Yeah I like it to....and what is this 'pun' in the title the author is refering to...I don't see a 'pun'.
As far as I know resident means that something resides somewhere...so how is it a pun?
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As far as I know resident means that something resides somewhere...so how is it a pun?
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 2:54AM iHavePants said
Just because something that doesn't make sense is implemented twice doesn't excuse it...
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Posted: Apr 10th 2009 3:04AM (Unverified) said
resident
mansion
evil resident of mansion
...
RESIDENT EEEEEVILLLLL
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mansion
evil resident of mansion
...
RESIDENT EEEEEVILLLLL
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 3:08AM MyAbsolution said
seriously i know eh!?
how do people not know where resident evil name comes from...
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how do people not know where resident evil name comes from...
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 7:54AM (Unverified) said
"Capcom's Chris Kramer explained"
CHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSS
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CHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSS
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 9:06AM vidguy said
Haha, I remember reading about this problem way back when RE2 came out. I've always loved the game and I've never had a problem with the name, especially since the games pretty much live on cheesy horror cliches. I'd rather have a name that fits the theme of the games than a straight forward lack-of-creativity name. Like Dino Crisis. Yuck.
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Posted: Apr 10th 2009 9:39AM Gemini Ace said
Biohazard isn't a punk band at all. Check them out if you like metal.
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Posted: Apr 10th 2009 3:06PM (Unverified) said
Actually Biohazard came from the New York Hardcore scene which has punk ethics. So in way they are a punk band. Their demo and the first full lengths are the only good stuff they put out anyway. The rest is pretty much Nu Metal garbage, which I'm sure you're into.
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Posted: Apr 10th 2009 9:40AM Gemini Ace said
And Resident Evil kind of makes sense with the sequels. I mean, you're always coming in to where the virus has turned the residents of a particular area into zombies. So there!
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Posted: Apr 10th 2009 11:17AM Dralthi said
Cool story. It's a shame they couldn't use the Biohazard name here in the U.S. That title makes more sense since the game deals with biological weapons and super human mutants and such.
I've always felt the Resident Evil name made the game sound like it should be about paranormal activities like ghosts and goblins and such.
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I've always felt the Resident Evil name made the game sound like it should be about paranormal activities like ghosts and goblins and such.
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 2:06PM Batzarro The worlds WOrst Detect said
I could understanf the other game makers suing, but I don't think the NY band really owns the term "biohazard" wich an obvious acknoweledged abbreviation of "Biological Hazard", the descriptor of things like Radioactive waste, hospital waste and the movie "White Chicks". Still, I like Resident Evil better.
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Posted: Apr 10th 2009 3:38PM jp007 said
I loved Biohazard frontman Evan Seinfeld in Oz. I the first time I played the original Biohazard/RE on the PS1 was the Japanese version. That creepy voice going "BIOHAZARD" at the beginning of the game has such a better ring to it then the voice going "RESIDENT...EVILLL"
...here, take this lockpick.
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...here, take this lockpick.
Posted: Apr 10th 2009 6:02PM (Unverified) said
Just gotta point out that Kramer was off by a whole year. It was late 1995 when the marketing campaign was ramping up, and I still have some magazines from circa Oct-Dec 1995 that contained the first announcements that it was coming to both Japan and NA. And it was announced as "Biohazard" at the time, for both regions.
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Posted: Apr 10th 2009 11:54PM Snake Robot Podium said
A lot of other commenters are confused, as well, including me. Was "resident evil" a phrase before the game?
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