translator and localization coordinator specializing in the localization of video games, such as
and other television programs, such as Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl. He currently resides in Japan with his wife and three children, where he operates his own translation agency, Zpang, Inc. His sister was
Blaustein is well known in the gaming community for his translation work. GameFan praised Snatcher, calling the translation "perfect" and the voice acting "flawless," while GameCritics said, "The writing and adaptation from the original Japanese is so good that you don't even think about what an achievement it is for the video-game industry," with the voice cast "going above and beyond anything the industry had previously seen."
said of Valkyrie Profile, "this is one of the best English scripts I've ever read in a role-playing game... Characters speak like they ought to - some rough, some formal, some friendly, some distant - and you relate to them accordingly."
noted Alundra 2s localization as one of the game's strongest points, saying "The character voices are lively, and the text is grammatical, occasionally amusing, and pretty natural - Activision's localization team has done a great job."
GameSpot also praised Blaustein's work on Dark Cloud 2, saying, "Dark Cloud 2's translation and voice acting deserve special mention because they show how far the localization of Japanese games has come in the last decade or so. The dialogue's phrasing is imaginative and the voices are of the caliber you'll find in any animated television show. ... Sony clearly put some real effort into localizing Dark Cloud 2, and the work pays off big."
In their review of Shadow Hearts: Covenant, PSM said, "This amazing sense of humor is one of the game's greatest strengths. Excellent localization and quality voice-overs deliver an incredible level of sarcastic humor, as well as RPG-standard melodrama and personality. Amazingly scripted with more humor than every RPG put together."
For Silent Hill 4, IGN said, "One of the best changes in the series since its humble beginning is the improvement in voice work. Even since Silent Hill 3, the voice work in this version has markedly improved. ... Conversations are much more realistic and fluid. ... The dialog has also improved to stay in step with the voice-over work." Furthermore,
said, "However, it's definitely the evolving story that lies within Silent Hill where you'll get the peak of performance from the actors' as you'll get to view some of the most inspired death sequences in gaming right here. Great cast. Great acting. Good going, Konami."
| Title | Year | Platform(s) | Role |
| Dynasty Warriors 7 is a hack and slash video game and the seventh official installment of the Dynasty Warriors series. It is developed by Omega Force and published by Koei. The game has been confirmed to be PS3 exclusive in Japan. The story is based on Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.... |
2010 |
Xbox 360The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles... , PlayStation3 |
Translator |
| Velvet Assassin Velvet Assassin is a stealth action video game for Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows, released in North America on April 28, 2009. Velvet Assassin's working title was Sabotage.... |
2009 |
Xbox 360The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles... , PCA personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator... |
Translator |
| Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao is a hand-to-hand action video game developed by Blitz Arcade and published by Namco Bandai Games for the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. The game tells the story of Han Tao, aka General of a Thousand Victories, who attempts to rescue the Star of... |
2008 |
Xbox 360 |
Translator |
| Holy Beast Online Holy Beast Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game , developed by Easyfun Entertainment of Taiwan. It began beta phase on the 21st of May in the USA.-Feature:... |
2008 |
PCA personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator... |
Translator |
SimCity CreatorSimCity Creator is a video game in the Sim game series by Electronic Arts. It was released for the Wii in September 2008.-Overview:SimCity Creator follows the basic SimCity formula that sees players managing a city and placing residential, commercial, and industrial zones for buildings in addition... |
2008 |
WiiThe Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others... |
Translator |
| Rune Factory 2 |
2008 |
DSThe is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP... |
Translator |
| Imagine: Figure Skater |
2008 |
DS |
Translator |
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and TribulationsPhoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations, released in Japan as , is an adventure/visual novel video game developed by Capcom. It was originally released for the Game Boy Advance and was later ported to the PC. An enhanced version was released for the Nintendo DS... |
2007 |
DS |
Translator (with Nanica Co., Ltd., edited by Capcom) |
Hamsterz LifeHamsterz Life is a hamster simulation video game released by Ubisoft for the Nintendo DS. Hamsterz Life is also known as Love ♥ Hamster or Love Love Hamster in Japan.-Gameplay:... |
2006 |
DS |
Translator and coordinator (with Gabe Glick) |
| .hack//G.U. |
2006 |
PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
Translator and coordinator (with Gabe Glick) |
Shadow Hearts: From the New Worldis a console role-playing game developed by Nautilus and published by XSEED Games in 2005. It is the third official game in the Shadow Hearts series.... |
2005 |
PlayStation 2 |
Translator, scriptwriter, English VO director, voice actor |
Shadow of RomeShadow of Rome is a video game for the PlayStation 2 console. It is a hybrid fighting/stealth game set in ancient Rome and loosely based around the assassination of Julius Caesar.-Gameplay:... |
2005 |
PlayStation 2, PCA personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator... |
Translator, English VO director, motion capture director |
Silent Hill 4Silent Hill 4: The Room is the fourth installment in the Silent Hill survival horror series, published by Konami and developed by Team Silent, a production group within Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo. The game was released in Japan in June 2004 and in North America and Europe in September of... |
2004 |
PlayStation 2, Xbox The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console... , PC |
Translator, English VO director, motion capture director |
Shadow Hearts: CovenantShadow Hearts: Covenant is a console role-playing game developed by Nautilus and published by Midway in 2004. It is a direct continuation of Shadow Hearts and the second official game in the Shadow Hearts series. The game features two DVD-ROM discs instead of the usual one, which provides,... |
2004 |
PlayStation 2 |
Translator, scriptwriter, co-directed certain sequences |
Airforce Delta StrikeAirforce Delta Strike, known as Airforce Delta: Blue Wing Knights in Japan and Deadly Skies III in Europe, is the third installment in the Konami Airforce Delta series. It was released in 2004 exclusively on the PlayStation 2... |
2004 |
PlayStation 2 |
Translator, English VO director, motion capture director |
Silent Hill 3Silent Hill 3 is a survival horror video game published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 and developed by Team Silent, a production group within Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo. It is the third installment in the Silent Hill series and a direct sequel to the first Silent Hill game... |
2003 |
PlayStation 2, PC |
Translator, English VO director, motion capture director |
Lost Kingdoms IILost Kingdoms II, known as in Japan, is a role-playing video game developed by From Software and published by Activision in North America and Europe. It is the sequel to Lost Kingdoms... |
2003 |
PlayStation 2 |
Translator, scriptwriter, English VO director |
Arc the Lad: Twilight of the SpiritsArc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits is the first of two Arc the Lad games for the PlayStation 2, the second being Arc the Lad: End of Darkness. The game was re-released in Japan as a premium box set... |
2003 |
PlayStation 2 |
Translator and coordinator |
| Dead or Alive: Extreme Beach Volleyball |
2003 |
Xbox |
Translator |
| Dark Cloud 2 |
2002 |
PlayStation 2 |
Translator and coordinator |
| Beach Spikers |
2002 |
GameCubeThe , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia... |
Translator |
EOE: Eve of ExtinctionEOE: Eve of Extinction is a 3D beat-'em-up game released on February 26, 2002 for the PlayStation 2. It was published by Eidos Interactive and developed by Yuke's... |
2002 |
PlayStation 2 |
Translator |
Fatal FrameFatal Frame, known in Japan as and in Europe as Project Zero, is a survival horror video game for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox consoles. It is the first game in the Fatal Frame series, and the only one to be rated T in North America.... |
2001 |
PlayStation 2, Xbox |
Translator and coordinator |
Silent Hill 2Silent Hill 2 is a survival horror video game published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 and developed by Team Silent, a production group within Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo... |
2001 |
PlayStation 2 |
Translator, English VO director, motion capture director |
Ape Escape 2Ape Escape 2 is a platform video game developed by Sony and published by Sony in Japan and Europe, while Ubisoft published it in North America for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was first released in Japan on July 18, 2001, and was later released in Europe on March 14, 2003, and in North... |
2001 |
PlayStation 2 |
Translator and English VO director |
| Shadow Hearts is a series of role playing games for the PlayStation 2. The original Shadow Hearts was developed by Sacnoth and released by Midway in the United States on December 11, 2001. The sequel, Shadow Hearts: Covenant , was also made by the same group, although Sacnoth reformed itself into a company... |
2001 |
PlayStation 2 |
Translator, scriptwriter, English VO director |
| Dragon Warrior VII Dragon Warrior VII, known in Japan as is a Japanese console role-playing game developed by Heartbeat and ArtePiazza, and published by Enix for the PlayStation in... |
2000 |
PlayStationThe is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000... |
Translator and coordinator |
Valkyrie Profileis a console role-playing game developed by tri-Ace and published by Enix for the PlayStation. It was released on December 22, 1999 in Japan and on August 29, 2000 in North America... |
1999 |
PlayStation |
Translator and English VO director |
Alundra 2The game received an average score of 70.12% at Game Rankings, based on an aggregate of 24 reviews, and was much less successful than its predecessor.... |
1999 |
PlayStation |
Translator and scriptwriter |
| Suikoden 2 |
1998 |
PlayStation |
Translator and coordinator |
Metal Gear Solidis a videogame by Hideo Kojima. The game was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and first published by Konami in 1998 for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Kojimas early MSX2 computer games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake... |
1998 |
PlayStation |
Translator and assistant-directed English VO sessions with Kris Zimmerman Kris Zimmerman is a voice director, casting director, talent coordinator, and voice actor. She is also sometimes credited as Kris Zimmerman Salter.-History:Zimmerman is most known for directing the English voices for the Metal Gear Solid series...
|
Castlevania: Symphony of the NightCastlevania: Symphony of the Night, known in Japan as , is an action-adventure game developed and published by Konami in 1997. It is the 14th installment of the Castlevania series, the first installment released for the PlayStation, and a direct sequel to Castlevania: Rondo of Blood.Symphony of the... |
1997 |
PlayStation |
Translator |
Vandal Heartsis a turn-based tactical role-playing video game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo for the PlayStation and later ported to the Sega Saturn by Konami Computer Entertainment Nagoya. The PlayStation version was distributed in Japan, North America, and Europe. The Saturn version was... |
1996 |
PlayStation |
Translator |
Snatcheris a cyberpunk-themed graphic adventure game produced by Konami, originally released in Japan for the NEC PC-8801 and MSX 2 computer platforms in 1988. It was followed by a CD-ROM-based remake released for the PC Engine video game console in 1992, which was subsequently ported and localized into... |
1994 |
Sega CDThe is an add-on device for the Mega Drive video game console, designed and produced by Sega and released in Japan, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The device was also released in North America under the name Sega CD, for the Sega Genesis... |
Localization supervisor (with translation by Scott T. Hards) |
in the early 90s, he also contributed to the localizations of the following games: