What Does the Word "Gaiden" Mean?

[selowitch]

Prompted by the release of Tecmo's Ninja Gaiden, I find myself wondering if anybody knows what the (presumably) Japanese word gaiden means, if anything?

I realize a lot of these words in game names are sometimes utter nonsense. Any insights from the peanut gallery here?

[StudioAlex]

Side Story

It's usually a way to describe a break from the normal direction, as in, a focus on one character from another, already established story. I'm not sdure why Ninja Gaiden uses the name, since it's not a spin off from another game. I guess it conceivabley is now that there is DOA. But whatever. It means side story.

[selowitch]

Originally posted by StudioAlex
Side Story

It's usually a way to describe a break from the normal direction, as in, a focus on one character from another, already established story. I'm not sdure why Ninja Gaiden uses the name, since it's not a spin off from another game. I guess it conceivabley is now that there is DOA. But whatever. It means side story.

So we might therefore translate it A Ninja Tale?

[StudioAlex]

Originally posted by selowitch

So we might therefore translate it A Ninja Tale?

Dah.

[mattgame]

The word means small room inhabited by homosexuals. Gaiden.

[LiquidX]

Originally posted by t_howell
The word means small room inhabited by homosexuals. Gaiden.

Thats why i pronounce it Guide-in not Ghey-den...

[Hard Boiled Cop]

I remember when I first pronounce that word. I thought it said 'Gay'-den until my mate pronounced it Guy'-den.

[Stagliano]

Is this something to do with the self-named Fabulous Five? Are they masters of ancient martial arts? There I was thinking they just had good taste in interior decorating.

[StudioAlex]

Originally posted by Hard Boiled Cop
I remember when I first pronounce that word. I thought it said 'Gay'-den until my mate pronounced it Guy'-den.

Well, if you care that much you better start pronouncing ninja as neen ja. Of course, everyoine will look at you like you're retarded, but we must all bear our crosses.

[Koopa]

I'm pretty sure Gaiden means side-story or something like that....for all you oldschoolers, you'll remember when Majora's Mask on the N64 was being developed as Zelda Gaiden on the 64DD

http://ign64.ign.com/articles/069/069708p1.html

here they call it a semi-sequel.

[selowitch]

Originally posted by Koopa
I'm pretty sure Gaiden means side-story or something like that..

Yeah, that's what StudioAlex said above.