All your base are belong to us

Internet meme of badly translated line from video game

"All your base are belong to us" (often shortened to "All Your Base", "AYBABTU", or simply "AYB") is a broken English phrase that began an internet phenomenon in 2001 and 2002, with the use of a Flash animation. The phrase is taken from the first part of a European Sega Mega Drive version of the video game Zero Wing,[1] made in Japan by Toaplan. The words in the game were translated into English so quickly that they did not make very much sense. The words "All your base are belong to us" were at first popular on the Something Awful message forums.[2]

Words of the game change

Original script[3] English version of the game[4][a] Literal translation from Japanese[b] Idiomatic translation[c]
機関士:何者なにものかによって、爆発物ばくはつぶつ仕掛しかけられたようです。 Mechanic: Somebody set up us the bomb. Engineer: It seems someone planted explosives. Someone planted explosives on our ship.
通信士:メインスクリーンにビジョンがます。 Operator: Main screen turn on. Communication staff: The "vision" will come to the main screen. A visual is coming on the main screen.
CATS:連邦政府れんぽうせいふぐんのご協力きょうりょくにより、君達きみたち基地きちは、すべてCATSがいただいた。 CATS: All your base are belong to us. CATS: With the cooperation of Federation Forces, CATS has taken over all of your bases. With the cooperation of Federation Forces, CATS has taken over all of your bases.
CATS:せいぜいのこすくないいのちを、大切たいせつにしたまえ・・・・。 CATS: You have no chance to survive make your time. CATS: Treasure what little time remains in your lives. Treasure the little time you have left to live.
艦長:たのむぞ。ZIG!! Captain: Move 'ZIG'. Captain: I ask of you, ZIG [units]... I'm counting on you, ZIG...
艦長:われわれ未来みらい希望きぼうを・・・ Captain: For great justice. Captain: ...let there be hope for our future. ...for our survival!

Notable media references change

 
The phrase on U.S. Route 50 in Nevada

The phrase and similar phrases from the game has been shown in articles, books, comics, clothing, movies, radio shows, songs, television shows, video games, webcomics, and websites.


Related pages change

References change

  1. Alex Tufty Ashman (2007-02-13). "All Your Base Are Belong To Us". BBC. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  2. Julian Dibbell (2008-01-18). "Mutilated Furries, Flying Phalluses: Put the Blame on Griefers, the Sociopaths of the Virtual World". Wired. p. 2. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  3. Toaplan (31 May 1991). Zero Wing (in Japanese). Vol. Sega Mega Drive. Taito. Scene: Intro sequence.
  4. Toaplan (1992). Zero Wing. Vol. Sega Mega Drive. Taito. Scene: Intro scene.
  5. Taylor, Chris (2001-02-25). "All Your Base Are Belong To Us". Archived from the original on 2007-06-21. Retrieved 2007-06-29.
  6. Benner, Jeffrey (2001-02-23). "When Gamer Humor Attacks". Retrieved 2006-05-15.
  7. Doyle, Holly (2003-04-04). "Men arrested for 'All Your Base' prank". WWMT — Digital Channel 3. Archived from the original on 2007-06-20. Retrieved 2006-06-17.
  8. Poulsen, Kevin (2004-03-05). "Wags hijack TV channel's on-screen ticker". The Register. Retrieved 2006-05-15.
  9. Sandoval, Greg (2006-06-02). "YouTube: Our humor, not our hack". CNET News.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2006-06-02.

Notes

  1. Original broken English translation as it appeared in the released video game.
  2. The direct translation from the original Japanese game text has been created by Wikipedia editors with the help of native speakers.
  3. English translation edited for clarity to native English speakers, as opposed to a literal word-for-word translation.

Other websites change