View source for Playstation symbols

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So-called '''playstation symbols''' or "japanese symbols" refer to a common rating symbolism in Japan.

{{quotation|When Japanese authors are appraising the merits of different objects, they often use geometric symbols like circles and triangles that look as if they were entered using the buttons on a Sony Playstation}} ( [http://japanesetranslator.co.uk/portfolio/playstation-symbols/ "Playstation" symbols], retrieved 10:11, 16 July 2010 (UTC)).

== The symbols ==

According to [http://ginstrom.com/scribbles/2008/02/19/translating-maru-batsu-into-english/ The GITS blog] (retrieved 10:11, 16 July 2010 (UTC)), a four point rating scale includes
<table class="wikitable">
<tr>
<th>symbol</th>
<th>pronunciation</th>
<th>meaning</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>◎</td>
<td>nijuu maru</td>
<td>excellent, brilliant (also called bullseye, it represents the ideal condition)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>〇</td>
<td>maru</td>
<td>satisfactory, pretty good effort, also replaces the western "tick"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>△</td>
<td>sankaku</td>
<td>average, (also "in progress" in a planning context)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>×</td>
<td>batsu</td>
<td>bad, poor, no good</td>
</tr>
</table>

On a three point scale:
<table class="wikitable">
<tr>
<th>symbol</th>
<th>pronunciation</th>
<th>meaning</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>〇</td>
<td>maru</td>
<td>good, also replaces the western "tick"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>△</td>
<td>sankaku</td>
<td>average</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>×</td>
<td>batsu</td>
<td>no good</td>
</tr>
</table>

Sometimes a five point scale is used adding a double cross '''XX''', meaning very bad or severe problem.

== Links ==

* [http://japanesetranslator.co.uk/portfolio/playstation-symbols/ "Playstation" symbols] (Japanese translator)
* [http://dern.fr/memos.html#JapanSymbols Japan symbols: What do they mean?] (Jérôme Dern).
* [http://www.forevergeek.com/2005/08/the_playstation_symbols_mean_something/ The Playstation symbols mean something?]

[[Category: Evaluation methods and grids]]