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I found this sentence on a video game review site:

日本だと「不思議のダンジョン」と言ったほうがわかりやすいかもしれないローグライクゲーム。

I am not sure whether だと means 'in Japan' or 'if it were in Japan'. The translation in one case would be:

This is a rogue-like game that, in Japan, is called 'Amazing Dungeons' which is probably a bit easier to understand.

A rogue-like game is a genre of video game which is similar to the original of the genre, Rogue. The other option which I personally think is more likely is:

This is a rogue-like game which if made in Japan would probably be called something more easy to understand like 'Amazing Dungeons'"

It boils down to me not knowing the だと construction. Can someone be kind enough to explain this usage to me?

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2 Answers 2

Salaam, Not an academic answer, but hope it helps:

日本だと、日本ですと

in english is like "with Japan", or "with the case of Japan", and used to attract attention on the subject matter.

In my opinion, 日本では, is more general or neutral.

Usually it's better to specify what part of the subject is examined

Another usage is with a judgement appended, which implies that you bind your point of view to the statement: ー日本は便利だと思います　[　Japan is practical, that's what I think] ー日本はやすいだといいです　[　[if] Japan is cheap, that'll be good]

Another colloquial usage is like this: ーなんだと？　 [what is it (that is happenin...)?]

Inverting the order we get another interesting usage like this: 日本とは、なんだ？ [& concerning] Japan, what about it?

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Instead of だと, it should be broken down into だ(copula) and と(particle).

here is used as a particle that indicates an uncontrollable event or state will follow after what the particle marks. Sometimes parsed as if but not really accurate since it's not really a conditional. Also can be parsed as when.

日本だと[A] would mean "if/when in Japan, [A] follows as a consequence (not controllable by the first person and/or seemingly agent-less)."

Also take a look at Derek's answer regarding と for "if"-clauses

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