Author Topic: Kickstarter is live!  (Read 40932 times)

Offline kasnavada

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #120 on: October 13, 2016, 12:44:19 pm »
Even free... I have too much accounts and don't remember where I've got them =). Thanks for the stats. Looks like we need a russian guy... people there are very fond of space games and it's very odd that there is so few of them. Anyway, thanks for the picture =).

Also, speaking for my country, as a whole, French people tend to be phobic about foreign languages. A French translation would appeal to them. It would not amount to a lot but could be done.

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All of that has already been done.  The part that hasn't been done is the actual translation.  AI War doesn't have it, but every game since Bionic Dues does (just search your install files for a_bionic.xml, you'll find it inside RuntimeData/Languages/en)

Ah, thanks for pointing this out =). I didn't know that ! It's a good news for the kickstarter if it can be marketed accordingly =).
I actually checked a few buttons / texts on bionic dues and it seems like the whole of the "buttons" or "interface text" is also localized.


« Last Edit: October 13, 2016, 12:45:54 pm by kasnavada »

Offline Draco18s

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #121 on: October 13, 2016, 01:17:01 pm »
Ah, thanks for pointing this out =). I didn't know that ! It's a good news for the kickstarter if it can be marketed accordingly =).
I actually checked a few buttons / texts on bionic dues and it seems like the whole of the "buttons" or "interface text" is also localized.

Oh yeah, every bit of text is set up to be localized.  It just isn't for any language other than English.

Offline ptarth

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #122 on: October 13, 2016, 01:50:05 pm »
I believe almost all of the text is setup to reference the language files. I say that because as I was wandering around the code last week I recall noticing something that wasn't. I don't recall what it was offhand. There might also be some text baked into images, but on the whole most of the groundwork is laid.

As to the price, realistically, translations don't happen for free. The majority of the groundwork is in, but getting the translations finished, checked, and making sure everything renders as intended is going to cost. I'm not sure its 2-3% as kasnavada suggested, but I have no good idea. That being true, even if it is 'simple', it hasn't happened yet for any Arcen project. Now, if there are people who would like it and they are willing to contribute towards it, it seems like a win-win situation. Arcen's bailiwick is strong community involvement, so if Chris lays out the costs and then asks if for volunteers to fund it, then the addition of a non-core feature enhancement seems reasonable.

However, I don't know enough about marketing to say for certainty how this should be spun. From a numbers perspective it is reasonable. From a PR perspective, no clue.
Note: This post contains content that is meant to be whimsical. Any belittlement or trivialization of complex issues is only intended to lighten the mood and does not reflect upon the merit of those positions.

Offline kasnavada

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #123 on: October 13, 2016, 02:10:00 pm »
When I spoke about 2-3% I spoke about preparing the "groundwork" code for this, not the translation itself. I'm somewhat confident about the estimate as I made java applications with a web front that are localized in French & English for a living. Now I'm working on the polish / spanish / French TV box that go with internet subscriptions - same translation and size issues, blablabla. However, as it has been pointed out by Draco and you it's mostly done, if not completely done.

About the translation itself, I stated above I'd be willing to make the French part. That said, I'm pretty sure you'd be able to find other volunteers around here if needed. The only question is maintaining the thing. I see 2 solutions here:

1) If you want to advertize the game as "translatable", no issue, just point out the files that Draco pointed to. The translation should, if possible, be put in the workshop as a mod.
2) If you want to advertize the game as translated, however, you'd need to ensure that someone will always be there to translate expansions, updates, and such. That's kind of a major point. I'm fan enough to be here until the release and some more time after that... but for the next 5 years ? Can't really guarantee that. Real life issues happen.

In any case, the fact that it's at least "translatable" should be in the FAQ. If Arcen wants to translate the kickstarter in other language, finding volunteers that would do the release translation mod (at least) and possibly the kickstarter translation too should, AFAIK, be doable (with a few proof-readers in case of). Arcen's choice here whether it's good or not.

« Last Edit: October 13, 2016, 02:13:10 pm by kasnavada »

Offline Tridus

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #124 on: October 13, 2016, 03:34:30 pm »
The unmentioned parts of this are:
- alternate language testing. It has to render correctly, you need to be getting the correct text, and so on
- ongoing cost to maintain localizations every time text is added / changed

That last one is the big issue for a small company like Arcen. It has to be done for every patch and every expansion.

Offline Dominus Arbitrationis

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #125 on: October 13, 2016, 05:57:43 pm »
Okay, so what I'm hearing from my side of things is we need some kind of translation management software. Does anyone know of any PHP based systems? I've been looking but all I can find are python and jboss based ones, which are a bit of work to set up and a whole lot of work to maintain.
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Offline Tigris

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #126 on: October 13, 2016, 06:13:28 pm »
I am not sure that it is that easy to localize a game, there are a lot of things which it can influence:  http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DanielBatoff/20161007/282861/Localizing_a_Unity_Indie_Game_The_Hidden_Costs.php

If a translation is not good enough quality it can backfire: http://steamcommunity.com/app/350740/discussions/0/458606877308120616/

And it is a lot of work to do a good translation: http://xseedgames.tumblr.com/post/133221080530/the-legend-of-heroes-trails-of-cold-steel

Offline Draco18s

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #127 on: October 13, 2016, 11:22:28 pm »
Okay, so what I'm hearing from my side of things is we need some kind of translation management software. Does anyone know of any PHP based systems? I've been looking but all I can find are python and jboss based ones, which are a bit of work to set up and a whole lot of work to maintain.

My answer is "not that I'm aware of" but "I probably know someone who could write one..."
But probably not really.  Most of the folks I know are .NET based.

Offline kasnavada

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #128 on: October 14, 2016, 01:32:15 am »
Okay, so what I'm hearing from my side of things is we need some kind of translation management software. Does anyone know of any PHP based systems? I've been looking but all I can find are python and jboss based ones, which are a bit of work to set up and a whole lot of work to maintain.

What you'd need a translation management software for exactly ? You want to make it "non-coder proof" ? Which features are you looking for ? What are the limitations you're facing which make you want php ? Do you have a database that you can use on your server ?

More important, when do you need that ? 'Cause it's been a while, but I have done some php before too.

Offline Draco18s

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #129 on: October 14, 2016, 01:59:52 am »
I think the idea is going to be along the lines of "let Dom manage the English version" (e.g. upload the xml file) and have an interface for selecting a language from a dropdown, which would then display on one side the English text and have an editable spot for the translation for that language.

At any point a translated file could be pulled down based on those entries.

Whether or not this would be an "anyone edit" or a "give specific users edit access to specific languages" I don't know.

Offline Mánagarmr

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #130 on: October 14, 2016, 02:07:51 am »
French aren't the only ones allergic to foreign languages. Poles, slavic and russians are just as bad.

Heck, I'm swedish, so english is hardly my main language, but the sheer resistance I see online to using english in games that are multiplayer and 100% english (with no localization) just blows my mind. All it does is ruin teamwork. "BUT MY LANGUAGE IS BETTER!"

No, when you can't communicate with your teammates it definitely is not, you proud buffoon.
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Offline Draco18s

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #131 on: October 14, 2016, 02:11:08 am »
Slovak, huh.
I know someone who could probably provide a decent translation to Slovak.  His English isn't perfect, but he only has trouble with translating a word (when telling me about something, or vice versa, particularly slang) only occasionally.  He's also in game development already.

Offline Mánagarmr

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #132 on: October 14, 2016, 03:51:30 am »
Slovak, huh.
Slavic. Slovak is a country, a nationality. Slavic is an etnicity.
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Offline Matruchus

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #133 on: October 14, 2016, 04:19:33 am »
French aren't the only ones allergic to foreign languages. Poles, slavic and russians are just as bad.
Not all of us Slavs are so bad  :P

I haven't seen a commerical game translated in to Slovene yet but I'm not crying or kicking. Ok, to be fair there are some open source games that got translated - OpenTTD comes to mind.
« Last Edit: October 14, 2016, 04:22:14 am by Matruchus »

Offline Mánagarmr

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Re: Kickstarter is live!
« Reply #134 on: October 14, 2016, 11:42:01 am »
Not all of us Slavs are so bad  :P
Neither are all the french ;) Just a large percentage. But I always commend people that stand out from this norm.
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