Multi Language Game - A Good Idea?

[Kieran-R]

I was thinking about making my game avalible in many different languages such as Spanish, Portugese, German, and a few more. But what I really want to know is - Is it worthwhile?

Obviously making your game avalible in languages such as Spanish, Portugese, and German would open the Market for millions of more potential players and that is what is really dragging me in.

I have a script here which automatically translates HTML to any language of my choice without me changing the HTML to different languages, and I could also make it possible for users to translate mails which have been sent by other players. But again, that's more problems...

Another one, would be your player interaction, and posting news ect. Unless obvcourse you use the translation method which I mentioned earlier about the PM's, then that again is more problems. You can't exactly post announcements in many different languages (realisticly)

 

So basicly, I want your opinions on whether I shoudlnt goto the bother of making a multi language game, or I should just stick to plain English.

[Dave]

Hmmm. I've thought about this too! But that automated script I imagine wouldn't be perfect so ideally you'd wanna be using language files and allow the users to switch between them. Also user interaction would be impossible, along with any cheating and so on in game you'd ideally need at least one moderator fluent in each language you are live in.

Unless you did some form of "world" system where you have different versions of the game running entirely in different languages. So have an English world, Dutch world, Spanish world and so on.

There are many pros and cons but I personally think in this case, on a small scale site. You'd be better off keeping it in one language.

[Paul Evans]

I was actually planning on making CrimGame multiple languages as i know people who speak other languages but i found that it would take quite awhile to code in more than one language.

[a_bertrand]

Automatic translation are not good, and in most cases are hardly understandable. So you must do all the translations by hand. Usually when you have multi-language games, you do have like parallel worlds (one for each language) where players are not shared.

Also, keep in mind that every time you make a modification of the game you must translate any new string to the new one. BTW it's not only the HTML but also image buttons with texts, or answers of the game like "you died" which need to be translated.

Finally, if you really want to grab a bigger market, then you should consider the Chinese market ;)

[Sim]

Why the chinese? :)

[a_bertrand]

Because it's the biggest market ;)

[Kieran-R]

Portugese = 300 million + people.

Spanish = 200 million + people.

The automatic language translator I am usin actully is understandable. It uses Google API language translator. So it basically goes to google translator for you. The script also has a cache so it doesn't need to goto Google for ever single user request.

I think that making complete different servers for the languages is a bad idea unless obvcourse you are fluent in the language. (In my case i'm not)

[a_bertrand]

Forget google translations... it's as good a 0. Really. I tested it and I can also tell you because I do understand multiple language.

And your numbers are still small compared to Chinese (and wrong I believe) ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_languages_by_number_of_native_speakers

[rulerofzu]

Alain is correct. Google translate is way off from being correct. I tested this on my game and the spanish and dutch players found it laughable.

Also worth noting that as the API runs before your game then any connectivity issues with google means your game will pause and yes whilst everyone would like to think google is too big to have connection issues it does happen.

Your best solution for this would be to implement a language template system. A basic idea of this would be

 

english language file example

 

<?
define('LOGIN', 'Login');
define('FAQ', 'Frequently Asked Questions');
?>

 

<?
include('language/*chosen language of the player*.php');

echo 'FAQ';

 

There is a bit more to it than that just a simple example.

Edited April 12, 2011 by rulerofzu

[Kieran-R]

Ill give the Google Translation a try, and if its not so good, like you are telling me, then I will give a go at the way you have said RulerOfZu.

[rulerofzu]

You may want to consider using http_accept_language when you decide to move from google ;) and use the primary tag to chose the appropriate language file.

The method I suggested is very long and you will require people to help you or pay someone to translate by hand the files. Its also worth noting your game structure and doing language files appropriately.

A global language file which has common words throughout your game.

A admin language file for the staff area

You can also do this as an array in your language files rather than define :D

[a_bertrand]

Seems Kerian-R trust what others says... (was sarcastic) It's really not difficult to check, take any website written in a language you understand or not, and try to translate it in something you do understand well... and let me know if the result makes any sense.

French version: Voltaire

Je vous offre la traduction d'un livre d'un ancien sage qui, ayant le bonheur de n'avoir rien à faire, eut celui de s'amuser à écrire l'histoire de Zadig, ouvrage qui dit plus qu'il ne semble dire. Je vous prie de le lire et d'en juger; car, quoique vous soyez dans le printemps de votre vie, quoique tous les plaisirs vous cherchent, quoique vous soyez belle, et que vos talents ajoutent à votre beauté; quoiqu'on vous loue du soir au matin, et que par toutes ces raisons vous soyez en droit de n'avoir pas le sens commun, cependant vous avez l'esprit très sage et le goût très fin, et je vous ai entendue raisonner mieux que de vieux derviches à longue barbe et à bonnet pointu.

English version (by a human project gutenberg):

I here present you with a Translation of the Work of an ancient Sage, who having the Happiness of living free from all Avocations, thought proper, by Way of Amusement, to write the History of Zadig; a Performance, that comprehends in it more Instruction than, ’tis possible, you may at first be aware of. I beg you would indulge me so far [iii]as to read it over, and then pass your impartial Judgment upon it: For notwithstanding you are in the Bloom of your Life; tho’ ev’ry Pleasure courts you; tho’ you are Nature’s Darling, and have internal Qualities in proportion to your Beauty; tho’ the World resounds your Praises from Morning till Night, and consequently you must have a just Title to a superior Degree of Understanding than the rest of your Sex; Yet your Wit is no ways flashy; Your Taste is refin’d, and I have had the Honour [iv]to hear you talk more learnedly than the wisest Dervise, with his venerable Beard, and pointed Bonnet

"English" by google:

I offer a translation of a book by an ancient sage who, having the good fortune of having nothing to do, was to have fun writing the story of Zadig, who says more work than it seems say. I beg you to read and judge for, though you are in the spring of your life, though all the pleasures you seek, though you are beautiful, and your talents add to your beauty; though you praise from evening to morning, and that all these reasons you are entitled to have no common sense, however you're feeling very wise and very fine taste, and I've heard better reason than to old dervishes long beard and pointy hat.

If your game is written like that... then I doubt your players will be happy.

Anyhow, check the zapengine, it contains a solution for multi-language support ;)

[Kieran-R]

Well Ive done that on quite a few translators, and I dont hink even one of them has given me the same translation as another....

It seems theres no real way to translate a game using an online translator... Hmmm

[rulerofzu]

Thats very true which brings you straight back to what Alain said translations are best done by hand.

[a_bertrand]

And that brings back: start to trust what others say, or avoid to ask... as you make us loose our time otherwise ;)

[Diesl]

Just to add another point, if you support a multi-language game, then you support a multi-language community, which means you will have to moderate in each language that you offer. Unless you speak all these languages, or have dedicated GM's to moderate in these languages, it becomes a lot more work.