Time to think of the languages

[Sami]

AirwaySim's (nearly) all features support multi-language interface at the moment. We've deliberately built the system so that adding another interface language is fast and easy when the time is right.

But question is .. is there need for a multi-language interface? Some selected languages like English, German, Italian, Spanish, French, and max 2-3 others to keep it easy to manage.

For the task some local users would be needed to translate the game files, and also in the future to keep the data updated too. As there are a lot of feature changes and every time something is changed the language files change too this may get complicated... Translating the system itself is easy, all language files are simple text-based files but there is a LOT of text/data to translate and manage (at the moment around 3000 lines).

And the languages would of course only concern the site interface, all news and similar would still continue to be in English only.

Anyway - what I am actually asking is that do you prefer me to use time on this feature instead some other (new) features of the system?


This funny screenshot in mysterious 'x' language illustratres that nearly every item is directly translateable here. The descriptions and news on the game area are excluded.

[Yb]

Not really, no. There will be enough time later and I think keeping it in one language keeps the player community together (they all know what they are talking about). Adding other languages may attract new players but so will the new features.

And we live in 21st century. EVERYBODY SPEAKS ENGLISH! 

[NorgeFly]

I'd prefer you to spend your time developing game features rather than adding languages. But having said that, I am English so obviously I am a little bias

[Riger]

Whilst I appreciate your efforts, I'd rather see you spend your valuable time on something more game/feature oriented. (If you do go multi-language, I'll volunteer to do the Afrikaans for you.)


This is an interesting post though and related to something I was thinking about recently.  

How about you give voting points per player per completed week of gameplay, and then allow them to use those points to vote on a specific issue or choice, so for example you may ask which of the following 5 requested features would you like to see ...  and then each player may only use 15 votes (if they have that many), but no more than 10 on any single item.

This way, instead of all asking all the time and you trying to gauge which features to implement, the players get to make a choice on how they would prefer to spend their votes.

Best Regards

Richard

[Dasha]

Not really, no. There will be enough time later and I think keeping it in one language keeps the player community together (they all know what they are talking about). Adding other languages may attract new players but so will the new features.

And we live in 21st century. EVERYBODY SPEAKS ENGLISH! 

I'd prefer you to spend your time developing game features rather than adding languages. But having said that, I am English so obviously I am a little bias

I agree with this. Most of the players speak English and although I can make some jokes about French and Latin America not speaking any English, I doubt the are much. Only if there is a significant group of people that does not understand English than it should be an option...

for now you should just focus on the gameplay and not the languages as I don't think it's needed.

[DivineComedy]

Definitely work on new features   

English is (almost) universal.

[Sami]

How about you give voting points per player per completed week of gameplay, and then allow them to use those points to vote on a specific issue or choice, so for example you may ask which of the following 5 requested features would you like to see

This would fall into the category of "things that take up your time to code, without a noticable benefit".

Plus I'll still decide what's done and what's not, so there's no sense in that anyway. (buahahahahah!)

[slannoy]

I would suggest you to you update your code in order to use languages files e.g. list of codes which are defined with the translation in the selected language.

This is the way how open sources software such as Phpbb, Mambo, Xoops,... manage multi languages. Just give a template a language file to a native speaker or a group of native speakers and they will do the job at your place !

With this process, adding a new language is childish  and you can concentrate yourself to new developments.

[Sami]

I would suggest you to you update your code in order to use languages files e.g. list of codes which are defined with the translation in the selected language.

If you re-read what I said in first message, this is of course done from the very beginning....    It would be foolish to hard-code the texts into source code directly.  (or actually the site core engine, that is made by me too, directly supports it already, thus so does the AWS game engine too)  

But the point of my thread was that adding languages still requires rather much labour from me too, although I wouldn't do the translations, as keeping it all managed is a bit of an task if there are many languages to handle.

[Jona L.]

Just didn't read all comments (lack of time) but IF you need s.o. for German.... HERE I AM!
just doing fine in English class, and being native German speaker!

but I don't think it is needed, due to everybody (playing this game) speaking english, because why would someone register, and even pay for something he doesn't even understand (by language, and not by strategy of course!!)!
Well, I also worked as translator for some OTTD graphic sets, so I have experience in doing that!

but to make the whole website it would take some weeks, maybe 1 month!

[Sundaypilot]

Hmmm, I guess people who don't understand english wouldn't be here anyway. So answers were kind of as expected...

What about adding one language to see if it makes any difference. Does it bring in new players (who wouldn't join without it...)
Spanish for example.

Guides and forum would still be in english, I don't know how much translating only game interface actually would help.

I suppose you don't need help with savo

[ali5541]

Although like sami said that the decision in the end is still his, I prefer that you use this valuable time to further develop the game features.

[0zlw]

I think this is something that is not necessary at the moment. Currently with a relatively small community and players, introducing languages is difficult. I think as our community and gradually grows this is something we might look at, maybe 3 - 5 years down the track depending on the growth and demands of AS.

From a developers prospective its not enormously viable as if you were to weigh it up, you would get more financialy out of new features as opposed to new languages.

The only thing I would say on the opposite side from your propective is that if we were to implement it now you would recieve the benefits in maybe 2 - 3 years as opposed to 3 years down the track being 4 - 5 years you would recieve the benefits.

[Sidereus]

Sami, this game is business to you, isn´t it?

So, think about the translation, yes. Maybe it´s not the FIRST priority, but is very important, no doubt.

Maybe you started developing this game for fun, but money does not hurt anyone. And I think you close the door for a lot of people who wants to play and don´t speak English.

Even in my group of friends many don´t speak English very well, and whenever I show the game they show interest, would pay for it, but the language is a barrier.

When you decide, I'll be a volunteer for Portuguere translation.

[kevinmh]

Sami, this game is business to you, isn´t it?

So, think about the translation, yes. Maybe it´s not the FIRST priority, but is very important, no doubt.

Maybe you started developing this game for fun, but money does not hurt anyone. And I think you close the door for a lot of people who wants to play and don´t speak English.

Even in my group of friends many don´t speak English very well, and whenever I show the game they show interest, would pay for it, but the language is a barrier.

When you decide, I'll be a volunteer for Portuguere translation.

Right. For the long-term sustainable development, multi-languages is a must. It is very useful to promote the game to the non-English-speaking communities. The translation works can be totally done by volunteers (players), so not much extra workload is involved for the developers.

[marc0o0o0o]

I don't think it's needed right now. There are still a lot more features that, in my opinion, are more important than making this game multi-language. I agree with you and everyone else, it will be needed someday, but I think it's too early. However, it will attract a lot more players, which means more money for you, so you decide. If you decide to do it now, I would like to help with Spanish translating.

[samomuransky]

I don't really think that languages are necesarry.. definetly if it should slowdown development of game.

[yyebo]

having multiple languages especially including eastern-asian languages would boost the volume of users a lot - you can't imaging how many online gamers over there! -
However not sure if Sami's team is ready to manage a large number of players.

[samomuransky]

These days most people have some English.... in civilizated world.. Another thing is that adding players = need for more games = higher server load... Are servers ready for it?

[Sami]

After some thoughts, I would probably introduce two additional languages like German and French to the system after v.1.2 is available.