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Author Topic: Translations and Localizations General Thread  (Read 51491 times)
Minus
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« on: February 06, 2009, 07:42:26 am »

This thread is for anyone working on language packs for the game.

I've never translated anything before, but I guess if I find time I'd take a crack at the French localization. I figure I'll install a few RTS games in French to get a sense of what words are used for what English words in the context of a videogame, because I don't know words like "multiplayer," and a straight dictionary wouldn't help much for things like "ship." What files do I need to go through to make the necessary changes?

Also, I'm definitely not a native speaker. If anyone wants to help me out a little I'd love to work with you.
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Kumlekar
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« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2009, 07:58:19 am »

I'd help, but the only language I know is Java...
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« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2009, 09:40:36 am »

What files do I need to go through to make the necessary changes?

data\english\strings.txt. And... that's it. Smiley  Except for a few image files which have words on them (End Turn, Chat, and Menu buttons). Chat and Menu are easy enough to modify with an image editor; End Turn is more complicated. I actually didn't make the End Turn graphic, and it was provided to me as a flat file (no layers), so it'll be difficult to change unless the artist still has a layered version or can provide instructions and assets necessary to reproduce it. I'll try and get hold of him.

A French translation would be great! Looking forward to seeing it.

I've actually considered running strings.txt through Google Translate and using those translations as-is, in order to provoke some native speakers into correcting the inevitable automatic translation errors for me. Grin   I've never gotten around to it though, which is probably a good thing.
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Prez
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« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2009, 05:10:33 pm »

I am still (slow) working into Italian. I need some time
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Chris
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« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2009, 11:40:56 pm »

Thanks for the update. There's no rush. Smiley
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Minus
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« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2009, 04:21:07 am »

I've actually considered running strings.txt through Google Translate and using those translations as-is, in order to provoke some native speakers into correcting the inevitable automatic translation errors for me. Grin

I had considered this - if I do a poor job, someone will be stingy enough to correct my mistakes. The machine translate might do a more efficient job in that case. Tongue

I still want to take a crack at it.
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« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2009, 06:29:20 am »

I expect you'll do a better job than the machine would. Smiley
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Minus
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« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2009, 06:44:47 am »

This is getting ridiculous. I'm pulling my hair out here. ATTENTION FOREIGN PEOPLE: How do I run a program in NOT ENGLISH? I can find absolutely zero information about running programs in other localizations.

GAAAAAAAAh.
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« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2009, 09:43:16 am »

The short answer is that it depends. Smiley  Some games and apps ask you when you install them, for example. To change the language used for Steam's main UI, choose File->Settings, go to the Interface tab, and choose a language from the drop-down list. To change the language used for Steam games, right-click on the game, choose Properties, and switch to the Language tab.

Windows itself will let you type in different languages if you use the Regional and Language Options dialog in the Control Panel, but this usually doesn't change the appearance of GUIs.

If you want a fully localised version of some programs (including Windows) then sometimes you actually have to buy a localised edition. e.g. Spanish Windows is a separate product from English Windows.
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Minus
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« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2009, 05:41:23 am »

Steam is easy, but Source games only download different voice actors' speech for different languages, the UI remains English. I don't own any other games on Steam that would come with a good localization.

I ended up buying a French copy of Age of Empires 1 on eBay. Which is awesome.

Tangentially related.
« Last Edit: February 10, 2009, 06:00:44 am by Minus » Logged

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« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2009, 07:43:34 am »

Haha, Kumlekar pointed your new avatar out to me. Glorious.

I used to love Age of Empires. I sucked at it, but that didn't matter, we just played co-op. Grin
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Minus
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« Reply #11 on: February 17, 2009, 07:48:23 am »

Here's a progress report. I only just today won the eBay bid, so I'll have the game in my hands in 3-10 business days, assuming the seller bothers to ship it in a polite amount of time. Since my last post, not much has actually happened on my end yet.
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« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2009, 06:44:29 am »

Thanks for the update. Smiley
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Minus
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« Reply #13 on: February 21, 2009, 09:24:30 am »

My game came today. Hooray! Now I can get to it... Probably Monday. This weekend is packed. >_<
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Minus
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« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2009, 08:43:30 am »

I'm having a lot of fun. I'm testing it by making a backup of the English strings.txt and modifying it directly. Only problem I'm having at the moment is accent marks like é seem to break the string at the moment. Also, when I start a game, it crashes with a UTF error. Attached is a shot of the main menu, you can see what it does to the word 'Succès,' which is the translation for 'Achievements' that Valve uses here.

Oh, and I only JUST realized what the & at the start of some of these strings does. That's what makes a hotkey, isn't it?


* menu.JPG (103.83 KB, 1280x707 - viewed 2380 times.)
« Last Edit: February 22, 2009, 08:46:49 am by Minus » Logged

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