The downside of translations

[LordThanatos]

First of all, I know many may not agree with the title, but read before you post ppls.

I consider that translating this game, or any game for that matter, into multiple languages is a bad idea. Althoguh English is not my mother tongue, I see it as the universal language of computer games.
If we are to play together, we also must ALL speak a common language.

What are the downsides of translations:

1) It encourages people NOT TO KNOW ENGLISH and only use their mother tongue. Thus, in time, if the game will be in all the languages, a lot less inter-country teams will be formed since most German players will only speak German, the French only French, the Romanians only Romanian and so on.
Here is an example. Suppose I know English, French and Spanish but not....Batverian (fictional republic, so no one gets mad) let's say..and I see some players from Batveria who I want to play with. There might be a chance for them not to know English (or French or Spanish...let's say they know German, Batverian and Russian) since there is no longer a need to learn English (after all, there is a Latverian version of the game too). So we can't communicate.
2) Even if you do know English but are playing a different language version of the game, it is hard to tell your enemies what to cast or to buy. For example, let's say that the "Cover of Darkness" is translated into "Night-shroud" or something into a language. If you are used with that name and say "use night" the player playing Dark Lady might not understand that you want him to use ult.

I'm not saying the game shouldn't be translated. It is the right of the players of every country to request a game in their language. Also, English isn't my mother tongue, so don't accuse me of anything, but I think all HoN players should know a bit of English, at least enough to play HoN (you don't need better then 4th school-grade English to fully understand anything in HoN).

I repeat, if the players from every country want to play HoN in their language, it is their decision and not my business to impose otherwise.

Consider this post an appeal to all HoN players not to see translations as "oh...HoN in my language...now I don't have to learn English...yaaaay".

[tomas666]

i made the czech translation, but i agree with you more or less. i didnt translate the skills', heroes' and items' names, it would only confuse players. i also prefer HoN in english, actually i prefer english to czech whenever possible.
players who do not know english should not play public games or they should join only non-english games. this sounds a little strange, but it's very annoying when you are on the same team with someone, who doesnt say a word... luckily, most czech players know english (or the basic words at least).
maybe you wonder why i translated HoN, then? i wanted to increase the number of players who visit my HoN fansite (www.heroesofnewerth.cz), because that's where you can download my translation. and i hoped that S2Games could give me premium account for free :D - they didnt :(

[Avathacis]

First of all, I know many may not agree with the title, but read before you post ppls.

I consider that translating this game, or any game for that matter, into multiple languages is a bad idea. Althoguh English is not my mother tongue, I see it as the universal language of computer games.
If we are to play together, we also must ALL speak a common language.

What are the downsides of translations:

1) It encourages people NOT TO KNOW ENGLISH and only use their mother tongue. Thus, in time, if the game will be in all the languages, a lot less inter-country teams will be formed since most German players will only speak German, the French only French, the Romanians only Romanian and so on.
Here is an example. Suppose I know English, French and Spanish but not....Batverian (fictional republic, so no one gets mad) let's say..and I see some players from Batveria who I want to play with. There might be a chance for them not to know English (or French or Spanish...let's say they know German, Batverian and Russian) since there is no longer a need to learn English (after all, there is a Latverian version of the game too). So we can't communicate.
2) Even if you do know English but are playing a different language version of the game, it is hard to tell your enemies what to cast or to buy. For example, let's say that the "Cover of Darkness" is translated into "Night-shroud" or something into a language. If you are used with that name and say "use night" the player playing Dark Lady might not understand that you want him to use ult.

I'm not saying the game shouldn't be translated. It is the right of the players of every country to request a game in their language. Also, English isn't my mother tongue, so don't accuse me of anything, but I think all HoN players should know a bit of English, at least enough to play HoN (you don't need better then 4th school-grade English to fully understand anything in HoN).

I repeat, if the players from every country want to play HoN in their language, it is their decision and not my business to impose otherwise.

Consider this post an appeal to all HoN players not to see translations as "oh...HoN in my language...now I don't have to learn English...yaaaay".
Like the guy in my sig?
And OP's got a point. I fail to find a game without at least 1 russian player and all they know is "ruskyii est?))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))". If they find another russian they talk in russian the whole game ignoring their allies. IF they don't find another one they don't talk at all. Though this might be a country issue.

[rXp]

I think we should at least keep the name of hero, item, spell, map, etc... So people could know what they are talking about in every languages.
I'm Swiss so I speak French first, but I play on the English version because I don't see the point to play a game with maybe 70% of the players English and not know what they are talking about because I have the game in French.

[Wildside]

in dota u could ping ppl and kick out all the russians/ppl u didnt rly want. Problem solved:p

[rXp]

in dota u could ping ppl and kick out all the russians/ppl u didnt rly want. Problem solved:p
Why not make a "only guys who have the game in english can come in this lobby" kind of option ^^

[tomas666]

Why not make a "only guys who have the game in english can come in this lobby" kind of option ^^

here is an example why not: i, as the author of the czech translation, need to use this translation, look for mistakes and correct them. for that, i need to have the client in czech language. but it doesn't mean i don't speak english. actually, i encourage my friends to use english when someone non-czech is on our team.

[rXp]

here is an example why not: i, as the author of the czech translation, need to use this translation, look for mistakes and correct them. for that, i need to have the client in czech language. but it doesn't mean i don't speak english. actually, i encourage my friends to use english when someone non-czech is on our team.
Yes of course, but I'm afraid to see the "only ******" games. Like "only french" "only german",

[Magissia]

If a guy don't know any word of english, he won't buy a game without a translation @ less $$$ for S2Games.

I don't like your idea.

[tomas666]

Yes of course, but I'm afraid to see the "only ******" games. Like "only french" "only german",

there could be a checkbox, something like "English neccesary here". who doesnt speak english should not join such games.
also host can "filter" the non-english players. whenever someone joins the lobby, host will tell him "Say hello or I will kick you!" or so, to make the new player say something in english. if he doesnt, he gets kicked. this also filters out those players, who know english but don't say a word for the whole game. i have tried this several times and it works, it just take twice longer to start a new game.

[friendlypoop]

yes of course, but i'm afraid to see the "only ******" games. Like "only french" "only german",
brazil only!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!