Author Topic: multilanguage-based commands project  (Read 3981 times)

Ethan

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« Reply #15 on: November 05, 2005, 12:40:13 pm »
Quote
There should be no need to know any commands at all

I think we will agree on that.
The fact is that text-command is easier to implemented that a graphical interface, and to have such interface as quick as a graphical is not always obvious (perf\'s pov and user\'s pov)

My aim is mainly to make a nolanguage command system (internaly). I mean the server doesn\'t have to care if commands are in english, in german or in something else.
The aim is a code with a minimum of string used for I/O, all these strings could be strored in extern files like xml\'s ones.
Even if my aim is not to translate the commands, this will help a lot to translate them. You will only to change one file, not a code file, so you won\'t have to compile again, else you would have to create different program for different language...
« Last Edit: November 05, 2005, 12:42:38 pm by Ethan »
Wish list summary (under construction)
Your help is welcome!!!
Done : Weapons, Other items, Magic
TODO : a lot ...

lynx_lupo

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« Reply #16 on: November 06, 2005, 10:52:33 am »
You make no sense.  :P
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DaveG

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« Reply #17 on: November 06, 2005, 11:42:25 am »
I think he\'s just describing how various languages are implemented.  You have the program in whatever language you want, and you pull the alternate language verions of stuff out of another file.

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Seytra

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« Reply #18 on: November 06, 2005, 08:08:32 pm »
While I\'ve been sceptical about this in the somewhat distant past, I do see a point. The problem of this suggesting that it\'s acceptable to speak non-english inside PS remains. However, on the upside, it is true that the more technical aspects, including these that are referring to how things are to be used (including pop-ups and tooltips) require deeper klnowledge of english than the common chatting does and, to make matters worse, are far less tolerant to makeshift / litera translations that another user would still be able to decipher, and unlike the GUI, can ask for clarification. Likewise, native comands may be more easy to recall than english ones if you\'re not good at english (though the only command in active, frequent use is /tell, anyway, the rest is way more conveniently accessed via macros or the GUI itself), though YMMV, obviously.

However, when my distro decided to localise the compiler messages, I went like \"WTH is that gibberish supposed mean?\" because the translation was, while pleasant to read, highly different and to me less clear than the english original. In fact, I usually prefer english text everywhere so it\'s consistent, and enabled the localisation only due to special characters that would otherwise break occasionally. In fact, games gave me a lot of exposure to english, and, while annoying at first, in retrospect that was a great thing. But seeing that there are (and there are) non-english sub-cultures in PS already (at least I\'ve rarely seen Zelphiriens members speak in public), w/o english GUI, I suppose the added harm won\'t be that great, though I may be wrong.

DaveG

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« Reply #19 on: November 06, 2005, 09:28:26 pm »
Yes, there is a serious question that comes up:  If the client is translated, would that make people who simply don\'t know any English play more?  Which, unfortunately, is not a good thing.  While these are perfectly decent people, most other people in the game would not be able to effectively interact with them.  We\'d end up with separate overlapping games, which no one wants.  (not to mention they\'d not be able to do quests, or anything else involving the non-translated parts of the game)  So, translating the commands is entirely debatable.  There are good sides and bad; there\'s no getting around that.

I guess the best option is to make the GUI more intuitive, without the need for as much text.

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Seytra

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« Reply #20 on: November 06, 2005, 09:45:26 pm »
Yes, people who aren\'t capable of speaking english at all would indeed be reduced to meaningless levelling. I was just pointing out that people with limited knowledge of english would be able to use PS better, and they\'d still be able to meaningfully interact with the game world.

A more intuitive GUI would serve the same purpose, though, and will be a better investment of time in the long run.

lynx_lupo

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« Reply #21 on: November 07, 2005, 02:40:04 pm »
At least someone agrees. :)
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Fellon

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« Reply #22 on: November 07, 2005, 06:31:29 pm »
That the client will be translated has already been discussed, and it\'s already underway.
This topic is only about the commands (those things starting with \"/\").
And I don\'t think that localized commands will attract more people who are not able to speak english.
« Last Edit: November 07, 2005, 06:32:08 pm by Fellon »
German Planeshift Community -> http://www.psde.de

DaveG

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« Reply #23 on: November 07, 2005, 09:32:27 pm »
Yep, that pretty much sums it up.  ;)

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Aznakh

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« Reply #24 on: December 19, 2005, 06:10:27 am »
Hello there,

I would be excited about this project. Not only because it would help people from all over the globe to enjoy PS but also because it would allow people not so fluent in english to understand the interface correctly.
I would like to help in this project as a translator. I have nearly no knowledge in coding however there will be huge volumes of text to be translated and that is where I can help.
I always wanted to contribute to the game and that would be a great way. I currently speak and write 5 languages which could be helpful:

-English
-French
-German
-Dutch
-Spanish

However I don\'t think that only the commands should be translated, but also the help content and other background info implemented in the client.
However people should be notified that they have to speak english in the broadcasted chats.


And maybe in time when there will be thousands of people from around the world playing planeshift and many people have donated servers we would be able to have localized servers.

DaveG

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« Reply #25 on: December 19, 2005, 10:59:22 am »
Actually, it\'s been stated before that even if we have multiple servers, we\'ll have them all connected and still have only one world.  We don\'t want to divide up the community.

At the moment, the engine really isn\'t set up for translations.  In fact, pretty much all the system messages are hardcoded.  :/  So, it\'ll be a while before we can start translating everything, unfortunately.

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Fellon

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« Reply #26 on: December 19, 2005, 03:54:35 pm »
Quote
Originally posted by Aznakh
... I always wanted to contribute to the game and that would be a great way. I currently speak and write 5 languages which could be helpful ...


There are already some projects which are contributed to partial translations of the game. Take a look at:

http://www.planeshift.it/community_languages.html

I\'m sure you could help them.
German Planeshift Community -> http://www.psde.de

Bereror

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« Reply #27 on: December 22, 2005, 07:40:20 pm »
I think a good start would be translating the Player Guide.

The next step could be translating the help file, which is located in the data directory (data/help.xml). It is easy to download a localized help file and drop it into the data directory.

I\'m not that sure about the rest of the user interface and I do not like the idea about localized commands due to the reasons that I pointed out here.
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DaveG

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« Reply #28 on: December 22, 2005, 08:44:29 pm »
The players guide has long since been translated into German.  http://www.planeshift.it/guide/de/index.html  Though, I\'m not sure how up-to-date it is.  This is definitely the thing that would benefit the most from translations.

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