They have to translate all quest dialogue, signs, names, objects, voiceovers, etc. It takes time.
What voiceovers?
Normal character grunts and yells when attacking and being hit, emotes and spell casts...
You might think this is minor, but it makes a difference.
Well the more an MMORPG can integrate single-player elements into an MMO, makes it a better game indeed. Yeah, voice overs will be the next step, to a certain extent.
I never understand just what it is peoplw want from an MMO. First they rant and rave that the game is late being released and go on and on about how a late release will be the games ultimate demise. But when the game is released then they complain that the game was rushed out the door and how it is sure to fail.
NCSoft and the Aion developers know that to succeed they MUST release a polished game that is loaded with content, immersion, story and originality. Otherwise it will fail. It takes time to accomplish all those things, and IMO it's worth the wait.
GS: To what extent is the game being rebalanced and retuned for a North American launch? How is the game being returned? Are fights shorter? Gentler level curve? Lower level requirements?
LB: The core gameplayitself has not been rebalanced for the Western audience, mainly because there was no need to. From the drawing board, Aion was designed to appeal to a global audience--
GameSpot: Give us an update on the game's development and localization. What's being worked on at present?
LB: Work on the game is progressing very well. Since Aion's gameplay mechanics were originally developed for a global appeal, we've been able to spend a lot of time focusing on significant localization. And by localization, I don't mean just the text--stories, culture, fables, and even inside cultural jokes all need to be considered and rewritten for the Western audience
Now that last line is funny because it says that not just the text is being changed but ...... culture, fables, and even inside jokes... WHICH STILL FALLS IN THE GROUP OF --TEXT--, which is a big waste of time and should not take long at all because there is no programming/debugging/testing involved with it, heh that's just writing a book basically if all you do is replace the words in an already existing program. UNLESS of COURSE, TEXT ISN'T the only thing they are changing and are ACTUALLY changing graphics to a more western feel. Then of course, that would make more sense that it is being delayed and I would have nothing against that.
It may not matter to you, but I'm betting the majority of English speaking players prefer legitimate English grammer, spelling, sentence structure, etc. to a half-assed translation. Wanna sell your game to westerners, then you use the language westerners read and write.
And if you don't think it takes a long time to translate text, including the proper feel and intent of the words, changing stories and cultural undertones to the target market, etc., etc. then I suggest you go get a good length Chinese novel and see how long it takes you to translate it fully, including removing cultural and personal passages only relevent and/or understood by a Chinese native and replacing them with comparable western content.
Come back in a couple months when you're finished.
This entire thread reaks of failure already. I can already smell a tabula rasa coming with this game . Then again its NCSoft what do you expect.
Over 1 million paying customers in China alone and you smell a tabula rasa coming? I think you need to get your nose checked.
1 million Chinese customers paying for a Chinese made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a Chinese player? Who'd have ever thought?
Has nothing to do with how many western subs they will get when the western oriented game is released.
This entire thread reaks of failure already. I can already smell a tabula rasa coming with this game . Then again its NCSoft what do you expect.
Over 1 million paying customers in China alone and you smell a tabula rasa coming? I think you need to get your nose checked.
1 million Chinese customers paying for a Chinese made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a Chinese player? Who'd have ever thought?
Has nothing to do with how many western subs they will get when the western oriented game is released.
Lore for Chinese players?! LOL, you mean humans that become devas or whatever they are called, yeah man that is pretty chinese the west will never handle this type of lore.
The right language?!! It will be in the right language once its translated or you think they are releasing it in chinese?
So what about the 1 million Korean players... oh I know.... "Design for them with the correct language, stories and lore for a KOREAN player" right?
Edit: I dont really care nor im attacking your opinion its just your argument is so shallow and senseless it needed pointing out.
I have been playing the game now on the Chinese server for a couple of days with some guildies of mine from Warhammer. We found the English patch and applied it and not much confusion going through the game, my only problems (which are minor) are more to do with gameplay rather than the translation and lore. I think it has a lot of potential and looking forward to the PvP aspect of the game (coming from a hardcore PvP Warhammer guild). Right now I can only evaluate it based on the PvE actioni I've been through so far.
This is true the Japanese release of the game was actually disapointing to a number of players as many promised features were not present. Sound familiar? But by the time it got to NA those things were added and bugs mostly squashed. But I have to agree with some of the above that since GC08 they should have done a lot more then they have to keep fans interested and in the loop. Something went amiss somewhere, I'm continuing to blame a tanking economy until proven otherwise. Also they may want to completely avoid another bot invasion at release, perhaps they won't have the dreaded game guard...... >.>
If they game is good enough it will still sell, even if we have to wait a year extra on it.
But of course there is always the chanse that a competing game releases and takes players from them. But I rather wait a while then get a buggy mess anyways, way to many companies have rushed out their products.
But I wont play it in korean, a MMO is a social game and if I speak a language that few does I miss that part.
This entire thread reaks of failure already. I can already smell a tabula rasa coming with this game . Then again its NCSoft what do you expect.
Over 1 million paying customers in China alone and you smell a tabula rasa coming? I think you need to get your nose checked.
1 million Chinese customers paying for a Chinese made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a Chinese player? Who'd have ever thought?
Has nothing to do with how many western subs they will get when the western oriented game is released.
So couldn't it essentially be:
"1 million US/EU customers paying for a US/EU made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a US/EU player? "
Since you just replaced "Korean" with "Chinese" (yes, there is a difference), so I thought we could just replace "Chinese" with "US and Europe".
Originally posted by Loke666 Originally posted by Cynthe
This is true the Japanese release of the game was actually disapointing to a number of players as many promised features were not present. Sound familiar? But by the time it got to NA those things were added and bugs mostly squashed. But I have to agree with some of the above that since GC08 they should have done a lot more then they have to keep fans interested and in the loop. Something went amiss somewhere, I'm continuing to blame a tanking economy until proven otherwise. Also they may want to completely avoid another bot invasion at release, perhaps they won't have the dreaded game guard...... >.>
If they game is good enough it will still sell, even if we have to wait a year extra on it. But of course there is always the chanse that a competing game releases and takes players from them. But I rather wait a while then get a buggy mess anyways, way to many companies have rushed out their products. But I wont play it in korean, a MMO is a social game and if I speak a language that few does I miss that part.
My guild alone has 90 members, they opened second branch and it already has 50 members, so i disagree with lack of social activities. You have to try the game before arriving to any conclusions.
This entire thread reaks of failure already. I can already smell a tabula rasa coming with this game . Then again its NCSoft what do you expect.
Over 1 million paying customers in China alone and you smell a tabula rasa coming? I think you need to get your nose checked.
1 million Chinese customers paying for a Chinese made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a Chinese player? Who'd have ever thought?
Has nothing to do with how many western subs they will get when the western oriented game is released.
So couldn't it essentially be:
"1 million US/EU customers paying for a US/EU made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a US/EU player? "
Since you just replaced "Korean" with "Chinese" (yes, there is a difference), so I thought we could just replace "Chinese" with "US and Europe".
I like what you did there.
What do people think the localization will change anyway? Its mostly going to just be quest text and translations.
They are not going to overhaul the graphics or the mechanics or the storyline.
I'm sure that something thats from the far east, you know like the Kama Sutra, could never be understood by us westerners.
Originally posted by Laughing-man Originally posted by jefaw82 Originally posted by WisebutCruel Originally posted by Lailoske Originally posted by strykr619 This entire thread reaks of failure already. I can already smell a tabula rasa coming with this game . Then again its NCSoft what do you expect.
Over 1 million paying customers in China alone and you smell a tabula rasa coming? I think you need to get your nose checked.
1 million Chinese customers paying for a Chinese made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a Chinese player? Who'd have ever thought? Has nothing to do with how many western subs they will get when the western oriented game is released.
So couldn't it essentially be:
"1 million US/EU customers paying for a US/EU made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a US/EU player? "
Since you just replaced "Korean" with "Chinese" (yes, there is a difference), so I thought we could just replace "Chinese" with "US and Europe".
I like what you did there. What do people think the localization will change anyway? Its mostly going to just be quest text and translations. They are not going to overhaul the graphics or the mechanics or the storyline. I'm sure that something thats from the far east, you know like the Kama Sutra, could never be understood by us westerners. We're obviously too stupid.
You and i are not developers so we have to wait and see what localization will change, But i m sure change will be noticeable. Its hard to draw conclusion when game is not even out in US.
Originally posted by Laughing-man This is not the first game NCSoft has localized, so you can be pretty sure it will be similar to how they've done all their previous games... History does tend to repeat itself. I doubt you'll notice a difference between the chinese / korean and japanese versions too. They'll all be similar even though they're "localized" too.
Like i said, i would rather wait for release and then decide, right now its pure speculations and i really don't like to think that i know it all. AION had a great success in Asia even more then Lineage and other NCSOFT games. the EU/us team seems very passionate about AION and from what i have read so far, it doesn't seem that its going to be treated in same manner as former NCSOFT titles.
This is AION, the biggest success for NCSOFT to this date.
Like i said, i would rather wait for release and then decide, right now its pure speculations and i really don't like to think that i know it all. AION had a great success in Asia even more then Lineage and other NCSOFT games. the EU/us team seems very passionate about AION and from what i have read so far, it doesn't seem that its going to be treated in same manner as former NCSOFT titles. This is AION, the biggest success for NCSOFT to this date.
Why do people still insist they don't know what is being localized? Ayase has already stated over on Aionsource.com what is being changed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Malais
Hey Ayase, still looking for an executive assistant?
Maybe you can respond to this so we can put all of the Westernization stuff in a single easily quotable post for the legions of new folks that have/will arrive between now and Q4.
Westernization will include....
Changing all the voice acting from Korean/Chinese to English(French and German too I believe)
Changing folklore related quests (ie the missing axe quest from Caion) to something more relevant to the West.
Setting up CS in a more western format.
Setting up billing/support in a more western format.(model to follow eventually)
As many patches as possible so the game will not be 1.0 when launched.
Changes to the Abyss rank(names) to better suit the western market.
Westernization will NOT include....
Changes to the core game (asmos will still be asmos and elyos will still be elyos)
Changes to the lore of the game.
Changes to the Music.
Adding new content IE new islands, or areas not in the original concept. (No new york of AION)
Feel free to correct me, but from what I've read thus far this seems like about it?
[Ayase} It's about right, except possibly the Abyss rank names which I don't really know about right now. They'll be reasonable. I will also add to the last point of the NOT-include list that all those kinds of things are subject to normal game improvement, patches and expansions.
So please don't expect any major changes for the NA/Eu version it will be basicly what is Live in china and korea.
The point of my post wasn't to start the bash NCWest machine again (not that you were, just getting ahead of it). But rather to point out the wait isn't due to them re-working the game. As the CMs have said over and over Aion will remain Aion, regardless of the region in which it is released.
So please don't expect any major changes for the NA/Eu version it will be basicly what is Live in china and korea.
Except it's taking an age and half to be released here.
Sorry had to. :P
I had to jump in here just a little.
I played the Korean release for a good amount of time now I am playing the Chinese release. Unless my memory is failing (which is quite probable) some of the armors have been redesigned for the Chinese release. If I think about it when I get back home I will check some of my old screenshots and compare the armors to the Chinese release just to confirm whether I am losing it or not.
It's a Jeep thing. . . _______ |___| \_______/ = |||||| = |X| \*........*/ |X| |X|_________|X| You wouldn't understand
It's hard to release decent games, if you don't have the patience to wait for them. Sit back, take a breather, and play some consoles while you wait. Or, go outside and enjoy the weather.
i think there must be a good reason why ncsoft delay release in US. to make sure the game is bot prove might be one. China Aion server only been release for a few week from today, but now there is total of 10045 players been band by using bot since April 30. surely nobody like to play a game full of botter right? as much as that i hate to be waiting, but i rather wait for a bot free Aion than early with full of botter running around.
i think there must be a good reason why ncsoft delay release in US. to make sure the game is bot prove might be one. China Aion server only been release for a few week from today, but now there is total of 10045 players been band by using bot since April 30. surely nobody like to play a game full of botter right? as much as that i hate to be waiting, but i rather wait for a bot free Aion than early with full of botter running around.
Mmmm most likely its due to the fact NCWest was rebuilt almost from the ground up, the CMs (Amboss and Ayase) and a few others had to relocate from the EU to NA, and they had to hire a bunch of new people when the company was formed.
Its nice to think the game is delayed so they can make it "perfect" but the delay is due mostly to corporate changes and advertising strategies.
Comments
I haven't heard any yet, but I do feel as if those cutscenes will have voice overs during the NA release.
What voiceovers?
Normal character grunts and yells when attacking and being hit, emotes and spell casts...
You might think this is minor, but it makes a difference.
What voiceovers?
Normal character grunts and yells when attacking and being hit, emotes and spell casts...
You might think this is minor, but it makes a difference.
Well the more an MMORPG can integrate single-player elements into an MMO, makes it a better game indeed. Yeah, voice overs will be the next step, to a certain extent.
I never understand just what it is peoplw want from an MMO. First they rant and rave that the game is late being released and go on and on about how a late release will be the games ultimate demise. But when the game is released then they complain that the game was rushed out the door and how it is sure to fail.
NCSoft and the Aion developers know that to succeed they MUST release a polished game that is loaded with content, immersion, story and originality. Otherwise it will fail. It takes time to accomplish all those things, and IMO it's worth the wait.
It may not matter to you, but I'm betting the majority of English speaking players prefer legitimate English grammer, spelling, sentence structure, etc. to a half-assed translation. Wanna sell your game to westerners, then you use the language westerners read and write.
And if you don't think it takes a long time to translate text, including the proper feel and intent of the words, changing stories and cultural undertones to the target market, etc., etc. then I suggest you go get a good length Chinese novel and see how long it takes you to translate it fully, including removing cultural and personal passages only relevent and/or understood by a Chinese native and replacing them with comparable western content.
Come back in a couple months when you're finished.
Over 1 million paying customers in China alone and you smell a tabula rasa coming? I think you need to get your nose checked.
1 million Chinese customers paying for a Chinese made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a Chinese player? Who'd have ever thought?
Has nothing to do with how many western subs they will get when the western oriented game is released.
Over 1 million paying customers in China alone and you smell a tabula rasa coming? I think you need to get your nose checked.
1 million Chinese customers paying for a Chinese made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a Chinese player? Who'd have ever thought?
Has nothing to do with how many western subs they will get when the western oriented game is released.
Lore for Chinese players?! LOL, you mean humans that become devas or whatever they are called, yeah man that is pretty chinese the west will never handle this type of lore.
The right language?!! It will be in the right language once its translated or you think they are releasing it in chinese?
So what about the 1 million Korean players... oh I know.... "Design for them with the correct language, stories and lore for a KOREAN player" right?
Edit: I dont really care nor im attacking your opinion its just your argument is so shallow and senseless it needed pointing out.
I have been playing the game now on the Chinese server for a couple of days with some guildies of mine from Warhammer. We found the English patch and applied it and not much confusion going through the game, my only problems (which are minor) are more to do with gameplay rather than the translation and lore. I think it has a lot of potential and looking forward to the PvP aspect of the game (coming from a hardcore PvP Warhammer guild). Right now I can only evaluate it based on the PvE actioni I've been through so far.
If they game is good enough it will still sell, even if we have to wait a year extra on it.
But of course there is always the chanse that a competing game releases and takes players from them. But I rather wait a while then get a buggy mess anyways, way to many companies have rushed out their products.
But I wont play it in korean, a MMO is a social game and if I speak a language that few does I miss that part.
AION CN / Mesramtaeda server / Asmodian
There's at least 100 or so English speaking people there. DIVINITY is a big legion there and it seems many of them speak English.
- RPG Quiz - can you get all 25 right?
- FPS Quiz - how well do you know your shooters?
AION CN / Mesramtaeda server / Asmodian
There's at least 100 or so English speaking people there. DIVINITY is a big legion there and it seems many of them speak English.
Currently, there's at least a server full of English players playing Aion in the Chinese and Korean versions.
And no Divinity has less than 100 because a legion can only have 90 ppl. SUX badly.
Over 1 million paying customers in China alone and you smell a tabula rasa coming? I think you need to get your nose checked.
1 million Chinese customers paying for a Chinese made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a Chinese player? Who'd have ever thought?
Has nothing to do with how many western subs they will get when the western oriented game is released.
So couldn't it essentially be:
"1 million US/EU customers paying for a US/EU made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a US/EU player? "
Since you just replaced "Korean" with "Chinese" (yes, there is a difference), so I thought we could just replace "Chinese" with "US and Europe".
If they game is good enough it will still sell, even if we have to wait a year extra on it.
But of course there is always the chanse that a competing game releases and takes players from them. But I rather wait a while then get a buggy mess anyways, way to many companies have rushed out their products.
But I wont play it in korean, a MMO is a social game and if I speak a language that few does I miss that part.
My guild alone has 90 members, they opened second branch and it already has 50 members, so i disagree with lack of social activities. You have to try the game before arriving to any conclusions.
Over 1 million paying customers in China alone and you smell a tabula rasa coming? I think you need to get your nose checked.
1 million Chinese customers paying for a Chinese made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a Chinese player? Who'd have ever thought?
Has nothing to do with how many western subs they will get when the western oriented game is released.
So couldn't it essentially be:
"1 million US/EU customers paying for a US/EU made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a US/EU player? "
Since you just replaced "Korean" with "Chinese" (yes, there is a difference), so I thought we could just replace "Chinese" with "US and Europe".
I like what you did there.
What do people think the localization will change anyway? Its mostly going to just be quest text and translations.
They are not going to overhaul the graphics or the mechanics or the storyline.
I'm sure that something thats from the far east, you know like the Kama Sutra, could never be understood by us westerners.
We're obviously too stupid.
Over 1 million paying customers in China alone and you smell a tabula rasa coming? I think you need to get your nose checked.
1 million Chinese customers paying for a Chinese made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a Chinese player? Who'd have ever thought?
Has nothing to do with how many western subs they will get when the western oriented game is released.
So couldn't it essentially be:
"1 million US/EU customers paying for a US/EU made mmo which is currently designed for them with correct language, stories, and lore for a US/EU player? "
Since you just replaced "Korean" with "Chinese" (yes, there is a difference), so I thought we could just replace "Chinese" with "US and Europe".
I like what you did there.
What do people think the localization will change anyway? Its mostly going to just be quest text and translations.
They are not going to overhaul the graphics or the mechanics or the storyline.
I'm sure that something thats from the far east, you know like the Kama Sutra, could never be understood by us westerners.
We're obviously too stupid.
You and i are not developers so we have to wait and see what localization will change, But i m sure change will be noticeable. Its hard to draw conclusion when game is not even out in US.
This is not the first game NCSoft has localized, so you can be pretty sure it will be similar to how they've done all their previous games...
History does tend to repeat itself.
I doubt you'll notice a difference between the chinese / korean and japanese versions too.
They'll all be similar even though they're "localized" too.
Like i said, i would rather wait for release and then decide, right now its pure speculations and i really don't like to think that i know it all. AION had a great success in Asia even more then Lineage and other NCSOFT games. the EU/us team seems very passionate about AION and from what i have read so far, it doesn't seem that its going to be treated in same manner as former NCSOFT titles.
This is AION, the biggest success for NCSOFT to this date.
Why do people still insist they don't know what is being localized? Ayase has already stated over on Aionsource.com what is being changed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Malais
Hey Ayase, still looking for an executive assistant?
Maybe you can respond to this so we can put all of the Westernization stuff in a single easily quotable post for the legions of new folks that have/will arrive between now and Q4.
Westernization will include....
Changing all the voice acting from Korean/Chinese to English(French and German too I believe)
Changing folklore related quests (ie the missing axe quest from Caion) to something more relevant to the West.
Setting up CS in a more western format.
Setting up billing/support in a more western format.(model to follow eventually)
As many patches as possible so the game will not be 1.0 when launched.
Changes to the Abyss rank(names) to better suit the western market.
Westernization will NOT include....
Changes to the core game (asmos will still be asmos and elyos will still be elyos)
Changes to the lore of the game.
Changes to the Music.
Adding new content IE new islands, or areas not in the original concept. (No new york of AION)
Feel free to correct me, but from what I've read thus far this seems like about it?
[Ayase} It's about right, except possibly the Abyss rank names which I don't really know about right now. They'll be reasonable. I will also add to the last point of the NOT-include list that all those kinds of things are subject to normal game improvement, patches and expansions.
So please don't expect any major changes for the NA/Eu version it will be basicly what is Live in china and korea.
Except it's taking an age and half to be released here.
Sorry had to. :P
(,,,)=^__^=(,,,)
/deadhorse
The point of my post wasn't to start the bash NCWest machine again (not that you were, just getting ahead of it). But rather to point out the wait isn't due to them re-working the game. As the CMs have said over and over Aion will remain Aion, regardless of the region in which it is released.
BTW we miss you over on AS, where ya been Cynthe?
Ahh, who cares. Be patient, it's coming. Anything and everything is mostly speculation.
Except it's taking an age and half to be released here.
Sorry had to. :P
I had to jump in here just a little.
I played the Korean release for a good amount of time now I am playing the Chinese release. Unless my memory is failing (which is quite probable) some of the armors have been redesigned for the Chinese release. If I think about it when I get back home I will check some of my old screenshots and compare the armors to the Chinese release just to confirm whether I am losing it or not.
_______
|___
\_______/
=
|X| \*........*/ |X|
|X|_________|X|
You wouldn't understand
It's hard to release decent games, if you don't have the patience to wait for them. Sit back, take a breather, and play some consoles while you wait. Or, go outside and enjoy the weather.
i think there must be a good reason why ncsoft delay release in US. to make sure the game is bot prove might be one. China Aion server only been release for a few week from today, but now there is total of 10045 players been band by using bot since April 30. surely nobody like to play a game full of botter right? as much as that i hate to be waiting, but i rather wait for a bot free Aion than early with full of botter running around.
Mmmm most likely its due to the fact NCWest was rebuilt almost from the ground up, the CMs (Amboss and Ayase) and a few others had to relocate from the EU to NA, and they had to hire a bunch of new people when the company was formed.
Its nice to think the game is delayed so they can make it "perfect" but the delay is due mostly to corporate changes and advertising strategies.
Again /deadhorse .