Formal request for Spanish as a new language for ARR.

[Abriael]

You have that opinion because you have no problem understanding the game, not everyone is so lucky that can have the time or money to learn a language, even less with the objective of enjoying an entertainment product.

Learning languages isn't a matter of luck. It's a matter of effort.

I didn't learn English because I spent money on it. I started learning it by playing games in English when localizations didn't even exist, and then improved it by making an effort. Maybe you should too. Gaming isn't definitely the only experience that would be improved by that effort.

Why should SE translate it to english so you can enjoy it and not to Spanish (or korean, chinese, italian, portugesse, etc...) so others can too? SE resources would be better placed if they just made their games in their native language, right?

No, they would be better placed in making the game better, bigger, and with a wider/stronger marketing.

PS: I'm Italian, and as an Italian I am, and I will always be against localizations in my language. Having worked on localization (for Anime) in the past, I know all too well that latin languages are not fit to be localization targets from Japanese or from English. Too much is lost, effectively hampering the enjoyment of the original script.

[Dannythm]

Learning languages isn't a matter of luck. It's a matter of effort.

I didn't learn English because I spent money on it. I started learning it by playing games in English when localizations didn't even exist, and then improved it by making an effort. Maybe you should too. Gaming isn't definitely the only experience that would be improved by that effort.



No, they would be better placed in making the game better, bigger, and with a wider/stronger marketing.

PS: I'm Italian, and as an Italian I am, and I will always be against localizations in my language. Having worked on localization (for Anime) in the past, I know all too well that latin languages are not fit to be localization targets from Japanese or from English. Too much is lost, effectively hampering the enjoyment of the original script.

I'm not going to bother arguing with you anymore, because your close minded posts on this matter reek of narcissism and egoism.

[Abriael]

I'm not going to bother arguing with you anymore, because your close minded posts on this matter reek of narcissism and egoism.

Of course disagreeing with you automatically means to be close-minded, narcissistic and egoistic.

That must be how it works.

[Eiz]

Thank you for your opinions, of all kinds. But please, don't start a flame here, there is no need for that. I'd rather this thread fall into the depths.


Like other people said, there are many successful MMORPGs widely localized, I don't see any reason why one of the largest companies like Square-Enix couldn't do that. I don't think that's a good point.

I would like to see it translated to Italian too, why not? There are plenty of Italian people playing this game and there was a great community in XI as well.
But when i talk about Spanish i don't mean so much to cover the top-five EU languages, but also to keep in mind that half America speak Spanish. Millions of people that are always feeding from what arives to USA in gaming refers.

What i don't understand is how market reasons can be placed in front of the number of potential customers who may play in a ratio of... what, 5/1? with respect to German or French.

[Abriael]

Like other people said, there are many successful MMORPGs widely localized, I don't see any reason why one of the largest companies like Square-Enix couldn't do that. I don't think that's a good point.

Because this isn't a successful MMORPG yet. Even WoW wasn't localized in Spanish or Italian for a long time after release.

Square Enix should focus all available resources in making it successful (and a better product for everyone), before even thinking to move to marginal improvements like further localizations.

[Vilhem]

Because this isn't a successful MMORPG yet. Even WoW wasn't localized in Spanish or Italian for a long time after release.

Square Enix should focus all available resources in making it successful (and a better product for everyone), before even thinking to move to marginal improvements like further localizations.

I agree with you here in that they SHOULD be focused on the game itself more...but these are two separate teams working here. The dev team doesn't handle localizations nor even the marketing of the game they develop.

[Eiz]

This staff dares to take risks. ARR is a risk itself.

Do you consider to open the market to almost an entire continent like South America is a minor improvement? Is a risk, of course, but no bigger than revamping the entire game.

They have discussed the possibility of introducing new languages and i can only say that's just another step in the way of success.

If you take a look at the forums of the top four or five videogame webstites in Spain, you will see a large majority of players who have never played Final Fantasy XI / XIV because wasn't translated to Spanish. If it was, Spanish community may well be doubled or even triplicated.

As in XI, they know that many people is still going to pay play even with no investment on a Spanish localization. What they don't know is how many would come.
It well deserves to be studied thoroughly, and i'd like they really consider it.

[Abriael]

Do you consider to open the market to almost an entire continent like South America is a minor improvement? Is a risk, of course, but no bigger than revamping the entire game.

A localization doesn't open entire continents, as a lot of the people interested in mmorpgs and a franchise that has always been international, have at least enough knowledge of English to enjoy it.

Most people that don't know English (not all, so don't get your panties in a bunch) are either older or belong to lower social areas that normally aren't interested or don't have a chance to play a Pay to Play MMORPG.

So the equation is not as automatic as "more languages bring more people!". Also, they'd bring more people unable to communicate properly within the game, and that's a problem in itself.

[Skuld]

Because this isn't a successful MMORPG yet. Even WoW wasn't localized in Spanish or Italian for a long time after release.

Emmm.......... FFXI was a very successful game and u can choose japanese, english, french and german as language. FFXIV will be a successful game, now they say on the live letter that new language will be implemented, why is soooooo bad that one of those languages ​​become spanish, or italian?

Im from Spain, i understand english and im ok with it atm, i also speak a lit of french and japanese, so I can understand the game pretty well now, but it would be nice to include the Spanish also.

[Vilhem]

Learning languages isn't a matter of luck. It's a matter of effort.

I didn't learn English because I spent money on it. I started learning it by playing games in English when localizations didn't even exist, and then improved it by making an effort. Maybe you should too. Gaming isn't definitely the only experience that would be improved by that effort.



No, they would be better placed in making the game better, bigger, and with a wider/stronger marketing.

PS: I'm Italian, and as an Italian I am, and I will always be against localizations in my language. Having worked on localization (for Anime) in the past, I know all too well that latin languages are not fit to be localization targets from Japanese or from English. Too much is lost, effectively hampering the enjoyment of the original script.

Props for you for being able to pick up the English language without much difficulty. However, don't assume its just as easy for everyone else. The older you get, the harder it is to retain a new language. How old were you when you started playing games in English? Pre-teen maybe? That is the ideal time to pick up languages and sounds.

For many, learning a language will take a lot more than just video games. Their lives may be too hectic, with work, kids, etc. Many just want to relax and enjoy a form of entertainment, much like they do when they watch a movie or listen to music. And the same goes with movies: without subtitles or dub overs, how much of the movie can they really expect to enjoy?

And you are incorrect about Latin-based languages not carrying over well from English (I can't comment about Japanese since I am not fluent). I work as a translator (and tutored ESL, which was an uphill battle for the older people who WERE trying to learn) and I can tell you it is very much possible to convey the same meanings. It's all about wordplay. It's the same from JP to English on here: Fluff words are added to the English text that may not accurately reflect what the original Japanese text. If you want a good example, look at all the theories that came out regarding the "Commemorative Coin" based on the English description wording that did not read the same in Japanese, or even French for that matter.

Again I am not putting you down for your opinion on not wanting a localized version, but you cannot hold the masses to the same standard you experienced.