Feature Request/Suggestion - English (JP) Language option in Launcher

[PorxiesRCute]

I don't think that adding a second English language option would really drive into any expenses. The EN localization team has been very transparent at Fanfests, in blogs, interviews, etc. exactly how their process goes, and believe me when I say it, much of the work for what I'm suggesting has already been done.

Right. It would cost no money to pay the writers to write an additional script, nor to pay the voice actors to record twice as much dialogue. That would just be free.

It's not about having 'luxury', and I've looked into many of those. Actually learning a language is more complicated than just memorizing a bunch of words and their appropriate context, which is what a lot of these resources only teach.

Correct: As I mentioned before, you also need immersion. Which playing a video game in your target language provides. As does reading books and watching TV shows. Sorry there's no magic button to make you fluent without effort.

You do realize that English is the only language option with the most amount of revisions that literally do not exist in other languages of the game, right? If you talk to most NPCs, view item descriptions, or read various other things in German or French and compare it against a machine translation of the Japanese script, you'll find that it's more consistent in that regard than it is in English, so calling me entitled for being displeased with that is a bit obtuse.
I don't see why you should be bothered.

I'm literally not "bothered". If they chose to offer a second English translation, or chose to revise their translating style going forward, I wouldn't really care. I don't actively want it to not happen, I just recognize the reality that it won't, and I'm telling you why your "suggestion" is pie-in-the-sky wishing.

And yes, you are arguing in bad-faith like you're taking offense to the mere suggestion.

Ah, yes, "this isn't going to happen" is bad faith, but "writing two scripts and paying for twice as much voice work wouldn't incur any extra costs" isn't. Makes sense.

[Telkira]

Right. It would cost no money to pay the writers to write an additional script, nor to pay the voice actors to record twice as much dialogue. That would just be free.

If you had paid any attention to my post, you'd know that much of the work was already done in translating the JP script, text, etc. to English.
Also, no additional voice lines would need to be recorded. Players would just launch the game with JP voiceover/cutscene audio, since it would be transcribed from that content anyway.
Of course there's expense to be had in implementing this, but compared to adding a whole new language to the mix, it's a drop in the bucket, especially when they already test around these specific parameters for players who choose to play with specific settings. And considering that people are paying $14USD/mo to play this game, they certainly have the capital. That's more than what can be said about most MMOs.

Correct: As I mentioned before, you also need immersion. Which playing a video game in your target language provides. As does reading books and watching TV shows. Sorry there's no magic button to make you fluent without effort.

Telling people who are dissatisfied with the localization to just 'learn Japanese' is not a valid rebuttal to their criticisms, nor is it a valid dismissal of suggestions for how their criticisms can be accommodated (such as adding a separate EN language option).

I'm literally not "bothered". If they chose to offer a second English translation, or chose to revise their translating style going forward, I wouldn't really care. I don't actively want it to not happen, I just recognize the reality that it won't, and I'm telling you why your "suggestion" is pie-in-the-sky wishing.

You're arguing in bad-faith by saying just 'learn Japanese' and insulting me by calling me entitled. People tend to do that when they're bothered about something.
As for this being a 'pie in the sky' dream, I've seen them make changes in response to user feedback/requests. This is definitely feasible and do-able, and I won't stop arguing in favor of this for as long I intend to continue playing, because there's no way that this could harm anybody's experience.

Ah, yes, "this isn't going to happen" is bad faith, but "writing two scripts and paying for twice as much voice work wouldn't incur any extra costs" isn't. Makes sense.

See above. No additional lines would need to be recorded because it'd already be representative of the Japanese voiceover content, just translated rather than 'localized'.

Look I'll even attach a screenshot I found on Imgur.



By the way, this setting isn't just some tertiary feature.
Part of my argument about it being not outside the range of cost is because they already have to test features associated with this, such as the timing of spoken dialog in voiced cutscenes, in-action voiced dialog blurbs, and other things to make sure that it's properly timed (even though the spoken audio might not align properly with the subtitles).

Having a separate English option would simply revise this content to align not only with this, but also with other aspects of the JP script/text content.

[LilimoLimomo]

I don't think that adding a second English language option would really drive into any expenses.

If it was actually free to provide then you'd already be getting it, as that would improve the quality and desirability of the product at no cost to the company. The fact that it's not already in the product demonstrates that there's a meaningful associated cost.

[Chajii]

You ever notice how some people load in faster than others in Praetorium? That's a biproduct of that.

In total the difference between the shortest (JP) and the longest (EN) is only about a minute.

Actually learning a language is more complicated than just memorizing a bunch of words and their appropriate context, which is what a lot of these resources only teach.

Of course learning a language is more than just memorising stuff, you would also have to interact with the language regularly such as reading books, listening to music and watching videos in the targeted language, learning resources are only there to help you understand the language, you have to build your vocabulary bank and such through other means.

You do realize that English is the only language option with the most amount of revisions that literally do not exist in other languages of the game, right? If you talk to most NPCs, view item descriptions, or read various other things in German or French and compare it against a machine translation of the Japanese script, you'll find that it's more consistent in that regard than it is in English.

If it is as you stated that German and French localisations are better in your opinion, consider trying those 2 languages as they are easier than learning Japanese to a English speaker.

Telling people who are dissatisfied with the localization to just 'learn Japanese' is not a valid rebuttal to their criticisms, nor is it a valid dismissal of suggestions for how their criticisms can be accommodated (such as adding a separate EN language option).

If you are dissatisfied with the localisation, you could ask for improvement of the localisation (such as why the tooltips of Sacred Soil and Passage of Arms can't be written normally as 10% mitigation like other 3 languages).

Telling people to 'learn Japanese' is simply a suggestion, I could even suggest a person that is satisfied with the EN localisation to learn Japanese and suggest them to try out the game in JP; suggesting people to try the game in JP (with the step of learning Japanese) is merely giving an option.

You specifically might not consider it as worthy of the effort you have to put in but some others might actually consider it as a good reason to start learning a language (I am mentioning this because you stated that you yourself are already playing in JP, hence this suggestion wouldn't apply to you specifically).

[Telkira]

If it was actually free to provide then you'd already be getting it, as that would improve the quality and desirability of the product at no cost to the company. The fact that it's not already in the product demonstrates that there's a meaningful associated cost.

A lot of other features could be described just the same way, such as corrections to various parts of the game's text content, many of which do get posted here, meet the criteria of a defect, but do not get fixed, at least not until much later or until the right person viewing the thread takes a look and escalates it.

What I'm providing is feedback that - hopefully - will drive some sort of internal discussion and change, because it would make the game better.

In total the difference between the shortest (JP) and the longest (EN) is only about a minute.

It's a little bit longer than that, but it's still very much noticeable. And given how literally nobody likes being forced to sit thru the same cutscenes over and over, it still makes it go a tad faster when everyone runs it with that setting enabled.

Of course learning a language is more than just memorising stuff, you would also have to interact with the language regularly such as reading books, listening to music and watching videos in the targeted language, learning resources are only there to help you understand the language, you have to build your vocabulary bank and such through other means.

Right - but even with all of that, it's still a difficult task for a lot of people. If SE could help bridge that gap by accommodating these preferences, then it would be astronomical in helping appeal to fans who want a faithful, authentic experience while also garnering good will with said fans.

If you are dissatisfied with the localisation, you could ask for improvement of the localisation (such as why the tooltips of Sacred Soil and Passage of Arms can't be written normally as 10% mitigation like other 3 languages).

I would, but simply having a translation would solve that issue along with many others, like the ones in my OP. What I'm suggesting would instill a philosophy of "content consistency" so that way these functional aspects, like spell/weaponskill/ability descriptions being consistent across languages, and not fluffed up in English.

Telling people to 'learn Japanese' is simply a suggestion, I could even suggest a person that is satisfied with the EN localisation to learn Japanese and suggest them to try out the game in JP; suggesting people to try the game in JP (with the step of learning Japanese) is merely giving an option.

It's not 'just a suggestion', though, especially when it's done in bad faith.
Any time someone has issues with the way Japanese media is localized, those who are content with it just dismiss their criticisms with 'learn japanese' instead of actually sitting there and thinking "okay, this is different and that may be a problem" and refusing to think about the art that they consume as being flawed.

You specifically might not consider it as worthy of the effort you have to put in but some others might actually consider it as a good reason to start learning a language (I am mentioning this because you stated that you yourself are already playing in JP, hence this suggestion wouldn't apply to you specifically).

Learning Japanese is something that I would like to do, believe me, but as I've said before, not everyone has the luxury of just being able to pick up and learn a whole new manner of communication. It's just not feasible for most people, when it's more than feasible for SE to diversify their offerings to give people content that is consistent across the board.

[AmiableApkallu]

If SE could help bridge that gap by accommodating these preferences, then it would be astronomical in helping appeal to fans who want a faithful, authentic experience while also garnering good will with said fans.

You've not experienced FFXIV until you've played it in the original Klingon.