This is just an idea :) while reading the other post about indie localization, I wondered "why don't build a small glossary, a list of common word, translated in all languages?"
As far as I know, there are users from a lot of different countries here, and we could help each other by building this list.
Of course won't be a complete solution to translation, but for small games like puzzles, ecc could be interesting.
If we make it like a database, as soon as someone ask about the translation of a particular word in a particular language, it could be added to it and then everyone could simply look at it before asking again.

The only problem is that someone skilled in ASP/PHP should build this sort of web-interface and put it online in some website :)

I can provide free webspace with PHP support if anyone is interested. I may do it, but in ASP (I don't know PHP unfortunately).

you're late... I suggested this a few months ago but it didn't seem to stick.

I can do the php thingy if there is interest, but not many people seemed interested before

ah didn't know that you already proposed that :)
well, probably they weren't interested because they weren't even thinking of selling outside US or UK :)
personally I think you can even DOUBLE your earnings from selling to other countries, but of course you need to provide everything translated.

Well, if you write the Php program, I'll add italian translation every time someone need it. I am willing to support this idea.

Maybe if people see that it is already started, they could join with more interest...?

But does it do anygood to translate a few specific phrases in your game (New, Continue, Quit, etc) without also translating the rest of the text for the instructions and other dialogs? Probably not. And it certainly doesn't help to do a word for word translation since translating words often doesn't translate the meaning. You are going to have to get someone to do all this for you anyway.

Uhm, well, you hit a good point here... :)
Unless the game is really basic and have little more than the standard "score-game-load-save-etc" it is a bad thing to have the game half-translated...

Yeah, but there are alot of games that only need a few simple words like, "Continue", "New Game", etc..

Oh, another thing to remember is the names of the languages themselves. For instance, you wouldn't want the selection for German to actually say, "German". You'd want it to say Deutsch (or something like that as I am no German expert). I can't tell you how many times I've seen the selection for a translation be specific to English. What's the point of that?

Anyway, just something to keep in mind. It'd be nice to have the proper word for that language if we provide a translation for it.

Also, quite often you need to know just the 'simple words' like 'continue' 'play again' etc when you are getting graphics done. Perhaps they are individual buttons and so on. Full instructions translation can easily be added at a later stage in the development, whereas its often nicer to get all the graphics out of the way at the same time to keep consistency between them.

-Z-

I said this when the topic first came out, but if you need english to native spanish translation, I'll be glad to help (just don't make me translate a whole RPG ;) )

Grammar is an issue and most games do at least have instructions that would require more complex translation than copy pasting words. The idea is good, but maybe instead of trying to develop an archive of words (there's already plenty of online resources for this), get together a group of people that will provide translation resources. It would be partially volunteer based, with maybe $15 per translation for non-translators, and free translations for those that translate for other translators (ie. if JoeForumMember translates my app into Russian and I his into Polish, no money is exchanged, if JoeForumMember translates my app into Russian and I am unable to provide such service in return, I pay him $15). Maybe extend this a bit and any translator will work for another translator for free in a pass the good deed on approach (eg. A translates for B who translates for C, and eventually A will get translation services from one of the translator group members).

This way we could all help each other out, and people who are not able to provide any translations services can still make use of this by paying a small amount of money.

Edit: http://www.dexterity.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=829 there's people there offering translations for free, so I think this could really work out if everyone interested contributed.

Originally posted by Jack_Norton
If we make it like a database, as soon as someone ask about the translation of a particular word in a particular language, it could be added to it and then everyone could simply look at it before asking again.

The only problem is that someone skilled in ASP/PHP should build this sort of web-interface and put it online in some website :)

It probably doesnt even need to be fully databased and ASP/PHP driven, it could probably be fairly easily maintained and updated as a simple HTML page. People could just email any additional translations or words.

Ok, turnaround wouldn't be istantaneous, but its probaby not going to need all that much work or require that much user input etc to warrant setting it up as a database with editting-users accounts etc.

Of course, if it does become particularly useful and well visited etc, maybe at that stage it could be converted to being database driven with a few nice features like automatically emailing those people who can translate into a particular language.

I think the idea of having some kind of glossary is a very good one and would like to see something come of it and would be willing to help out in whatever capacity in setting one up, however, I cant speak any other language fluently enough to provide accurate translations myself.

-Z-

I've already translated a website in italian for a french friend (patrox), but to be honest didn't improve the sales by much :p
(it may be due to bad exposure, since there aren't much free italian resource about shareware gaming)
I can and will provide help translating in italian for small phrases or words, even if I don't have much time now (I have to finish my game!)

Turning back to the subject, well, if there's enough interest I think we could start this. I would even pay small sum 15$, even if I am able to provide a "valuable" italian translation, since I am the only italian member here :cool: