Survey responses for Gaming across language barriers | |
| With minor edits by Microsoft Word for consistency. | |
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Response #1 What is your first (or main) language? Dutch What different languages are the games you buy published in? English (mainly), Dutch and German What language do you usually use when gaming? Dutch (mainly), Dutch-interspersed-with-English, English (at conventions), German (rarely) If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? We mainly use Dutch, interspersed with words from the original language. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? None in particular. The gaming community is very English oriented as it is. | |
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Response #2 What is your first (or main) language? My main language is Portuguese. Brazil is the only country in South America (and the biggest one, with more than 140 million people) that doesn't speak Spanish. What different languages are the games you buy published in? English, Spanish and French. What language do you usually use when gaming? People here game using English words, especially when related to rules and game words (i.e. Celerity, Stamina, etc) only new gamers and youngsters that did not have contact with the original books use the translated terms. If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? Learn English is a must. Most gamers have a second (English) and even a third language. Usually the game terms and the game lexicon are the same, so we mix Portuguese with English words all the time, creating a vocabulary of our own. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? We already have all the famous books translated into Portuguese (World of Darkness, GURPS, D&D). But we miss a lot, games like CoC, HERO, 7th Sea, etc. The market here is open BUT our problem is that the country economy doesn’t allow gamers to buy lots of book at once. | |
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Response #3 What is your first (or main) language? Dutch What different languages are the games you buy published in? English What language do you usually use when gaming? Dutch If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? If there's no translation available, we'll just read the rules in the language they are written in (if they are written in a language to comprehend, off course :) What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? Let's say ....just about everything. Or do you need precise titles? | |
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Response #4 What is your first (or main) language? Spanish (European version) What different languages are the games you buy published in? I buy Spanish translated RPG's (a friend gave me 'The Lawnmower Man" RPG in English, but I don't like it) I downloaded a 'Way book' of L5A [editor note: L5R to English speakers] in PDF in English, and I have read it, but I'd rather read it translated. In CCG's or other card or board games, I don't mind buying in English or even other languages (First I played Settlers of Catan it was in French) I play Munchkin and when I played Magic, I had cards in Spanish, English, French, Italian... but that's another thing... What language do you usually use when gaming? Spanish, but sometimes we mix languages, not often. Example in Spanish "Mato al _goblin_ porque el hechizo me ha dado un _multiplier_, y con eso, _level up_!" Example in English "I kill the _trasgo_ because the spell gives me a _multiplicador_ and with all of that, _subo de nivel_!" If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? I don't understand this question, sorry ^_^' What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? I'd prefer Munchkin and other games be translated, because not everyone in Spain knows English, so we have to explain it once and again. English RPG's to those people depend of the Character Sheet mainly: if it's simple (L5A) they don't mind, because the GM will talk in Spanish, but if it's more complicated (Vampire, White Wolf) they don't want to play (at first, if you convince them, when they learn what means each thing, they will play. I don't know if you know it (probably not) but there is a Spanish game very famous here (less than WoD and so) called 'Aquelarre'. It's about the Middle Ages in Spain, with all kind of Spanish mythology, the Inquisition... | |
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Response #5 What is your first (or main) language? Dutch What different languages are the games you buy published in? English What language do you usually use when gaming? Dutch, though an awful lot of English gaming jargon slips in, especially when role-playing and war gaming. If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? Use game specific terms in the original language (e.g. English) but using them in Dutch sentence. For example, when playing Vampire RPG, I could say something like: "Ik gebruik mijn Presence om hem over te halen" instead of "I use Presence to convince him". What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? Not really an issue for me, but I guess it would be German board games and French RPGs. Realistically Dutch is too small a language to make this a viable option for RPG's and war games. | |
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Response #6 What is your first (or main) language? English What different languages are the games you buy published in? So far? English, German, Italian, French, Dutch, Spanish, misc. others What language do you usually use when gaming? English If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? Run out to BoardGameGeek and get a translation: http://www.boardgamegeek.com . So many of the games being released in Europe nowadays have language-neutral components, that all you need is a rules translation. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? As necessary, I've done a few translations (from German) that have been accepted for BGG. A great resource for general info and discussion of Eurogames is the Spielfreiks mailing list on Yahoo Groups (as well as a variety devoted to specific games, like Puerto Rico and Carcassonne). | |
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Response #7 What is your first (or main) language? Dutch What different languages are the games you buy published in? English (mainly) and Dutch What language do you usually use when gaming? Dutch, except when role-playing, in which case we use English and Dutch simultaneously - some things just don't sound too good when trying to say them in Dutch... It's what we call the 'Hollywood-syndrome'; English is better for dramatic (=bad) one-liners. If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? They're all good in English, so either we help translate for those who don't really catch on, or we ignore the fact that it's in another language. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? None. See above; Hollywood syndrome. | |
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Response #8 What is your first (or main) language? English What different languages are the games you buy published in? I usually buy an English version. I don't usually pay attention to what other languages they exist in, except for occasional German games. What language do you usually use when gaming? English If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? Any time I've used a German edition, I've had English rules printed out along with it. The hardest part with that comes with card-based games, since that creates a lot of cross-referencing. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? I don't really have specific ones that I'm aware of that I'm itching for. There's a plentiful enough flow of quality German games that I already have more than enough options. | |
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Response #9 What is your first (or main) language? French What different languages are the games you buy published in? What sort of games? PC/video games? Or paper-and-pen RPG? If PC/video games: French (usually)... But I suppose you mean paper-and-pen RPG? (I'll assume that in all the rest of my answers) So... Paper-and-pen RPG: English (we do have a few French games, but only if French is the language they were fist published in, as "Agone", or "INS/MV", or "Nephilim"...) What language do you usually use when gaming? French (usually) We did play a short D&D campaign in English though (for no special reason except we thought it'd be fun... and it was!). If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? We all read English easily, and most of us are fluent, so there is no problem. We often don't bother translating specific terms, however, so I guess language purists would be appalled at our "franglais" (for example : "je sneake dans son dos", "il est flatfooté", "je rolle mon critique" etc.) What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? I don't really like translations, I'd rather use English version (if they are the original ones, of course). I play D&D (already translated, though I use the original version), Rolemaster (not translated), Decipher's Lord of the Rings (partially translated, I think, but we use the original version), Ars Magica IV (not translated), Marvel Super Heroes (not translated), Star Wars D20 (partially translated I think, but I'm not sure), and a score of others. I am not sure the market is big enough for most games to be translated, apart for blockbusters like D&D. I hear a lot of people complaining about this, but and I understand: they should not _have to_ learn a foreign language to be able to play, but economics are against them. | |
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Response #10 What is your first (or main) language? German What different languages are the games you buy published in? English What language do you usually use when gaming? German If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? Most of us speak English well enough so everyone can check the rules as they are printed. Otherwise, we introduce a lot of terms in the original language into our German conversation, such "cast", "Base Attack" "planning phase" or keywords in CCGs. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? I prefer the original English version if I can get it. As I am not generally aware of lots of games in languages other then English or German, which would be hard to access for me, I don't have a wish list. | |
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Response #11 What is your first (or main) language? German What different languages are the games you buy published in? English What language do you usually use when gaming? German and (sometimes) English If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? We are read the books in English and prepare the character sheets, the adventures and handouts in English, too. But we talk German during most sessions since some of our players are more comfortable with that and the others don't care. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? GURPS | |
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Response #12 What is your first (or main) language? German. What different languages are the games you buy published in? German and English only. What language do you usually use when gaming? German (I live in Germany). If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? To the language everybody can understand, so if we play with one American, and the others are Germans, we switch to the English language. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? INWO expansions and new editions. Really. Illuminati will be published (again, that is) in German next year, BTW. | |
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Response #13 What is your first (or main) language? Français (French) What different languages are the games you buy published in? Anglais (English) What language do you usually use when gaming? Français (French) If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? Généralement on garde les termes dans la langue d'origine, mais on joue en Français (Generally we keep the technical terms in the original language, but we play in French) What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? Star Trek | |
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Response #14 What is your first (or main) language? French What different languages are the games you buy published in? English What language do you usually use when gaming? French, but we mix English terms, the ones used in the English RPG we use. If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? They learn the English terms and use them, as mentioned above. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? Well. When a game has many publications (like a RPG with new material each 2 months, for example), I prefer no translation at all: the translation is always bad, and / or very slow. And I hate to mix English and French materials for the same game. When I know that I won't buy another book about the same game and that the translation is good (and won't ruin the whole thing), I could buy it in French. | |
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Response #15 What is your first (or main) language? French What different languages are the games you buy published in? American English mostly What language do you usually use when gaming? French If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? Translate and prepare cheat-sheets for the most often used materials, and have someone handy to translate on-the-fly whatever else is needed. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? As we use a home-grown gaming system and use a lot of reference material taken from many other games, there is no one game I'd like to see translated before anything else. | |
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Response #16 What is your first (or main) language? FRENCH What different languages are the games you buy published in? English What language do you usually use when gaming? French If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? Most players know English; if some don't understand, usually the most skilled with English translate. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? GURPS (but it seems there is no hope for the 4th edition, especially after the failure with the 3rd ed. due mostly to an awful translation) | |
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Response #17 What is your first (or main) language? French is my mother tongue. What different languages are the games you buy published in? French & English, few time Spanish. What language do you usually use when gaming? We use French. If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? We speak "Franglais/Frenglish" French with English for technical word or difficult to translate. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? D20 Modern | |
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Response #18 What is your first (or main) language? French. What different languages are the games you buy published in? English and French. What language do you usually use when gaming? French. If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? We tend to use English terms for specifics like spell names. We seldom shy away from linguistic barbarisms ('roll ton Save contre mon polymorph', for instance). What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? None that I know of (there might be German, Russian or Japanese games I would like to see translated... if I knew of them). | |
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Response #19 What is your first (or main) language? French What different languages are the games you buy published in? English or French (only languages I am fluent enough with) What language do you usually use when gaming? Depends: for online video game I use mostly English unless I am only with French friends. For paper and pen RPG I use only French as I play only with my friends. If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? We do not translate the in-game terms like powers, magical spells, items, name of strange races, places or in game mechanics like abilities, skills and so. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? Actually none. I prefer the original language for games. Even if it make learning/playing a bit harder. | |
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Response #20 What is your first (or main) language? French What different languages are the games you buy published in? English (and some magic cards in German but just a little bit...) What language do you usually use when gaming? French, English for Magic with foreign people If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? We translate for those who don't speak any word of English :) What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? Eerrrr, dunno :p | |
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Response #21 What is your first (or main) language? French What different languages are the games you buy published in? Mostly French, then English or American English. What language do you usually use when gaming? French. As far as I am playing with people whom first language is French, I don't see the point of playing in other languages. If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? The group does not much: the GM does a lot. In my group it's the GM who reads the books (be it in French or English) and explains to the players. So, globally, the GM translates apart when in the midst of action, the GM suddenly needs a word he does not know how to translate, then he goes for the English one. Which means that now and then you've got an English word, lost in the middle of the game. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? Blue Planet and Transhuman Space. But I would not buy them, because I’ve already read them in English.... | |
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Response #22 What is your first (or main) language? French but it had been English when I was working in East Africa. What different languages are the games you buy published in? French mainly but I have some releases in English too. As I notice, answering your questions, 90% of the RPGs I play originated in the US (Star Wars from WEG, D&D from WoTC, Call of Cthulhu and Amber)And for 80% of them, I've got the French edition. What language do you usually use when gaming? French If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? The issue never happened so far because, in their majority, my purchases in English are "technical" splat books for D&D and a few "background" releases for Star Wars. The former are easy to adapt/translate because only a few terms are universe-dependent, but, the later are more difficult to deal with because French translation often reduce the feeling of some English words. The best (and recent) example is WoTC's Eberron campaign setting for D&D. I bought it 2 weeks ago in a gaming convention in France and, though it fills all my expectations, I think I'll have a big overhead trying to adapt terms like Warforged or Dragonshard to my almost only French-speaking group of players. However, I think I'll keep the English tone 'cause 1st I'm definitely lazy and 2nd it sounds much better for pulp action :) What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? I don't have any idea, sorry. Eberron, maybe. | |
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Response #23 What is your first (or main) language? French What different languages are the games you buy published in? English, German. What language do you usually use when gaming? French mainly, some English, and some German too (yes, I was for a long time a member of a multi-national and multi-lingual P&P RPG group. I used to be DM in three different languages at the time... Now, we all speak French. The language of the Rules, however, is still sometimes other than French, and I take care of some translations in the gaming club... see my sig ;-) ) If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? I translate some rules, some other members do, and we also play with the original language, many of us do speak German an / or English (Switzerland...) What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? None particularly... all, generally ;-) | |
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Response #24 What is your first (or main) language? French. What different languages are the games you buy published in? French, English, sometimes German (for small games only). What language do you usually use when gaming? French. If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? We speak French, translating all the "simple" terms, but we often keep the "complex" terms in their initial language (especially for "background" terms, such as heroes’ names, places ...). What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? Huh... None specially, because I'm sufficiently fluent in English to understand correctly. And the German games often also exist in French (but are cheaper in Germany, therefore I buy them in German!), so they don't really need another translation. And for games in another language, as I don't know them, I cannot know if they're worth a translation! :-) | |
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Response #25 What is your first (or main) language? French What different languages are the games you buy published in? French & English What language do you usually use when gaming? French If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? We speak French but we don’t translate the "technical" words. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? uuuh.....really dunno :D | |
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Response #26 What is your first (or main) language? French. What different languages are the games you buy published in? I don't known... And I don't care much. I always wait for a French translation, if available. Most of them also exist in English (often their primary language). What language do you usually use when gaming? French, always. I'm OK with written English (although I prefer to read long texts in French), but spoken English is much too hard. If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? I never buy books in English. However when other people do so, they always translate needed parts when playing. What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? Games I like to play, of course! ;-) Currently the new World of Darkness rule books from White Wolf. | |
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Response #27 What is your first (or main) language? Anglais What different languages are the games you buy published in? Anglais, français, espagnol, allemand What language do you usually use when gaming? Anglais If you're gaming in a language other than what the game is published in, what does your gaming group do to adapt? Nous jouons en anglais What games would you most like to see translated to your main gaming language? Maléfices, les supplement de L'Appel de Cthulhu en Allemand, Lyonesse, Aquelarre | |
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