Post by: WindyMan on August 17, 2007, 07:28:45 AM
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=14243
Quebec is the part of Canada where French is the dominant and preferred language, despite the fact that the country is officially bilingual in French and English. However, reports state that only 40% of top games released in Quebec are available in the more romantic language.
That's going to change, though. The Quebec government has announced that it has struck a deal with the game industry to ensure that all games entering the eastern province will have a French translation included. According to The Canadian Press, game publishers will be covering any extra costs this would entail.
A government spokesperson said that the details of the agreement will be publicized soon. We'll let our French-Canadian friends know if there are any further details in this agreement at that time.
Post by: WindyMan on August 17, 2007, 07:34:06 AM
"We will make a contribution and write a portion of this article in the French language!"
You see, we care about you too, Quebec.
Post by: zxkork on August 17, 2007, 08:47:19 AM
Post by: Kairon on August 17, 2007, 08:51:07 AM
Post by: TJ Spyke on August 17, 2007, 09:17:05 AM
Since this will require extra time and money, expect games from small/budget publishers (like Majesco, Atlus, Nippon Ichi, Xseed) to either not be released in Quebec or released much later (since it might not be worth the cost just to release it in just one province). Gamers in Quebec better get ready to have to order certain games like RPGs from an online site like Amazon Canada since I know there will be publishers who would rather not release the game in Quebec rather than waste time and resources like this. Pity that gamers will have to suffer because of their provincial government.
Post by: Ian Sane on August 17, 2007, 09:23:48 AM
I'm more concerned about this affecting the entire country. Will a bilingual version be the ONLY version released in Canada? Will Canada as a whole have to wait for translations? Considering that the Quebec government is who is making the deal I'd assume no for now but Quebec has a lot of clout with the federal government. Quebec may whine about waiting longer and using "Canadian government logic" the solution will be to have the rest of the country suffer too.
Methinks areas in Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland near the provincial border are going to get a rise in game sales with Quebec residents popping by for games on time.
Probably no one who actually plays games is requesting this.
Post by: Kairon on August 17, 2007, 09:23:56 AM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on August 17, 2007, 09:25:32 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
That sucks. How can Quebec choose to be so... stand-offish?
Because they see games like Alien Syndrome here and want nothing to do with it!
Post by: matt oz on August 17, 2007, 09:26:33 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on August 17, 2007, 09:26:46 AM
Doesn't everyone suffer because of the Quebec provincial government?
I wouldn't be surprised if somehow people in Argentina are affected somehow by those guys.I should become an Candian English videogame bootlegger. My hatred of the Toronto Maple Leafs should allow me to slip into Montreal undetected.
Post by: Ian Sane on August 17, 2007, 09:31:08 AM
Only when they want something from the federal government. I've suggested that BC and Alberta should try the same tactic.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on August 17, 2007, 09:33:18 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
"Is Québec still trying to become independent?"
Only when they want something from the federal government. I've suggested that BC and Alberta should try the same tactic.
One Canada is enough for me!
Post by: Kairon on August 17, 2007, 09:45:17 AM
Oh Canada...
Post by: zxkork on August 17, 2007, 10:23:30 AM
Post by: KDR_11k on August 17, 2007, 10:36:50 AM
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on August 17, 2007, 11:42:52 AM
Ian's scheme may work afterall.
Post by: Kairon on August 17, 2007, 11:49:09 AM
Post by: Guitar Smasher on August 17, 2007, 12:44:22 PM
Post by: WindyMan on August 17, 2007, 12:56:38 PM
Besides, it's not like Quebecers can't just drive over to Ontario and get the game at the same time as everyone else. Yeesh.
Post by: Ian Sane on August 17, 2007, 01:00:05 PM
You do know Quebec is like the size of Texas, right? It's not like some rinky-dinky province that takes an hour to drive across. If you lived in the center of Quebec what the hell are you going to do?
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on August 17, 2007, 01:01:40 PM
Post by: Sir_Stabbalot on August 17, 2007, 01:12:19 PM
Post by: Elfslayer on August 17, 2007, 01:41:10 PM
Post by: TJ Spyke on August 17, 2007, 01:53:34 PM
The best solution for consumers is to just order the games online, or move out of Quebec.
This was just posted on NeoGAF by a poster named "Meta Knight":
Quote
just heard an interesting info from someone working at Beenox (owned by Activision):
The deal (it's not a law, it's a deal) was made between the Quebec government and the Entertainment Software Association of Canada. The following companies are part of ESA Canada: Activision Incorporated, Buena Vista Games, Electronic Arts, Microsoft Canada, Nintendo of Canada Ltd., Sony Computer Entertainment, Take-Two Interactive, THQ, Ubisoft Entertainment, Inc. et Vivendi Games, Inc.
Details will be revealed mid-september.
Post by: Magus19 on August 17, 2007, 05:12:52 PM
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on August 17, 2007, 07:37:23 PM
Post by: TJ Spyke on August 18, 2007, 08:02:18 AM
Post by: JonLeung on August 19, 2007, 04:03:41 AM
I remember the Quebecois making a big deal about this back when Pokémon started. They wanted French names for them or the games would be banned or something. I guess the accent aigu on the e (é) wasn't enough to fool them. You don't see us complaining that "Pikachu" and "Pachirisu" and "Togepi" are still in Japanese...but I can still understand, for the names that are portmanteaus (I like that word).
Just stick Es on things and reverse the order of some words. I'm fairly confident that "Pokémon: Diamond Version" is "Pokémon: Versione Diamonde". :P
Post by: Ian Sane on August 20, 2007, 05:02:09 AM
Don't forget to put "Le" in front of everything like in Pepé Le Pew cartoons.
"I wonder if we'll get France french version or an actual Québec localization?"
I'd imagine France French will be cheaper since they already have to do that for France which is a bigger market.
European forumers do UK or Australian games have a different English translation or do they appear to be in American English?
Now no one put the idea in the Canadian government's head that we need Canadian English translations. I don't want anything delayed just so that "honor" is spelled "honour".
Post by: KDR_11k on August 20, 2007, 06:19:19 AM
