One hour translation has specialists. Might have a fiction person. They also have a proof reader service. [import]uid: 100901 topic_id: 24789 reply_id: 100880[/import]
Cool. Some text used on UI elements (like “Play”, “Play Game”, “Menu”, “Score”, “High Score”, etc.) would be pretty standard across board, so it might help lots of users – even if used as a reference point.
And… since we have users from all over the world, it may expand into shared reference space for basic localization for often used text on games/apps in many languages.
Cheers,
Naomi [import]uid: 67217 topic_id: 24789 reply_id: 100888[/import]
That reminds me David found something on the cocos2d website about translations. I’ll see if I can get him to find the link and post it. [import]uid: 27183 topic_id: 24789 reply_id: 100891[/import]
Yeah that totally makes sense with regards to branding. David and I talked about it, and we’re going to change all the names and keep the english versions. Cannon Cat, Evil Emu, Skyfish.
We’re also going to get everything translated using tomedes.com. Once we’re done we’re going to create a page and post the translations from both services, as well as the one’s our friends did for everyone to see.
I’ll then post it on reddit.com to see which translation service people think is better. It think it’ll be helpful for everyone.
Update: Scratch that. Tomedes.com is way more expensive. 
Looks like they cost 4x, but they do offer translators that are experienced in game translation. [import]uid: 27183 topic_id: 24789 reply_id: 100884[/import]
Don, did you get the Swedish translation done? I’m also interested in the quality of these services so I’d love to check the accuracy for you [import]uid: 58493 topic_id: 24789 reply_id: 100918[/import]
Hi anders.j,
Yes I did. And thanks for offering to check it. Here’s Swedish:
Du måste hjälpa oss! Himmelfiskarna fångas i bubblor av den Onde Emun! Vi är alla i stor fara!
Kanonkatten, hjälp oss! Endast DU kan sväva genom skyn från kanon till kanon med sådan lätthet och din gnistdräkt har så många krafter. Vi har hört din legend vitt och brett. Det finns inte mycket tid!
Åh nej! Här kommer den Onde Emun nu! Han är inuti en jätterobot och… [SLUT PÅ ÖVERFÖRING]
Cannon Cat är ett action/äventyrsspel i 2D där du svävar från kanon till kanon bara med en tryckning! Det är enkelt att lära sig och alla kan börja. Men timing betyder allt! Kanoner, fiendepingviner, studsande blåsfiskar och många andra karaktärer framträder i berättelsen för att göra det roligt och utmanande. Men oroa dig inte, för Kanonkattens gnistdräkt har massor av häftiga power-ups som hjälper dig på ditt uppdrag! Fullt av intressanta pussel, udda karaktärer och kul spelande, kommer Cannon Cat definitivt underhålla dig!
Så vad väntar du på!? Himmelfiskarna behöver din hjälp!
??? OBS: Spelet är på engelska ???
skyfish = himmelfisk
Cannon Cat = Kanonkatten
Evil Emu = Onda Emun
sparks-suit = gnistdräkt [import]uid: 27183 topic_id: 24789 reply_id: 100920[/import]
Btw, for non-native English speakers. I’d be willing to double check your own translation for grammar and style in exchange for checking my translations out. I’ve helped out Sun from JadyNut with making some of his in-game text sound more natural. Also, if you want to check out Cannon Cat via TestFlight let me know.
Right now, I’m unsure of the quality of the Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Italian, and Korean translations.
[import]uid: 27183 topic_id: 24789 reply_id: 100921[/import]
Not too bad! I’d make some changes though:
“Himmelfiskarna fångas i bubblor av den Onde Emun!” -> “Himmelfiskarna fänglas i bubblor av den Onde Emun!” (“fångas” = caught, “fängslas” = imprisoned)
“Kanonkatten, hjälp oss!”: “hjälp oss” is just “help us”; if you want a “please” in there like in the original it’d be “Kanonkatten, snälla hjälp oss!”
“Vi har hört din legend vitt och brett” -> “Vi har hört om din legend vitt och brett”, but “vitt och brett” sounds a bit odd in this context, so depending on intended meaning I’d go for maybe “Vi har hört om din legend från fjärran” (“We have heard of your legend from far away”) or “Legenden om dig är vida känd” (“The legend about you is widely known”).
After the legend sentence, “Please come.” was simply omitted; it’d be “Snälla kom.”
Nothing wrong with “Det finns inte mycket tid!” but “Tiden är knapp!” (“Time is scanty/scarce/short”) sounds better, more vigorous.
“Men timing betyder allt!” -> “Men timing är allt!” (again, nothing wrong, but sounds better)
The last sentence in that paragraph (“Fullt av intressanta pussel, …”) is too much of a direct translation with regards to structure, we don’t do it that way in Swedish, so I suggest “Cannon Cat är fullt av intressanta pussel, excentriska karaktärer och roligt gameplay - det kommer definitivt att underhålla dig!”
Oh, and if you’re also translating the game title (like the other translations did) then obviously replace Cannon Cat with Kanonkatten in some places.
At the end it says “Evil Emu = Onda Emun” but in the text it was Onde with an e at the end. “Onda” is correct if the Evil Emu is of a feminine or neutral gender, while “Onde” is for masculine.
Ok, this is probably way too much detail, but being a language fascist and a former journalist I just can’t help myself So here’s a new version…
–
Du måste hjälpa oss! Himmelfiskarna fängslas i bubblor av den Onde Emun! Vi är alla i stor fara!
Kanonkatten, snälla hjälp oss! Endast DU kan sväva genom skyn från kanon till kanon med sådan lätthet och din gnistdräkt har så många krafter. Vi har hört om din legend från fjärran. Snälla kom! Tiden är knapp!
Åh nej! Här kommer den Onde Emun nu! Han är inuti en jätterobot och… [SLUT PÅ ÖVERFÖRING]
Kanonkatten är ett action/äventyrsspel i 2D där du svävar från kanon till kanon bara med en tryckning! Det är enkelt att lära sig och alla kan börja. Men timing är allt! Kanoner, fiendepingviner, studsande blåsfiskar och många andra karaktärer framträder i berättelsen för att göra det roligt och utmanande. Men oroa dig inte, för Kanonkattens gnistdräkt har massor av häftiga power-ups som hjälper dig på ditt uppdrag! Kanonkatten är fullt av intressanta pussel, excentriska karaktärer och roligt gameplay - det kommer definitivt att underhålla dig!
Så vad väntar du på!? Himmelfiskarna behöver din hjälp!
??? OBS: Spelet är på engelska ???
skyfish = himmelfisk
Cannon Cat = Kanonkatten
Evil Emu = Onde Emun
sparks-suit = gnistdräkt [import]uid: 58493 topic_id: 24789 reply_id: 100927[/import]
@anders.j This is great! Obviously, I’m completely trusting you on this, but given that you’ve graciously offered to help, I’m pretty sure your translation is better especially with all the notes. I wish that was something the translators did as well. I wouldn’t mind paying extra to just have that peace of mind. I think we’re going to keep Cannon Cat as is to stick with the brand across languages. And probably Evil Emu too. Thanks a bunch! [import]uid: 27183 topic_id: 24789 reply_id: 100931[/import]
Update: We decided to get a translation to cover the Spain market. Using icanlocalize.com I tried setting up a software localization project. Turns out they ask you to upload a resource file which doesn’t have a plain text option. There’s another type of project the “instant translation” that allows a plain text upload.
The problem which I didn’t realize until now is that instant translations do not allow you to pick your translators. While software localizations do allow you to pick your translators. There are profiles of translators you can choose from. That’s really cool.
Overall, icanlocalize.com is workable, but the interface is TERRIBLE, AWFUL, FRUSTRATING!
You can also create Bidding Project and upload an office document, that will allow you to choose translators as well. I’ll probably try that again in the future. [import]uid: 27183 topic_id: 24789 reply_id: 101666[/import]
Hey, Don, do you use custom fonts? If you do, how do you handle them? I suppose you can use the same fonts so long as there’s no problem with any of the target language – but, if/when you consider localizing your game to Asian market, for example, do you think you’d simply default back to system font?
Naomi [import]uid: 67217 topic_id: 24789 reply_id: 101696[/import]
Hi Don/others
How did you go. Would you still recommend tomedes.com as a good place for an indie developer to go to get a small amount of content translated?
Also what do you guys do with your actual app name? Like I’m assuming:
- content: do that in lua inside your app
- descriptions: put in iTunes Connect or Google Play web page
- app title, that appears under the icon <== THIS ONE
Also I’m not sure Corona Pro actually let’s you have one code base and one binary output that gives you a custom name for each language? You might need Enterprise for this I thought I read…
Hi Don/others
How did you go. Would you still recommend tomedes.com as a good place for an indie developer to go to get a small amount of content translated?
Also what do you guys do with your actual app name? Like I’m assuming:
- content: do that in lua inside your app
- descriptions: put in iTunes Connect or Google Play web page
- app title, that appears under the icon <== THIS ONE
Also I’m not sure Corona Pro actually let’s you have one code base and one binary output that gives you a custom name for each language? You might need Enterprise for this I thought I read…