Russian Translations...

edited August 2012 in Games
As i have once again been reminded (by the "Homebrew games" thread), there are some funky looking Russian games that I can't play due to not understanding the language...

Now although it could be argued that maybe I should learn Russian, I have no intentions of doing so anytime soon...so I was wondering if anyone was willing to translate these snazzy little games to English, so the wider Speccy crowd can enjoy them??

Just an idea...don't know what sort of task this would be or how someone would go about it....I just want to understand all those Russian Dizzy-type things...
Post edited by deadpan666 on
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Comments

  • edited May 2009
    I too would like to see English versions of Russian games.
    And if someone needs an English version of a Spanish or Portuguese game, please PM me and I'll see what I can do.
  • edited May 2009
    There were a few threads/posts on this exact same topic in last year or two.

    Don't quite remember if people were going to get a hold of some of the original authors or if there was an effort to try to translate some of the games? I do recall someone actually writing out translations (of icons/text) for a couple of games that were brought up.

    I'm definitely on board with wanting to enjoy those Russian/Spanish Dizzy/adventure games.
  • edited May 2009
    Yep a lot of great games out there but sadly cant play due to the language barrier. Would really like to see these converted
  • edited May 2009
    This reminds me I need to add more words to the Portuguese column here:

    http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/GameWords_Translation_Table
  • LCDLCD
    edited May 2009
    I translated "Scorpions-Die Machine" some years ago, but unfortunally I do not have any time to sit down with a dictionary and translate each text. There was also text that was not available in the dictionary... Only native speaking russians can do a good and fast translation.
  • edited May 2009
    I could do the translation, but I don't have enough hacking skills to repace the text.
  • edited May 2009
    What id LOVE to see, is an English translation of the "readme" files on the front of "Novosibirsk Elite"

    http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0017225

    The game itself runs fully in English, but Shadowsofts instruction files are in Russian, and are found on loading the disk. It really IS a VERY nice update they made, and brings some touches that no other version of 8bit Elite has. Ships that hyperspace away when in trouble, or big cargo vessels releasing defense ships come to mind. Theres even new missions and weapons available. All great stuff.

    Anyway.. as a bit of an Elite nut.. to be able to read the instructions to this game would be a bit of an early xmas pressie :)
  • edited May 2009
    Ralf wrote: »
    I could do the translation, but I don't have enough hacking skills to repace the text.
    I can hack, if you're really sure about translating the textes. Russian textes usually bigger, than the english translation of them, so this should not be a problem.
  • edited May 2009
    Sard wrote: »
    It really IS a VERY nice update they made
    Actually Shadowsoft is the only one man, Vladimir Kladov. He is also author of the Emuz & EmuzWin emulators.
  • edited May 2009
    I can hack, if you're really sure about translating the textes. Russian textes usually bigger, than the english translation of them, so this should not be a problem.

    Shadow Maker, if you (or anyone) would translate that then I'd love to give the game a try, please consider it if you have the time.
  • edited May 2009
    Translate what? Help text in the Eliter 3?

    I can hack the text inside the game, not translate to english. Ask Ralf for translation, if he really sure about it. I, of course, also can translate small textes, but actually i'm not good at english-speaking..
  • edited May 2009
    Well that in itself doesnt NEED the text hacked (although it would be ace!). Just a translation onto a text file would do the trick. Ralf ?? :)
    Actually Shadowsoft is the only one man, Vladimir Kladov. He is also author of the Emuz & EmuzWin emulators.

    Even better then. Some of the extra detail has amazed me. Ships that shoot down your missiles and scoop up cargo for example. IMHO he's taken speccy Elite which in my mind is one or the poorest of the 8bit versions, and turned it into one of the best. A top notch job.
    I'd love to know what the alien computer does. or how you obtain the cobra Mk4 in normal play (you can load a pre-saved commander with one and try it out though.. 4 energy bombs indeed !!) plus the extra missions, weapons etc etc...

    The help texts on this REALLY need a translation mannnn !! :D
  • edited May 2009
    Yes, get a Cobra MK4 is a bit of tricky... Main diagonal of the galaxy, etc, do not remember well...
  • edited May 2009
    Translate what? Help text in the Eliter 3?

    I can hack the text inside the game, not translate to english. Ask Ralf for translation, if he really sure about it. I, of course, also can translate small textes, but actually i'm not good at english-speaking..

    Your English is easy to understand, no problem, but an English text file of the converted text would of course be fine (and maybe preferable, as we can print it out). How about it, please, Ralf?
  • edited May 2009
    Ok, I'll try it.

    It's quite long, so I'm not sure when I'll be ready.

    Bear in mind, that I'll be translating from one foreign language for me to another foreign language, so it's quite a tough job, but I want to challenge myself.
  • edited May 2009
    Ralf wrote: »
    Ok, I'll try it.

    It's quite long, so I'm not sure when I'll be ready.

    Bear in mind, that I'll be translating from one foreign language for me to another foreign language, so it's quite a tough job, but I want to challenge myself.

    Thanks mate, I look foward to seeing it, but of course don't feel rushed, take as long as you need. And your English always seemed fine to me in your posts, but if you do need help phrasing English then of course we'll help . Though I don't imagine you'll need much help, if any at all - at least not on the English side.
  • edited May 2009
    Many thanks Ralf. Great of you to give it a try :)
  • edited May 2009
    I would like to see english translation of some russian Dizzy games like Dizzy XII: Underground, Dizzy 'A', Dizzy 'B': Treasure Island.

    And how I can see Dizzy A&B aren't at WoS at all! :-o
  • edited May 2009
    I saw English translations of Dizzy A and B somewhere yesterday. I think I was reading an old thread and I found links to a website with those 2 games and an English version of Twilight in +3 format. Impressive game.
  • edited May 2009
    Here's a dumb question ... do Russians want to see English-texted games translated to Russian?
  • edited May 2009
    I would be surprised if most of them aren't bilingual by now.

    Found the link to some games that were translated to English. Twilight is a must.

    http://speccy.t35.com/

    There were more websites with translated games (found in old threads) but the links are dead.
  • edited May 2009
    ZnorXman wrote: »
    Here's a dumb question ... do Russians want to see English-texted games translated to Russian?
    I do not think so... At least I do not want :)
    I would be surprised if most of them aren't bilingual by now.
    Then you must be surprised, most of russians are not bilingual. Just the Speccy community in Russia is specific - there are mostly a hardware/programming/etc. dudes, not gaming ones. Actually I can't remember more than 5 men who is really interested in gaming on Speccy.
  • edited May 2009
    Ralf wrote: »
    Bear in mind, that I'll be translating from one foreign language for me to another foreign language, so it's quite a tough job, but I want to challenge myself.
    I can correct after you finish, if you wish. But I think you will translate it perfectly.
    Twilight in +3 format. Impressive game.
    Actually Twilight is a slovak game, not russian. But really impressive, probably best graphic adventure game on Speccy. And imho russian version of Twilight is better :) Coz it have music in intro and outro and have some part of the game recoded and/or remixed in better way. Feel the difference - Twilight - Russian version

    Song in main menu - my all-times favorite in AY sound :)
  • edited May 2009
    Now another thing comes to my mind.

    If we even translate a Russian game or two, how are people going to learn if translation exists and get the translated copy.

    I guess that Martijn approach, here at WOS, is only keeping original programs. A translation is a crack, so it won't be accepted here at WOS.

    Remember the fate of English translation of great Spanish game Abadia del Crimen. It exists, but isn't present on WOS and it takes quite an effort to google it. Some time ago there was a topic here in which WOS members said "I'd like to have Abadia del Crimen translated". They just didn't know that translation exists.

    So it is possible that many people will never know of the translated games.

    What do you suggest guys?
  • edited May 2009
    Ralf wrote: »
    Now another thing comes to my mind.

    If we even translate a Russian game or two, how are people going to learn if translation exists and get the translated copy.

    I guess that Martijn approach, here at WOS, is only keeping original programs. A translation is a crack, so it won't be accepted here at WOS.

    Notification could be added to the game's instructions on WOS, but that's hardly ideal. Or someone with HTML knowledge could set up a page for modded games, and it could be linked to in WOS's links page.


    Remember the fate of English translation of great Spanish game Abadia del Crimen. It exists, but isn't present on WOS and it takes quite an effort to google it. Some time ago there was a topic here in which WOS members said "I'd like to have Abadia del Crimen translated". They just didn't know that translation exists.

    So it is possible that many people will never know of the translated games.
    Was there a finished translation? I thought that it was only an unfinished translation. Where can it be downloaded from, please?
  • edited May 2009
    Ralf, if its any help, Ive actualy gone through the text files of elite 3 myself and taken them ALL as screen grabs like below..

    34.jpg

    If you send me a PM, I will happily arrange to send the set to you via email if it makes it any easier for you ?? :)
  • edited May 2009
    zxbruno wrote: »
    I saw English translations of Dizzy A and B somewhere yesterday. I think I was reading an old thread and I found links to a website with those 2 games and an English version of Twilight in +3 format. Impressive game.

    Don't you talk about Dizzy X and Y? These were translated to English, but Dizzy A&B? I don't have any information about it.
  • edited May 2009
    ewgf wrote: »
    Was there a finished translation? I thought that it was only an unfinished translation. Where can it be downloaded from, please?
    Abadia translation was beta, but full, all the textes were translated.
  • edited May 2009
    Pavero, if I were you, I would not wish the translation for them... Crap games, especially Dizzy B.
  • edited May 2009
    Sard wrote: »
    ... speccy Elite which in my mind is one or the poorest of the 8bit versions...

    I'm not disagreeing with you (I can't, as I've not properly played any 8-bit version other then the Speccy version), but why do you think the Spectrum version is so poor, I thought it was great?
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