Very big request- German language please

[BaronVH]

I have an extremely big request that is very, very important to me. Please have the Germans speaking German and not some accented English. It seems that most of the strategy games based on WWII recently have had the Germans, Russians, and other nationalities speak English. Please do not do this, or, as a very cool option to please everyone, have a dubbed or subtitled option. This might not be a big deal for many, but the games that have had the correct languages spoken have handled it well; i.e. Medal of Honor and Brothers in Arms (though not in multiplayer-boo!). This really is a big deal to me. I know that the game is focusing on fun, intense battles over strict realism, but you can have that without compomising the language, and some people may even learn a few things in the process.

[dmille]

Actually, I'd like to disagree with this. While hopefully a German-language version will be released (in which the Americans too, speak German), to put subtitles on the screen will take up (hopefully nonexistant) HUD room and distract the vast majority of players who do not speak German.

While I do agree that it is unrealistic, I think it's also unavoidable. What's more, I'm not sure that the few German words learned from this game would be especially useful.

Welcome to the forums, BaronVH.

[Magus]

Just have the language files be switchable. Have all the armies speak English, or German, or have the correct languages assigned, or have the Americans speak Chinese and the Germans speak Arabic. Options are usually better than absolutes.

Edit: And its good to see another person brought in by CoH be so far above the bar set by the swarm of DoW...

[TheDeadlyShoe]

In previous WWII games I have found Germans speaking German perfectly servicable. For instance, the Close Combat series. You don't need to understand verbal acknowledgements. At most a mix is needed. Unit acknowledgements could be standardized; but then you could have localization-specific 'aide-responses' for important information like SPs changing hand or reinforcements arriving.

[terracomm7]

If they had the Germans speaking German, it would be a lot more realistic. I have played games where Germans/RUssians et cetera were speaking accented english and it was irritating and horrible on the ears at the same time. If they are just commands and acknoledgements why would we need english for them? are people not clever enough to figure it out for themselves?

[Agdune]

eugh, i hate it when everyone speaks the same language. those crappy accents... what's the point? they really do cheapen a game, unless used in RTCW context (the nazi characters had dialouge that moved the storyline along, subtitles would have been too cumbersome, so they just gave them english lines. not to mention that the game never gave the slightest impression of seriousness :D)

for battle ambience/unit responces, i'd say native tounges all the way. i don't want some git saying 'ZE BULLETZ ARE EVRYVARE! HEIL!'. it's not like hearing a foreign language will make player's heads explode, it doesn't exactly take a modern day einstein to figure out what a 'panzer' is, and even though realism takes a backseat nowdays (i was somewhat upset when i realised the new silent hunter didn't have german), players should at least be able to decide for themselves which is best.

[ÜberJumper]

Call of Duty is a great example of doing German right.

[No Surrender]

I'd rather stab myself in the face than listen to one more batch of "For Ze Fuher!"s. I agree with Baron VH. The important plot points could be given by a English speaking German aid or something, but for unit acknowlegements, please have them speaking German.

[Skwerl]

well, it will be pretty neat if CoH can use real German instead of phrases like "they smell like cheese" in German. Codename Panzer actually did a pretty good job on it imho.

[briareos]

If there will be something more than "axis" and "allies", meaning british, US, australian, german, italian (ah ah ah ah) or whatever nationality you can think of, it would be great to have each different nation have their own customized voices, though it would be very difficult...and I think that there should be to possibility to choose between the game language and these costumized voices, just like the old Shogun: Total War did.

[TheBladeRoden]

But who then will be left to say "Hiefe, medic!" "I'm a Leutnant!" "Disarm zie dynamite!" "Wunderbar!" "Eh he he! Ser gut!"

[BaronVH]

Glad to see that some folks agree with me. As to the major plot points, in Medal of Honor there were points in the game where subtitles did pop up, and it did not hinder the game at all. Therefore, I think it could be done. I think that if Return to Castle Wolfenstein had German language spoken, it would have elevated it to another level (the original did- I realize that I am showing my age). Also, there are two groups when it comes to WWII strategy games: the typical RTS gamer that likes them fast and furious (Starcraft, Dawn of War (that I love), and C&C). This group will buy this game, I am sure. The second type of the gamer is the hardcore WWII history nut (Hearts of Iron, etc.). They will be much more put off by the lack of authentic languages. I am a mix of both. I want games to be fun and as authentic as it can be without compromising the fun factor. However, this group of people that like the hardcore WWII game will already be put off with the focus on the "fun" in this, and the Germans yelling "Actung, loook out for ze Allize" will definately not buy it. I know alot of people do not care. But, many do and hopefully there can be a happy medium that would allow everyone to enjoy it and make Relic rich.

[Da_Humie]

"Achtung! Achtung! Allie schatten Zerstorer!!"
Attention! Attenion! Allied bomber shadow!
(Yes, I know it's basic, but my German is a little rusty)

Which sounds better in a WW2 game? Battlefield 1942 did a half-way decent job with the German; it didn't detract from the game, it added to it - though it wasn't the greatest. Even if the German isn't even that great, it's much better than even a well-done accent.

[t-cast]

In all the WWII RTS games made by CDV, the German units answer back in real German. It isn't a problem for controlling them, but I do wish I could understand what they were saying.

[briareos]

Zerstorer!!

I know only few words of German, but I think that zerstorer is used for heavy fighters....IIRC it literally means "destroyer" and according to Google bomber in german is...bomber.

[Riess]

"Wenn ist das Nunstruck git und Slotermeyer? Ja! ... Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput!" :rofl:

Seriously though, yes, real German would add to the atmosphere. Having it optional would of course be good, optional stuff is always great.

One thing though: I'd really love to see how the German authorities woud respond if, say, a German soldier would respond to being clicked with 'Heil Hitler!'...

[Starfisher]

I don't think your average German soldier would respond to an officer tapping him on the shoulder with a Nazi salute. Maybe, "Ja?", or however a german solider responds to an officer. Heh, "Was würden Sie wollen, mich zu taten?", if that's even remotely close to what I think it is... bleh. But you get the idea. It's not hard to make the Germans de-nazified.

[General Nuke Em]

What, you mean they didn't goose step across the battlefield with Kar 98 bayonets polished like mirrors?! :p

[krjal]

I'll be happy asw long as there is the option for German speach for the Germans and English for...those who'll speak English. Any French in the game btw? Or Italians or...?

[Riess]

Good point, Starfisher. A simple "Ja?" or "Ich höre!" would suffice, especially in a combat situation.

As for your sentence... "Was soll ich tun?" works much better.

[DatonKallandor]

Hey Riess, I smell a job for us German speaking types coming up.


Daton

[Rafta]

hehe, i'll like to see real german speaking troops too. CoD was nice but there was one syncro speaker who wasn't real german and who spoke like he's learning it at the moment. Same thing on the "ship mission" where the english soldier speaks "german" and none of the germans notice that he's speaking like reading from a dicitionary.

Concerning german versions, i'd like to see the GIs talking english while the germans still talk german. the subtitels should be swapped.
Battlefield did a great job too. Either you let the language at standard, which means germs talk germ and gis talk english, and so on or you'll set all language to english.



"Achtung! Achtung! Allie schatten Zerstorer!!"
Attention! Attenion! Allied bomber shadow!

this sentence makes no sense, it should be:
"Achtung! Achtung! Allierte Bomberschatten!"

although i don't know what a bomber shaow is supposed to be
would be better "Bombergeschwader" what means a pack of allied bombers

[Da_Humie]

I thought I re-posted something about that...

Mostly, I posted that because my German is somewhat rusty. And the whole shadow thing; forget it, like I said, it was rusty. It was an oops. I haven't taken a course for at least 2 years.

[Rafta]

I don't think your average German soldier would respond to an officer tapping him on the shoulder with a Nazi salute. Maybe, "Ja?", or however a german solider responds to an officer. Heh, "Was würden Sie wollen, mich zu taten?", if that's even remotely close to what I think it is... bleh. But you get the idea. It's not hard to make the Germans de-nazified.
jup, this would be great cause such a game wants to show the battle between the armies not their political systems, the civil-cruelty and so on. Don't think the soldiers on the battlefield thought of any propaganda stuff while mortars detonatin next to them.

[ÜberJumper]

"MY PANTS ARE COLD"

Whoever plays CoD, please translate the line that sounds like that for me. EVERY time I hear a german player fire it off through the voice menu, I laugh my ass off, even though I'm playing as German, and it's probably something important I should be listening too.

[Rafta]

oO hm i would have to install CoD again to check this
if you could write down the command i could translate it for you

[DatonKallandor]

"Ein Panzer kommt!" maybe?

That would be command 5-6


Daton

[Noir]

"MY PANTS ARE COLD"

Whoever plays CoD, please translate the line that sounds like that for me. EVERY time I hear a german player fire it off through the voice menu, I laugh my ass off, even though I'm playing as German, and it's probably something important I should be listening too.

I remember once in UO,on the street map that had Shermans and Mk IVs in it, where a guy kept on spamming "MINE PANTS ARE COLD" while doing that sound byte.It was hilarious.

[Rafta]

"Ein Panzer kommt!" maybe?

That would be command 5-6


Daton
means "a tank approaches"

[Demon_Eyes]

Whole heartedly agree with the topic starter, it displays a level of polish that would compliment the engine perfectly, can't cheap out on this game it's in alpha and it already looks spectacular.

[Ammon Ra]

each nation's soldier sshould speak their language. 'nuff said. Who cares if it's for the english speaking audience.

"geshutze in anflug!" Means: fire [artillery] en-route/approach.
"Panzer zehn uhr!" [tank 10 oclock, if they used that style of direction]
"Was zohl das zien?" [Sorry sir, can't do that.]
"Gib mihr was zo essen erst" [Sorry sir, can't do that. :D ]
"Ach du shiezer!" [Under fire!]

German spelling is crap i konw, never took lessons, learnt it all from german music and tv. I'm 1/4 german as well...

Now for italian:
"Che vuoi?!" [You want something?]
"La casa e la'?" [moving to location... sort of]
ect...

[Rafta]

it's not only your spelling ^^

"geshutze in anflug!" - "Geschütze im Anflug" - sounds like they are throwing the whole cannons =D
"Was zohl das zien?" - could be "Was soll das sein" which means "What's that?"
"Gib mihr was zo essen erst" - wrong spelled "Gib mir zuerst was zu essen" - means "give me something to eat first" ^^
"Ach du shiezer!" - Sounds like "Ach du Scheißer" - means "oh, you shitter" - or "Achtung Schießer" - which sounds like "Attention shooting people" but no one would use that. Direct translation to "Unter Beschuß" would fit better ^^

for anyone who wants to translate words or phrases to german:
http://dict.leo.org
http://babelfish.altavista.com/

[briareos]

"La casa e la'?" [moving to location... sort of]

Erm..no. "Ci muoviamo" (we're moving) o "muoviamoci" (moving out) is better. "La casa è la" is something like "there's the house" (where's the wolf ah ah ah ^^) or, as a question "where's the house?".

[Da_Humie]

Hilfe! Wir sind unter Feuer!
Help! We're under fire!

I'm a little German myself.

Ankommende Sherman behalter! Nehmenabdckung!
Incoming Sherman tanks! Take Cover!

Sie werden besessen!
You're possessed! (I just had to)

[Rafta]

Ankommende Sherman behalter! Nehmenabdckung!
Incoming Sherman tanks! Take Cover!

hehe translation tool did some mistakes =)
tank is a "Behälter" or a "Panzer".
the Behälter is something to put things in. comes from the term "halten" which means "hold".
Panzer would fit much better.

"Take Cover" is translated to "Geht in Deckung"
nehmen abdeckung could mean "grab cover sheet" but it's just a verb in principal form and a noun.

/me is a smart ass

[Agdune]

at this rate the developers aren't going to need to translate anything for themselves.

yes, we've all heard german, and a fair few of you can speak it. well done. :p

[DatonKallandor]

We are just trying to help the game's quality. (And get a free copy of it :evilnod: )


Daton

[n0z3k1ll3r]

Sie werden besessen!
You're possessed! (I just had to)That should be Sie sind besessen if I'm not mistaken. It's too formal regardless, Du bist besessen would work much better.

[Soulblighter]

topic has started to fade... so think this one will be shut down.