Hi all,
I want to suggest one thing. Nearly every released mission (if it's interesting enough - for now, almost every new mission meets this requirement) is translated into other languages.
On TTLG there already is a thread - http://ttlg.ttlg.mobi/forums/showthread ... assistance - but I think it should be doubled here as well - some authors may simply not be aware of it.
Two previously released missions - Trail of Blood 2 and Soulforge Revisited - have been translated (into Russian) at the same day, but AFTER the release. This way, we came across a question: why not to translate a mission while it's in beta state?

I think so: when a new betatest request is sent, an author posts a translation request, say, in this thread. Translators who are available and want to translate will connect with them and do their work - thus, the mission will be released as multi-languaged one.
Or what do you think - is there much use in pre-translation and how it should be done?

(Update: Links to the corresponding threads at TTLG:
TEG: http://ttlg.ttlg.mobi/forums/showthread.php?t=135489
Thief FMs forum: http://ttlg.ttlg.mobi/forums/showthread ... &p=2061910)

That's a good idea. I'm all for it!

I agree. This is a great idea. You can use this thread or start another if you wish. I think it should be announced at TTLG, especially in the TEG that this thread exists so that authors testing their missions here will know to make the request at the same time.

I think, case in translaters. He may get access to betatest-forum, but prefers translate mission AFTER release.

The main problem, as I see, is to draw the author's attention to the possibility itself. Most authors (at least I think so) simply don't care about translation. The author may be aware of "translation thread" but won't invite anyone to translate. (IMHO)

So, announcement in the TEG, maybe in Thief FMs... anywhere else?
I also have an idea to connect translation thread(s) to upcoming & abandoned FMs list thread so both translators and authors could be aware of new FMs / translations.

Honestly, I'd love to have my mission translated, but I wouldn't want to get anyone involved with that until it is close to release. There's just so much that might change. And then there are all the English words that are in art not text. I think I would have to make all those changes myself after someone told me what the correct words to use in the language are and I don't know if I could tackle all that in a timely manner. I wouldn't want multi-language support to stand in the way of the initial release in English. Most fans are English speakers anyway. Finally, suppose my mission sucks? Better I think to wait and see if there is any demand for translations before putting all that effort into it. I have over 300 book text files. That's a heck of a lot of translation, especially if there ends up being no demand.

Wow!

Keepers.

Chatty lot are they?

Read a lot, they do.

Well I hope they don't have the fines that I do for failing to return my books to the library!

funny you should say that. From the Academy Code of Behavior, grounds for discipline:

...
l) Willful disruption of the orderly operation of the campus;
m) Leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal authorized activities;
n) Failure to return Library Books on time;
m) Any other ground constituting good cause.
...

The following disciplines may be imposed, individually or in various combinations, on any student found to have violated the Academy Code of Behavior.
1. Warning;
2. Restitution;
3. Projects and compensatory assignments;
4. Disciplinary probation;
5. Loss of privileges;
6. Removal;
7. Expulsion;
8. Revocation;
9. Applied Modes of Anguish*;
10. Termination.

* Note: commonly applied modes of anguish include:
- dislocation by the pulley, ropes, and weights;
- roasting the soles of the feet;
- suffocation by tightened ropes and / or water;
- insertion of the canes;
- crushing by the die;
- the auto da fe

Well, after careful consideration, as I don't have the £10.50 I need for my fines, I'll opt for the

3. Projects and compensatory assignments

disciplinary procedure.

And now I'll stop derailing the thread. Apologies!

Yes my apologies as well for the derailment.

My point was that the decision to make translations should come late in beta at the earliest, when you know if it is likely to be worth the effort to do so.

LarryG, as I saw from your activity at TTLG, your mission has rather low probability to suck.

I agree. Translation should be done if the mission is close to release (when 100% no new text/sounds would be added).
Seems that the translator would better have access to the testing forum as well - at least to test the translation?