Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

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Expand view Topic review: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by Kostov » Wed Mar 20, 2019 7:41 am

Automatic language detection has already been removed from GZDoom.

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by Jekyll Grim Payne » Wed Mar 20, 2019 7:37 am

I'd like to report that I run an English version of Windows (which was always English and installed as English) but am located in Russia, and after the update GZDoom started in Russian, even though phantombeta claims it's not supposed to be able to read my location; apparently it does check for something other than system language. I'm fine with where the option is located, but I personally highly dislike automatic language selection anywhere, and it seems especially pointless for a product that has existed for so long in mostly one language. I vote for it being set to English by default.

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by theleo_ua » Sat Mar 16, 2019 7:32 pm

Graf Zahl wrote:Right now there's simply too many problems with non-English text to make this more prominent. There were good reasons why this was mostly a hidden option in the past.

Remember: There needs to be an option for graphics replacements in the main menu, there needs to be better font handling for mods that replace the fonts being used to print the text - in short: There's lots of things that need fine tuning and fixing. For the upcoming release I consider this a beta feature that's mainly meant to collect and address the issues that need handling to make this really useful.

Last but not least: Load any mod that does more than replacing levels - either replacing level names, intermission texts, menu graphics, fonts - it will look very broken with non-English language because you either got a mishmash of content or have to forcibly override the mod's content.

Once all this stuff has been addressed in a way that such a mod appears to be reasonably consistent - THEN is the time to add a language options submenu.
Agree

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by Graf Zahl » Sat Mar 16, 2019 12:55 pm

That's the bigger problem - who knows how much time I can invest here later...

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by Xaser » Sat Mar 16, 2019 12:29 pm

Graf Zahl wrote:For the upcoming release I consider this a beta feature that's mainly meant to collect and address the issues that need handling to make this really useful.
That's fair -- if it's still a work-in-progress, then yeah, best to wait. So long as it's in the "later" bucket, not the "never" one.

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by Graf Zahl » Sat Mar 16, 2019 11:54 am

Right now there's simply too many problems with non-English text to make this more prominent. There were good reasons why this was mostly a hidden option in the past.

Remember: There needs to be an option for graphics replacements in the main menu, there needs to be better font handling for mods that replace the fonts being used to print the text - in short: There's lots of things that need fine tuning and fixing. For the upcoming release I consider this a beta feature that's mainly meant to collect and address the issues that need handling to make this really useful.

Last but not least: Load any mod that does more than replacing levels - either replacing level names, intermission texts, menu graphics, fonts - it will look very broken with non-English language because you either got a mishmash of content or have to forcibly override the mod's content.

Once all this stuff has been addressed in a way that such a mod appears to be reasonably consistent - THEN is the time to add a language options submenu.

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by Tapwave » Sat Mar 16, 2019 11:42 am

Xaser wrote:Please reconsider adding this. With the current option placement, it's basically impossible for a non-English speaker to even find the option to begin with, which defeats the point.
Agree with that, and imo it might help bring in more casual users as well.

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by Xaser » Sat Mar 16, 2019 11:41 am

Please reconsider adding this. With the current option placement, it's basically impossible for a non-English speaker to even find the option to begin with, which defeats the point.

[EDIT] FWIW, I do agree with the removal of the auto-detection, for reasons mentioned. It's best to let the user choose, but the choice needs to be visible.

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by Enjay » Sat Mar 16, 2019 5:08 am

And because it's a general option that doesn't easily fit into the other existing categories, it's exactly the kind of option that should be gathered under the heading of miscellaneous. It seems to be a very logical place to me. Once I realised that it had move, I found it almost instantly because misc was a very logical place for me to look.

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by Graf Zahl » Sat Mar 16, 2019 3:01 am

No, it is not too hidden. It is precisely where it should be - out of the way of everyday options in a place where a user normally goes once to set up preferences.

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by Rachael » Sat Mar 16, 2019 3:01 am

Display Options is mostly used for tweaking rendering settings. Personally I think it would be a bit too hidden there. Plus, it's bloated like an overblown balloon with shit right now, compared to the Miscellaneous options. You want to talk about hidden? It'd be a needle in a haystack, there!

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by Kostov » Sat Mar 16, 2019 2:49 am

Okay, so be it.

I still think the current language setting is too hidden for anyone who might not want to play in English. At least, “Miscellaneous options” doesn’t seem very intuitive a location for it to me. I think something that affects the whole interface so drastically would better fit in Display Options.

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by dpJudas » Fri Mar 15, 2019 5:53 pm

Graf Zahl wrote:For whatever reason, many websites only use the IP address to decide what to show. It really can be annoying, especially when having something that doesn't even present country specific content like IMDb - it still cannot be set to anything sane on the user side without logging in with a personal account and making oneself susceptible to their spying.
I'm fairly lucky in that regard because danish is spoken by so few. They usually can't be bothered to support it until they figured out not to do that kind of IP range checks.

Unfortunately NVidia is one of those that never figured it out and recently started redirecting me to their local garbage site with seemingly no way to make it remember I want the US site. Generally in my profession there's no advantage in getting localized content whatsoever - all it means is I'll have to translate it back into English in my head.

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by Graf Zahl » Fri Mar 15, 2019 5:13 pm

dpJudas wrote:
Enjay wrote:but I have also seen quite a few people over the years saying that they weren't bothered about localisation or, even stronger, that they wanted to override what little localisation there already was and have the game displayed in its original language with its original text even though it wasn't their native language.
I can only strongly echo this. If any automatic language detection is added, make 200% sure that it is the right localization field read from the system, or better yet, confirm with the user.
I'm not sure if ZDoom's code used the correct field but no worries - I just removed it because Doom is not the kind of program where this stuff makes sense.
dpJudas wrote: and same for websites that redirects me to the local danish website when I enter their .com web address.
For whatever reason, many websites only use the IP address to decide what to show. It really can be annoying, especially when having something that doesn't even present country specific content like IMDb - it still cannot be set to anything sane on the user side without logging in with a personal account and making oneself susceptible to their spying.

Re: Add language option to the GZDoom launcher

by dpJudas » Fri Mar 15, 2019 4:44 pm

Enjay wrote:but I have also seen quite a few people over the years saying that they weren't bothered about localisation or, even stronger, that they wanted to override what little localisation there already was and have the game displayed in its original language with its original text even though it wasn't their native language.
I can only strongly echo this. If any automatic language detection is added, make 200% sure that it is the right localization field read from the system, or better yet, confirm with the user.

My computer is set up to use English as its language and Danish for its other localized settings (currency, keyboard, time, etc.). Any program that writes stuff in Danish always pisses me off, and same for websites that redirects me to the local danish website when I enter their .com web address.

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