As I noted in an earlier column, Fauna didn’t fare so well with my kids partly because the game was completely in German, and this seemed to intimidate or distract the kids too much. As far as the kids go, I can easily see how the language barrier was too much to handle. When I’m already stretching their abilities to play an adult game, the addition of a further complication of language translation is just enough to make them think that maybe another episode of Tom & Jerry may be a better way to spend the hour.
However, foreign languages have been an issue for many adult gamers that I have played with as well. I have had varying amounts of success with introducing foreign language games over the years. Thinking about Fauna (and hoping for the English release of said game) got me thinking about how much of an issue the foreign language really is.
In the old days (when I started play Eurogames in about 1990), foreign language wasn’t really a big problem because you essentially had no choice but to play the German version of any game not called Settlers of Catan! That problem slowly improved over the next few years, but I can recall years of learning rules for text file translation from the Gaming Cabinet or the Gaming Dumpster. Issues with rules translations were common, and it was fairly commonplace to find a gamer with a beat up yellow covered Langenscheidt German-English Pocket Dictionary to help resolve any disputes. As the only web-browser I had at the time as Webcrawler, I have no idea whether Babelfish was even running at that point!
Since I learned to deal with the German in those formative years, I’ve never been bothered at all with German language on games. I’m comfortable using a sheet with necessary bits translated for my reference. I couldn’t be bothered to actually paste up game components because it would take too much time (and it would look like crap to boot!) Luckily, in the past 20 years, a number of advances – most notably a much higher rate of games being done in English as well as a site called Boardgamegeek.com – have helped make it easier to play Eurogames. Now, most games are already done up in English. If they are not, it’s fairly common to find a .pdf file with the rules done in English (Either from the publisher themselves or from a motivated fan). Furthermore, if there is any German text on the components, it’s also common to find that someone has used mad Photoshop skillz to provide people with print-and-play paste-ups for just about any game.
As a result, there are many gamers who simply won’t take the time or effort to play a game that is only available in Deutsch – those gamers who I call the xenoglossophobic gamers. There are so many games put out each year – so why bother with playing something that requires a fair amount of work in order to be played in the first place! For example, I was an early adopter of Agricola (partly because I played a very peripheral role in the development of the game), and I was eager to get the game played as soon as I brought it home for Essen. At each game session, there was usually at least one gamer who would refuse to play because of all the German on the cards. Additionally, there would usually be at least one gamer (but usually more) that would make repeated remarks about how they would never take the time, effort or cost to print out and sleeve paste-ups for 360 cards.
There are certainly some exceptions now as some of the Eurogames are designed to be completely language independent. With rules available from the publisher or BGG, I can sometimes talk the xenoglossophobes into trying a simple game (such as FITS or Blox). As long as I’m the person who explains the rules, you can play games such as these without needing any language reference at all. Heck, as long as I don’t make a big deal of the foreign language-ness, the gamers being introduced to the game might not even know that they’ve played a game that had no English on or in it.
Other games can be easily converted for an English audience with simple paste-ups. While I barely have enough technical skill to work the modern office equipment in my house or command my computer to use Photoshop to make spiffy paste-ups, I’ve managed to fix up a few of my own games. I’ve found that it’s much easier to wait for the experts to do it and upload those files to Boardgamegeek. Either way, a simple print job on the color laser printer onto full sheet sticker paper has my game fixed up in no time. Of course, I can easily see where this is too much work for some people to do – but it’s a snap for me. I find that I still paste-up a fair number of games each year because I still bring home a sizable haul each October at Essen – and it’s not uncommon that I end up with the German version of a game. I find that having to paste-up a game is a small cost to pay for having the game weeks or months in advance of the rest of the English speaking world.
What has your experience been with games in German (or French or whatever)? Would you prefer to wait for the game to be released in your native tongue or do the resources on the Internet make it easier for you to play with the foreign language game?
Xenoglossophobia is not an uncommon trait amongst gamers, so there’s no need to be ashamed of it… Heck, you might even be able to claim a case of cainophobia or teutophobia and not have anyone realize your true fear. Of course, ablutophobia is another common gamer trait which may not be so well received.
At least I don’t suffer from verbophobia, allodoxaphobia or rhabdophobia!
Until your next appointment,
The Gaming Doctor
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