Hi I need help. Today I downloaded this game from The Adventure Shop (as advertised herewith) My problem is this: The narration and sound-voice bytes are all in Hungarian. I don't understand how an Anerican (me) downloading this game from New Jersey would end up with the Hungarian version of this game. I don't know how you would explain something like this to the customer support. They have obviously made a bad mistake. I have got to correct this immediately. I just don't understand how something like this could happen. I am very very sick and upset about this. I am getting a sick head-ache. I am very very upset about it.

Michael, that is correct. The game does not have English voices, but it does have English subtitles. We did have that posted on the board.

Ana

From what I understand, all voices in the game are indeed in Hungarian, and the English is provided in the text. So, what you are describing is the way the game is supposed to be. Think of it as a similar experience to watching a foreign film spoken in the original language while you read the subtitles.

Good Lord Have Mercy...You mean I have to read captions all the way through this game? Why in the gosh-darn heck wasn't this explained in the literature (Game Site)? Nobody in this world would buy this (including me) had I known this mess was like this. It makes me mad I'll tell you. Companies using deception like that...

Michael, it was announced Here. It is in English subtitles and many here emjoyed the game immensely. You'll get used to it as you play.

Ana

I'm talking about here where I bought the game http://us-adventureshop.gamesplanet.com/pc-games/buy-download-Yoomurjak's-Ring.html There is nothing here talking about the game being in Hungarian

Because despite the fact that the voices are in Hungarian, the subtitles are in English. The game is technically in English.

Ana

what? I don't understand that

Michael,

Play the game and see. You might find that you'll love it.
As for the subtitles, you've done this before with other games.
Just try it. You hear.

I can understand you being mad Michael, as looking at your link, the game is described as English rather than as foreign language with English subtitles & text. Your post highlights the fact that not all gamers are happy to rely on subtitles so the information should be clarified at the point of purchase.

Having said that I don't think there was any intention to mislead & Yoomerjuk's Ring is a wonderful game which we wouldn't otherwise have been able to enjoy playing.

Now you have the game, I agree with MaG, play & see....

Personally, I don't mind gaming with subtitles, but I do agree with Chrissie and Michael that they should clearly state it at point of purchase. The gamer should at least be informed ahead of time, exactly what it is that he is purchasing.

For instance, before finding out that CSI NY was a casual game here on Boomers, I had unfortunately already pre-ordered it, as I had loved all the previous CSI games, and it was already on it's way to me.

This was actually my fault for assuming it would be similar to the previous CSI games, so I did not research the game beforehand. Therefore, not wanting to make a big ruckus with the store I had purchased it from, by trying to get them to take the game back, I decided to at least try the game out. So I opened the seal and started playing it, but was so upset that it was so very, very different from the previous CSI's, that I threw the game into the back of my closet. I might have felt less upset if I had known beforehand that this game would not be in the same format as the previous CSI's.

So I can sympathise with someone feeling rather upset if they find they had purchased something different than what they had expected.

I suppose that in a broad sense, that is a risk that one takes with all games, though. Therefore it is best to research every single game you buy, and not to make assumptions that all instalments of a series will be similar to it's predecessors. :/

Michael,

You are right about the fact that we have not advertised the game as being only half-localized in English. This is a mistake and we apologize for this.

Private Moon Studio is a small and independent game development studio based in Hungary. As they were not able to release the game internationally, we proposed them to offer it to the "community" through our portal.

We can not blame them for not fully localizing the game as the cost involved for recording decent audios is too high without the guarantee to release a retail version in the English speaking territories.
However, you can blame us for this not making it clear that the game was only available with English subtitles. We added modifications to the main game page, and we thank you for this.

If you consider, that you are not be able to play this game without full voice dubbing, I would be pleased to cancel your activation key and to offer you another game at the same price range.

Damon

Thanks Damon!

Ana

When I played the demo of Yormujak's Ring, I just thought it added to the authenticity or genuineness (if that's even a word?) of the game that the game language was indeed in Hungarian, but with English subtitles.

I also remember the developers asking us here at gameboomers if we would prefer a game in spoken English or a game with English subtitles. As I recall, most of us really liked that the game had English subtitles.

I've found that this added to the uniqueness and originality of the game. Actually hearing Hungarian spoken in an Hungarian game make sense in this game as the game plays out in Hungary and one naturally assumes that all persons speak Hungarian.

However, it is very nice offer, you have gotten from Damon, I find

Yes, Damon is taking note of complaints with a very positive attitude. He's updated his site, and he is being very nice to Michael.

Good for you, Damon, that is something so nice to see, especially in today's world where a lot of service providers simply don't care about their customers. Bravo!

Damon, it's very nice of you to have looked at the thread & updated the info on your website as a result! & made such a kind offer to David. I'd also like to thank you for making it possible for us English speaking folk to play the game - I would rather have a game with good voice acting with subtitles than either it being dubbed or worse! - not having the game at all!

Wow !! What great customer service, Damon !!

Damon,

Thanks for the great customer care!

(on behalf of the Private Moon team)

Hi Pilaus and welcome to GameBoomers!

Michael,

This is the usual issue with games and movies: dubbing or subtitling. The preference of people are different. (There is an excellent topic on the subject here on Gameboomers: „Foreign Language Games with English Subtitles - Would you Purchase?”)

But to add something to Damon’s answer: in case of video games it’s not only the question of costs. True, subtitling is more economic because voice acting and the related studio work is not involved. Also it’s much quicker for the same reason.

But translating a dialogue for dubbing is an entirely different thing than translating for subtitling. When you translate a speach actually spoken by an actor on the screen you must calculate the number of syllables in the sentence, the lengths of the speach and even consider lip movement. And languages can largely differ in terms of the lengths and number of words used. For example, Hungarian is considered a „wordy” language in comparison to English.

In a game where you directly interact with a character any discrepancies or asynchron of these can be very annoying. Just imagine, you don’t hear the voice any more but you see the character’s lips still moving. Or the contrary.
This is somewhat easier if the game is graphics-based because it's possible to adjust the movement of the characters to the length of the speach - to certain extent. But you simply cannot do this with an FMV where real acting is involved!

Also, they are prominent Hungarian actors in the game. Finding a suitable voice actor for them requires a similar talent - if you want to provide the same experience. And this is really the question of time and money – you would probably not afford if reflected in the game price.

Anyhow, hope you’ll give it a try!
(on behalf of the Private Moon development team)

Well thank you. I will just keep this game. I am enjoying it. I do want to mention two things, though, that I feel are important. The first is the movement with the mouse. I really feel they could improve this. No matter what settings I choose (fast or less fast, etc.) I have felt through the entire game experience that I am dragging a 17.7 kg. weight attached to my mouse whilst I play. This has not dissipated and now I am almost towards the end of the game. The other issue is collaboration and connections relating to the characters. Soon into the game many new avenues,windows and people open up. In a very real sense a lot of the different characters could help you with the problems you face. You limit this (make it too rigid). This results in the player (me) travelling to character after character to find the one who is supposed to be able to help you with the particular puzzle or problem you need help with. It is exasperating and annoying. I thank you for your counsel herewith. I am most appreciative.

Hi Michael, your description of the mouse movement doesn't sound quite right - I thought the game played very smoothly - so maybe more of a technical problem?

As for 'limitations', I found the progression very intuitive & there were a lot of clues in the dialogues & reading material. The game did rely in parts on some exploration but the only problems I came across were of the puzzle kind which seemed to be very well thought out. Gamers like different things so perhaps not a game to wholly cater for yours?

I found the mouse problem was a setting within the wireless laser mouse (apply game settings when a game is detected) I had this turned on. I turned it off and it relieved the "heavy dragging weight" mouse problem. The things I didn't like about the game were: 1. I did not feel a connection with Jonathon. Up until almost the end of the game I simply perceived a man on a desperate mission to solve a time travel mystery/anomaly. Many times this seemed to take a back-burner to the Juli seduction/anomaly. I believe Juli would have been better served as a potential good friend rather than a sex partner. Indeed,you speak about the intuitive nature of the puzzles. I did not see this. I always want to solve puzzles and stuff wihout walkthroughs. I do this with a lot of them. This wasn't the case here. I give the example of the maze. In no way do I doubt the logic and reasoning behind this puzzle. However, there's nothing fun in this. I've done so many maze puzzles for years. They are fun because you can do your own individual exploration and eventually find your own way out. If a maze is created such that the player will simply revolve around in circles unless they solve this complex riddle based on two separate diagram maps...Well.this isn't fun anymore. It's like measuring drapes or dispensing medicine. They are necessary things which must be done precisely. They aren't however considered fun or enjoyable in my opinion. 2. Indeed there was exploration. The unenjoyable part of this was the player (me) constantly ran into the invisible terminus (scene) of which you could venture no further. So you are constantly needing to turn your character around because he hits these constantly. Now, imagine going into an antique store and realising there is something very important I need to find here. Now add to this puzzle that to find the solution you need to examine hundreds of bottles,dishes,pictures.porcelain collectibles,toys,dolls..all of them having no relationship to your solution except to exasperate you and tire you out with boredom. This becomes just frankly irritating and exasperating. Now I want to tell you what I found really enjoyable about the game. This was the Basilica. Touring this treasure was,to me,what made the game worth struggling with to the end. It was truly magnficent. I hope that the next time I visit Vienna I will travel to Hungary just to visit this incredible structure.

I couldnt DISAGREE more with EVERYTHING you said.I could go into detail about your whining but I dont want to upset Mag.

Thank you very much for the varied opinions. We have agreed and disagreed on different games. Yoomurjak's Ring is no different. There are those that loves it and some that are not happy with it.

I want also to thank you for caring about me.

Let us close this thread now, dear friends.