Thanks.
Please just read the brazilian posts ... we really need your attention
Have you considered PMing Mike? ;)
Actually, theotherdraxen already did!
I'm passing it onto the right people, and I'll let you know what comes back. =)
Actually, theotherdraxen already did!
I'm passing it onto the right people, and I'll let you know what comes back. =)
Thank you. Even if nothing comes from it, at least we, as customers and lovers of RPGs in general are making our disdain vocal.
Go Go WOTC! PWN that silly publishing company.
I'm just trying to bring some attention from the community, specifically Mike, about some poor D&D players in brazil, who are at the mercy of their translation publisher's poor quality. The thread is [thread=863803]here.[/thread] Mike, or other WizOs, do you think you could read it and bring it to the attention of the right people? Apparently their publisher has a monopoly down there and it's leading to two or three year delays in translated products, and most products aren't released at all.
Thanks.
It´s wonderfull to see that the thread I created is showing it´s first results. I´d like to thank all of you guys, even the ones that are not affected, for your help in this matter!
I´d like to add a few words too:
1) Devir does not answer us customers back.
2) Devir has no kind of direct contact between the company and the customers, like Wizards has with it´s foruns and e-mails.
3) Devir never give us any kind of information, not even on it´s own homepage. It´s never, never updated. So, we are kept in the dark.
4) Awful translation of the D&D books. There are from small things like Rangers getting a bonus to ATTACK and damage against it´s favored enemies from even if you just ENTER in threatened square you get an attack of opportunity. There are several things missing too, for example: the magic maces seen in the Dungeon Master Guide are missing!!! They show up un the table, but there are no description for such weapons!
5) Delay on releasing books. They promised Draconomicon in 2005. No sign of it so far.
6) Errata?!! Ha!! Never! NEVER!!! Even will all those mistakes found in the books, they never do anything to fix it, not even with an errata! I´ll repeat: they never made an errata.
1) Devir does not answer us customers back.
2) Devir has no kind of direct contact between the company and the customers, like Wizards has with it´s foruns and e-mails.
3) Devir never give us any kind of information, not even on it´s own homepage. It´s never, never updated. So, we are kept in the dark.
4) Awful translation of the D&D books. There are from small things like Rangers getting a bonus to ATTACK and damage against it´s favored enemies from even if you just ENTER in threatened square you get an attack of opportunity. There are several things missing too, for example: the magic maces seen in the Dungeon Master Guide are missing!!! They show up un the table, but there are no description for such weapons!
5) Delay on releasing books. They promised Draconomicon in 2005. No sign of it so far.
6) Errata?!! Ha!! Never! NEVER!!! Even will all those mistakes found in the books, they never do anything to fix it, not even with an errata! I´ll repeat: they never made an errata.
7)The book are TOO expensive. We pay at least 50% more for the same book translated.
PS: The Combat style's feats (Ranger) were translated wrong too.
bypas the problem and get the books cheaper.
we dont have them translated in dutch and we prefer it that way over here.
(there is olmost alwys somthing lsot in translation, just watch the same movie twice, some jokes and nuances dont get acros)
even so kick that company's behind !
Not everyone does that, and some of those who can't do it want to play as well.
why buy them translated it seems u grasp the eng books just fine.
bypas the problem and get the books cheaper.
we dont have them translated in dutch and we prefer it that way over here.
(there is olmost alwys somthing lsot in translation, just watch the same movie twice, some jokes and nuances dont get acros)
even so kick that company's behind !
Why should we import when there is an official brazilian publisher that should be releasing D&D books in portuguese?
I had no idea wizards used other publishing companies for the translations. Are all D&D translations done this way, or are some languages in house?
Almost all translations are done this way. Foreign companies buy the rights to publish the book in their country, then have to incur the cost of translation and printing for themselves.
If you do anime, same thing. The american company buys the right to distribute the show/movie, does it's own dubbing independantly of the japanese owners (hence why dubs are considered poor quality almost across the board, because the english translators do a poor job and change things on a whim), and then produce their own pressings of the DVDs.
Why should we import when there is an official brazilian publisher that should be releasing D&D books in portuguese?
Probably for that reason. Devir has some sort of monopoly position. They can choose what they translate and release and when. If another company would import the english books and sell them for 75% of Devir's prices, maybe they'll wake up.
Anyway, I do not see the language problem. I'm also from the Netherlands, and some of my friends do not master the english language fully, but still they can play with just a bit of explanation.
The idea is to let WotC know there is a problem, and have them look into it. There isn't really anything they can do directly, but indirectly they can strongarm the company into changing it's ways. Namely, it can play the "We're pulling your distribution rights if you don't shape up" card.
See, you're on the right start, IMO.
The idea is to let WotC know there is a problem, and have them look into it. There isn't really anything they can do directly, but indirectly they can strongarm the company into changing it's ways. Namely, it can play the "We're pulling your distribution rights if you don't shape up" card.
Indeed. They could let the rights expire and sell to another company.
* NEWS * : For the ones who´ve entered Devir´s D&D site, must have noticed that, after years of no update, they just changed the whole layout. Like they are trying to show that they are doing their job. Quite weird they do such thing right now, isn´t?
But, as everything they do (that means, bad), when you tke a look at their products, they make no difference between 3.0 and 3.5 books. So, you can side by side, books like "Complete Warrior" and "Swrod and Fists".
Probably for that reason. Devir has some sort of monopoly position. They can choose what they translate and release and when. If another company would import the english books and sell them for 75% of Devir's prices, maybe they'll wake up.
Huh, we do import books, an nothing happened till now. That's why we are so concerned. They just pretend there's nothing wrong and keep doing their job the way they did before.
Anyway, I do not see the language problem. I'm also from the Netherlands, and some of my friends do not master the english language fully, but still they can play with just a bit of explanation.
Some of my friends do not master the english language fully too, but some of them just can't understand a bit. And as I said in the other thread, almost always I play with newbies, and I have to explain them the major part of the rules. And if they had any doubts they could just go to the books... but with poor/no translation, it becomes a heavy and difficult job, wich I have to handle on my own.
Indeed. They could let the rights expire and sell to another company.
* NEWS * : For the ones who´ve entered Devir´s D&D site, must have noticed that, after years of no update, they just changed the whole layout. Like they are trying to show that they are doing their job. Quite weird they do such thing right now, isn´t?
But, as everything they do (that means, bad), when you tke a look at their products, they make no difference between 3.0 and 3.5 books. So, you can side by side, books like "Complete Warrior" and "Swrod and Fists".
They did? I've noticed no difference whatsoever...
The boards are packed with people's opinions of the new Digital Initiative, which WOtC says they will use to make contact with potential new gamers. It sounds to me like there are a lot of potential gamers in Brazil, people who would play D&D, if only given a chance. If they're being poorly served by their local distributer, many of these people may never know the joy of rolling a natural 20 or the pain of a natural 1.
I think WOtC should really look at their South American market and, if the company contracted by WotC to bring D&D to this market is not doing their job properly, perhaps it's time to find another company that will.
I'm always saying to people: "I play D&D. Do you know D&D?" Most people have at least heard of it ("Oooh, that satanic game from the 80's?") and many would like to know more, especially now with MMORGs and the like bringing RPGs closer to the mainstream. If there are people in Brazil who would like to learn how to play, but are prevented from doing so, then all of us who currently play lose as much as they do.
Who knows, the next Monte Cook or Wolfgang Baur could be in Brazil, waiting to be inspired by the Greatest RPG Ever, D&D. What if they never get a chance due to a lack of access to the game?
Of course, this is all just IMHO.
I learn to read english from D&D books
7)The book are TOO expensive. We pay at least 50% more for the same book translated.
PS: The Combat style's feats (Ranger) were translated wrong too.
8) Devir is killing the RPG in Brazil! Monopoly! KILLING! It's insane, incredible! There's none new player here, because the old players are so tired to wait and to make new players - they will not play for much time, because they will not have books. We can't wait more!
I opened a petition online to tell Devir that we want books. We have more than 1000 signatures until now, and in less than 20 days. This numbers cann't be underestimated, because this catch just the RPGers that have Internet acess (less than 50% of brazilians have regular internet acess).
Double post after 2 weeks is aceptable, right?
I opened a petition online to tell Devir that we want books. We have more than 1000 signatures until now, and in less than 20 days. This numbers cann't be underestimated, because this catch just the RPGers that have Internet acess (less than 50% of brazilians have regular internet acess).
If they don´t have even access to Internet, they shouldn´t be even buying books...
Something tells me that Devir is not completely wrong. I mean: there aren´t enough buyers. People prefer to get the books in internet and that´s it.
P.S.: Olá, Álvaro!
Some friends of mine got scared when they were told about the basic set price.
I wouldn't mind if we had, and I'd even work translating it gladly if given the oportunity, cause in less than a year I'll finish my english classes (really hard to afford here a good one...) and I really wanted to work translating RPG's but with Devir it will not even be wort it to payback what I afforded studying...
That's thue!
I'm brazilian too and i hate to wait 2 years to read a translated book, so i had to lern english, because that was the only way i fond to play the new editions.
If you're brazilian and you want to talk about this with me, my msn is Felipe_petty15@hotmail.com, please add me.
I'm freaking out, i dont know when i'll have the transleted 4th edition books, and i cant buy the american book because i dont know anyone in america, just me cusin that is going to buy the player's handbook for me, but i dont know how i'm going to buy the monster manual and the DMG.
I'll try and check on our expected release date for 4th Edition books in Brazil and let you know.
I haven't forgotten about ya's. I'm hoping to have one of the folks from our Brazilian distributor post the exact date here. I don't want to take a guess in case I am off by a day or so!
Stay tuned!
-Mike
Our plan is to release the Players Handbook in the last quarter of 2008, and the other two core books in the months that follow it.
When we have a more concrete release date, we will post the information on our website.
Before this date, we will also have the books in english, either for those that like the english version better, or for those that don't want to wait until the portuguese release.
On June 6th, most specialty stores will be receiving, in consignation, the three core rulebooks and on June 7th, more than 40 of those stores, all around Brazil, will run the D&D Worldwide Gameday, in a great celebration of the 4th edition release.
Regards,
Otávio A. Gonçalves
Purchasing Manager - Devir Livraria
LFR Latin America Writing Director (Baldur's Gate)
For those interested, their website is located here: http://www.devir.com.br/rpg/dnd.php
thanks Gamer_Zer0!
now, i just have to wait!
:D