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[AlphaTwo00]

We'll see if publishers just don't ship games to Quebec. Maybe they won't think its worth the trouble, i mean, its only Canada, and they're fake French.

Highly doubtful. What would be more worrisome is that retailers would say no (retailers would buy in bulk for all of Canada, and avoiding Quebec will make them look bad), and force publishers not to ship to Canada at all until a French version is ready.

 

[DrPirate]

Lame.

But now I just buy my games in Ontario anyways since that's where I go to school.

 

[Notorious_Roy]

Will this affect import from VGP.ca? I sure hope not...

 

[Boss Man]

Doesn't seem like a big deal, but French people (especially the Canadian ones) are silly. Why not let the market (people) decide what language they want?

 

[AtomicShroom]

There is another (potential) problem.

Let's say I buy an English-only game, because there is no French version at that moment. Let's say a French version is shipped elsewhere and then the English-only version can't be sold anymore. That means no retailer will buy my used copy, since it will be illegal to resell it.

Sounds like it. Why would they buy it back if they can't sell it? That one sucks, I gotta admit.

 

[Gbeav]

As long as it doesn't effect the rest of Canada Quebec can do whatever they want.

 

[Azih]

I don't get any of the complaining. It's just bullshit.

They can't sell the English-only version if a French version exists elsewhere. How is this going to introduce any sort of delay?

From what I understand isn't the French version of games for Europe in PAL?

So... because a French PAL game exists, the English NTSC version cannot be sold in Quebec thus requiring a THIRD version, that is French NTSC.

Edit:

What would be more worrisome is that retailers would say no (retailers would buy in bulk for all of Canada, and avoiding Quebec will make them look bad),

Why would it make them look bad?

 

[TheRagnCajun]

Somehow I doubt any consumers, retailers or distrubuters were asking for this law.

 

[Guled]

I just hope people outside of qubec can get proper packing again

 

[lupinko]

I just hope people outside of qubec can get proper packing again

THIS!!!

BACK OFF FRANCAIS INCLUSE!

 

[Ranger X]

Nobody was asking for this law and nobody want it in any shape or form. It's just the work of disconnected from reality politicians. And I hate this bullshit.

One thing I don't believe and that the article must be mistaken about: They won't pull the english version. Fuck they don't pull any other entertainment medium, I can buy the english version of any movie anyday if I want to.

.

 

[AtomicShroom]

From what I understand isn't the French version of games for Europe in PAL?

So... because a French PAL game exists, the English NTSC version cannot be sold in Quebec thus requiring a THIRD version, that is French NTSC.

Edit:
Why would it make them look bad?

When it comes to HD resolutions, there is no such thing as NTSC and PAL anymore, only HD. It's the same signal and everything.

Plus PAL-60 is almost identical to NTSC.

 

[Kittonwy]

Well the point is now it affects more than just manuals. If there is a French version in France, for example (or anywhere else in the world), then Quebec retailers have to stock the French version in Quebec as well.

That could be difficult for publishers who aren't already accustomed to shipping French-language games to North America.

As a Canadian, it disgusts me that I would even need to look at a french manual, I don't want it, I don't want to have to throw it in the garbage, it's a waste of time for me to have to remove the packaging, take the french manual out and throw it in the trash, and THEN open the actual wrapping covering the box just to get the disc out, don't give me a french manual that I would throw in the trash anyway.

 

[lupinko]

When it comes to HD resolutions, there is no such thing as NTSC and PAL anymore, only HD. It's the same signal and everything.

Plus PAL-60 is almost identical to NTSC.

PALHD games are still set for 576i SD, so for people who use SDTVs, they are boned when it comes to that.

PAL tvs may not have an issue with NTSC content, but NTSC tvs still has an issue with PAL content.

EDIT: Don't forget Wii owners.

 

[Gbeav]

Lets panic when all the English only downloadable content is removed from Live and the PSN.

 

[Ranger X]

So here's the "communiqué" directly from the gouvernment website:

source:
http://www.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/francisation/consommateurs/secteur/jeux_video/jeuxvideo.html

I will traduce in bold...

Emballage
Depuis le 10 septembre 2007, tous les nouveaux jeux vidéo vendus au Québec doivent être offerts dans un emballage en français et avec des documents en français, et ce, sans suremballage.

Packaging:
Since the 09-10-07, all new video games sold in Quebec province must have french packaging and instructions booklets.

Jeux pour ordinateurs
Depuis le 1er octobre 2007, tous les nouveaux jeux vidéo pour ordinateurs vendus au Québec doivent être offerts en français lorsque la version française existe quelque part dans le monde.

Since October 2k7, all new PC games sold in Quebec province must be offered in french version IF available somewhere in the world.

Jeux pour consoles
À compter du 1er avril 2009, tous les nouveaux jeux vidéo pour les consoles de nouvelle génération vendus au Québec devront être offerts en français lorsque la version française existe quelque part dans le monde.

Same now for console games (see previous affirmation)


Il faut noter que :

1. l'entente ne porte que sur les jeux vidéo lancés après l'une ou l'autre des dates indiquées et s’applique autant aux jeux neufs qu’aux jeux d’occasion;

2. l’entente ne porte que sur les consoles de jeux de la nouvelle génération (Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP) ainsi que sur les futures générations de consoles;

3. si la version française et la version anglaise d’un jeu vidéo sont offertes séparément, les distributeurs et les détaillants qui désirent vendre ou louer la version anglaise du jeu doivent aussi vendre ou louer la version française, et l’emballage de ce jeu, ainsi que les documents qui l’accompagnent, peuvent être rédigés uniquement dans la langue du jeu;

If the french version and English version are offered seperately, the packaging of the english version must billingual and the retailer/distributor concerned MUST also be selling the french version as well.

4. la version anglaise d’un jeu vidéo peut être vendue si aucune version française n’existe dans le monde, dans la mesure où l’emballage et les documents qui accompagnent le jeu sont en français.

Basically, this isn't clear like all laws cooked up by people that don't know for shit what they are talking about.

If you read the notes, it appears that it is clear that they won't pull the English versions. If you want to sell the english version, you need to be selling the French version and you're ok. I hope this is how everything will work.

Another thing to note, it's been 2 years it works like that for PC game. Anybody noticed delays?? English versions not released here? I think not. This means the same "nothing" should happen to console games.

.

 

[Stumpokapow]

As a Canadian, it disgusts me that I would even need to look at a french manual

yes we know you don't, but some of the rest of us actually like national bilingualism.


 

[gutter_trash]

as a Montreal who works in the industry: I think this is mega-retarded

it doesn't matter what political party takes over in Quebec, they are all interventionist, authoritarian demagogues

Online retail boost up, local neighborhood retailer demise

 

[Ranger X]

Read post 66 Gutter Trash.

They won't pull english versions...

.

 

[DogWelder]

Read post 66 Gutter Trash.

They won't pull english versions...

.

You sure? They seem to have appended something just recently:

Jeux pour consoles
À compter du 1er avril 2009, tous les nouveaux jeux vidéo pour les consoles de nouvelle génération vendus au Québec devront être offerts en français lorsque la version française existe quelque part dans le monde.

Doesn't this state that non-English versions cannot be sold if French versions are available? (Just so you know, I'm actually asking, I don't know French).

 

[AtomicShroom]

Read post 66 Gutter Trash.

They won't pull english versions...

.

Though they will have to pull the English version if the French version exists elsewhere, but is not released in North America or the retailer refuses to stock it.

 

[AlphaTwo00]

Lets panic when all the English only downloadable content is removed from Live and the PSN.

It's sort of happened already. MS's main DLCs and even demos have both French and English versions.

The best parts are when they screw up, like when downloadable videos only exist in French form; or when packaging goes awry (See Trauma Center Wii's French packaging/ Gears of War 2 LE, both only in French.)

 

[prelude514]

Shit like this pisses me off to no end. All I have to say is, once again, fuck Quebec and it's stupid politics. If it weren't for Montreal being such an awesome city I'd be long gone.

Not to mention all of the insanely hot/easy French girls.

 

[gutter_trash]

Sony's 1st party European games mostly have multi-languages in them disks, so they are covered A okay.
but American and Japanese games.. hmmm

Halo 3 hilarity did happen here when both English and French versions were sold separately and people mistakenly bought the wrong language game

Maitre Chef!! Maitre Chef!

 

[CrushDance]

Weak. It's not like there isn't french on everything else here already.

Doesn't seem like a big deal, but French people (especially the Canadian ones) are silly. Why not let the market (people) decide what language they want?

"Protecting" their language and culture. If only it worked the same way for the native peoples instead of casting them aside.

 

[AzureNightmare]

And Quebec manages to shoot themselves in the foot yet again. Good going guys!

 

[maxmars]

What about shipping multilanguage disks? Most of the games I buy come at least in three languages.

Oh and good thing I just added French-Canadian to my iPhone app. :lol

 

[PataHikari]

But the Rock Band 2 problem was an entirely different issue.

The law requires that packaging of anything that is sold in Quebec must have French on it.
But EA for some unknown reason, presumably because they're fucking stupid, didn't produce a bilingual/French packaging for Rock Band 2. Hence it was illegal to sell it.

How hard can it possibly be to make a fucking bilingual packaging? Holy shiat.

The packaging law is completely different than this new game content law. The packaging law doesn't care whether or not a French version exists. But since the game content law is only enforceable if a French version actually exists, then it's really a non-issue, and will only serve to benefit the people who don't know English, mostly kids. How I would have loved for this law to exist back when I was a kid and didn't know a word of English.

How about instead the stupid law that makes it so that you have to stick French on packages for the sake of a small part of a country that the vast majority speaks English in gets repealed?

 

[Ricker]

I don't get any of the complaining. It's just bullshit.

They can't sell the English-only version if a French version exists elsewhere. How is this going to introduce any sort of delay?

For example:

- Company releases game in English only in North America. Does a French version exist yet? No? Good then it can be sold.

- 5 months later, the company releases the European multilingual version. Oh! Now a French version exists! So now the company must make a French version available in Quebec, or THEN they can no longer sell the English-only version.

How does this affect sales in any shape or form? Most sales occur in the first few months anyway! It just feels like people overreacting because they can't read properly!

Let's hope this is the case,being a french Canadian,I have no problems with a french version being available in Quebec at all,and recently,there's been a lot more games that are bilingual...some games though,like Fallout 3 for example was not available here in French and there was french versions in Europe,so it should of come here as well...will they delay the release in both language in this case? that's the only problem that might happen.

 

[kswiston]

How do Quebec french language laws effect online retailers like Amazon? Are they exempt if they are operated outside of the province?

I am moving to Quebec city this fall so that my fiance can start a PhD position at Laval (I am still working on landing a position at the University myself). Being an Anglophone who is almost clueless about the workings of Quebec I have wondered how the move will effect my ability to purchase english games, books, etc.

 

[gutter_trash]

some games that are dialogue heavy may not fit, even in some DVD formats.
Halo 3 was sold in seperate English and French versions

Bluray on the other hand answers the call in terms of space as far as Euro multi-language packed PS3 games are concerned

Heavenly Sword had awesome options, set audio language and subs separately and all

 

[Bisnic]

How do Quebec french language laws effect online retailers like Amazon? Are they exempt if they are operated outside of the province?

I am moving to Quebec city this fall so that my fiance can start a PhD position at Laval (I am still working on landing a position at the University myself). Being an Anglophone who is almost clueless about the workings of Quebec I have wondered how the move will effect my ability to purchase english games, books, etc.

There is no problem to buy games from websites like Amazon if you live in Quebec. English games are easy to find in stores. DVD movies are almost all bilinguals. English books might be harder to find, but there is some stores that sells a good amount of them, and yeah i live in Quebec city. Movie theaters though.. not alot of English versions.

 

[AlphaTwo00]

How do Quebec french language laws effect online retailers like Amazon? Are they exempt if they are operated outside of the province?

It already affects us because of packaging. We cannot buy games from Amazon.com because of this.

 

[Samara]

The reason why I got Rock Band 2 this late. :<

Most the games I have have french language (Lara croft, Naruto, Viva Pinata ect) and they are pretty good. Now those with different version (as in french disc or english disc) is stupid.

If you're not going to do the whole dialogue: at least put on the subtitles in French. My relative are mostly french. So like: Eh auntie: what does that mean? And what did they say...ect. Argh.

 

[Mooreberg]

They should speak Canadian like the rest of the country.

 

[Kittonwy]

yes we know you don't, but some of the rest of us actually like national bilingualism.


Nobody is saying that you can't support a form of "national bilingualism" that really doesn't apply to the rest of the nation since french is often not the second language many Canadians speak, you're welcome to hold whatever opinion you'd like even if that opinion isn't supported by the majority of the country.

It's neither practical nor is it fair for Quebec to impose its language preservation agenda on the rest of the country who are the majority, many of whom don't speak the language and don't care about ever learning it, the fact is I don't live in Quebec and I don't need french version of ANYTHING, manuals included.

Quebec as a province is simply hurting itself in terms of business opportunities by trying to enforce these ridiculous language laws, they might as well tell people they have to speak french when they're in public.

Canada is an english-speaking country, advocating the idea of "english/french" bilingualism might be as practical as telling people to grow their tails back.

 

[Samara]

some games that are dialogue heavy may not fit, even in some DVD formats.
Halo 3 was sold in seperate English and French versions

Bluray on the other hand answers the call in terms of space as far as Euro multi-language packed PS3 games are concerned

Heavenly Sword had awesome options, set audio language and subs separately and all

No. Naruto: Ultimate NINJA STORM only had two languages opposed to 3 of NRN.

But Bilingual dialogue is more common than it was before. it some of those looney that still forget about it (EA)

 

[Nikorasu]

Fuck you, Trudeau.

 

[Htown]

Fear not, English-speakers of Quebec! For I, the incredible Htown, have discovered a way in which you can learn French LITERALLY overnight! That's right, just send a private message my way, and I'll send you the SECRET LINK to my special archive of mp3 French lessons that you can listen to WHILE YOU SLEEP, so you can EASILY learn the language of your no doubt benevolent French overlords!

And I'm not just the president of this company, I'm a client as well! Why, not three weeks ago I was a sad, ignorant boor like the rest of you - speaking only the nasty, DIRTY English language, and knowing nothing of the beautiful tongue of your no doubt benevolent French overlords! But after just two days of listening to these recordings overnight, I can translate ANYTHING into the amazing language we will all soon be forced to know! Watch in awe, as I translate everything I've just written into the language of the Great Ones!




Omelette du fromage, omelette du fromage! Omelette, du Fromage, omelette du fromage! OMELETTE DU FROMAGE! Omelette! Du fromage Omelette du FROMAGE! OMELETTE DU FROMAGE!

 

[Ranger X]

Though they will have to pull the English version if the French version exists elsewhere, but is not released in North America or the retailer refuses to stock it.

Yeah but if both the English and French version are available, a retailer would be fucking stupid to not stock the French one than lose the right to sell the English one by the same move. You would need to be a fucking retarded store. This so won't happen dude.

The only bullshit this stupid law will create is that if a NTSC english version is created first and some PAL version only months later, they will be forced not only make the PAL one but also an NTSC french for Canada at the same time.

I can see publishers either going to 3 languages route right away (the best solution -- making a english/spanish/french game for NSTC America) or ignoring french all together when they need to release a game in Europe monts later than in America (so they don't need to make 2 versions at the time they come up with a PAL version).

.

 

[firehawk12]

What happens to Amazon.ca? I just hope English Canada isn't fucked by this and suddenly online retailers will have to wait 10 months for the "Canadian" version of Gears 3 or whatever.

 

[Cynar]

Quebec French isn't even real French. I will only support language protection in Quebec if they actually use REAL French from France.

:lol Stupidest thing I've read on the internet in a decade. Thanks for that.

 

[Kittonwy]

Yeah but if both the English and French version are available, a retailer would be fucking stupid to not stock the French one than lose the right to sell the English one by the same move. You would need to be a fucking retarded store. This so won't happen dude.

The only bullshit this stupid law will create is that if a NTSC english version is created first and some PAL version only months later, they will be forced not only make the PAL one but also an NTSC french for Canada at the same time.

I can see publishers either going to 3 languages route right away (the best solution -- making a english/spanish/french game for NSTC America) or ignoring french all together when they need to release a game in Europe monts later than in America (so they don't need to make 2 versions at the time they come up with a PAL version).

.

It's often more expensive and risky to stock two skus instead of one because as a store now you have to figure out how many of each you have to stock and there is a greater risk of excess inventory, ultimately this is not good for business. As a publisher you have to figure out how many of each sku you have to ship to a territory, having a single sku such as an english sku for all of North America would be beneficial to the publisher.

 

[Kittonwy]

Fear not, English-speakers of Quebec! For I, the incredible Htown, have discovered a way in which you can learn French LITERALLY overnight! That's right, just send a private message my way, and I'll send you the SECRET LINK to my special archive of mp3 French lessons that you can listen to WHILE YOU SLEEP, so you can EASILY learn the language of your no doubt benevolent French overlords!

And I'm not just the president of this company, I'm a client as well! Why, not three weeks ago I was a sad, ignorant boor like the rest of you - speaking only the nasty, DIRTY English language, and knowing nothing of the beautiful tongue of your no doubt benevolent French overlords! But after just two days of listening to these recordings overnight, I can translate ANYTHING into the amazing language we will all soon be forced to know! Watch in awe, as I translate everything I've just written into the language of the Great Ones!




Omelette du fromage, omelette du fromage! Omelette, du Fromage, omelette du fromage! OMELETTE DU FROMAGE! Omelette! Du fromage Omelette du FROMAGE! OMELETTE DU FROMAGE!

un deux trois quatre cinq six sept huit neuf dix onze DOUZZZZZZEEEEEEEE

 

[Tylahedras]

Lol at stupid Canadians having to learn French... wait... Get AWAY FROM ME. NO SE ESPANIOL! NO SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

 

[TheExodu5]

So a game like Halo 3 cannot be bought in Quebec. That's pretty lame.

 

[AtomicShroom]

Canada is an english-speaking country

English and French are recognized by the Constitution of Canada as "official languages," which means that all laws of the federal government are enacted in both English and French and that federal government services are required to be available in both languages.

Outside Quebec, the largest French-speaking populations are found in New Brunswick (which is home to 3.5% of Canada’s francophones) and Ontario (4.4%, residing primarily in the eastern and northeastern parts of the province and in Toronto).

.

 

[grap3fruitman]

:lol Stupidest thing I've read on the internet in a decade. Thanks for that.

It's true. Canadian French and the French spoken in France are different. Much more different than the English spoken in the U.S. versus England where it's just a handful of different words. Nique vous!

 

[NeoZylom]

Estie de news d'attardé pareil. J'ai rien contre sauver la langue parce que c'est sur que notre culture c'est important mais tabarnac, la dérniere affaire que je veux dans mes fucking jeux, c'est du crisse de français poche pas de sens qui fait en sorte que le jeu sort 2308023 ans plus tard.

Euh? J'ai peut-être mal lu, mais il dise pas qu'ils vont repousser les jeux en anglais seulement, juste que si une version francaise est disponible ils sont obligé de la publié. Nan? Enfin, on verra ... Dans l'article il parle que de craintes et pas de réalité. (Ça fait bizarre de parler français içi )

Cependant, ci c'est pour avoir des jeux mal traduit comme Mario Galaxy, avec un language de paysan, non merci

I hope I won't get ban for foreign language

 

[Guled]

.

I'm sorry, but when you step outside in 90% of the country, what language do you hear. I don't give a shit about what stupid laws Quebec has, but when it starts to effect me thats when I get pissed. How many contests are we not eligible because of them, how many times did we have delays in games just to print some stupid french manuals, which is a waste of paper and money. All this just to protect a small minority in which they think their culture is still important