Why can't we choose language and location independently?

OK, so I read through the Xbox One locales FAQ and from what I understand, they've actually tried to make it easier to 'migrate' your console.

http://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/system/locale-faq

I also did another search about regional language issues and here's what I found out...

From what I can see, MS doesn't care if your console region matches your actual location or not. You choose the language you want first, then you can choose any region that's available and restart the console. One issue with this is the fact that the store
will display only that particular region's available content. Another is that if you already have content that is region locked and it no longer matches your region, it likely won't work.

^This makes sense when you add in a couple of other things I had mentioned earlier. The fact that MS has left it up to the devs to deal with regional and localization issues in addition to the fact that there are copyright laws and other factors that may restrict
what content is available in different regions.

Therefore, if the language you prefer doesn't match a region preset, you will likely have issues with some content. What you need to realize is, this is a dev/publisher issue, not MS, since it's up to the dev/publisher to deal with regional support.

I can't imagine there's a technical constraint that makes it impossible to freely associate language and location according to need or wish.

You're right, there isn't. It's a matter of regional support, which may or may not be restricted by many different factors.

 

It is and isn't a MS issue, MS as a global company should be able to to understand and build an easier solution for devs and gamers, such as allowing gamers to download language options, although this would annoy US gamers due to *** internet infrastructure.

but it is also a devs issues as they should recognize variety and want to offer options, but instead see it as a bottom line issue.

 

Offering the option to choose the language for a game is up to the devs. Offering the option to choose the language for the system itself is up to Microsoft. As much as I'd love devs to stop with the forced localization, I'm more annoyed at Microsoft for
not letting us pick from the languages they support. I'd love to use my console in English. Console, not games. Unfortunately it's not possible since changing language requires changing locale which messes up many features on the console. (Well, it is possible
if you're ok with losing access to some stuff, but I'm not ok with that) This is what I want Microsoft to change. This is what over 7k people have voted for already. Yet Ms is all quiet about the issue. Why remove a feature that existed on 360?

 

This is more of a tangled knot than I thought.

- I can see why it may be difficult to make all languages available for all locales. Just think of China... if you could just switch to English and bypass local censorship, the central committee would pop a gasket. Japan and nukes has been mentioned, Germany
has special rules regarding imagery of the nazi regime (Wolfenstein...).

- So I can understand MS might not want to make all language/location combinations available. Still, I think it's possible in most locales to add English as an option for the OS. That is what I really want... no localization at all.

- "it's up to the devs to localize" the problem is, they do localize, but the localization usually sucks. Now some developers thankfully let you choose another language (Bioware), and others are lazy bums who can't be bothered adding anything beyond the
strict minimum (Bethesda).

 

Do games for One only come with the local language if they've been localized? I mean, on 360 the discs at least here did have English included, just had to change the locale to have access to that coz it seems to be so difficult for the devs to add the option
to change language - and option I recall seeing during PS2 era already.

Also, omg. Just read the Tales from the Borderlands description as I'm kinda curious about the game. I don't understand anything at all coz the Finnish is... It's not even broken, it's just random computer translated words after another. That's how you don't
localize stuff.

 

This is more of a tangled knot than I thought.

- I can see why it may be difficult to make all languages available for all locales. Just think of China... if you could just switch to English and bypass local censorship, the central committee would pop a gasket.
Japan and nukes has been mentioned, Germany has special rules regarding imagery of the nazi regime (Wolfenstein...).

- So I can understand MS might not want to make all language/location combinations available. Still, I think it's possible in most locales to add English as an option for the OS. That is what I really want... no localization
at all.

- "it's up to the devs to localize" the problem is, they do localize, but the localization usually sucks. Now some developers thankfully let you choose another language (Bioware), and others are lazy bums who can't
be bothered adding anything beyond the strict minimum (Bethesda).

This is, more or less, what I've been saying all along.

I wasn't aware of the situation with Germany you mentioned, but think about it... how many situations are there that we couldn't imagine? This is why I mentioned international
laws and copyright issues. When you start getting into that level of red tape, MPO is it's a wonder it works as well as it does now.

I understand wanting to have better options with the OS, but the problem is, when it comes to connecting to the internet for games, DLC and the XBL store, you can't really separate
the OS side from the games... they have to work together or you'd have a big mess.

Consider; If we could just choose any language we wanted, regardless of our locale, how would the XBL marketplace be organized and displayed? For the games like Fallout that have
not only multiple language options, but varying content to coincide with the region, how would I get the "right" version if I were in the US, but chose Japanese as the language?

Short answer is they'd have to take my region into consideration. Or, they'd have to offer both (or even more) versions and give me a choice of whether I want mini-nuke content
or not.

That's just one example. Now add in the one about Germany and the nazi regime content... where would it be allowed? If I were in the US and chose German, I'd be OK... wouldn't
I? But what if I were in Germany and chose English?

It makes me wonder how much of the problem, when it comes to publishers and localization, is "out of their hands" with the amount of red tape involved when it comes to international
laws. Probably more than we expect. Not that I'd give all devs a free "non lazy" pass but maybe a little more credit, in some cases, wouldn't hurt.

 

^Uhm, pretty sure there are several ways to make sure you're getting the right content regardless of the language you use on the system. I have Steam in English and still have Finnish Steam store, not UK, US or some other English speaking country's store.
Why? Because a) profile has been set to Finland and b) IP is Finnish. Language shouldn't be the thing that somehow makes sure you're getting the right content when there are other ways which do not mess up your experience even the slightest.

 

This conversation could go on for who knows how long, but the fact is, it doesn't really matter how Steam does it. It's possible their market may be set up very differently than XBL Market was from the very beginning (I wouldn't know, I've never seen it) and
if so, XBL might need a complete restructuring to work that way.

I do know that MS doesn't use your account anymore, for locale settings. I know this because I found their FAQ page on locale and settings (the one I posted previously, I believe). I decided to revisit that page and read through it more closely. I'm no expert,
but it seems to me that setting it up just the way you want it would take a lot more effort than you think... and the 7k 'ignored votes' that were mentioned would tend to support that theory.

Xbox One Locales FAQ

Here's the link again. If you already read through it, maybe try what I did and read more carefully? Maybe it'll help. If you haven't read through it, perhaps you should.

 

7,000 people have voted for it out of millions? It IS a wonder M.S. hasn't got all over this issue. Maybe another 500 votes is needed. ;-)

Like everything it comes down to money. If Germany has a better currency exchange (Maybe they do for all I know.) and I could change my region to Deutschland, while still having English as a language, I'd be all over it. Also I believe certain games are
banned or heavily edited in certain countries; probably has a little to do with keeping people from circumventing local laws that could come back to haunt M.S.. Seems plausible to me at least...but it's my day off and I just got up from a nap. This could all
be gibberish when I clear my head. ;-)

Meow, J.R.

 

Wow, I can't believe how much people are defending Microsoft's horrible decision to region lock languages for the system itself. Topkek and I'm honestly sorry for all the people who live in a country without knowing the native language. The console still
asks for locale. That should be enough to determine which martkeplace you get. Not the language. NEVER the language. Git gud MS.

 

From the locales FAQ ABI pointed out:

"For example: You move from Germany to France. If you change your console locale to fr-FR, your entire experience will change from German to French, even though your Xbox Live account locale was originally Germany. "

Wow thank you! Now all he has to do is learn French!

Sipuli, TFTB is pretty cool, even though it's weirdly stuttery (on 360 anyway) - as are all Telltale games. It's mostly dialogue and choice driven, with "action" consisting of pressing the right button at the right time.

 

Do we have a date or even a month when we can expect the update to be released? I can't wait to see that sweet sweet update and finally get rid of Finnish on my console for good!

 

My guess,it might be available with Xbox one S launch.