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Weekly Loc Discussion: Belvast or Belfast?!
When we localized Belvast way back in the day, we followed the Korean spelling of the word, which uses a V or B sound. But we've reviewed some old documents and now believe the intention was to name the city Belfast, like the real-world city! It seems jarring to change it now, after it's been in the game for so long. What do you think? Should we keep it as Belvast? Or change it to Belfast?
Let us know what you think, and of course, the more you can expound on the reasoning behind your opinion, the better!
- The Mabinogi Localization Team
Comments
Belfy doesn't roll of the tongue as well.
That's literally my only reason.
Can we change festia to fiesta too?!I've always used "Belfast" as well and REFUSED to say "Belvast" as I knew it was wrong.
I say fix it. But, it might bother some people to get used to a change like that.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbarton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangor,_Gwynedd
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emain_Macha
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_of_Tara
Some of these links may redirect to the modern names, but anyway.... we've always had the old-timey spellings of real life places for the towns in Uladh. Giving Belfast its proper spelling just keeps it consistent with the other towns.
But If we wanted to keep the current spelling, we could justify it by saying that Belvast Island is separate from Uladh and not subject to its naming traditions, like how Iria names are mostly derived from mainland European languages instead of anything Celtic.
Also I used to spell Taillteann with one L because I thought it was a reference to this place and its legendary festival but that's probably another topic altogether.
I'm guessing that'd take more than the 'find and replace' tool in wordpad or something.
Though on the other hand, I'm imagining people saying stuff like "Let's meet in Belf/Belfy" and... it just sounds lame, pfft.
Belf... Barf.
I'm sure I'd get used to it, so it's not a big deal lol.
And hey, if it's "more correct" let's do it.
There are sillier mistranslations I can think of atm, but those aren't whole towns.
There are other errors your team may wish to look into in the future as well. For example:
Taunes' weapon is referred to as the "Vastion" when it should be "Bastion"
Lugh's sword is referred to as the "Pragarah" when it should be "Fragarach"
Then there's Lugh's last name itself... "Lavada" should be "Lamfada", given that he's based off of the actual Lugh Lamfada from the Irish mythos.
Also, I'm guessing Hillwen and Shyllien are supposed to be "Heruin" and "Sulien", but I'm not too sure.
There are many more, but I figure this is a good start.
I voted not to change it because it's been Belvast for so long, but, I also agree with @Iyasenu here, that I'd get used to it, so if it's "more correct" to have it be "Belfast".
I would have a much more difficult time getting used to it if I ever spoke to some NPC and it said "Belvast" after it was changed to "Belfast". Things look sloppy if they aren't the same 100% throughout (which is why the titles bother me.... "The Phoenix's Witness" should be "the Phoenix's Witness").
IMO, only if someone can guarantee it is changed everywhere the word is in the game, whether it's mainstream conversation or a random NPC that may say the name or a partner's speech bubble, I say go for it; but that sounds like more work then necessary when it's been "Belvast" for so long.
(I don't know much about code, but is it possible it could be done with just a "find and replace" type function like Iyasenu mentioned? Or could you just write code that like, overrides all of "Belvast" changing it into "Belfast".... I know just enough to show I know nothing about writing code. LOL.)
There are some old forum posts out there discussing the inconsistent spelling of the name on maps vs the NPC text (maps said Belfast, NPCs and item names used Belvast) so I might not be the only one who remembers this.
There's also this floating around, it was posted in a set of screenshots when the KR server added more moongates in 2013. I get the feeling that the localization team must have put in a lot of effort to change all the text and graphics to the v-spelling, so it may very well be not worth it to change it all back...
Fast bell?
Fastbel.
Just made new region name. You are welcome.