I currently use Defold in English, and I don’t think I would switch to an Italian translation even if one were released. This is because, as MINIBITS already mentioned a few messages above, I’m comfortable using it in English, and it makes things easier if I ever need to follow a tutorial or look for information online, including on this forum.
Translating Defold into languages other than English would obviously require some additional work, but considering that we’re talking about a completely free product, I think the combination could be a very effective way to attract newcomers and younger users.
For example, if a teacher wanted to introduce a group of students to game development and needed to create a small introductory course, they might be more likely to choose a free engine that is also available in their native language, simply because it would make those first steps easier. The same could apply to someone who has never programmed before: as a first choice, they might be more inclined to download a free, localized program.
I know the comparison isn’t exactly the same, but we can also look at video games themselves: games localized into multiple languages generally have a better chance of reaching a wider audience, especially younger players.
Years ago, before switching to Defold, I used GameMaker for quite a long time. If I remember correctly, there was a period when the team focused on localizing the entire editor and manual into several languages. I mention this simply to point out that other well-known game engines have already tried taking this approach and expanding their localization to many more languages.
So, do I think localizing Defold into other languages is a good idea?
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Yes, if the goal is to open more doors to the entry-level audience. I think this is where additional languages would make the biggest difference. Developers who already have even a little experience will, in 99% of cases, probably stick with English anyway.
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No, if the localization process would require a significant amount of time and effort, especially if the community is already growing without having explicitly complained about the lack of support for specific languages.
Overall, I think it could be a good investment if the goal is to make Defold more accessible to beginners and younger people. I’m just not sure how much of an impact it would have compared to the amount of work required to maintain those translations.
), but there is a lot of country where french is spoken with less proficiency:
But if you ever need help with the Bulgarian translation, just let me know.