Localization Nightmares…or why having all languages in one version of RAD Studio is just awesome

Let me give you an example why the decision by Embarcadero to deliver all languages with the very same DVD or download is one of the most overlooked features.

I am a big big fan of strategy games on the PC platform. Thus, I bought Anno 1404, definitely a purchase I never regret as the game is truly the best real-time strategy game I ever played so far. I bought it from a vendor at Ebay as he had the best price. The language of the product was German. I played all campains and recently an Add-On for the game has been released. I bought that as well at a very good price, but did not pay attention to the language of the game. It was localized in English. I tried to install it, but I got immediately the error message that the game was in German and that it was impossible to add the new features to the German version. Understandable, but why have separate DVDs for seperate countries?

RAD Studio is so much better in this regard, because you simply cannot buy the wrong product. You get all the languages and you can even switch between different languages without having to install it again! All the patches are multi-language as well. What is the down-side? One might say that it takes longer for a product to be released but I know from first-hand experience that localization can be done right from the start and thus there will be no delays.

Having separate products with different languages truly is something that is not good for the customer.  Just thinking of Microsoft Office e.g. where the different localizations offer different difctionaries and it becomes really tough which language to install and also which patch to apply as there are more than one, one for every localization.

Thus, once again, this makes the flexible localization one of the most underrated features of RAD Studio.

Oh, yes, I had to order another Anno 1404 — this time in English.