Uploading locale-dependent data from English FalloutNV.esm

[PurplePigeon]

It seems that many modders who use non-English versions of FO:NV have understandable difficulty creating mods. Namely, when they create a mod, all localized strings are copied into it and every user of the English version who uses such a mod ends up with English strings replaced with their translations into some other language.

 

Of course, the best solution to this problem would be to come up with a way to only distribute actual changes to the records instead of replacement records. the user would then need to create a ESP/merged patch from it. That would solve a lot of compatibility problems. But since no-one has created such software for Fallout 3, nor for TES IV: Oblivion, it probably won't happen soon, if at all.

 

Therefore, I propose an obvious makeshift solution. Upload a ESM which would contain all records with any locale-related data. Users of localized version could create mods for English version using this file by loading it into GECK with their FalloutNV.esm and creating mods using it. It would be a very large part of FalloutNV.esm, but it's better than nothing.

 

The problem is, of course, that this would mean redistributing a lot of copyrighted content. However:

• As we all know, due to the way mods work, nearly every mod contains chunks of FalloutNV.esm
  
• This file would be useless without the original game and its only purpose would be to simplify creating mods for the game
  
• Since Steam allows its users to download the game in any available language for no extra charge and all releases of the game are bound to Steam, we won't be distributing anything for which people are supposed to pay extra
  

 

I do not know whether or not this question has been raised already.

 

I could myself create such a file (hopefully), but the copyright situation needs to be clarified.