---
# System prepended metadata

title: Some misleading translations in-game
tags: [maths, helping]

---

{%hackmd @cimeesia/H18RVTzeK %}

# Some misleading translations in-game

[TOC]

## Intro

As title mentioned, there are some translations in this game leading players to a misunderstanding to its function. 

In this article, I will show you these misleading description in 3 different languages, which are English, Chinese, and of course, Japanese (I believe this language is also devs' native language). And I will translate it to English, to show you that where and how does it wrong.

By the way, please forgive me for the order of the 3 different language of user interfaces (abbr. UI) are not the same in different sections... 

*[UI]: User Interface.

## About "Frequency"

The first wrong translation is this one, please have a look at the bottom of these 3 pictures, and I will translate them.

![interval](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HyJNDcmQ0.jpg)

English:
> Frequency: <span class='highlight_one'>Every</span> 38 mins 18 secs

Chinese:
> ==幫忙==<span class='highlight_three'>間隔</span>：<span class='highlight_one'>每</span>38分18秒
>> ==Helping== <span class='highlight_three'>Interval</span>: <span class='highlight_one'>Every</span> 38 mins 18 secs. 
>> [name=sia][color=#ea3590]

Japanese:
> ==おてつだい==<span class='highlight_three'>時間</span>：38分18秒<span class='highlight_one'>ごと</span>
>> ==Helping== <span class='highlight_three'>Time</span>: <span class='highlight_one'>Every</span> 38 mins 18 secs. 
>> [name=sia][color=#ea3590]

OK, what's the problem ? The problem is "Frequency" itself. Let's check the definition on Wikipedia.

![screenshot from wiki](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/S12OSTmQA.png)

I see. So... in this game, we can tell what Frequency should be... "how many times of Helping (aka Speed) happens during a certain amount of time".

And let's scroll up to check what "Frequency" they provide to us in English again -- Every 38 mins 18 secs -- So... this can be right, since it means "each help per 38 mins 18 secs".

So it is confusing, since it lack some context, but we cannot really account this is wrong... 

:::success
Thanks to Brovinnie's correction in this part.
:::

They didn't make this kind of confusion in another post-translated language, Chinese, because someone who translated it to Chinese just used the corresponding translation words. Naturally, they refrain from making the error in Chinese, as it is straightforward and comprehensible.

Let's move to the next one.

## What exactly is Helping Speed ?

So, in this section, we are going to talk about Helping, Speed, and Helping Speed... Yes, kind of word games. Here are translations of Good Camp Ticket (abbr. GCT).

*[GCT]: Good Camp Ticket.

### Good Camp Ticket (part 1)

English:
> Helpers will work 20% faster.

Chinese:
> ==幫忙==<span class='highlight_two'>速度</span>變成1.2倍
>> ==Helping== <span class='highlight_two'>Speed</span> becomes 1.2 times.

Japanese:
> ==おてつだい==<span class='highlight_two'>スピード</span>が1.2倍
>> ==Helping== <span class='highlight_two'>Speed</span> is 1.2 times.

![pks_GCT](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HymFSo7XR.jpg)

Okey, it looks good, if we don't talk about why they avoid telling us there is a thing called "Helping Speed (おてつだいスピード)" and it might be different from the one in Sub Skill shares the same name, since Japanese UI never use this term **in description**.

Now we have to process something first, before we continue GCT. 

In Sub Skill, there is a type of Sub Skill named "Helping Speed", it is the exactly same meaning and word usage in Japanese, so this one has no problem on naming, but its description.

### Helping Speed in Sub Skill

![pks_subskill](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HkuKCcmmA.jpg)
_I use Helping Bonus for example, but it is the same for Helping Speed M & S._

English:
> Allows team members to help 5% faster.

Chinese:
> 全隊成員的==幫忙==<span class='highlight_three'>間隔</span>都會<span class='highlight_one'>縮短</span>5％。
>> All team members' ==helping== <span class='highlight_three'>interval</span> will <span class='highlight_one'>decrease</span> 5%.
>> [name=sia][color=#ea3590]

Japanese:
> チーム全員の==おてつだい==<span class='highlight_three'>時間</span>が5%<span class='highlight_one'>短く</span>なる
>> All team members' ==helping== <span class='highlight_three'>time</span> will become 5% <span class='highlight_one'>shorter</span>.
>> [name=sia][color=#ea3590]

So, thanks to dataminer's contribution, we know that this function meant to shorten the helping interval, instead of affecting Speed.

$$
Time\ Duration \times (100\% - 5\%)
$$

Problem solve, devs just need to fix the translation of description, that's all on this one.

But we are not finished yet, there is another issue we haven't solved, which is "help 5% faster" is actually a thing, since GCT's description is telling us that "Helping Speed" exist (Not the Sub Skill one), and it might be different.

### Good Camp Ticket (part 2)

According to dataminer, CGT's effect is also affecting to shorten the time, but with different maths formula. If you forgot the formula of Helping Speed (Sub Skill), scroll up!!!

$$
Time\ Duration \over {100\%+20\%}
$$

This difference could lead to an interesting result. As we know, frequency's formula looks like this:

$$
Frequency = {Number\ of\ times\ of\ Helping \over Time\ Duration}
$$

And, if we add the factor into it, and simplify the expression. 

$$
Frequency = {Number\ of\ times\ of\ Helping \over Time\ Duration /120\%}
$$
$$
Frequency = {Number\ of\ times\ of\ Helping \over 1} \times {120\% \over Time\ Duration}
$$
$$
Frequency = {{Number\ of\ times\ of\ Helping \times 120\%} \over Time\ Duration}
$$

\ Tada /

The result is telling us that the number of GCT's affection is able to see as multiplying the Helping times, in other words, multiply the actual Speed.

So, back to the description of GCT, Chinese UI is correct once again. And about English UI, we cannot really tell that it is wrong... since it said "work faster"...

Of course, it did really confuse, especially when Helping Speed in English is using the same description, players would think these 2 functions (GCT & Helping Speed in Sub Skill) are using the same maths calculation. But the fact is NOT!!

In English UI, Helping Speed's description is totally wrong, which using a narrative for the calculations of GCT, aforementioned, they have different maths process.

## To readers

Thanks for reading !! And, post this to game devs if you know them :D

## To devs

Whoever responsible for the English translation, if you have read through the article to this point, thanks, and please consider fixing it as soon as possible. I make a to-do list just right below.

## TL;DR

1. "Frequency" in each Pokemon's data panel is a bit confusing players. Please consider renaming it, or adding some more context, or just follow the narrative from the original language.
    - Maybe "Helping Interval" or something else...
2. Description of "Help Bonus", "Helping Speed S", "Helping Speed M", is misleading players. Please consider rewrite it.
    - **This one is totally wrong**, please avoid using the context that has used in CGT's context, and consider using other description.
3. Good Camp Ticket's description is very confusing as well, please consider using those terms that exist in game to describe how it works.
    - Because most players don't know the detail of maths behind this game, they might think this multiplier is affecting **time** as well, just like Helping Speed in Sub Skill.

## Resource

- [Frequency Calculator](https://1drv.ms/x/s!AgftXUd5h4gGs8UvAuo0TKgxCgKwDA?e=rNEdgL) (Download to use; made by me)





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