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Sorry Canada, no Half-Minute Hero for you photo

Apparently, if your game doesn't have French in it, Quebec won't let you sell it. This is probably something our millions of Quebec readers already knew, but one of them, Destructoid reader Mike, was unaware and has been disappointed to find that he can't buy Half-Minute Hero from any of his local retailers.

Mike was looking forward to playing the excellent RPG game and asked publisher XSEED when it might hit Canada. Here's what the company had to say:

Thank you for trying to pick up a copy of Half-Minute Hero.  Canadian distribution is always tricky because of the bilingual law that Quebec enforces, so for titles with limited distribution we do not create a second bilingual version specifically for Canada because it's too expensive.  Unfortunately, that's what happened to Half-Minute Hero.
 
Wal-Mart Canada and EB Canada both carry it, but their stores in Quebec may not carry them because we did not offer French bilingual packaging.  Our Canadian distributor does not have a relationship with Amazon Canada, that is why they never carry any of our products.
 
Sorry for the inconvenience, but the bilingual requirements in Quebec make it extremely difficult and expensive for us to provide games to Canada sometimes.  Your best bet may be to purchase it from the PSN Store online.

Wow, Quebec kind of sucks. It's amusing to note that Canada is screwing itself out of tax revenue with a law like this, since if Mike buys the game on PSN, he gets to give all his money to the publisher rather than have the government take a slice. That's at least a small satisfaction, although this bilingual law sounds effing stupid no matter which way you slice it.


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66 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 16:42
Magnalon
My friend won't stop talking about how great this game is.
TrickEdge's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 16:46
TrickEdge
Man, Quebec can be such a buzzkill for this country sometimes. I feel bad for the people living there lol. I'm glad I live in BC haha
Necros's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 16:49
Necros
Quebec is so stubborn when it comes to stuff like this, but in a way, I'm sure that helps it preserve its charm. I visited Montreal and Quebec City as a kid, and that sense of preservation that it imposes on itself made me really enjoy my stay. And contrary to popular belief, they were very polite even though we knew almost no French.
Scion of Mogo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 16:51
Scion of Mogo
Quebec Kind of sucks? Stop glowingly complimenting le Quebecois with such glowing terms
linuxguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 16:54
linuxguy
I'm going to respect quebec's law:
English: Hey Quebec, suck my cock!
Français: Hé le Quebec, suce ma bite!
Mr Pibb's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 16:55
Mr Pibb


There's no Canada like French Canada!
Jordan Devore's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 16:55
Jordan Devore
It's a real shame. Half-Minute Hero needs to reach as many people as possible.
peacebyanymeans's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 16:56
peacebyanymeans
I'm not even Canadian, but I feel for my English speaking brethren.

Quebec should just become it's own country, or speak English or Spanish. Your in the Americas, those are the languages (that goes for you too Brazil, get with the program)!
Super Drybones's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 16:58
Super Drybones
I googled "Canada" and this came up

Funktastic's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 16:59
Funktastic
Quebec's government can fucking suck my balls! God I fucking hate them. Forces the ENTIRE country to have 2 fucking languages on goddamn everything. Fucking waste. I have a box full of instruction manuals with that ugly French on it, and those of you who know me, I have a LOT of games. So much waste, and makes the back of games and such just look cluttered with crap. The only good part of Quebec is Montreal, since they're not uptight like the rest of the province (apologies for any Dtoiders who are from other parts).

The government ALMOST successfully charged an independent gas station owner a fine of $500,000 for having ENGLISH writing BIGGER than the FRENCH writing on his signs. It almost went to the Supreme Court until it got too much media coverage and the bastards finally backed down. Just like how they wanted to seperate from the rest of Canada in a referendum like about 10 - 15 years ago, but the conditions were they would still use OUR currency AND we would still have to SUPPORT them, but they don't have to contribute anything! Bullshit!

@DTOID READER MIKE
If you haven't been able to find a copy or whatnot, Private Message me and if you PayPal me the cash or something, I will personally go out and see if I can find you a copy to mail to you, since you shouldn't have to deal with this bullshit.

@EVERYONE ELSE
That ends my angry rant about that crappy ass province!
zero588's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:00
zero588
Fuck Quebec
Steel Brotha's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:01
Steel Brotha
Yeah, we in Ontario hate the "Quebecois". It's almost to the point where we spit, when they're mentioned.
TwinDad's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:03
TwinDad
Missing out on a great game.

I think the point of this article is why are they not getting their distributor to work with Amazon.ca
Scheds's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:04
Scheds
It's kind of a dumb law, but at least the game is a small download and should fit on a smaller memory stick.
Heojaua's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:05
Heojaua
I'm actually from quebec and alot of stupid shit like that happens all the time. All thanks to the law 101 who tries to save that stupid ass french language...
AlLeBlanc's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:06
AlLeBlanc
Screw you! Im from Quebec, and yes we talked principally french. And it's a law for almost every media, and it's normal, we want to keep our language, because it's a big part of our culture, since were in the middle of english speaking people... I buy my games in english, like I watch movies in their original language. BUT, yeah its sucks... while I don't care about that title, sometime our laws screws us; aka I have World At War, but it;s in french, because they have more french version than english, and people tend to buy it in its original language, soooo I have the shitty subbed copy. But at least I can play it in my first language! ...
oh and
@Necros
Charms? How old are you? Montreal is fucking huge man, not just in size. and saying that we were polite is kinda racism; saying that we are all polite, like if we were ONE people... Theres so much different people here, but wtv, I get your point; were not in the US, which mean nicer people ( and nicer looking woman too :) )
TimeKillr's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:08
TimeKillr
I love how every time this comes up, all that happens is Quebec bashing.

Sigh.

Everybody else and their dog does french packaging. IT DOES NOT COST THAT MUCH, BELIEVE ME.

BTW, not a single self-respecting independent game store in the entire province respects that law.

And everybody in the province hates the law as much as you dickwads complaining about the province do.
WpnX's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:14
WpnX
This is why Anglophone Canadians hate Quebec.

All signage must have french as the prominent language, even on products. They wanted out of the country, to which I would say 'good riddance', but they wanted use of our army, postal service, etc. Meaning that they didn't fully understand the concept of sovereignty.

Some of the people are nice enough, but there are also a bunch of people who sneer at you for not speaking Francais - even if you give it your best go. In fact, my parents canceled the last two days of their honeymoon to get the hell out of that backwards province.

They also gave us Celine Dion. Need I continue?
Toucan Gourmand's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:14
Toucan Gourmand
@peacebyanymeans
No Quebec should not become it's own country that wouldn't be good for Quebec or Canada.
Quebec separating would be rather unfair to people that only speak English living there, and to the Aboriginal people in Quebec.

To the people complaining about having 2 official languages-
Including French obviously doesn't benefit the people that only speak English...
But it's not for you, it's for a large percent of the population that speaks French.
Diverse's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:15
Diverse
Oh wow, I was wondering why I started seeing the back of the box offer info in French right under the English text.
landsealion's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:17
landsealion
I'm the Mike from the story. I've been in contact with XSeed customer support and from what I read in "The Charter of French language", XSeed may have misunderstood the law because there are plenty of english only games in Canada. All they need is to translate their box and instructions manual (and that can't be THAT costly).

From the charter:
[quote]52.1. All computer software, including game software and operating systems, whether installed or uninstalled, must be available in French unless no French version exists.

Software can also be available in languages other than French, provides that the French version can be obtained on terms, except price where it reflects higher production costs, that are no less favourable and that it has technical characteristics that are at least equivalent.[/quote]
AlLeBlanc's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:18
AlLeBlanc
Wow i was writing and there was only 2 comment... gosh you people disgust me...
I knew that that was a texan based site, but I didnt think there were actually rednecks here, always thought that these idiots were shooting guns and exploding thing while being drunk outside... gosh US is fucked up, so much hate against people they dont know fuck about... nice... intelligent
landsealion's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:20
landsealion
Also, don't worry about me getting the game. Someone from the States is coming to Quebec and I'll ask him to buy it for me.
AlLeBlanc's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:23
AlLeBlanc
@landsealion
Thats right, I checked my notes after ( because I'm studying at NAD, 3d game school in french and english) Sorry for saying false things
But dont hate us if you dont know us, it's just plainly stupid
WpnX's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:23
WpnX
@landsealion

I think the problem was with the physical packaging rather than the software.

I realize most of the people in Quebec are decent enough, but the culture over there is taught as something everyone should be so proud about. It gets to the point where English speaking Canadians are treated as second class citizens. This happened to me more than once on my last visit, which was admittedly about 8 years ago.
Grimspoon's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:30
Grimspoon
Quebec is (unfortunately) a part of Canada but it isn't the entirety of Canada.

Sorry about your luck frenchies - maybe try to lobby your representatives to loosen up your retarded laws.

Preventing English only text on video game packaging isn't going to tarnish your precious and delicate "culture."
TewDee's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:32
TewDee
I have no idea Canada sucked THAT hard.
Ronsauce's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:34
Ronsauce
Quebec is fucking awful. We have this bullshit in the rest of Canada about having things be bilingual, but Quebec doesn't seem to have to obey the same law. It's a double standard that makes absolutely no sense. Plus their gas is more expensive. The only thing Quebec has going for it over Ontario is the availability of alcohol in corner stores and gas stations.
CharleyTony's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:35
CharleyTony
Its not like this game requires voice acting, all they need to do is transalte the text and then they can sell it in Quebec and France. Sure Quebec is only 8 million people (25% of Canada) but when you add up France into the equation (8 million + 65 million) you see that this translation would not be a waste.
Its like if california asked the have things available in spanish... then you ship some of them to latin america and spain ...

Would a Japanese only game sell well in the US ????
Elsa's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:40
Elsa
Quebec screws itself continually in their need to retain the French language as a measure of their identity... France is more bilingual than Quebec is. Not only are their language laws restrictive, but their contest laws are also archaic and needlessly restrictive - which is why even many Canadian contests are "void" in Quebec.
Psychomax's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:42
Psychomax
Did you know that Quebec City is the only walled city in North America with its original fortifications still intact? How cool is that!?

I guess those walls are still keeping foreign content out...
Harris Hatsworth's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:49
Harris Hatsworth
Jim, it's not about tax revenue in the slightest. Quebec doesn't care. The Quebec government is paranoid, isolationist, and wants to break off from Canada. They consider it an attempt to take away their culture when something English enters their territory (despite being the most universal language at this point in time) and forces retailers to post signs only in French among other things. And while this is unconstitutional, there's another law that allows certain unconstitutional laws to stand for five years (at which point they need to be reviewed to see if they can stand).
agentgray's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 17:55
agentgray
Ooooooh, Canada.
koehler83's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 18:03
koehler83
Quebec really sucks. They're the thorn in our sides of Canadian bacon.
moominsean's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 18:04
moominsean
french canadians. pfff the lot of them. except the hot chicks.
Lunacy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 18:05
Lunacy
I'd like to say Quebec should follow France's example, but that would just be avoiding the simple fact that Quebec is different from both France and the rest of Canada. If they didn't have laws like that, I can (almost) guarantee half the population would never bother learning french as kids. It's a tough problem - you can't really make any kinds of judgements unless you really do your research, and even then it's hard to work through.

When does the preservation of French culture start being, in effect, elimination of all other culture? Why shouldn't they have the right to learn their native language, if everyone else does? Would it be fair to take English away from Ontario? Should the rest of Canada step in, as an ideally "unbiased" party, to regulate their laws so that they're fair all around? How would you somehow balance the preservation of their culture and heritage with the freedom to not be a francophone?
Steel Brotha's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 18:11
Steel Brotha
@ AlLeBlanc
As a person from Ontario I can say that your comments are invalid. Seriously Quebec is like that kid picked last on the recess softball team.

And for you to go on and basically call everyone hear a pig headed American rally just makes you look more like a snobby elitist Quebecois. Only Quebec would create Bill 101, which if it hadn't been for the notwithstanding clause, ould be unconstitutional. We gave you the option to use that so you guys coukd quit bitching. Want more cheese with you whine?
Xaren's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 18:25
Xaren
Oh wait... I'm a french canadian from Quebec and it would be really nice of you not to throw that much stones at us. Yes the law suck.(I'm actually selling games as a part-time job) And yes, we have the obligation to respect that law. This mean that it's really hard to sell some stuff from little studios, or studio like Atlus wich isn't translating their manuals in french.

A new law appeared one year ago, just to enforce that one. Saying that if a game is avalaible elsewhere in the world, in French, it as to be available here, in Quebec. Wich is really dumb when you think about it. At least that one isn't really respected...

I'm just asking for you guys, to stop saying that we are a bunch of pussies... Yes there's some, and maybe it's a majority here, but it's not a reason to say that everyone is dumb.

By the way, I'm playing all my games in english, watching TV and Movies in english. Still, I speak french everyday and I won't die from it.

Thanks a lot. I'm not writing that much here since my english isn't really good... But since this one was directly at us, I couldn't resist replying.

PS : If those laws start to grow stronger or that Quebec just become a Country, I'm getting the fuck out of here >.<
ghets's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 18:25
ghets
Come on! Its not that bad. For the few obscure Asian titles that dont make it to Quebec because of the multilingual thing you can either find them in the smaller non-franchise shops, which you should be shopping at anyways because for some reason every employee of ebgames is a snake, or pick them up online. Most likely for cheaper.
landsealion's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 18:54
landsealion
Why are people bashing at things from Quebec other than the bilingual law itself?

There are stupid people in Quebec, just as anywhere else on the planet. There are morons, racists, extremists, jerks, etc. Some french speaking canadians may not treat english people well, but english speaking people don't always treat french canadians properly either. If you had a bad experience, that's just a one time event, don't over generalize.

The law looks somewhat restrictive, but it's there to protect the culture (because the language is supposedly tightly linked with the culture). The general consensus is that since the Quebec is surrounded by english speaking people, it needs laws to protect it's language. Fortunately, the Internet is safe from that law. It's overprotective sometimes, but it has its good side. Translating the packaging is not excessive in my opinion and may help the company reach a couple thousands more people (French is spoken by a lot more people than just people from Quebec).
WpnX's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 18:58
WpnX
Looking at all the posts here, mine included, it seems that the French language has become synonymous with French-Canadian culture. This seems like a serious mis-step, IMHO.

I know people from all places and cultures who keep and honour their heritage, but only speak English (with maybe a few phrases of their ancestor's language). Is it possible that without Francais as their native tounge French-Canadians would find *GASP* that they are exactly like the rest of the country?

Heck, I would go as far to say that culture laws aside, their restaurants are better and liquor laws more reasonable.
Necros's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 19:00
Necros
@ AlLeBlanc

Christ, god forbid I say that I actually liked the place. I meant "charming" more in regards to Quebec City, but I liked Montreal too. That's not a bad thing. And are you really trying to pull the racist card? What race? I'm talking about the people who live there not being snooty like the common perception is, which is more than other people in these comments can say for their experiences in the province.
BOWi's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 19:03
BOWi
There is a little bit too much of bashing around here. I do speak French and I live in Quebec. I don't really care if a game or two don't come in Québec because of the law. I think any packaging should be bilingual, simply because it would be useful for the one who don't understand English. I admit the law is a little bit too strict, but a government has to make decisions sometime...

I confirm that I can easily buy movies that are unavailable in French even if they are in English, because the law recognize the specificity of any piece of art. They wouldn't ban a painting or an artsy movie because it's only in English... Culture, sometime, cannot be translate in an other language. (However, if a good is made and marketed for the INTERNATIONAL, it should be adapt/translate.)
WpnX's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 19:21
WpnX
Not to wear out my welcome, but here's a question:

Are Quebec's laws just way to archaic? Where does culture end and globalization begin? Can the two exist independently, or are they opposites?

I'm not saying it's stupid to protect your language (although I do maintain Quebec can go too far with it), but those laws were designed before Walmart, major US Television networks and the internet. The same argument could be applied to almost any local culture, from the Native folk to the Amish.

The Natives rank up there with the Asian cultures in terms of rich cultural backgrounds, but are now seen as a people to gamble with or buy smokes from. The Amish are using cell phones.

So maybe Quebec is right to make this stand (based on my examples above), but at the same time, people need stuff. People will generally get that stuff whether you make it legally available or not. So why not make it available, then throw a "culture tax" on it you can later spend on a museum or (god help me) local television?

Maybe Australia can get away with a bit of media censorship because of their island/continent status, but Quebec does not enjoy such a buffer zone. I can understand legislating French signage, but why not allow some worldly products in? I bought a bag of basmati rice without a lick of English writing on the cover. Did it have an effect on my proud Scottish/Slovenian heritage? No! But it did save me $5, and made some delicious curry. Like I said - you could even tax the damn thing and build some art or something.
timtheterrible's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 19:44
timtheterrible
Blame Canada!
personz's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 19:47
personz
Its cause Quebec is retarded I was able to pick up a physical copy of half min hero in Ontario with no problem.
Hawks's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 20:07
Hawks
Im glad Im not french.
CelicaCrazed's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 20:26
CelicaCrazed
Sorry, once I realized that this article wasn't about Toronto I stopped caring :P

Nothing like a Quebec-bashing story to bring out all the people from Ontario ahaha!! I was so sure that even Saskatchewan had a bigger Destructoid readership than my province. There used to be a lot of Quebecois Dtoiders on here too at one point. What ever happened to people like MEE?? Did the cultural police get them all??
Sarana Na Sopanpanichkul's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 20:34
Sarana Na Sopanpanichkul
Glad I live in BC. Got the games, got better weed.
super2j's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/28/2009 20:37
super2j
you said it. thank god i live in ontario. Quebec would have cripled my love of games. Sad thing is that im sure most ppl dont care. just the government trying to protect the language. i know all the french i need. wee wee monswuier
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