Our United States readers may not know this (we didn't), but in Canada companies are required to apply both English and French labeling to all products. Apparently this is a cause of great frustration among some folks. Being disconnected from the whole thing, we find it amusing. For example, if you live up north and plan on snagging a copy of The Orange Box, you're going to have to look very closely. As you can see, the French title for the game takes prominence on the packaging. Why Electronic Arts decided to go this route we don't know, but we have a sneaking suspicion. See, La Boîte Orange (LA BWOT OHRAWNJ) is just more fun to say. Try it: La Boîte Oraaaaaaaange. Feels good, doesn't it?
[Thanks, xenocidic. Image credit: MattBrett]
[Update: Looks like the labeling law covers all of Canada, not just Quebec. Corrections made.]
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
10-12-2007 @ 11:33PM
Dylan said...
You were right the first time, French labeling is only required in Quebec.
Reply
10-13-2007 @ 8:44AM
Lucky said...
What's so wired about this is that uesly they way they do it is put a paper cover and french booklet over the already shrink-wraped and packaged game, the shrink-wrap it agien.
Not to metion thow bilingial overs have the titles equal size for both games. Seeing it Packaged this way is VERY strange.
Reply
10-13-2007 @ 8:45AM
Lucky said...
@18
Unless you speak English and your in Quebec. I love the double standereds they have for Quebec.
=3
And people wounder why the English and French communities here dis like each other.
Reply
10-13-2007 @ 9:19AM
sefk said...
I'm living in Quebec.
And this thing is purely stupid. Because normally, as wikipedia confirmed, la loi 101(the charter of the frenche language) does not demands this kind of unequal title.
And for a HL fan likes me, this kind of wrapping is annoying because when I buy a game, I want the original box in the original language, not this ****.
But then, maybe a joke from valve?
Reply
10-13-2007 @ 1:32PM
Etienne said...
These comments are funny. You know, I come from Belgium, and in Belgium, we speak French :D But we don't like French people... Strange, no ? So I also find it's a bad name. French is my mother tongue but I find that the name "La boite Orange" is just... bad. Usually, in Belgium, all names of games are in English...
Reply
10-14-2007 @ 11:25PM
TheDFactor said...
Actually, I think the reason the french is the prominent text is because the paper cover in the plastic was turned inside-out. I know that for some movies i have the paper inside can be taken out to reveal a double sided cover, one which is french dominant and an other that is english dominant. Of course im not sure this is the case here but i would definitely put it in the high 80's for myself.
Reply
10-15-2007 @ 8:29AM
xenocidic said...
Dfactor, I doubt it.
on the long thread about this matter (click the article picture or see above) no one has mentioned that they found an English-prominent version on the other side.
Anyways, I've ordered a copy from the U.S.A. off eBay.
Damn you EA, if you try this B.S. for the next title I want to buy off you guys, we're through.
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