Lord Fess, to be honest, there exists - at least in the German Forums I know about - some kind of subtle "anti-americanism", simply because American Publishers usually go after the rule "bigger, better, first". I don't like this policy.
My favourite examples are the handbook for Baldur's Gate, which was shortened for the German version, leaving the AD&D rules completely out, the Icewind Dale soundtrack that wasn't sold outside the US, the special edition of Pools of Radiance 2 , which was entirely different to the european special edition (and the european SE was only made after long consideration), crappy voices in games (worst : Crusaders of Might & Magic, where the Skeletons, which should be frightened, sound like a group of teenies meeting their idol for the first time), no translations at all (considering the fact that a game wouldn't have much success in the US while it completely stays in German and has only the handbook translated), and releasing games in the US first (like Age of Wonders : Shadow Magic, which was released in america first, even although the developers are from the Netherlands).
"Bigger, better, first". That's how it goes.
I try to be objective, but I cannot feel "right" about these examples.
And that's partly the reason why I'm so proud about German games - Gothic, Far Cry, Sacred ... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
Please just keep in mind that everything's about different cultures. We here in Germany shake the heads about many things we hear from the US, and vice versa.
