Japanese indie dev translated his entire game into Czech for just one fan

This might be the most wholesome gaming story of the year. A Japanese solo developer behind Ball Boy Simulator noticed that just one person in the Czech Republic had wishlisted his game. Rather than ignore it, he added Czech language support so that one fan could play in their own language.

The story first broke in August, but a viral clip has brought it back into the spotlight. Plenty of players are now discovering it for the first time.

Who made Ball Boy Simulator?

Ball Boy Simulator comes from Eba Games, a one-person indie studio based in Japan. As the name suggests, it’s a game about life as a ball boy at a baseball game.

It’s also a milestone for the developer. According to Kotaku, it’s the first Eba Games title to support languages for players outside Japan.

What did he notice in his Steam stats?

While checking his Steam wishlist data, the developer spotted something unusual. Most of his wishlists came from Japan, with a handful from other countries. However, exactly one came from the Czech Republic.

For most studios, a single wishlist from one country wouldn’t matter. After all, translating a game takes time and effort, especially for a solo developer. Even so, Eba Games added Czech support anyway.

He then announced it on X with a simple, heartfelt message: “Wait for me, my Czech friend.”

Why did he choose Czech?

There’s a lovely backstory here, too. The gesture ties back to a famous moment in baseball. At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Japan faced the Czech Republic, whose team was made up mostly of amateur players.

Japan won the game 10-2, but the Czech team won over Japanese fans with their sportsmanship. One Czech pitcher, an electrician by day, even struck out Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. Since then, many Japanese baseball fans have felt a real fondness for the Czech team. For a developer making a baseball game, that one Czech wishlist clearly meant a lot.

How did players react?

Unsurprisingly, the internet loved it. The story spread across social media, with players praising the developer’s kindness. According to the viral clip, it even caught the attention of Warhorse Studios, the Czech developer behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

Many fans also pointed out the contrast with the wider industry. Big companies have announced huge layoffs over the past year, including thousands of job cuts at Xbox. Meanwhile, one indie developer was translating his game for a single fan.

Why do stories like this matter?

Indie developers often have a much closer relationship with their players. Without huge marketing teams, every wishlist and review really counts. As a result, small gestures like this can build a loyal community.

Steam makes it easier than ever for small studios to reach players around the world. Its tools let developers see exactly where their fans are, and platform features like Steam’s new Achievement Sets keep giving them new ways to connect with players.

Is Ball Boy Simulator on Steam?

Yes. Ball Boy Simulator was due to launch on Steam in August, with Czech support included. For one lucky player in the Czech Republic, it’s a game made with them personally in mind.

It’s a small story, but it’s a reminder of why so many people love indie games. Sometimes, the developers who have the least are the ones who give the most.

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