[Scummvm-tracker] [ScummVM :: Bugs] #17052: The Longest Journey (GOG Polish) - Polish diacritics are missing in GUI and dialogue text but render correctly in hotspot and inventory text

[ScummVM :: Bugs]

#17052: The Longest Journey (GOG Polish) - Polish diacritics are missing in GUI and
dialogue text but render correctly in hotspot and inventory text
--------------------------------+---------------------------
Reporter:  Thrvshlord           |      Owner:  (none)
    Type:  defect               |     Status:  new
Priority:  normal               |  Component:  Engine: Stark
 Version:                       |   Keywords:
    Game:  The Longest Journey  |
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 Environment

 - Game: The Longest Journey
 - Distribution: GOG
 - Language: Polish
 - Game version: 1.0.0.142
 - Engine: Stark
 - ScummVM version: Latest master daily build (tested on 2026-08-05)
 - Operating System: Windows 11
 - TLJ HD Project installed (latest release, May 30, 2025)

 Issue

 The game launches and is fully playable.

 However, Polish diacritic characters are rendered inconsistently.

 The problem affects GUI text, menus and dialogue text, where some Polish
 characters are omitted.

 Examples:

 - "głosem" -> "gosem"
 - "głośności" -> "głonoci"
 - "dźwiękowe" -> "dwikowe"
 - "pobliżu" -> "pobliu"
 - "chcielibyśmy" -> "chcielibymy"
 - "opowiedziała" -> "opowiedziaa"

 Interestingly, hotspot names, inventory items and object names display
 Polish characters correctly.

 Examples:

 - "Gałązka"
 - "Strumień"
 - "Pejzaż"

 This suggests that the fonts themselves support Polish characters and that
 the issue affects only one text rendering/loading path used for GUI and
 dialogue text.

 Steps to reproduce

 1. Install The Longest Journey (GOG, Polish).
 2. Install the latest TLJ HD Project.
 3. Add the game to ScummVM.
 4. Start a new game or load the attached save (if applicable).
 5. Open the Options menu or continue the first dialogues.
 6. Observe missing Polish diacritic characters in GUI and dialogue text.
 7. Compare with hotspot names such as "Gałązka", "Strumień" or "Pejzaż",
 where Polish characters render correctly.

 Tests performed

 - Reproduced in ScummVM 2026.3.0 stable.
 - Reproduced in the latest master daily build (tested on 2026-08-05).
 - Enabling/disabling "Load modified game files" does not change the
 behaviour.
 - Enabling/disabling font antialiasing does not change the behaviour.
 - The localization files (language.ini, gui.ini and preferences.ini)
 contain correct Polish characters.
 - The original GOG executable crashes on modern Windows because of
 DX_Module.dll, therefore ScummVM is currently the only practical way to
 play the game on modern systems.

 Expected behaviour

 Polish characters should render consistently in GUI, dialogue text,
 hotspot names and inventory items.

 Attachments

 I have attached screenshots demonstrating:

 - incorrect GUI rendering,
 - incorrect dialogue rendering,
 - correctly rendered hotspot/object names.

 I can also provide configuration files, save files and perform additional
 tests if needed.

 This issue may be related to the already reported Central European
 diacritics problem affecting The Longest Journey, but this report concerns
 the Polish GOG version.
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Ticket URL: <https://bugs.scummvm.org/ticket/17052>
ScummVM :: Bugs <https://bugs.scummvm.org>
ScummVM