In 2022, the global revenue of the gaming industry was estimated at around a whopping US$347 billion. This shows the increasing global demand for gaming. As per the demand, the game development industry is also creating astonishing games that continue to play with the imagination of gamers. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence, and virtual reality has made the difference between reality and imagination very thin.
It is important to note that developing an amazing game is one thing but enabling the game to overcome the linguistic and cultural nuances of target markets and providing a seamless player experience is a real challenge. And that’s where a game translation company can help. Professional translation companies offer tailored services according to your project needs. And when it comes to games, simple translation is never enough. Instead, you need to opt for localization. Game localization refers to the customization of games according to the unique nuances of the target market(s).
Today we will focus on the prerequisites, components, and challenges of game translation and localization.
Key Components of Game Localization
We have discussed the booming global trend of gaming and why localization and translation of games are a must for global success. Let’s briefly discuss the road map of game localization.
- Curate a Customized Localization Strategy
It requires seamless professional communication and cooperation between game developers, localization managers, and marketing executives. You need to access the starting point, access the expectations, choose the language pairs, and set achievable targets. The execution of the whole process will depend on the game localization strategy.
- Identify the Content for Translation
After defining the localization strategy comes the translation stage. The translation is the most important and challenging aspect of game localization. When it comes to game translation, we can categorize the content into three formats: game story content, technical material, and marketing content.
The basic purpose of game translation is to integrate the in-game elements (UI, Character Dialogue, Quest Descriptions, Audio Elements, and Awards Announcements, etc,) in sync with the linguistic and cultural preferences of the target markets.
- Finalize the Localization Service Provider
Keep in mind that sloppy translation can turn your game into a global meme despite a global hit. It is important to select a game localization partner carefully. Do not sacrifice quality over quantity, check if the game localization company is offering native and industry-expert game translators! Moreover, computer-assisted (CAT) tools and localization management workflow are also important. Many reputed game and software translation services are offering both human and machine translation. You need to carefully shortlist the LSPs and make the choice after proper research.
- Extraction and Translation of Game Content
After the selection of the game localization service provider, it is time for source data transfer. There are many ways to perform this task. Some language service providers accept parsable files while others prefer non-parsable files. One way or another, the transfer of source content is an important step and should be executed with technical care. Once the text is extracted, native professionals work on it to deliver accurate and culturally relevant translations.
- Quality Assurance of Localized Content
The final and most important step before the official launch of the localized games is the testing stage. Localization managers and content editors must check the translated materials’ quality, relevance, and cultural adaptability. A minor mistake can cause an outrage in the gaming community or disrupt the game player experience.
Challenges of Game Localization
Game localization is not just about translating the linguistic elements of the game-related content. The true purpose of game localization is to create an overall game experience according to the cultural, linguistic, and gaming expectations of the target locale.
However, to achieve this, the experience and expertise of the game translation are important.
Despite the translation, other elements of localization like voice quality, terminology base, inaccurate words, intricate instructions, use of unfamiliar words, etc can result in a failed localization strategy. There is a long list of localization bugs that can affect the quality of your translations. Another important aspect is that the original feel of the game must remain unchanged, but the process, navigation, voices, and region-specific linguistic and cultural elements should be changed as per the target audiences’ preferences.
In modern video games, the integration of audio-video elements increases the difficulty of the localized translations. These technical difficulties can decrease the efficiency of video game translations. Moreover, the textual contraction and increase can also affect the game UI and cause difficulties for effective game localization. That’s why you need help from experts.
Hire a Game translation Company Today!
For a game to be acceptable globally, immersive playability with cultural and linguistic inclusion is a must. Game developers must consider acquiring the professional services of game translators as they can overcome the localization challenges and ensure the professional execution of game localization strategies. Hire an experienced game translation company and make your game the next global hit.
