Any video game is an audio-visual product that is linked through a cinematic. So the game translation is very similar to movie translation. However, any video game is a software product first. And its translation has similarities with software localization, which is in its essence.
Video games come in three types nowadays, such as computer, console, and mobile games. Each of these categories is very popular among gamers, so game localization quality assurance can be one of the most important stages of localizing any foreign game. In this article, you will learn about game localization and its benefits and challenges for the game development business. Have a pleasant reading!
What is game localization?
In general, the localization of a video game is the adaptation of a product to the realities of another country. It is a video game alteration to the linguistic, cultural, and historical aspects of the target audience. To begin with, the classification of video games by genre has become one of the most popular. There are several popular game genres, such as action, role-playing, and strategy games. This is an important point since the localizer needs to know specialized terms on a case-by-case basis.
For example, they could localize the game to a military theme or a life simulator. Then, localization will be like a technical one. But as a specialist processes RPG and science fiction projects, they must have skills in artistic translation. In addition, any game can combine different literary styles. Thus, each game must be adapted to a literary language.
Benefits and challenges of game localization: the business aspect
Experts should be careful with the localization of computer games. The fact is that poor localization can look like an undisguised signal to users that distributors are not interested in target audiences and all they want is to earn a lot of money. This can negatively affect the sales of a localized game.
It is also worth noting that translating the interface, audio, and video components can become a complex interdisciplinary task that involves translating not only text that has a direct bearing on the video game. Also, that is the user manual, instruction files, error notifications, or instructions for installing the game.
The benefits of game localization may depend on the strategies of cultural adaptation directly:
- For example, a good localization can have a significant impact on the game’s perception in another country, even if the developer did not plan to gain success there. In other words, the loyalty of gamers is increased, when users notice that the video game is created taking into account their language and cultural characteristics.
- Video game adaptation can give gamers an improved user experience since the foreign language gaming experience may be less wide and understandable for them.
- Quality localization can help the developer improve their image in the global market of gamedev. The distribution of a product in different countries can have a beneficial effect on brand recognition, including on an international scale.
- The localization of computer games gives developers access to a broad international market. Perhaps that is the main benefit of this aspect of translation. Instead of limiting themselves to one country, developers can increase the size of their potential audience. As a result, it can help to increase sales and increase revenues of the company.
Conclusion
Specialists use various techniques in the process of adapting computer games. That is a complex and labor-intensive task, which requires locators to have extensive knowledge in different areas of life. The mobile and computer game industry is growing and developing every day. Hence, the audience demand for localization is increasing and new benefits and challenges show up in front of entertainment software developers.
