skinuphoria - Tumblr blog

skinuphoria · 2 years

Text

Keep Your Head Above the Rest: Avoid These Localization Mistakes

Video games are an integral part of millennial life. Because they offer a different life with adventure and challenges, this is why video games are so popular. Gaming is a global industry, worth $60 billion.

A Brazilian top up valorant video game distributor revealed in 2010 that a game translated into Portuguese had 15 times the sales of its original version. This highlights the importance of localization in video games. It also emphasizes the need to have high quality translation and localization.

Despite the importance of localization in games, many companies make the error of choosing cheap shortcuts that are expensive to fix, bad press and can hurt sales.

What are the most common mistakes made by gaming companies when it comes to localization?

#1. Translations cut corners Many videogame companies believe they can save money by using machine translations or choosing the cheapest option.

Machines are far from being able to produce the precision required. Hackers can gain access to video games content via the Internet using translation tools. This could pose a security risk.

Anything that is submitted for translation is also handed over to the translator tool provider. It becomes their data and they can do whatever they like with it. Translating must not only be accurate but also retain the flavour and nuances of original text to bring life to the translated version.

A mistranslation can cause frustration for players or make developers look bad. In the worst case scenario, it could land the developer in serious legal trouble.

Translations that are not done well can increase the cost and time involved. Professional translation services are discreet and competent. This is why it's sensible to use them. The game developer can relax by having the translator agency sign a confidentiality agreement. This will allow the localization to continue in safe hands.

#2. #2. Video game developers with limited visual abilities often do this. It is wrong to include text elements such as the game title, menu text, and printed dialogue in core game files. It is much easier to include a translation if the text is stored in separate resource files. It is much easier than looking through the source code and translating.

#3. #3. Certain games require specialized terminology. Consider sports games. Basketball-tall talk is different from football terminology. Translators and localizers of such games will need to do some research. This is where "research-oriented texts" are needed.

Candy Crush, a popular game that is addictive, has new concepts. These games require "creative-oriented text"

Game developers need to analyze the game content and determine which type of text is best. The text should be tailored to the content and the portfolio of the translator must reflect this.

#4. #4. It is not worth submitting a lot of text to translators or localisers who don't know much about the game. Worse, you can expect someone with no knowledge about gaming to do the job.

Localization of games is so important that the translator needs to know as much about the game as possible. It is important to encourage translators to play the game being created. Security and discretion are not negotiable.

#5. #5. Every market has its own culture. It is important to be sensitive to cultural differences when localizing a game. Otherwise, the developer may risk alienating their target audience. This goes beyond the actual content of the game, such as characters, situations, or events.

Take into account the following: After a user objected to the use of Quran chanting in its soundtrack, a gaming giant had 75,000 copies of a game that used it recalled. Although the Japanese invasion of South Korea is a part of history, Seoul was upset by a video that depicted it.

You can display blood or gore on the screen as well as alcohol in localization. Video game developers can do a lot for their target market by conducting thorough research before they start localizing. Cultural mistakes are not something to take lightly. The negative publicity that surrounds them can cause serious damage to the game and even the company.

#6. #6. You can taste the difference! The length of sentences can be altered by translation. Translations may not be compatible with graphics or elements of the user interface. Some strings may be left out of code. Developers can avoid this by testing their games on a real device.

On-device testing of localization can be used to assess the quality of the game's localization and identify any glitches. Autofitting text to the space required is necessary if the game uses on-screen printed dialogue.

#7. #7. Poor translation management Game developers need to organize all formats and files, including marketing copy, manuals, packaging, descriptions for app stores, in-game interface text and subtitles. To avoid duplication and mistranslations between different types of content, the translation management must be centralized.

#8. #8. Many game developers make the costly mistake of thinking that localization is the last step in the development process. This can lead to them missing out on great opportunities overseas. These companies realize that they are in a difficult spot when copycats of their products hit the local markets. Only then do they start to think about expanding their markets abroad. This "end" stage involves reworking source code, and creating translation materials from scratch. All of this takes time and money.

0 notes