China, the United States, and Japan were the leading gaming countries worldwide in 2018, by gaming revenue. However, developers are now realizing that localization can help them reach a wider target audience and multiply their profits.
Game localization is the preparation of a video game software and hardware for sale in a new region or country, with the purpose of creating an enjoyable, non-confusing play experience for the end-user by paying heed to their specific cultural context while being faithful to the source material. Thanks to the rapid proliferation of the internet, gaming consoles, and passionate players, localization is increasingly becoming an essential step towards the successful launch of your game product worldwide.
Once you’ve identified your target market, you are now ready to take the next steps towards reaching out to your prospective players.
Following are the 4 proven steps in the successful game localization process:
- Choose your translation resource wisely
It’s crucial to choose the right translation resource for your project. You can either opt for crowdsourced translation or hire a professional translator – depending on your requirements. Professional translators are certified translators who have the advantage of thoroughly understanding the target language along with appropriate knowledge of the cultural sensibilities of different regions. On the other hand, crowdsourced translations are usually done by your current user community. Both options have their pros and cons; so you should choose your preferences.
- Internationalize your code
Internationalization is the process of designing the game so that it can work properly in multiple territories and target markets, and so that the game can be localized easily and efficiently. Internationalization will empower the code, the user interface, and the architecture of your game to render its content into multiple languages. Since players look for the same interactive interface as the original game, hence you should take all measures to provide them with the best user experience possible.
- Choose your content for translation
After you are done with the first two steps, you should now decide the elements of the game you’re planning to translate. To make the experience easier for your players, here are a few suggested features that should be translating:
- Website
- App
- Dialogue
- Levels
- UI Text
- Help Desk
- Descriptive Text
- Instructions and Tutorial Text
- Features
You should research and evaluate different game localization companies and then hire the one that can assist you with all these procedures. You can also offer references and glossaries to the translation company that you’ve chosen to help them understand your game better.
- Review your translations and run quality assurance
All your translated work must be reviewed for such errors as language mistakes, accuracy, terminology,…etc. For example, you should check the translated output for fonts, dates, features, text placement, etc. Once you have tested and made the required edits, you should now be more confident about rolling out your game for the general public.
EuroLingo is one of the leading translation and localization houses in Eastern Europe. With years of hands-on experience in delivering accurate and efficient localization for hundreds of games, we believe in giving only the best. We offer a professional analysis of your video game and cater to 90 languages for both video and audio translations.
Every year, Eurolingo works with hundreds of businesses in a wide array of industries and takes pride in delivering the best to our valued clients. The gaming industry is flooded with different video game localization companies; however, choosing a company that has a good reputation and relevant experience is the key to your success. Contact us today to get a free quote.
“High quality of deliverables, high level of project management, good communications, everything on time. We’re glad we’re now working with Eurolingo!”
