Video games have evolved into a worldwide entertainment that cuts beyond linguistic boundaries in an increasingly interconnected world. Developers today need to address a variety of audiences worldwide due to the global appeal of gaming. Effective game translation is one of the most essential elements in reaching this objective.
Here are some crucial pointers and advice for translating video games successfully, whether you’re a game developer or a translator.
- Context Dominates
Context is everything in the world of gaming. It takes more than just changing words from one language to another to translate game content; you also need to comprehend the plot, the characters, and the gaming elements. To fully understand the subtleties of the gaming experience as a translator, it is essential to play the game or at the very least receive a thorough overview. By having this understanding, you may accurately express your desired message and preserve the game’s mood.
Example:
The popular video game “Fantasy Realms” aims to slay an ancient dragon that threatens to annihilate the kingdom. To ensure an authentic translation that maintains the epic fantasy atmosphere, the gaming translation services must deeply understand the game’s narrative, character backstories, and the significance of the dragon’s presence. And with this context, they can convey the storyline to the audience.
- Make Language More Audience-Specific
Language nuances vary among cultures. Therefore, it is your responsibility as a translator to be mindful of the intended audience’s age, location, and cultural heritage when translating. Changing word choices, humor, and pop culture allusions could be necessary to appeal to the target market’s participants. And if you do that, the players will have a seamless and immersive experience giving them the impression that the game was created in their native tongue.
Example:
There is a popular video game called “Final Fantasy VII Remake.” Now, if you are trying to translate this game for the French people, you may have to adjust certain humoristic elements so that the French people do not get offended since they are notorious for getting quickly offended.
- Consistency Is Key
For a refined game experience, uniformity across the translation is essential. In addition to terminology, character names, item descriptions, and user interface elements should all be consistent. Maintaining a consistent translation for the entire game and any prospective sequels or upgrades will be more accessible by creating a glossary of key terms and expressions. A lot of the publishers have created websites in which they post information related to video games. However, if one wants to access them in one’s native language, professional website localization services can surely assist.
Example:
The video game” Overwatch” contains numerous characters and descriptions of maps and items. Hence, it is the translator’s responsibility to ensure that he remains consistent across all the supported languages he is translating into.
- Avoid Over localization
While localizing content to fit a particular culture is crucial, over-localization must also be avoided. The attempt to force-fit some cultural references and wordplay may not transfer accurately and may even confuse or offend players from other locations. Therefore, one should strike a balance between cultural adaptation and keeping the original game’s core.
Example:
The video game “Borderland 3” contains numerous jokes and references. Now if a translation agency tries to localize every joke or reference for the target audience, it may lose its original appeal and meaning. Hence, avoiding over-localizing content is imperative to retain its universal appeal for worldwide audiences.
- Make Text Expansion Possible
There may be variances in word length and structure between languages. Text expansion is a phenomenon in which the target language text is more than the source language text. And it is a typical problem in the translation of video games. Therefore, game creators should keep flexibility in mind to allow for longer translations without messing up the layout while designing the user interface and text boxes.
Example:
A popular video game called “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” was translated into Germanic languages. If you are aware of the German language, it consists of longer words than the original language. The professional translation team had to work with the development team of the game publishers to ensure that the extensive dialogues fit appropriately in the game’s UI.
- Working With Native Speakers
The best language interpreter is a native speaker. To review and receive criticism on the translation, collaborate with knowledgeable native speakers who are also ardent gamers. Their knowledge of the intricacies and cultural references unique to their language and gaming community will be essential.
Example:
When the famous video game “Assasin’s Creed Valhalla” was released, it was translated into several languages, including Japanese. Amidst the translating process, the publishers had to collaborate with native Japanese speakers familiar with Viking history and Norse mythology. It allowed them to enhance the video game’s authenticity for Japanese video game players.
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Conclusion
Video game localization is a lucrative business. So if you want to put your hands in this gaming sector, prepare yourself and acquire skills and expertise before jumping in. This article will give you a base to start from. So research these points mentioned above, and then choose a language of your choice.
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