Game Translation vs. Localization: What Developers Need to Know

Launching a game in a new market is not a simple task of localizing the characters’ dialogue. There is a need to ensure that the characters will sound natural, the humor will be understood, menus will be navigated, references will resonate, etc. An addition in one market may become a burden in another due to ignored subtleties of language and culture. Understanding the difference between such concepts as translation and localization can facilitate the decision-making process and set realistic expectations. Turning to a video game localization company for game developers will assist in adapting the product to different markets while preserving its quality and intent.

What Is Video Game Translation?

Video game translation is the process of localizing the body of text from one language to another. The basic principle is to convey the exact meaning while preserving the overall tone of the text. In particular, game translators perform the following tasks:

• Dialogue and conversation texts
• Game instruction and tutorials
• Menus, sub-menus, and other interface-related texts
• Subtitles, captions, and annotations
• Descriptions of objects, weapons, and tasks
• Marketing and selling-related texts

In particular, fantasy-themed games may have dozens of descriptions and subtitles that require localization at once. It is the task of a professional video game translation service for the mobile market to convey the exact intent behind the word choice, especially for descriptions and object names.

Note that thorough preparation for the game’s release is crucial: even the most minor inaccuracies may produce misunderstandings and jeopardize the selling prospects. However, a simple translation is not enough to bring the product to international markets due to potential cultural differences.

What Is Video Gaming Localization?

In particular, video game localization is the enhancement of the translated texts in accordance with the language and cultural peculiarities of the target market. Localization services include the following:

• Linguistic and cultural adaptation: jokes, idioms, wordplay
• Numerals, currency systems, dates, and time representations
• Character names and their suitability for the target audience
• Dialogues, text proportions, and interface layout
• Subtitles, dubbing, and on-screen texts
• Language and technical testing of the localized version

In particular, mobile adventure games frequently feature various puzzles and jokes intended to resonate with the target audience. Due to the potentially dangerous use of culturally specific expressions, localization companies replace such phrases with equivalent wordplay in the target language.

Game Translation vs. Localization: Key Differences

Although the two concepts are intertwined, one should distinguish between game translation and game localization in terms of:

1. Scope of Services: Game Translation provides purely language-related services; Game localization is a broader concept that includes language services and technical adaptation.
2. Cultural Relevance: Translators provide the text’s gist in the target language; localizers assess whether the given piece of text or game mechanic is usable in the target environment.
3. Technical Compatibility: Translated text fragments may differ in length from the original text; localizers adjust text proportions and perform a series of tests to check interface compatibility.
4. Player Experience: A precise translation allows the player to grasp the intended meaning; localization allows them to perceive the message in the same way as the target audience member.

In particular, both processes are indispensable for successful international market entry due to the combination of precise language crafting and technical adaptation. In turn, video games that target multiple markets at once will find that both processes are crucial for their presence in such environments.

Why Game Developers Need Professional Localization

The emergence of a new market is accompanied by several pitfalls that only professional game localization service providers can avoid. Such providers assist in the following:

More Customers with Different Languages

The ability to choose between several languages facilitates the process of customer acquisition as well. Game developers are advised to determine the languages they intend to use and follow the natural logic of the respective markets instead of attempting a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.

Precise Resonance in Terms of Story

Role-playing games, adventure games, and other story-driven genres rely on the precise delivery of the author’s intent. Localizers and experienced video game translators provide soft, hard, and fantasy-related text in the desired language to enhance the impact on the audience.

Better Understandability and Quality

The basic intent behind any instruction or menu is to guide the user. Localizers make instructions, subtitles, and other text fragments easy to understand to ensure that the game will be enjoyed for its content and not resisted because of its complex language. In combination with other localization-based tasks, such as technical adaptation, language-related testing, and so on, localization services contribute to game product quality.

Uniformity and Consistency in Language and Terminology

The use of a uniform language throughout the game facilitates the creation of an easy-to-understand and attractive content base. Game localizer providers utilize glossaries to ensure uniformity within the selected language as well. Some types of games are especially dependent on linguistic and terminological uniformity within the language base because of the specific lexicon used. For such games, video game localization and terminology management services are essential to remain competitive.

How to Choose a Video Game Localization Company for Game Developers?

The selection of an appropriate provider is not limited to the comparison of quotation sheets. It is advisable to consider the following criteria when choosing a game localization agency:

Game Industry Experience

It is essential to outsource translation and localization services to an agency that understands the gaming industry’s peculiarities: the language and technical nuances inherent in different genres, the level of player maturity, and the overall environment of the gaming community. Experience in localizing the desired game type is essential.

Language and Market Coverage

The choice of the target market depends on the nature of the game and the company’s strategic goals. The provider must be able to support the chosen content languages based on natural language proficiency that goes beyond simple linguistic transformations.

Test Coverage in Terms of Localization

A competent game localization agency will have a thorough language quality assurance concept that includes linguistic and technical testing procedures. The game localization process is complete only when such tests have been applied to the localized version to exclude any errors, inconsistencies, or other issues that may arise when integrating the translated texts into the final version.

Translation Pricing and Project Management

Once the general expectations have been set, it is advisable to take a closer look at the offers in terms of quality, volume, and turnaround date. In particular, a low initial price may turn out to be expensive when hidden options and procedures are taken into account. As to the project management side of affairs, ensure that the service provider possesses the capability to maintain the quality of delivered content while adhering to the agreed deadline.

Best Practices for Game Localization

An experienced game localization agency recommends the following measures to ensure smoother and more transparent localization processes:

Prioritize Localization

Rather than leaving the task of localization for the very end, game developers are advised to consider this process from the beginning. In particular, rather than incorporating text into images or code, one can use database management systems to store text strings in external files in editable formats.

Create a Glossary

A glossary that incorporates text, terms, character names, location names, skills, and equipment terms will ensure consistency and quality of the language. When choosing between localization vs. translation services, one should also understand the necessity of creating a linguistic glossary.

Provide Contextual Clues

It will facilitate the localization expert’s task if they receive images, character descriptions, and even video game footage that can help them understand context and intent.

Account for Text Length

Some languages require more text space than others. Developers are advised to allow additional space in the design to accommodate lengthy text translations that cannot be modified due to the nature of localization vs. translation services.

Test Inside an Actual Game

A translator or a localization engineer can benefit from testing the linguistic and technical performance inside an actual game to ensure the absence of errors in the interface, design, or code.

Document Updating and Maintenance

Companies must account for ongoing maintenance costs related to product updates, downloadable content, seasonal events, and other factors. This will ensure that the game localization process is consistent and ongoing rather than limited to single use.

The Role of AI in Game Translation and Localization

Artificial intelligence in translation and localization can accelerate the processes, assist in quality assurance, manage terminology, and perform other tasks. AI is not perfect; it may fail to capture the nuances of humor, sarcasm, intent, character voice, cultural context, and gaming-specific terms. This is especially true for text localization in games where dialogue affects gameplay.

This is a reasonable option for certain segments of text or document types, but human editing and context editing are necessary for most games. When choosing between localization and translation services, developers should also consider data security and intellectual property concerns when using unverified AI tools.

How MarsTranslation Can Help Game Developers

Game developers who seek to localize their product for the international market and are unsure of the first step toward this goal can visit the website of MarsTranslation. While on the page, they can get acquainted with the array of video game-related services offered by the provider, the languages available, and the quality assurance approach used. When choosing a provider for an international game launch, it is essential to ensure that the company possesses the necessary expertise and covers the required language and market territories so that the quality of the product is not compromised.

For companies that provide video game translation services for mobile games, PC, or console games for the international market, a comprehensive set of preparation and delivery guidelines can enable the proper management of the linguistic and technical qualities of the product. As a result, an effective strategy for the international game launch can be developed that covers translation, localization, terminology management, and language-related quality assurance processes.