Game Localization – What You Need to Know

Game localization is a crucial part of ensuring that your video game is accessible to players from around the world. It can help you increase sales, boost your App Store rating, and satisfy international gamers – but it also requires a lot more than simply translating text.

It’s a complex and often fraught process, so you need to make sure you’re prepared. Here are a few things to consider when you’re localizing your video game:

Start the Localization Planning Early

Whether you’re creating a new game or adapting an existing one, it’s essential to plan for the localization process before you actually begin. Not only does this help you avoid language-specific issues, but it gives you a better sense of the scope and time needed to complete a high-quality localization project.

Create a Lockit

A lockit, or localization kit, is a detailed package of data that explains your game localizzazione giochi to a translation service provider (LSP). It should include information on the characters and backstory, as well as more abstract details, like tone and theme. The more comprehensive your lockit is, the faster and more accurately your LSP can work.

Use a Translation Management System

A translation management system (TMS) is a specialized software used in the localization field that helps your team collaborate on your game’s localization. It allows the translation team to upload the strings of text, and it lets them track changes that need to be made.

Make the Right Language Choices

The first step in ensuring that your game is comprehensible to players from around the world is choosing a linguist who has a deep knowledge of both the source and target languages. This person will be able to create a localized game that reads correctly and sounds natural in each language.

You should also choose a localization agency that has the resources and experience to ensure that your game is translated in a timely manner. This includes a strong localization strategy, a talented translation team and access to the best tools in the industry.

Cultural Testing

A huge portion of the game localization process involves cultural testing. This ensures that the images, graphics and other visual elements don’t cause problems for the players in the different regions. It also makes sure that the story and gameplay are culturally appropriate for each region.

Depending on the region, it might be necessary to change the way that the character clothing or backdrops look, the colors in the game, or the way that characters interact with each other. In some cases, the game might need to be rewritten entirely in order to address the needs of each region.

Be Sure to Get Feedback

Throughout the game localization process, you should make it a point to gather feedback from real-world gamers. They can reveal things about the game that you didn’t realize, and they may give you ideas for improvements to your localization efforts.

It’s vital to choose a company that’s dedicated to your specific game’s localization needs, and you should always ask for a proofreader who isn’t the same person who undertook the translation. This fresh pair of eyes is more likely to catch mistakes.