Video localization is an excellent tool for going global with your gaming product. It gives your game a wider audience which generates more income for your business. But as game developers, are you clued up on the steps to localize your video game?
A gaming experience goes beyond attractive pixel cover. Every game should be interactive with an intriguing story to provide users with an exciting gaming experience. This is why it is recommended for video game localizers and linguists to also be gamers or game developers as it helps them understand other gamers’ preferences.
Professionals localizing video games need proper systems and procedures to manage the translation and localization of elements such as the code of the game, UI elements, cut scenes, character dialogue, texts, etc.
They should also be equipped with enough resources to deep dive into the target market’s culture and create an engaging, culturally acceptable, and commercially viable game.
Generally, the video game localization process addresses three key game elements:
In-Game Story Elements
Story element localization is vital. Each game should entice gamers and keep them engaged. The game script, character names, weapons, and places, should be realistic enough to keep the gamer interested.
Technical Elements
Technical elements like date, time, and units of measurement should not be overlooked in the video game localization process. These aspects together can create an outstanding and seamless gaming experience. Every professional video game localizer should work hard to ensure the game is best suited for the intended audience.
Marketing Elements
This part of the video game localization process is where you develop materials to increase game appeal and success. However, these elements will not successfully connect to the right audience without localization.
Factors such as the nature of the game, the number of culturally sensitive elements, and the regions you target are important here.
Now, let’s dive into the video game localization process.
Steps to Localize Your Video Game
1. Make a Plan for Your Video Game Localization Process
This is the first step of the video game localization process. Obviously, you need a solid video game localization process plan to successfully localize your video game. Firstly, localizers must decide on the countries they want to target for video game localization. Planning helps you work with a specific time frame and budget. This also enables you to hone key elements to localize.
2. Create a Game Localization Kit
A localization kit is essential. It helps your video game localization partner understand the game. Typically it covers everything from characters to the tone and theme of the game. A comprehensive video game localization kit allows your localization partner to work accurately and promptly.
3. Localize Your Code
After determining which parts of the game to localize, localizers pull those strings from their code into a Translation Management System (TMS). This enables video game localization. Your software localization code localization will depend on the tech stack to build the app. For instance, iOS games will need to follow iOS localization standards.
4. Integrate With a Translation Management System
Video game localization will house all the strings and content to be translated. The translation management system brings those strings into the platform to be translated. Here, the language service provider handles the game localization work.
The translator begins work on the strings of text exported to the TMS. At the same time in the localization process, another team can start work on the non-text elements you have chosen for localization, such as character clothing, backgrounds, and color schemes.
5. Regional Localization
The most crucial aspect of the localization process is modifying your game to fit specific elements for the targeted region. Some games may require a part of the story or visual elements altered to suit a culture or area.
6. Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is an integral part of any localization. An independent translator checks the written translation for grammatical errors and other linguistic issues. You also need translators to keep the context of the game in mind while working on the translations. Although you’ll focus on on the game’s target language for various localized versions, your translation team play a critical role in early localization.
7. Integration into Your Game
After you check, edit, and approve the translation process, you integrate the text into the game’s localized version. The text meets other game parts altered during the localization process, like new graphics, characters, and altered cut scenes.
Finally, releasing your game for sale is the last part of the journey of the video game localization process. This can be an all-around success story with the right team in place. Find all the services you need and a professional team to handle your video game localization project at Day Translations. Contact us today to speak to one of our localization experts in the video game industry.