With an estimated 3.09 billion video gamers worldwide, localizing a game to fit a specific audience is more than just word-for-word translation. It also involves editing and censoring elements that may cause offence to players in some cultures.
Bailey, Evan and Finley discuss how gaming communities act as a sort of free-labor resource for bug reporting and game localization ideas.
Game Culture
Game culture is more than just a pastime; it’s a worldwide new media subculture formed by gamers who share the same passion. It’s a community that supports and encourages one another to succeed in their goals, while also providing a safe space for them to come together during times of crisis or stress. The gaming industry has evolved over the years, with more and more people adopting it as a form of entertainment.
This cultural phenomenon has made the localization of video games a vital aspect in their success. Localizing the game’s narrative allows the developers to reach a wider audience, potentially increasing the number of sales and revenue opportunities.
Video game localization requires a significant amount of time and resources, as the developers must adapt the story to the player’s cultural context. This includes changing references and symbols to avoid any possible negative reactions or misunderstandings.
In addition to the need for a strong narrative, gamers are also demanding highly immersive and entertaining experiences. This means that game developers must deliver extraordinary new concepts and features to win the hearts and pockets of gamers across the globe. Seamless localization is critical to achieving this goal. This makes it necessary for developers to make localization a priority from the very beginning of development. It also helps to ensure that the final product is able to deliver on its promises.
Game Design
Game localization is more than just translation. It also involves making changes to gameplay, visuals, and cultural references that are tailored to specific regions. This process is essential for video game developers who want to reach a global audience and maximize revenue potential.
While video game localization is a complex process, it can be beneficial for players in many ways. For one, it increases the likelihood that they will be able to enjoy and understand the game’s story and characters. It also improves their experience by ensuring that they are able to follow in-game instructions and communicate with other players.
Localization can also help gamers feel like they are part of a gaming community and that the game was made specifically for them. This can make them more likely to invest in the game and keep playing it long after they’ve finished their initial purchase.
Video game localization is a crucial step in the development of any video game. It not only helps to increase sales and revenue potential, but it also helps to ensure that the game’s content is appropriate for a particular region’s cultural and linguistic expectations. Localization tools such as memoQ and Lokalise can help developers streamline the localization process and ensure that the final product is a seamless blend of text and graphical elements.
Player Communities
Video game localization opens up a huge new market for gamers, giving them the opportunity to enjoy your games in their own language and culture. This presents a unique business opportunity for game developers and publishers that can’t be missed.
Online gaming communities are a natural phenomenon and gamers often create a bond with other players that can last for years and aren’t necessarily linked to one particular game. This can take the form of large guilds of players who play many different online games together or even clans who stick with the same online game for years. These communities can be found on a variety of gaming sites online and are a great way for gamers to connect with like-minded individuals as well as share tips and tricks with other gamers.
When localizing a game, it is important to consider the impact on these gaming communities and how it will affect them. This can be a complex process, as the localization team must keep in mind cultural references and imagery that may not translate well into other languages. It is also important to consider the effects of leaving certain terms untranslated. For example, in Dota 2 localization, some of the character names and skill names were left untranslated to allow multilingual gamers to easily talk about the game.
Economic Concerns
The decision to carry out game localization is usually guided by economic factors and the growth ambitions of a video game development company. It is about reaching new audiences and boosting sales through potential franchise.
Players who belong to a gaming community put pressure on the industry to offer games they expect and desire, in the languages they speak. This is a form of cultural performance that challenges the established relationship between gamers and developers, publishers and localizers.
For instance, players may request that specific characters in a game be changed or the text on screen be modified to accommodate their cultural beliefs and norms. These requests can be difficult to deal with, because they are based on the identity that a player forms within a gaming culture.
This can result in conflicting requirements that lead to compromises being made in the translation process. It can also create tension between a developer and the gamers who they produce games for.
As the gaming industry continues to grow and become more diverse, it is important for companies to localize their games in order to keep up with their demands. The global video game market is estimated to be worth over $200 billion, and those providers who stay in touch with their customers and adapt their games to fit their needs will gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.