The gaming industry is one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving. Games are becoming increasingly well-liked, attracting gamers of various ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. As a result, game developers are currently localizing their works to appeal to a larger market. In the following part, we will cover game localization, its benefits, and tips and strategies for successful game localization.
Let’s move forward.
What Is Game Localization
A video game must be localised to appeal to a target audience’s language, cultural, and regional preferences. To adapt a game to the cultural norms of the local players, it is necessary to translate the text, audio, and visual information into the language of the game’s target audience.
The translation is only one component of localization; further adjustments need to reflect regional standards for time zones, currencies, and measurements. Game localisation aims to offer enjoyable and exciting gaming experiences to players from different regions and countries.
For a game to be successfully localized, the target audience, regional linguistic quirks, and cultural nuances must be fully understood. It is an essential stage in the creation of video games and significantly impacts how well they sell worldwide.
In the modern, global video game market, the value of game translation has increased for everything from simple smartphone apps to massively multiplayer games. Game developers can grow their player bases, attract new players, and build passionate fan bases worldwide by localising their games.
What Are The Benefits Of Game Localization?
The following reasons highlight the need for localizing games:
It helps generate more profit
The outside company you choose to localize your game will take care of the voice-over and text. This suggests that they won’t have to worry about things like bugs or technical issues when managing this component of your game. Additionally, they can convert your game into several languages.
They might be more productive if they only work on translating your game into other languages rather than improving other parts of it. It also increases both parties’ income because you won’t need to pay as much for extra workers or interpreters.
International Exposure
These passionate players from all over the world routinely advertise their games by streaming gaming videos, leaving comments on forums, and using social media. This will help your game gain popularity in other countries and might even get media attention from unexpected sources.
Even though advertising may produce results that are equivalent, some of the most well-known brands in the world use word-of-mouth marketing successfully since it is significantly less expensive.
It Boosts User Experience Ratings
One of the simplest ways to improve the user experience is by appealing to the consumers’ empathy and allowing them to immerse themselves in the story entirely. If they struggle through it, a player won’t be able to have a genuine experience like this. This usually happens when players are unfamiliar with the game’s lingo.
The days of playing video games where you merely needed to hit the cube, grab the flower, leap, dive, and swim to advance to the next level are long gone. Today’s video game creators allow players to decide the story and course of their game.
User experience is at the heart of development, and you may use well-selected localization to let the player craft their own story. The more languages your game supports, the more players will be happy to play it regardless of their cultural and linguistic background.
Localized Quality Assurance
Localized quality assurance testing is part of localization. This requires checking that all of the game’s features have been effectively adjusted for various regional and linguistic settings and that the game’s material has been properly translated. Developers can test their product to ensure it will live up to expectations when it is introduced to new markets.
It Saves You from Embarrassment
Professional translation reduces gamers’ likelihood of misinterpreting your game’s settings. Localization encompasses more than just translation. A word that has the same meaning but is written in a different language is substituted for it during translation. But to localize the context, you need a specialist. You need someone familiar with the target foreign language’s vocabulary, practical jokes, and cultural allusions.
Increase in Downloads
If you want to boost sales, you must increase downloads. Therefore, you must broaden your target market to increase downloads. Localization helps to accomplish this goal. Travelling locally is the same as going abroad.
Tips And Strategies For Successful Game Localization
Depending on your localization plan, you might not be successful and expand in each market you target. The top ten suggestions for strengthening your localization strategy are shown below. These localization strategies for games will enhance your product, simplify your workflow, and set you apart from the competition.
Research your target audience
Understanding the cultural norms, language nuances, and preferences of your target audience is crucial for successful game localization. This will help you make informed decisions about which language(s) to translate your game into and what elements need to be adapted to appeal to your target audience.
Hire professional translators
Localization is not just about translating the text but also making sure it sounds natural and culturally appropriate. Hiring professional translators who are native speakers of the target language and familiar with the gaming industry will ensure that your localization is accurate and culturally sensitive.
Consider cultural references
Games often contain cultural references that may not make sense to players in other countries. Be mindful of these references and make necessary adjustments to ensure that your game is accessible to a broader audience.
Use software tools
Many software tools can automate localization processes, such as translation memory systems and terminology databases. These tools can save time and ensure consistency in your localization efforts.
Test and iterate
It is crucial to test your game after localization to make sure everything works as intended and that the localization is accurate. To find any problems and make the necessary corrections, think about performing a playtest with participants who speak the target language.
Regular updates
Games are often updated regularly, and it is essential to keep your localization up-to-date. Regularly reviewing and updating your localization will ensure that your game remains accessible and appealing to players in different countries.
Keep localization in mind from the beginning
The most successful game localizations are those where localization is considered from the beginning of the development process. Planning for localization early on can save time and resources in the long run.
The Ending Note
Game localization is a challenging and time-consuming process. It is a collaborative effort. The organisation risks missing launch deadlines if it is not done correctly. Being late to market results in missing out on possible earnings. Even though it requires effort and time, the method has numerous benefits. The only industry expected to increase steadily in 2023 is the gaming industry.
This field is developing quickly. Localizing your games will also help you attract new players and stay current. You’ll need a knowledgeable group of translators and localization experts to do this. The setup of your game will be translated into another language.