How Game Genre Affects Localization
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The document discusses the impact of game genre on localization, detailing various types of games and the levels of localization required—from app store descriptions to full audio adaptation. It highlights the importance of effective localization in retaining users, particularly in more complex games, and offers solutions for common issues such as context and translation technology. Recommendations include better translators, thorough playtesting, and utilizing resources like a termbase to ensure consistency and cultural relevance in localization efforts.
How Game Genre Affects Localization
- 1. How game genre affects localization Conor Bracken Andovar
- 2. What game genres are there? Action Beat 'em up Hack and slash Fighting Maze Platform Shooter First-person Third-person Shoot 'em up Tactical Action-adventure Survival horror Stealth Adventure Dating sim Escape the room MMOs MMORPGs Role-playing MOBA Roguelike Action role-playing Simulation Sports Strategy RTS Tower defense Racing Flight simulator Rhythm Puzzle Connect-3 Serious game
- 3. What is game localization? • App store description – description, screenshots, keywords • Partial localization – game texts + subtitles • Full localization – full audio localization • Deep localization – cultural adaptation
- 4. Deep Localization • Resizing artwork • Changing look of characters • Storyline changes • Different monetization
- 5. Game localization continuum Casual Mid-core Hardcore Context unimportant Low word count Simple story No audio-visual loc Context very important High word count Complex story Full audio-visual loc
- 6. Localization and ROI Developers lose 8 – 15% of users due to poor localization (AppAnnie; Dec. 2014) Is that a lot? Depends how you look at it But the effect is different for casual and hardcore games
- 7. Casual / Ultra-casual Do you need localization at all? Try app store description + keywords The cost is negligable Internationalization issues common Translation technology not important
- 8. Mid-core Localization becomes strategic …and more expensive Inventory? Termbase, descriptions, screenshots Testing Certain genres will have more issues
- 9. Hardcore & IP You must prepare or you court disaster Gaming community for terminology Pro translators for style Technology for consistency and QA Especially with patches and updates
- 10. Context Issues Most files for translation look like this… Easy to understand without context? Typical issues: - weapon or spell names with no meaning - dialog that depends on previous lines - literal translation would look ridiculous - homographs - unknown gender or form of words
- 11. Solutions from clients 1. More playtesting! 2. Better translators! Professional Gamer Cultural awareness Experienced in game loc Always available Reliable Cheap Not scalable Not repeatable
- 12. As you move towards more complex games, the chances your problems can be solved by playtesting unicorns approach ZERO
- 13. What to do instead? Termbase Style guide Game bible Inventory lists Screenshots Concept art References Familiarization Mix of gamers and pros Translation technology Processes Milestone reviews Playtesting is important and so are good translators, but there’s more…
- 14. Termbase Not just a 2-column spreadsheet With examples, grammar info, screenshots, links… This is where you involve gaming community Integrate with artwork for best results One hour spent on termbase saves many later on
- 15. Character bible / Style guide Not the same as termbase Intro to the game world and characters What language to use Consistency between linguists and updates
- 16. Screenshots or video playthrough Request that every linguist plays the game through? No, record it and send them to watch Cheaper, faster and reusable
- 17. Word count in games Dragon Cubes: 4 000 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: 40 000 Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn: 1 000 000 Halo: Combat Evolved: 10 000
- 18. Concatenations Reduces word count a lot, but causes problems with genders, plurals, and is hard to understand. No concatenation problems, but you might be paying for extra word count. {0} is in the {1}. The warrior is in the tent. The queen is in the tent. The enemy is in the tent. The warrior is in the castle. The queen is in the castle. The enemy is in the castle.
- 19. Translation technology What is translation memory? Why are matches cheaper? When does a flat rate make sense? What else can CAT tools do for game localization? New Content (not previously translated): The brown dog ran up the hill Fuzzy Match (requires editing/QA): The brown dog raced up the hill Repeat Content (requires QA): The brown dog ran up the hill New words 100% Repeated words 25% 95 - 99% Match 35% 85 - 94% Match 50% 75 - 84% Match 65% 50 - 74% Match 75%
- 20. User interface vs story Game UI = software UI translation Game story = literary translation Different approaches needed Termbase, familiarization, references Gamers vs pro translators
- 21. Subtitles or voice-over Subtitles cheaper Voice-over more immersive Trailers and cut-scenes only? How many voices needed?
- 22. Graphic localization Cultural considerations Making strings fit The more complex the game, the more you might want to change
- 23. Testing What is game testing anyway? - Linguistic - Functional - In-app purchases - Internet bandwidth - Compliance - Multiplayer Preparation prevents wasting time Testing is not a solution to all problems.
- 24. When do you outsource? When you can't handle it on your own anymore In-house Freelancers OneSky, Gengo, OHT SLV MLV AAA game loc agency
- 25. 1. With higher word count 2. More complex story 3. With audio and video 4. Deeply embedded in one culture 5. With concatenations Conclusion As you move towards games: How to approach localization changes dramatically
- 26. www.facebook.com/andovar @andovarglobal http://www.linkedin.com/company/andovar https://www.google.com/+Andovar Get in Touch Andovar Pte Ltd Phone: +65 6532-1281 conor.bracken@andovar.com