Training of QA and Localisation Video Game Professionals
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The document discusses the collaboration between universities and the video game industry to improve the training of localization professionals. It outlines the essential skills and training programs needed for individuals in this field, as well as the significance of localization in making video games culturally relevant and engaging. Additionally, it highlights the economic impact of the gaming industry and the growing demand for localization expertise in both academic and professional settings.
Training of QA and Localisation Video Game Professionals
- 1. Universities and Companies: Collaboration in order to Train Better Localisation Professionals Curri Barceló Ávila hello@localiseme.net @Currixan London, 24-26th June, 2014
- 2. ACHIEVEMENTS PONG: The Beginnings LITTLE BIG PLANET: The video game industry ZERO WING: All Your Localisation are Belong to Us BRAIN TRAINING: Current situation of the academic training PHOENIX WRIGHT: Objection! SPACE INVADERS: Saving the Universe!
- 4. • Joined in 2005 • Requirements: BA in Translation and Interpreting (or equivalent) and fond of games • Good eye for detail • Good communication skills • Excellent command of the native language and good knowledge of English
- 5. Tester’s Training within the company • One-week general training. • Explanation of tools to be used (bug-tracking). • Reading 70-some pages documents about Games industry, Games glossary and Company guidelines. Ready, steady... You are now a tester!
- 6. Tester’s Learning within the company • Enter bugs (accurately). • Spending hours playing the same (repetitive tasks) • Using bug-tracking tools (TestTrackPro) • Format Holders Standards • Gaming skills to finish as quick as possible • Games terminology • Using online localisation tools • Localisation knowledge • Creative translation/Transcreation ¯ 3-4 months to reach the required level
- 7. Tester’s Professional Profile Tester’s Skills (Accurate) Bug-writing Bug-tracking Tools Online Loc Tools Games Terminology Mastering Format Holders’ Standards Understanding of variables and coding Ability to work with tight deadlines Repetitive tasks Technical knowledge: software & hardware Localisation knowledge Game industry knowledge Knowledge of target market requirements & culture Gaming skills Proofreading/Editing skills Translation skills Creative translation Ability to reduce texts to fit the space on-screen Excellent eye for detail Fig 1: Professional profile and skills of the experienced Localisation/Funcionality tester
- 8. Localiser’s Professional Profile General Translation Skills Multimedia Translation Skills Localisation Skills Video Game Localisation Proficiency in source and target languages Domain of oral language: jargon, play on words Technical terminology: software & hardware Knowledge of intra & extra textual genres Translation techniques and methodologies Reduction and condensation techniques Understanding of variables & coding Specific terminology of Format Holders’ Standards Use of Translation Tools Ability to adapt text onto image Knowledge of new IT technologies Creativity & transcreation Research and documentation Use of Glossaries Ability to work without any context Ability to work without any context QA & Testing Excellent knowledge of the target language, culture & requirements Tight deadlines Repetitive tasks Fig 2: Professional profile and skills of the experienced Game localiser
- 9. Shorten the training process in the games industry. ¯ Adding this knowledge at university level
- 10. LITTLE BIG PLANET: The video game industry
- 11. Videogame industry “Creates more benefits than the movie industry in the UK and US markets alone, an industry that brings people out from cinemas and television and gets them to sit with their controllers to play during hours instead” (Chatfield, Tom. 2009)
- 12. Videogame industry “Gamers aren’t mere passive spectators anymore. Instead, they become protagonists in order to submerge themselves in the halo of virtuality offered by the image on-screen” (Méndez González, Ramón 2012)
- 13. Videogame industry • 61 billion dollars (Forbes, 2012); • The world-wide video game industry grew 9% in 2013 and now exceeds $76 billion with projections it will reach over $86 billion by 2016; • 30-50% comes from the international market (Chandler, Heather 2012); • The European market for games is almost $20 billion.
- 14. Potential New Markets South-Eastern Asia Eastern Europe Latin America Middle East
- 15. ZERO WING: All Your Localisation are Belong to Us
- 16. What is Localisation? Localisation is the adaptation of a product to make them appropriate to the language, culture, and other requirement of a specific local market. ¯ Message = Same effect as the original
- 17. Why is it so important? “It is useless to create entertaining and intense dialogues or witty comments if most of the public is completely unaware of what they are witnessing” (Méndez González, 2010)
- 18. Why is it so important?
- 19. Why is it so important?
- 20. Why is it so important?
- 21. Why is it so important?
- 22. BRAIN TRAINING: All Your Localisation are Belong to Us
- 23. Academic training in the UK POSTGRADUATE LEVEL University Name of the Degree Name of the course/module Duration Roehampton MA In Audiovisual Translation The Localisation of Video Games 20 h (videogames) GRADUATE LEVEL (COURSES, WORKSHOPS) Imperial College N/A E-course on Localisation (Software only?) 11 weeks Westminster N/A Video games localisation workshop 3 hours NON-ACADEMIC COURSES AND WORKSHOPS LocJam N/A Workshop in Game Localisation 4 h Fig 6: Postgraduate courses on Video Game Localisation in the UK
- 24. Academic training in Spain POSTGRADUATE LEVEL Academic Institution Name of the Degree Name of the course/module Duration Alfonso X El Sabio Expert in Translation and New Technologies, Localisation and Audiovisual Translation Audiovisual Translation N/A Autonomous University of Barcelona European MA in Audiovisual Translation Video Game Localisation 10 h Autonomous University of Barcelona MA in Audiovisual Translation Video Game Localisation 40 h Autonomous University of Barcelona MA in Translation and New Technologies Website, multimedia and video game localisation 20 h (V. G.) 120 h (other) Cadiz University MA in Audiovisual Translation: Localisation, Subtitling and Dubbing Techniques in applying Translation into Localisation N/A Fig 3: Postgraduate courses on Video Game Localisation in Spain
- 25. Academic training in Spain (cont.) POSTGRADUATE LEVEL (cont.) Academic Institution Name of the Degree Name of the course/module Duration Universidad Europea de Madrid MA in Creation and Management in Video Games - PlayStation® Production and Development/ Localisation N/A Universidad Europea de Madrid MA in Dubbing, Translation and Subtitling Localisation: Video Game Localisation 20 h Valencia University MA in Creative and Humanistic Translation Translation of Comics and Videogames (Not offered 2013-2014) 25 h (comics) 20 h (V. G.) Vigo University MA in Multimedia Translation Video Game Localisation 60 h Vigo University MA in Translation for International Communication Video Game Localisation 60 h Vic University MA in Specialised Translation Audiovisual and Multimedia Translation 20 h (V. G.) 40 h (other) Fig 4: Postgraduate courses on Video Game Localisation in Spain (cont.)
- 26. Academic training in Spain (cont.) GRADUATE LEVEL (COURSES, WORKSHOPS) Academic Institution Name of the Degree Name of the course/module Dura tion AulaSIC N/A Course in Video Game Localisation 40 h ATRAE N/A Video Game Localisation for Hardcore Translators 9 h Cálamo & Cran N/A Video Game Localisation 12 h Trágora Formación N/A Course in Video Game Localisation I 56 h Trágora Formación N/A Course in Video Game Localisation II 56 h Trágora Formación N/A Course in Video Game Interpreting 56 h Universitat Jaume Translator of Video Games and Multimedia Expert in AVT I/TRAMA Products 48 h University of Las Palmas de G. C. N/A Introduction to the Video Game Localisation 15 h NON-ACADEMIC COURSES AND WORKSHOPS LocJam N/A Workshop in Game Localisation 2 h Fig 5: Postgraduate courses on Video Game Localisation in Spain (cont.)
- 27. General Translation Skills Academic profile Multimedia Translation Skills Localisation Skills Video Game Localisation Proficiency in source and target languages Subtitling Use of localisation tools Knowledge of intra & extra textual genres Use of Glossaries Script translation Technical terminology: software & hardware Specific terminology of format holders Use of Translation Tools Domain of oral language Understanding coding Creativity & transcreation Research and documentation Reduction and condensation techniques Knowledge of new IT technologies Translation techniques and methodologies Fig 7: General Academic Profile acquired at University level
- 28. Professional vs Academic Professional Profile Academic Profile? Required Domain of oral language: jargon, play on words / Reduction and condensation techniques / Specific terminology of format holders / Creativity transcreation / Ability to work without any context QA Testing Excellent knowledge of the target language, culture requirements Tight deadlines + Repetitive tasks Ability to adapt text onto image / Gaming skills Fig 8: Comparison of Professional profile and Academic profile
- 30. It might be useful for games courses to teach localisation as an important part of the process. It would help developers future proof their work ready for translation. yes - designing and building UIs to be responsive and adapt to localisation is very important. As technology advances we need to be as flexible with our code as possible. Yes - to get programmers thinking about localisation early in projects. Basic, yes, good for company culture. Yes, without doubt. We are missing necessary training, particularly outside Spain, a pioneer in the field. Do you think offering a basic knowledge in localisation at university or college level, would be beneficial for the games industry? (Companies) Completely! I'd say it's essential. Yes - it helps to understand some of the pitfalls associated with localisation, as well as helping people to understand how people from different cultures may see a game even if it is not localised.
- 31. Yes, it would mean that recent graduates would not be completely clueless about the industry, and with that little knowledge they could build up a career from a starter position. I think that all the knowledge that you have on a certain industry makes you potentially more competitive to work in this industry, so my answer would be yes. It would, as it would give a certain base for the future professionals and more confidence. Yes, it would give them a competitive advantage. Yes; it would save OJT time spent on covering the basics and get the graduates busy with advanced skills earlier. Do you think offering a basic knowledge in localisation at university or college level, would be beneficial for the games industry? (Localisers) It might shorten their learning time. They would get a better start maybe (more understanding of the process), the equivalent of a month or two hands-on experience.
- 32. SPACE INVADERS: Saving the Universe
- 33. MSc in Multilingual Computing and Localisation (University of Limerick, Republic of Ireland) Year 1 | Semester 1 CS6231 Localisation Project Management CS6241 Directed Study: Localisation Standards and Best Practice CS6251 Principal Issues in Localisation CS6272 Advanced Language Engineering Year 1 | Semester 2 CS6302 Best Practice Internationalisation CS6282 Localisation Process Automation CS6292 Translation Technology CS6252 Directed Study: Applied Research Methods Year 1 | Semester 3 CS6033 Dissertation
- 34. EA Campus 96 h at EA’s offices in Madrid Video game General Knowledge Integration Engineering Game Evaluation Territory Marketing Certification Asset Audio Localization Desk Top Publishing Video game Development Cycle IDS Financial Planning Analysis Quality Assurance International Project Management Localization Testing 24 h at Universidad Francisco de Vitoria Development of transversal skills and competences
- 35. ?!?!
- 36. Universities and Companies: Collaboration in order to Train Better Localisation Professionals Curri Barceló Ávila hello@localiseme.net @Currixan London, 24-26th June, 2014 Thank you!!