No translation is better than having a poor- or low-quality translation. Because unclear and inaccurate translation leaves a bad impression on your audience’s minds, destroys the brand image, and causes investment loss.
Every day, we notice a new addition in the video game industry, which means this sector is growing rapidly. So, if you are a game developer, you have high growth chances until you know how your audience would like your game and design it accordingly. This is where game translation services jump into the scene.
In this article, we will discuss how the quality of translation shapes the cultural, linguistic, and social impact on gameplay. Further, we will dig into the best practices for developers to achieve their globalization goals. So, let’s begin with the basic introduction of game translation to bring everyone on the same page.
What are Game Translation Services?
The concept of game translation is way different than the typical word-to-word conversion from one language to another. This primarily aims to adapt a game for a multilingual audience’s diverse preferences. Moreover, the process is done by professional translators who are experienced and aware of user behavior and demands.
Game Translation vs. Localization
An advanced step of translation is localization. Both are actually part of a full-fledged process that we call globalization. While expanding to new markets, gaming companies and developers need to resonate with the audience’s varied linguistic and cultural nuances. So, adapting the textual content is known as translation. While the process of customizing the other elements in the game, which are directly influenced by cultural or social intricacies, such as graphics, UI, character outfits and dialogues, and even colors, falls in the category of localization.
The Technical Impact of Localization on Game Performance
As we know, games are highly based on technical elements such as data sets and codes. It may leave you in shock that these asset files need alteration while offering a game in multiple languages. Though each language differs from others in terms of structure, style, and length, handling such subtleties becomes a challenge. So, this is where localization helps with technical factors that boost your game’s performance. Here’s how:
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Localization and Game Optimization
Due to the difference in language sets, the size of the asset file varies. Larger files take longer to load and require waiting, which players do not like at all. Localization assures consistency in the data files, optimizing the length of text, voiceover, and fonts and compressing the size of the game assets. This improves the loading speed of the game’s resources and places a positive impression on players.
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Coding and Localization
Localization is a thorough process that needs to be done accurately and separately for every language. However, if you prefer to integrate the language sets during the coding phase, it saves you a lot of time and money. It is crucial to make sure that the localization is perfectly integrated with the codebase because poor integration can lead to bugs.
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Platform-Specific Challenges
Make sure that your game is compatible with all platforms like PC, mobile phones, tablets, and consoles and works appropriately. Localization makes it certain that the game elements are tailored to system requirements and run smoothly over different platforms.
The Cultural Impact on Player Experience
Cultural sensitivities vary along with the region. So, while expanding to new markets, make sure your game resonates with the player’s preferences and habits. It is indeed a complex task; however, associating with professional game localization services makes it easier. They have an in-depth understanding of the cultural nuances and help you design your game accordingly.
The Linguistic Impact on Gameplay
There are 7000+ languages spoken around the globe. According to a study, users prefer to play games that are available in their local language. This makes adapting your game to the linguistic nuances essential. So, make sure that in-game descriptions, app descriptions, voiceovers, and subtitles are accurate and clear so that players get a smooth and uninterrupted experience.
The Competitive and Social Impact
Online games have become a major source of socializing. Players from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds connect, communicate, and team up through gaming platforms. Providing this feature boosts your chances of success in the global market. Translation services help you confirm that players can efficiently exchange their ideas while using multiple language options.
Best Practices for Developers and Translation Teams
Though the translation is a lengthy and costly procedure, it is essential to be aware of how you can integrate it into your process, saving time and resources. Here is how:
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Planning for Localization Early
Taking the development and localization side by side from the start saves you from the whole decoding, translating, and encoding processes. Also, this way, you won’t have to repeat the whole process of each language differently.
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Testing and Quality Assurance
Once you are done with the translation or localization, run quality assurance tests. Use different platforms, multiple devices, or players from different language backgrounds. This way, you will be able to figure out the loopholes and lags in your gameplay and fix them in time.
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Collaborating with Native Speakers
Prefer acquiring translation from native speakers of your target language because they understand the language very well and will help you connect with the audience effectively.