Top 5 Best Practices for Game Localization

The global video game industry has experienced exponential growth over the years, transcending geographical boundaries and language barriers. The global gaming market had 2.9 billion active gamers as of early 2022, and it was valued at well over $300 billion. $72.2 billion was spent on the Asia Pacific market alone. Video game developers need to understand the global perspectives of players if they want their games to be included in these astounding figures.

As video games continue to engage diverse audiences worldwide, it becomes imperative to ensure they resonate with players across different cultures and languages. Every video game has elements of the local culture. Certain cultural differences and poor translations may cause players to become uneasy or uncomfortable when bringing your game abroad. The playing experience is diminished, and the game's popularity and reputation may suffer greatly when localization fails to take into account the needs of the localization. This is where video game localization comes into play, serving as a bridge between the original content and its target market.

What Is Game Localization?

Game localization refers to the process of adapting video games to suit the linguistic, cultural, and regulatory requirements of specific target markets. This includes cultural quirks, related images, and translation that affect how the material is understood. Unlike simple translation, which focuses solely on converting text from one language to another, game localization involves a comprehensive transformation of video game content to make it culturally relevant and appealing to players in different regions. This encompasses not only linguistic elements but also visuals, audio, gameplay mechanics, and even narrative themes. Preserving the tone, aesthetic, and user experience of a game is the main goal of gaming.

There are a few aspects of games that need translating:

• Details from the user interface, such as item names, position, and player statistics.
• NPC prompts and communication between characters.
• Announcements made in-game, including for multiplayer.
• Player-guiding quest messages.
• Subtitles—particularly for situations with cuts.
• Guidelines for interacting with other players.

Five Best Practices for Video Game Localization

Proper localization of your video games can lead to new international markets and business prospects. Here are some best practices for the video game localization process that can help in the effective localization of your video games:

Pay Attention to Cultural Norms

Games have an extensive global audience, and the language and its language is utilized globally. Cultural sensitivity is paramount in game localization. Localization should consider cultural allusions from the beginning of design, including salutations, currencies, date and time formats, and the appropriate usage of colloquial language. Video game developers must thoroughly research and understand their target markets' cultural nuances and sensitivities to avoid inadvertently offending or alienating players. This involves adapting content such as dialogue, imagery, symbols, and references to align with local customs, traditions, and beliefs. Developers can enhance player immersion and engagement by integrating culturally relevant elements, fostering a deeper connection with the game.

Use Language Locales Rather Than Flags

In video games, flags are frequently used to symbolize various languages. This is not great practice and can offend even if it is easy to use. When selecting languages for the localization process, it's essential to prioritize language locales over national flags. While flags may represent countries, they do not necessarily account for the linguistic diversity within them. Utilizing language locales ensures that players can choose their preferred language variant, dialect, or regional variation, catering to the linguistic nuances of different communities. This inclusive approach acknowledges the linguistic diversity within target markets and enhances accessibility for all players.

Ensure Proper Formatting

Early in the translation process, the formatting needs must be taken care of. Proper formatting is crucial for a seamless gaming experience across different languages and regions. This includes text expansion and contraction, character encoding, font styles, and layout adjustments. Game developers must accommodate varying text lengths, and character sets to prevent text overflow or truncation issues. Additionally, attention should be paid to date formats, numerical conventions, and other formatting preferences specific to each locale. English is a simple language; you may find that localizing for French, German, or Spanish markets requires up to 30% more space than English does.

By maintaining consistent formatting standards, developers can ensure that the localized game retains its visual appeal and readability across all target languages. All localizable game content should be kept outside of the code, and all pieces should have clearly defined locations. This kind of flexible architecture helps you avoid these game translation issues. Remember that some languages have characters instead of letters and that specific languages read from right to left.

Localize for Multimedia

Effective game localization extends beyond textual elements to encompass multimedia content such as audio, visuals, and user interface elements. Given the various platforms accessible nowadays, someone could start by playing their game on a laptop or PC before switching to a tablet or smartphone. They'll need the game to play smoothly on the go. One of your main priorities for localizing your video game should be ensuring device compatibility, particularly if you are taking your target audience's preferred devices into consideration. 

This entails dubbing or subtitling spoken dialogue, translating on-screen text and graphics, and adapting cultural references in visual assets. Audio localization involves hiring native voice actors to provide authentic voiceovers in the target language, capturing nuances in tone, accent, and expression. Similarly, visual localization entails redesigning artwork, animations, and interface elements to resonate with local aesthetics and preferences. A prototype should be thoroughly tested in the early phases of translation to ascertain the minimal specifications required to run the game effectively. By localizing multimedia content comprehensively, developers can create a truly immersive and culturally relevant gaming experience for players worldwide.

Be Aware of Local Regulations and Laws

Having your game banned is the ultimate localization disaster! Legal compliance is critical to game localization, as different countries may have varying regulations governing video game content. Different rules and policies apply to gaming and video content in most nations. Ratings based on age also differ considerably. Anything that is OK for 12-year-olds in one place could be rated 18 in another, so you must change your material accordingly.

Developers must conduct thorough research to ensure that their localized games adhere to local laws regarding censorship, age ratings, and cultural sensitivities. This may involve modifying or omitting content that could potentially violate regulations or cultural norms in certain regions. Use symbols with caution as well. For instance, it is forbidden to put on the swastika in several nations, particularly Germany. By proactively addressing legal considerations during the localization process, developers can mitigate risks and ensure that their games are accessible and acceptable to target audiences worldwide.

Conclusion

In the global video game industry, quality game localization is essential for engaging diverse audiences and maximizing market reach. Every time a player buys or downloads a game, they have high expectations. Thus, your video game needs to meet these standards with every localized edition. By implementing best practices, developers can ensure that their games resonate with players across different languages and cultures. Ultimately, prioritizing effective game localization enhances player satisfaction, fosters inclusivity, and drives success in the competitive gaming market.

Lingual Consultancy provides expert guidance and support to game developers, ensuring seamless communication and linguistic precision in every localized version of their games. By employing Linguistic Consultancy's game localization services, you can make sure that your audience's gaming preferences and cultural backgrounds are taken into consideration. Your target audience will relate to your games in this way and return for more.