Games are a significant part of the global population’s entertainment. Regardless of age or culture, gaming connects people worldwide. With over 2.5 billion gamers globally, the gaming industry is on track to surpass $90 billion in annual turnover.
Many games are designed by engineers around the world and launched on global platforms like the Android and iOS app stores. However, a large portion of gamers prefer downloading games available in their native language, making game localization essential. Localizing a game leads to improved credibility, higher rankings, and increased sales and downloads globally.
What is Game Localization?
Game localization is the process of preparing a game for an international audience. It involves several steps like internationalization, translation, linguistic QA, and culturalization. Localization is crucial for success in the competitive gaming market, as it helps increase your game’s reach, recognition, and sales among global audiences.
Achieve Perfection in Game Localization
1. Select the Best-Suited Translation Source for Your Game
When sourcing translation, you have two broad options: crowdsourcing or professional translators, or even a combination of both. If your game has a fan base, crowdsourcing can work well. However, it is recommended to have crowd-translated games reviewed and corrected by professional translation companies with expert linguistic teams who understand the cultural and linguistic nuances of games.
2. Pre-Prepare Your Game Before Localization
Preparing your game before localization is key to a successful outcome. Consider altering designs according to the target language, especially with Asian characters. Ensure there’s enough space between texts to accommodate additional words or symbols. Also, use universally recognizable icons and prepare a checklist with clear expectations. Set a translation target of 2,000–2,500 words per day for the translator.
3. Internationalize and Localize Your Game Codes
Internationalizing your game’s code, architecture, and UI is critical for displaying content in the target language. This process ensures smooth game text, design, and character localization. Internationalization considers multiple factors, such as pluralization rules, text wrapping, punctuation, and support for dates, time formats, numbers, and currency.
4. Perform Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is a vital step in ensuring perfection. After localization, conduct a beta test with selected gamers. Gather their feedback, refine the game, and avoid launching without this crucial step.
Why Game Localization Matters
Game localization has become an essential part of the gaming industry. Properly localized games are more likely to rise in rankings and gain more traction in global markets, directly influencing sales.
Lingual Consultancy: Your Game Localization Partner
If you’re seeking a professional translation company for your game localization needs, look no further. Lingual Consultancy specializes in localizing games with the help of passionate gaming professionals who also excel in translating games into their own language. The result is high-quality localized games tailored to global markets.
For inquiries, drop an email at [email protected]
