What Role Does Translation Play In Video Games?

Written by Rémi N.

What does it take to be a good translator in the video game industry? Sure, you may be exceptionally skilled in translation, yet cultural knowledge is what matters the most, along with a good mastery of the language. Video games have a terminology all of their own that only gamers know about. The main task of a video game translator is to translate the desired content, but in a way that conveys the same feeling of immersion to the players that the game designers intended. This process is called the localization of a video game.

The role of a video game localizer

In time, I came to understand that video game localizers are much bigger than an intermediary between the designers and the players. Rather, they help build universes and bring characters to life, who may go down in video game history. They basically hold the power over life and death before the game's release. Despite the pressure, their ultimate goal is to make the game look as authentic as possible, while following the designers’ wishes. This can be a very challenging and demanding task, especially if it is a narrative-driven game, with a deep and complex storytelling. Localizers have to research the game’s terminology thoroughly and immerse themselves into its environment, its story and its characters, just like any player who casually plays the game. To do so, localizers have to think like both the designer and the player.

Mistakes to avoid at all costs

Back when I was just a child and already playing, I noticed that localization mistakes were relatively frequent in video games (especially in Japanese games). This is because localization did not get the attention it deserved back then. Nowadays, localization is a crucial step in the making of a video game, one that cannot be ignored nor rushed. Bad localization can cost a video game studio even more money, hurt sales and lead to all kinds of bad press, but the worst that can happen is losing your credibility in the eyes of the players as a professional video game studio, and it can be extremely hard to come back from that.

You do not want this kind of mistake to be associated with your studio.

Among the common mistakes to avoid: if the game takes place in Spain, the local shop cannot have a name that sounds English. If one does a literal translation of the game’s dialogue, there is a high probability that metaphors, hidden meanings and/or clues about the plot might be missing in the final game, which can be decisive for the player’s experience. Also, the use of professional CAT tools may ease the burden, but free online tools (e.g. Google Translate) will never come close to the degree of accuracy that is required in a video game. Moreover, this can lead to a security threat for any secret project, as anything you type is handed over to the provider, and the data becomes theirs. This can have catastrophic consequences for the studio and localizers, especially if they signed a non-disclosure agreement.

Is it worth it though?

Of course. Localization is an already expensive and time-consuming process so it should not be taken care of once the product is finished. In fact, building a localization-ready game early on in the process will make things a lot easier for localizers. But what about the cost? Most video game studios rely on translation/localization agencies or freelancers. Localization may run over budget, but you do not want to take shortcuts on your translation, as it may cost you even more down the path, in many ways : you have to start the localization all over again because of its bad quality, or the game did not sell much because game reviews buried the game six feet under for the same reason. The bottom line is that the time and money spent in localization will always pay off - quality is always worth it.


As far back as I can remember, I have always been keen on both video games and languages, thus my dream is to combine those two passions in one single job, and it blows my mind to see how far video games have come. More than ever, translators play a crucial role in the creation of not just games, but works of art.

Sources:
https://summalinguae.com/video-game-localization-care/
https://www.transifex.com/blog/2015/video-game-localization-best-practices/
https://blog.sdltrados.com/ins-outs-video-game-localization/
http://www.leveluptranslation.com/single-post/five-most-expensive-localization-mistakes
https://www.lai.com/blog/?p=183

Commentaires

  1. Unknown15 novembre 2018 à 02:54

    Great article!
    I have a question though. Do you know what criteria are used to decide whether to dub a video game (Tomb Raider for example) or only subtitle it (like Rockstar games) ?
    Keep pursuing your dream x

    RépondreSupprimer
    Réponses
    1. Rémi Nguyen15 novembre 2018 à 07:50

      Ce commentaire a été supprimé par l'auteur.

      Supprimer
    2. Rémi Nguyen15 novembre 2018 à 08:13

      Thank you for your support Claire!

      That is a very interesting question, if I had to take an educated guess regarding both Tomb Raider and Rockstar games, I would say that it goes down to which part of the game the developers want to emphasize.

      Let me explain, Tomb Raider is a great action-adventure game. The gameplay is dynamic, the visuals are breathtaking, and the action sequences are unbelievably fluid. So much that the players dive straight into the action, with little time to think. Dubbing allows the players to understand what is going on effortlessly, easier than if they had to read subtitles.

      In comparison with Rockstar games, like GTA or Red Dead Redemption, action and mayhem are also absolutely present, but Rockstar also manages to give us an authentic story, with many unforgettable characters, whose lines of dialogue are very distinct. In order to maintain the desired atmosphere (for example, playing in a ridiculously absurd and sarcastic representation of America in GTA) with the highest degree of accuracy, the use of subtitles, instead of a potentially unsatisfactory dubbing, may be the way to go.

      But perhaps it just boils down to money and time after all.

      I hope that I have answered your question, see you in class!

      Supprimer
  2. M1 TSM15 novembre 2018 à 13:43

    You are absolutely right. The accuracy of translation in video games is a point that must be carefully considered by game developers, as you highlighted it in your article. As the trend is to produce more and more realistic video games where everything is supposed to look real, the slightest detail needs to be taken into consideration. To sum up, inconsistency in translation is mostly obvious to the player and his playing experience will be rated accordingly. Good job Rémi !

    RépondreSupprimer
    Réponses
    1. Rémi Nguyen17 novembre 2018 à 05:57

      Thank you!

      Exactly, and I cannot stress enough the fact that players' expectations are getting higher as more and more realistic games are released. Flawless localizations have become a standard in the video game industry, and that is why I also think this is the reason human translators will always be needed, because we need to give life to these characters, these universes, not make them sound or look authentic.

      Supprimer
  3. Sandy19 novembre 2018 à 08:52

    Very Interesting Article, Rémi!

    Your article gave me a very interesting insight to the gaming industry and the role translation play in this industry. I am not an avid gamer so this article was exceptionally insightful and thought-provoking. Now when I see my Russian flat mate playing computer games in Russian, I cannot help but think about the work these translators have to do to make sure the game executes so flawlessly!

    Pardon my ignorance, but quick question - what happens, if perhaps, a Japanese gaming terminology has no equivalent phrase in the English Language. Is there such a possibility? and if so, how does translation works then?

    RépondreSupprimer

Enregistrer un commentaire

Posts les plus consultés de ce blog

Translating into speech bubbles

Image
Written by Jean Paul C. Implicit issues There is more to translating than meets the eye when it comes to comic strips. How can sounds or puns be translated without losing their meaning? How to make sure that the text fits into the bubble? Such questions naturally come to a translator’s mind. One particular dilemma is whether to simplify the content in the bubbles and keep a clear-cut picture or stick to the original text and hence enlarge the bubbles, thus hiding a greater part of the image. The following extracts from both the English and French versions of the famous comic strip Garfield gives an overview of what can be done in this matter. Possible difficulties arising Translation of puns Puns can be difficult to translate as each language is different and a literal translation will simply make the funny side of the original text disappear. In addition, cultural differences between countries result in different views of what is consi...
Lire la suite

Translation in the army : a new interest in machine translation

Image
Translation in the army : a new interest in machine translation Aug 7, 2015 - Spc. Tara Morrison (left) and Pfc. Brian Hollenbeck, both with Headquarters Support Company, U.S. Army Africa, test the SQ.410 Translation System in Vicenza, Italy. In recent years, machine translation has aroused major interest within the army. In France, this interest is all the more important as military intelligence has just embarked on a new strategy of using "Big Data", i. e. information available on the Web and social networks, and analysing it, also taking into account information collected by drone, satellite or wire tapping. For this reason, in 2019, military intelligence started using Systran, a machine translation software.        How has machine translation been used so far? The Voxter Phraselator P2 Machine translation was first used in the US military in 2001 with the Phraselator, a small device that...
Lire la suite

The translation process, a 7-step checklist for translating all types of documents

Image
Image taken from:  https://pixabay.com/illustrations/to-do-list-business-checklist-form-4483048/ Everyone has to face prejudices once in their life, and translators are no exception to the rule.   Have you ever heard your friends and family saying that translation is an easy job? They think that it only consists in changing written words from one language to another.   But the truth is that translation is way more than that.   Translators are not only translating, they are also reading, analysing, researching terminology, creating glossaries, using translation tools, planning to meet deadlines, drafting, reviewing, and post-editing.   To better understand the complexity of the translation process or if you are new to translation, here are seven steps to follow to get a text translated methodically and professionally.   1. Project request When translators receive a project request, they usually start by looking at the client s...
Lire la suite