The chances are high that you have heard of localization before as a developer, yet it is much more than what most people seem to anticipate, approaching this practice solely as a translation service. In truth, the purpose of localization is to adjust the entire content of your video game and make sure that you are addressing only those parts of the game that should be translated. The secret of a successful localization lies in the friendly and open-minded cooperation of programmers, GUI designers, and linguistic specialists.

Here are ten crucial steps that are necessary for successful game localization:

1. Learn More About Your Target Audience. Knowing the user base you are hoping to capture is extremely important because it helps you to understand the local gaming community and adjust every little detail to meet the expectations. It does take time and analysis, therefore, do not hurry and discuss things by writing down your ideas.
2. Let Everyone Involved Play The Game. This small aspect of localization may seem insignificant to you, yet it is one of those factors that help every expert involved understand the purpose and specifics of the game. Let people ask questions.
3. Do Not Overdo It! Some parts of the game carry a universal nature to them, which means that far not everything has to be translated. Some things must be left “as is” because of international gaming terms or those slang words that are used by the gaming community worldwide.
4. Cooperate With The Foreign Gamers. Talk to the foreign gamers and ask them about what matters the most to them. Discuss things, talk about your plans, see if some additional gaming hints are necessary for the country-specific audience. Let people share their thoughts while you are in the “developer’s mode”.
5. Add Country-specific Language Code Databases. While this part is mostly done by the coders and localization specialists, remember to check the language code databases and string descriptors. It will require an execution code, so discuss this matter with your programmers.
6. Remember Your GUI Limitations. Discuss the graphic restrictions in advance and check the word length with the translation expert.
7. Check The Accuracy of Your Unique Content. Some things like numbers or names of the characters must be checked twice since it won’t represent a part of a typical translator’s dictionary.
8. Organize Beta-Testing & QC Check. Double-check your work with the help of the foreign beta testers and internal analysis.
9. Provide Official Manuals and Legal Information. It must become a crucial part for every serious developer. Such an approach helps to avoid international disputes or any copyright issues. You can check the best document translation services at PickWriters and find a certified writer to handle work with an official document. It is an international requirement that must be met.
10. Support Localization With Translated Blog Posts. Remember to support your localized content with the help of translated blog posts, game posters, or in-game advertising methods. It will help to make your game recognizable once it becomes available and will save you some precious time.

The Cultural Aspects

Remember to consider some cultural aspects of the game. As you provide adjustments and changes, think about cultural restrictions and things that are customary for the country. Show respect, provide manuals, and your game will always stand out from the rest!

BIO

As an avid gamer with a strong linguistic background, Mark has played numerous video games coming from all over the world. His posts contain helpful solutions that are not hard to implement in practice. Follow Mark to take your gaming development ideas to another level.