Video Game Localization Services

Video Game Localization Services for Developers

When you are ready to move your computer game into a global market, video game localization services will be critical. As you place it into a foreign-speaking market, that game should provide an exciting user experience. When its interface resonates in players’ own language, along with the necessary cultural, linguistic, and other adaptations, you’ll have a “winner” with that audience. 

So, exactly how do you find service that does all of this right? The fact that you are here tells us that you are thinking about TheWordPoint. Our services are here to tell you that you’ll be making the best choice with us. And we are about to tell you why that is.

Choosing Video Game Localization Company

First, you need to understand what video game localization involves. If you think it is just a matter of translating language and conversations and superimposing it into your game, you are dead wrong. Suppose, for example, there is a character that uses English expression, “When pigs fly!”, consider how someone in China, Spain, Germany or any country in Africa would understand or interpret that comment. They wouldn’t have a clue. And suppose in your video game, a younger person’s comments to an older person were disrespectful. How would that go over in Japan? Not well. At the same time, original purpose of game author must be preserved. It’s not just a matter of finding video game translator. It’s a matter of finding an agency that has native-speaking pros and programming specialists who work together to produce a product that provides an amazing user experience for foreign audiences. 

Hundreds of agencies offer video game translation. But what they actually provide are amateur linguists who may be fluent in a target language, but who are not natives of that language. They may translate text and audio/video materials, but there’ll be no localization of language, dialogue, and cultural norms. As you consider any service, ask lots of questions. Do they use native language specialists? Do their translators meet international standards? How much experience do they have in translation and localization? What is their process for doing all of this? You want detailed answers to these questions. At TheWordPoint, we welcome such questions and are happy to discuss all details of your game and our localization process.

How Video Games Localization Works at TheWordPoint

If you developed a video game, you understand the amount of work involved. But you may not understand the amount of work involved in games localization, if it has to be done right. And TheWordPoint does it right. Here are the steps involved when you choose our services:

• Language and cultural review. A native-speaking video game translator pours through the game, reviewing all of its language and cultural aspects. He identifies the text, the dialogue, and the multimedia elements that would confuse or offend the target audience so that they can be altered. A listing is prepared and presented to the client for explanation and approval. These changes will likely involve some coding changes, but our services have the experts to accomplish this too.
• Translation of Manuals and Guides: If your video game comes with these, they’ll also have to be translated by experienced game localization company.
• Voice-Overs. We are one of only a few services that provide voice-over options. You’ll prefer this because characters’ voices (sarcasm, joy, sadness, anger, etc.) remain true to the “storyline.” And we synchronize the voice-overs (dubbing) so that they speak exactly as the characters do in the original version.
• Quality Control and Testing: Once the project is complete, the video game translator reviews it completely, ensuring that there are no “bugs” or other issues. Then our services conduct sample testing with a few members of the target audience and get that feedback. We pass that feedback back to the customer along with suggestions for changes, based upon those comments.
• Translation/Localization of Website: If you have an official website dedicated to your product, our game localization agency also modifies it for the target language and audience.

As you can see, there is a great deal to be considered when you look for a video game localization service and these are just the ‘tip of the iceberg,” to use an American expression. When a game is localized for foreign audience, every aspect, element, and feature must be analyzed and evaluated, and then adapted for that audience. 

Localization Company that Works with Any Platform or Format

We at TheWordPoint have spent years developing a professional translation and localization staff so that we can work with any client platform. Experts can localize your product for PC, Mac, or Linux, depending upon your original version. Further, if you have developed the original version for any of the common systems – PlayStation 3 or 4, Microsoft Xbox 360, Xbox One, or and Nintendo Wii, our services have localization video games experts to work with those.

Another current trend is AR and VR. We have the experts on board to accomplish this in the translation/localization process. Our services also work with localization for handheld devices and mobile devices – Android, iOS, and Windows Mobile are all available.
 

Only Human Translation at TheWordPoint

One of the mistakes that people in need of translation and localization for foreign audiences make is choosing a video game translation agency that uses machine translation technology. They do so because such translation methods are fast and quite cheap. Here’s the thing about machine translation. It is getting much better, especially with artificial intelligence, so that those machines continue to learn. 
But for translations that involve the complexities that video games do, use of machine translation will be a disaster. Not only will the language be of poor quality, but cultural complexities also will never be modified correctly. That’s why only human translation and localization are used by us. An experienced video game translator is the only way for video-game to be correctly prepared for a foreign audience. Don’t waste your money on company that uses machine translations – you get just what you pay for.

How Do You Choose Foreign Audiences?

Before entering a foreign market, most businesses conduct research to see if there is a market for their product or service. While we do not conduct market research for our clients, we can certainly make suggestions, based on the type of game and what our translators have to say about, which are suitable for their native regions or countries. This is a major advantage of using our game localization agency – you have the benefit of recommendations from people who understand the cultures you are considering.

Our Pricing

As a video game translation agency, we do as much as possible to keep costs reasonable. But with video-games, there are some variables involved. We do have some package deals - check those out and choose one you believe will suit your project best. Barring that, please feel free to contact us, and let’s discuss the project in detail, and we’ll provide a price. Once you have chosen package or we have settled on a price, that is the final cost. There are never hidden fees or charges.

Let Us Be the Bridge to Your Global Market

When you bring your video game localization project to us, you won’t be disappointed. In fact, you’ll be thrilled with the results. Let’s talk about your creation; let us help you find the most suitable markets; let’s talk price, and then let our exceptional pros go to work for you.