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10 Gaming Translation Examples, What To Watch For

Translating a game
(Last Updated On: November 13, 2023)

When things changed for the human race and the necessities were acquired, methods of entertainment started catching our attention. When the first world no longer cared about food and shelter like their ancestors, they focused on other things. When people finished their jobs and went home, they needed something to freshen them up. Entertainment is something we have always required. Our ancestors had folklore and songs to keep themselves entertained. But we had better resources, so we could create industries tasked with creating engaging content. Even the busiest of people watch a few movies every year. But Hollywood isn’t the only good thing about the entertainment world.

There are different forms of entertainment and some of them are interactive. This is the type of content in which people can make choices and see how they affect the outcome of a situation. Interactive media is a lot more interesting than movies. This is why entertainment companies are venturing into interactive content, too. Being able to control the situation is pretty interesting. Imagine if you could decide how your favorite movie ends, now that would be amazing.

Many people question the usefulness of video games, but there’s no denying that they have helped technology and graphics progress in a way that would have been impossible otherwise. There are virtual reality games that feel pretty real and let people experience a whole new world. It is astonishing to think about the origins of gaming and how far we have come. Just putting on a headset can transfer us to a different place. Even then, it isn’t just about graphics. Games have pretty interesting storylines that keep people engaged while they try to figure out a way to get to the finish line.

Gaming Translation

People from all over the world play games, which means they have to be translated into multiple languages to facilitate the players. However, it isn’t that easy to crack games. Many companies go for machine translation, which results in hilarious results, especially when interpreting a language into English. Many games are made in Japan and are translated into English by machines. The results will be much better and far more accurate if professionals handle the language services.

  • How can I translate a game into English?

    If you want an accurate translation of a game, then you should hire qualified experts for the job. Studios hire professional translators and then provide them with source files so they can easily translate the text. If someone does not have the source files, it will be impossible for them to find an easy way to translate a game.

  • What is the best free translator?

    Google Translate is the best free translator for everyday use. You can upload images to the app and get their translation. It is also beneficial for real-time translation. People can use the voice feature and speak into the app. The app will show the translation on the screen and read it out loud if needed.

  • How do I use Google Translate for games?

    Google Translate is only useful for everyday conversations. It will not be able to provide you with accurate results if you upload a complex document. However, people can upload source files of games to Google Translate to get the translation. This often happens when studios don’t offer multiple language versions of a game.

  • Is there an app that will automatically translate?

    Google Translate is close to a program that can automatically offer translations. When users choose the speech option, they can get translations as soon as they finish speaking. If someone installs the app on their phone, they can get translations of texts inside any other application.

10 Gaming Translation Examples:

If you have played Zero Wing, you must have encountered over a dozen weird English sentences. They are there because the original content was in Japanese and translated into English with the help of software. This is why many sentences are grammatically incorrect.

There are plenty of examples where localization was also not taken into consideration. In such a situation, the meaning of jokes was lost even on speakers of the same language. Since there is a slight difference between British and American English, that can be a problem when interpreting dialogues. Developers used to focus on their language and ignore that something might not work when interpreted.

Gaming Translation

What to Watch for When Translating Games?

Things have changed now, and companies know better than to use software of inexperienced translators. They hire a full team for the task of localization. Without that, the fun of the games will be lost to a huge number of the world’s population. Despite English’s popularity, it can’t be the only tongue in a game as many people can’t read or understand it.

  1. Talk to the Client:

You will be confused about the code, dialogues, gender, and jokes. But talking to your client is the only way to resolve that problem. Talk to them about any and every issue instead of assuming something that will increase your workload in the future.

  1. Use CAT Tool:

Computer Assisted Translation tool is helpful in every situation, but more so when interpreting more than ten thousand words. It will remember the standard terms and how you first translated them. This will help you maintain consistency in the tone.

  1. Make a Glossary:

Note down every common item’s translation. This may seem like a lot of work, but it will be worth it. You can’t possibly remember every word, but if you start using their alternatives each time you forget something, it will translate to looking out of place and disorganized.

  1. Localization:

Remember to change terms and names according to the culture of the people you are interpreting the game for. Ask yourself what name would appeal more to the target audience and which dialogue will not make sense to them. Interpret according to the answers you come up with.

  1. Character Guide:

It would help if you created different tones for each character. The best way to do that is by playing the game yourself and seeing how each character talks, where they come from, and their story. You can take notes while playing and then use that information when translating their dialogues. This will give the characters a more authentic voice regardless of their language.

Translating a game can be complicated, but not if you have all the information. Clear all confusion with your client so you don’t make any mistakes that will take away the story’s meaning.

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