The multimedia field is one of the most important areas of translation. Any multimedia production requires a huge number of translations.
This applies not only to films, TV series, books, etc., but also to the field of videogames, in which an incorrect translation could affect the use of the product. How do we ensure the correct translation of videogames?
This is the question ALG Language Consulting will answer today.
Translation of videogames explained
The process of translating a videogame is very different from that of an ordinary written text. The task consists both in translating batches of words correlated with the different text components of a videogame (menus, game interfaces, descriptions of objects, dialogues, etc.) and in adapting the dialogues to the context of the target country. As with a film or a book, in fact, it is necessary to adapt in cultural terms all the expressions that cannot be translated literally (such as figures of speech and puns) because otherwise they would lose their intrinsic meaning, and would be potentially unclear or completely incomprehensible. In the same way, to improve the player experience, quotations of films, songs and existing works must be adapted.
This service is called localization service. At the end of this operation we obtain a product perfectly adapted for use in countries and continents different from the one in which the game was created. Basically, when we are immersed in the game, the fact that it was created and written in a country with a language and culture different from our own should not be noticeable.
Peculiarities of the videogame environment
One of the main difficulties in the translation of videogames is the large quantity of specific vocabulary. Added to this is the fact that often the games form part of a series, each one characterized by a corpus of highly specific terms previously translated by other professionals. Consistency is therefore an essential aspect in this context, especially when the game is part of a saga or a remake of a previous product.
Last but not least, the work of this category of translators is not limited to the textual content of the videogames, it also comprises many products that could be defined as ”accessories”. Instruction manuals, official websites, trailers, TV series based on the game: everything has to be translated in a uniform manner, ensuring that terminological and stylistic consistency is maintained at all times in order not to create confusion for the end user.
Do you need translations for videogames? Contact ALG Language Consulting. We will provide you with all information and the support necessary to obtain a consistent and functional product.