There is no denying that video games have become an integral part of millennial life. This is probably because they allow the player to lead an alternate life, full of adventures and challenges. Gambling is a truly global industry today, a $60 billion one.

In 2010, a video game distributor in Brazil revealed that a game localized in Portuguese multiplied its sales 15 times! This underscores the importance of game localization: it also underlines the need for quality translation and localization.

Despite the importance of game localization, companies make the mistake of opting for poor-quality shortcuts that are costly to repair, generate bad publicity, and hurt sales.

What are the localization mistakes that game companies make?

#one. Cutting corners in translation
Many game companies feel that they have saved money by opting for machine translations or considering the cheapest translation option over the best.

The machines are a world away from producing the necessary precision. Translation tools can also be a security threat by giving hackers access to video game content over the Internet.

In addition, everything that is written for translation is literally delivered to the provider of the translation tool: it becomes their data; they can do whatever they want with it.
The translation must not only be accurate, but also retain the flavor and nuance of the original to bring the translated version to life.

A bad translation can turn the game into a frustrating experience for the player or make the game developer a laughing stock in the gaming world; at worst, it can land the developer in a legal soup.

Cutbacks in translation increase work and expense. The sensible thing to do would be to use professional translation services that are not only competent and creative, but also discreet. Having the translation agency sign a non-disclosure agreement can help the game developer relax while localization is carried out safely in expert hands.

#2. Hard coding text in core files
This is something that game developers with limited vision do. It is an error to embed text elements such as menu text, game title, and screen print dialog into the main game files. If the text is stored in a separate resource file, it will be easy to incorporate a translated version by adding a new variable and providing the translation in a separate dedicated file. Is it much easier than digging through the source code while it’s being translated?

#3. Paint all text in the game with the same brush.
Some games involve specialized terminology. Take sports games; Football terminology is not the same as basketball quackery. Translators and localizers for such games need to do some research. Here a “research-oriented text” is needed.

Games like the popular and addictive Candy Crush introduce new gameplay concepts. Such games are classified as needing “text oriented creativity”.

Game developers need to analyze their game content and decide which category of text is appropriate. The text must be adapted to the content and the translator’s portfolio must match this need.

#4. Localization of games out of context
Surely, there is little to be gained by handing over loads of text to translators and localizers who know little about the game or its content. Worse, you’re waiting for someone who has no idea about gaming to take over the job!

When game localization is of such importance, the more the translator knows about the game, the better the result will be. Translators should be encouraged to play the game that is being developed. Discretion and security are non-negotiable requirements, of course.

#5. Ignore cultural factors
Each market is steeped in its own culture. Cultural sensitivity is necessary when localizing a game or the developer will risk alienating target audiences. It is not just about the actual content of the game, such as the story, characters, situations, and events.

Consider the following:
A gaming giant has had to recall 75,000 copies of a video game that used chanting from the Koran in its soundtrack after a user raised objections.
The description of the Japanese armies invading South Korea may be a part of the story; however, Seoul was offended by a game that showed just that.

Misdemeanor location crimes can range from showing alcohol to showing blood and gore on the screen. During localization, game developers will do themselves a favor by doing a thorough reconnaissance of the target market. Cultural gaffes are not to be taken lightly, and the adverse publicity surrounding them can kill the game, if not the developer.

#6. Error when testing game translations
The proof of the pudding is in the eating!
The translation tends to change the length of the sentence. Translated strings may not fit in graphics or user interface elements. The encoding may also leave some strings missing. All this can be avoided if developers test their games on a real device.

On-device localization testing can allow you to assess the overall quality of the game’s localization while also identifying flaws. If the game has dialog that is printed on the screen, it is necessary to automatically wrap the text to fit the text space.

#7. Bad management of the translation content.
Game developers need to organize all the different formats and files: marketing copy, manual, packaging, app store descriptions, game interface text, and subtitles. Translation management must be centralized to avoid translation errors and duplications between different types of content.

#8. Treat localization as an afterthought
Thinking of localization as the last step in the development cycle is a costly mistake that many game developers make and miss out on great opportunities abroad. When copycat versions reach the local market, these companies find they have been cornered. Only then do they think about finding new markets abroad. Localization at this “final” stage means reworking the source code and creating translation materials from scratch – all of which cost time and money.

The solution is to wrap threads in the early stages of game development and adopt international standard coding styles.

There are many players abroad. The video game market is growing. Professional and talented translation services can go a long way in perfecting game localization.

Being localization ready is the name of the game!