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In the same way that we take care of the contents written in our own language, it is very important to treat them with the same thoroughness and professionalism when it is time to translate them into another language. I provide a wide range of services within the game localization industry, and all these services are directly aimed at improving the translation process and ensuring the maximum quality for the end result.
Despite what it may seem at first glance, the translation and localization world encompasses much more than the isolated exchange of words between one language and another. Being able to understand the meaning and having the ability to properly transfer a message into another language with a different cultural background is a craft that requires time and dedication. From witty puns to isolated strings without context, the game localizer needs to be capable of finding the right term in each situation. Adapting jokes and play-on-words is as important as having the skills to identify user interface strings with zero context.
Any professional activity requires processes that guarantee the final quality of the product or service. The written content is no exception, and an extra pair of eyes is always welcomed. Review is currently a staple in this industry and the main quality assurance check performed on each translation. Apart from doing additional spell checks and grammar checks already verified by the translator, the reviewer directs a second round looking for inconsistencies in vocabulary and terminology, and unifies the style and tone used in the text.
Developing a video game requires a lot of effort from a large team, a lot of attention to detail and dedication to achieve a final result at the level of an audiovisual masterpiece. If the original script is written with so much care, what is the point of neglecting its translation at the last moment? Through localization QA testing we can ensure a perfect final result, particularly if we want to see those pesky strings in the context of the game and catch any potential issues unnoticed during the translation.
Nowadays, translators work daily with CAT tools developed to ensure a seamless workflow. There are several software available in this industry to support localization and translation work, and they help ensure quality through spell and grammar checks, as well as terminology management. The CAT software requires localizers capable of understanding their functionalities in order to feed them with the proper file formats.
If you are planning to publish your game or thinking about publishing it soon, you are surely aware of the strict certification processes required by first-party developers for each console. Did you know that specific platform terminology also undergoes these checks? If you want to pass the certification, it is key to have proper and updated terminology sheets for each platform, mainly PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo. Believe it or not, each developer has its own terminology for each language, and subtle details in this vocabulary can be the difference between successfully publishing a title or having to resubmit everything again after failing compliance.
A great power comes with a great responsibility. Managing the translation of large wordcounts into several languages requires a lot of control and involvement. Finding the translators, building the perfect translation team for your game and organizing it might end up being overwhelming. Moreover, a project requires continuous feedback and monitoring to resolve doubts and queries that may arise during the translation. I have extensive expertise in reviewing and coordinating groups of translators, both for Spanish and for other languages, and I often work with a pool of trustworthy game localizers.
