Dubbing: A Source of Realism
Dubbing is very often mistaken for ‘voice-over’, but the two are, in fact, quite different. In its simplicity, dubbing is where the dialogue is tailor-made to match the on-screen characters’ lip movements.
Voice-over: a fine accompaniment to the unconventional
In this part two, we will look at the different types of voice-overs and outline the effects they may have on their audience, using a couple of my favorite examples.
Now, in a nutshell, there are three main types of voice-over: narration, ‘UN style’, and the rare ‘lektoring’.
Subtitling: a journey with cannoli and karaoke
Can you guess how many languages are supported in 2022’s Game of the Year winner Elden Ring? It’s a whopping 16, which is huge when you consider the number of gamers who can now explore caves full of giant ants and combat ‘fingercreepers’ – the Elden Ring’s answer to ‘giant spiders’ – in their native language.
The Localization of the Witcher: accents and ‘otherness’
Continuing our journey through the Witcher’s many locations and accent choices, we arrive in the warm, sunny region of Toussaint.
The Localization of the Witcher: accents and cultural connections
The first article focused on the translation obstacles on the path to localization paradise. Taking center stage in parts two and three of our feature on the Witcher are accents – and wow, what an array there was in the English version.
The Localization of the Witcher: Leshy-sized translation obstacles on the path to Localization Paradise
The 15th anniversary of The Witcher series’ video game debut is upon us! The adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski’s book series was first released in-game format on the PC/Mac in 2007, which was followed up by a sequel in 2011, before the critically acclaimed The Witcher 3 was released in 2017 across most gaming platforms, and, owing to the popularity of all things Witcher, the third installment was localized into 15 different languages – including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian!
From Sierra Nevada to the Snowy Peaks: The Importance of LQA
LQA wasn’t a serious issue back in the 80s and early 90s because gamers were merely content with fun simplicity. Racing a pixelated, 2D motorbike in only one direction, knocking racers off their bikes while overtaking them, and trying your best not to crash into a car or a cactus were enough for hours and hours of fun (Road Rash was a brilliant game by the way!). But gaming has come a very long way since then.
Thoughts on video game culturalization
The video game script has been written, packed with twists, turns, and enough emotion to make even the most hardened of Arthur Morgan or Last of Us veterans cry. The gameplay has been tipped to rival Uncharted. And the visuals surpass even those of the Forza Horizon series. Magazines and Youtubers can’t wait to review this long-awaited game. The title will, crucially, add to the development team’s already rich and prestigious body of work – years and years of hard graft, mistakes, lessons learned, but subsequent improvements, refinement, and success.
Swords and Pokémon: An Insight into Transcreation
“A wild Scyther appeared!”“At last, I’ve spent ages looking for one of these… Go! Pikachu!”“Scyther used Agility!”“Pikachu used Thunder… But it failed!”*Annoyed sigh*“Scyther used Strike with the Back of the Sword”“… Wait… WHAT?! What kind of move is that?! The name barely even fits my screen!” Transcreation I choose you! Did my literal translation suddenly […]
Dragon Quest Localization Part Two
In the previous Dragon Quest blog, we looked at some of the accents in the series and their relationship to character development and storylines. Continuing the Dragon Quest theme, I would like to share with you some of the finer challenges the localization team encountered and the interesting solutions they took in overcoming these obstacles. […]
Dragon Quest Localization Part One
Dragon Quest – one of my favorite game series when growing up. Initially, it was the colorful, cel-shaded art that enticed me into the series. But, what kept me there was its engaging storyline, charming characters, and vibrant, Medieval-like towns. Not to mention the weapons, items, and spells that fleshed out a concise and enjoyable […]
