In our first article we delved into the meaning of the fictional pact and how it works for video games in terms of images, sounds, UX/UI, among others. These are the fundamental factors that allow players to connect with games and enjoy them. But what’s the deal with the (invisible) elephant in the room: idiomatic localization and culturalization?
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!
Accessibility in the video game world can be defined as having the ability to play a game even under restrictive conditions, be it due to some sort of functional limitation or disability. Accessibility also plays an important part during game development, as it relates to the interaction between the game and the player.
If you’re shooting for global expansion, you have to localize your business. This is the secret formula to how companies like Coca-Cola have managed to become a household name in over 200 countries. Nintendo, Netflix, and even Kentucky Fried Chicken. These guys know how to plan and execute a fail-proof localization strategy.
“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
In Other Worlds Many pieces of art and entertainment, like literary works, movies, or paintings, depict worlds in such a way that readers or spectators
When it comes to localizing a game, it can become a challenging process. A Loc team needs enough resources to do their job well. There
Localized video games would not be fun to play if they used direct translations. Word-for-word translation has its place in certain fields, but interactive entertainment