Global market contributes greatly to the revenues of computer games publishers, so most of the games are already provided with localization options at the development stage.
Games can be localized at several levels:
- “paper” localization (box, user manual, promotional materials etc.);
- cost-effective localization (all the text contained in the game is translated, including the interface, tips, subtitles, descriptions etc.);
- enhanced localization (the game is voiced over);
- excessive localization (graphics is localized); and
- deep localization (the scenario is adjusted for the specific country).
The extent of localization is determined by the specifics of the project, its budget and other factors.
Although the texts seem very simple, the translation at all times should be performed by professionals specializing in computer games. Otherwise inevitable errors will lead to loads of editing job or even re-translation. For example:
- if translated text is much longer than original, it may not fit into a button, or a window, or its field;
- the text translated for voice over should match the length of the original phrase and, in case of lipsync, the articulation of the character; and
- if a translator has no idea of the context, it may lead to errors in the meaning.
Logrus has a ten years’ computer games localization experience. Our completed projects include:
- Halo Wars (XBOX-360);
- Fable 2 (XBOX-360);
- Dungeon Siege 2;
- Age Of Empires 3;
- Serious Sam;
- Turner Broadcasting System (over 20 games translated into all West European languages);
- and over 160 other games.
We offer a complete computer game localization solution which includes:
- interface, strings and graphics localization;
- dialogues translation and voice over;
- developing and localizing game setup programs;
- building localized versions;
- testing;
- translation of printed materials and DTP services;
- localization of games-related websites.