Game Localisation Quality Assurance Best Practices: Game localization is the process of modifying the language instructions, details, dialogues and contents of a game, with the correct intended impact on the audience so that gamers have the same playing experience worldwide. Quality assurance (QA) is an integral part of game localization, as it ensures that the localized version of the game is free from errors and bugs.
A game that has nothing good to offer in terms of having a good experience while playing it, would certainly create a bad reputation in the market. Gamers are always specific about the genre, gameplay experience, and updated or bug fixes that they expect. Since this entertainment source entirely relies on how it appears- the user interface- an upsetting experience would hit the developers and publishers hard, making them lag in the global gaming market. Remember, the gaming market is diverse, and the options available as alternatives in the market are pretty competitive. To keep up the quality, game localization is a must.
But what are the steps to beat the competition in a gaming market? Is it necessary for your business to constantly localize? How can a language service provider help you with it? Keep reading to know more.
Types of content for game localisation quality assurance best practices:
Your favourite video game may have been made in Russia or Japan. The major components to remember before game localisation quality assurance best practices are
Text Localization
This involves translating the in-game text, including menus, subtitles, dialogues, and instructions, into the target language.
Audio Localization
This involves translating and recording audio files, including voice-overs, sound effects, and music, into the target language.
Cultural Localization
This involves adapting the game’s cultural elements, such as characters, references, and humour, to suit the target audience’s cultural norms and expectations.
Read More: Power of Localization : Japanese Market Expansion Made Easy
Major steps in game localisation quality assurance best practices:
As the saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine. To ensure the best results, you need to be aware of industry standards. A few of the major steps for quality assurance of game localization are
- Establish QA procedures outlining roles, testing methodologies, and tools.
- Create comprehensive test cases covering game mechanics, UI, audio, video, and localization.
- Conduct functional testing on multiple platforms to ensure seamless functionality.
- Take tests constantly for guaranteed cultural adaptation.
- Report and track bugs, categorize and prioritize them based on severity and impact.
Industry guidelines to ensure game localisation quality assurance best practices:
Following Standardized Processes
Developers and publishers should use standardized processes for game localization, such as the Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) standards or the Translation Automation User Society (TAUS) guidelines.
Engaging Professional Translators and Localizers
Game developers and publishers should engage professional translators and localizers who are experienced in game localization and are native speakers of the target language.
Testing Across Multiple Devices and Platforms
Game developers and publishers should test the localized game across multiple devices, platforms, and configurations to ensure it works seamlessly across all platforms.
Prioritizing Cultural Adaptation
Game developers and publishers should prioritize cultural adaptation, ensuring that the game content is culturally relevant and appropriate for the target audience.
Implementing Continuous Testing
Testing means allowing the publishers or developers to go through every detail, move, and interface experience to live in actuality how a gamer would feel while accessing it for the first time.
Read More: Embracing Excellence In Translation – CITLoB Membership, Assurance Of Quality Services
Technical challenges to ensuring game localisation quality assurance best practices:
Game Localisation Quality Assurance Best Practices: Overcoming technical challenges requires a skilled team with specialized knowledge in game localization and technical expertise. But before you go, let’s know
Compatibility Issues
Game localization involves testing the game on multiple platforms, devices, and configurations to ensure compatibility. Ensuring that the localized version of the game works seamlessly across different platforms and devices can be challenging.
String Expansion For Game Localisation Quality Assurance Best Practices
The same number of words that fit inside a box in a game interface while the letters are in English, would fit awkwardly in another language- say, Chiese. Since the number of characters that take up space is not the same in different languages, the edits and updates go beyond simple translation. The entire layout has to match the translation.
Non-Textual Elements
Besides the text, a game has several elements. Consider the images, videos that play in between dialogues or after completing a mission, the fight scene voice notes, and so much more. These too must be in sync with the localised parts, in accordance with the time-lapse.
Technical Limitations
A language service provider (LSP) can help maintain game localization quality assurance best practices by providing a team of experienced and specialized linguists, QA testers, and project managers who work closely with game developers and publishers. Monisa Enterprise offers end-to-end game localization services that guarantee high-quality, culturally adapted, and error-free localized versions of your game. Contact us today to learn more about our game localization solutions.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs):
An audience always wants a unique playing experience from their game, since the visuals are always intriguing, the voice, language, speech and other details must match their cultural need to offer this fun.
The first step is to choose from among the best translators who have previous experience working with developers. The expertise in game localisation is a unique field and not everyone does it unless it’s a long-term project.
The quality impact plays a huge role because it is directly linked to the experience of the users. If they have a positive experience in their native language, there is a high probability they will give a good rating for the game, which is a direct show of the quality assurance of the games. Hence better the reviews, the better the translation practices implemented on it.
Game localization quality assurance challenges include compatibility issues, string expansion, non-textual elements, audio issues, and technical limitations.
By using both the technical help and the editing skills of a professional translator who has worked on games before, automation can pass the quality mark.
