If you’re specializing in videogame localization but are eager to learn even more and always be up to date with the industry, then you should definitively know these 10 resources that include blogs, videogame loc documentation, websites, and much more.
Let’s explore these key resources and best practices and strategies for successful game localization and learn how to adapt your game to different languages and cultures, engage with new audiences, and navigate the complexities of the localization process.
And don’t forget how useful and important networking could be!
Let’s explore these key resources and best practices and strategies for successful game localization and learn how to adapt your game to different languages and cultures, engage with new audiences, and navigate the complexities of the localization process.
And don’t forget how useful and important networking could be!
1. PlayStation Ultimate Gaming Glossary
The PlayStation Ultimate Gaming Glossary is a comprehensive resource that defines a wide range of gaming terms, acronyms, and industry jargon. It can be an excellent tool for translators and localization teams to understand specific terminology and gaming lingo that might need precise translation or adaptation.
The glossary covers hundreds of terms across gaming, hardware, streaming, and technical terminology.
For localization teams, this glossary is a reliable reference to ensure consistent terminology across various game translations, especially for words that are unique to this ecosystem.
As an online resource, it is freely accessible to anyone, making it a practical tool for localization freelancers, agencies, and in-house alike.
2. Terra Localizations Blog
The Terra Localizations blog is useful for anyone in the localization industry, especially those looking to learn about best practices, industry trends, and practical insights.
The blog covers in-depth articles about common challenges and strategies to overcome them. Topics often include tips for handling cultural adaptation, dealing with character limits, and maintaining context in translations, making it a valuable resource for newcomers and experienced professionals.
Sometimes it also features case studies and real-world examples of localization challenges and solutions in gaming, which can offer practical insights for professionals.
Terra also hosts a YouTube channel with lots of interviews to Videogame Localization Proz you should not miss.
The blog covers in-depth articles about common challenges and strategies to overcome them. Topics often include tips for handling cultural adaptation, dealing with character limits, and maintaining context in translations, making it a valuable resource for newcomers and experienced professionals.
Sometimes it also features case studies and real-world examples of localization challenges and solutions in gaming, which can offer practical insights for professionals.
Terra also hosts a YouTube channel with lots of interviews to Videogame Localization Proz you should not miss.
3. Nintendo Localization Guidelines
The Nintendo Company has a well-established history of creating detailed localization guidelines, especially given its extensive portfolio of globally released games.
Nintendo is known for maintaining consistency across regions while making sure their games remain fun and accessible in different languages. They also emphasize family-friendly content and cultural sensitivities, and another key aspect they support is adapting humor and references for different audiences, such as cultural jokes, idioms, and more.
By the way, if you are really into games, discover our best selling videogame localization course "Expert on Game Localization" with Diego Perez:
Nintendo is known for maintaining consistency across regions while making sure their games remain fun and accessible in different languages. They also emphasize family-friendly content and cultural sensitivities, and another key aspect they support is adapting humor and references for different audiences, such as cultural jokes, idioms, and more.
By the way, if you are really into games, discover our best selling videogame localization course "Expert on Game Localization" with Diego Perez:
4. The IGDA Localization Special Interest Group
The IGDA LocSIG is one of the largest professional organizations community for game developers.
LocSIG connects localization professionals across the globe, allowing members to share experiences, challenges, and solutions specific to the video game localization process.
It also gives access to a wide network of translators, localization engineers, testers, and developers, representing opportunities for future collaboration in the industry.
LocSIG connects localization professionals across the globe, allowing members to share experiences, challenges, and solutions specific to the video game localization process.
It also gives access to a wide network of translators, localization engineers, testers, and developers, representing opportunities for future collaboration in the industry.
And a good example of how important is localization in videogames can bw found in Eman Abdo's course "Game Localization in the Arabic Speaking World":
5. Epic Games Guidelines
These guidelines encourage high-quality translations and adaptations of game content to fit the cultural context of different regions.
Among their key aspects, we can find requirements for translating storefront descriptions and game assets, but also guidelines for localizing in-game UI, text, and audio.
Moreover, Epic Games provides users with instructions for managing localized content updates and testing.
Among their key aspects, we can find requirements for translating storefront descriptions and game assets, but also guidelines for localizing in-game UI, text, and audio.
Moreover, Epic Games provides users with instructions for managing localized content updates and testing.
6. Netflix Games Internationalization Requirements
This documentation outlines standards and requirements for localizing and internationalizing games offered on the Netflix platform.
The guidelines cover Netflix’s localization standards, including text translation, audio localization, and UI adaptation.
This ensures consistency across all Netflix games, aligning with the company’s standards for high-quality, culturally adapted content.
It also shares specific language and regional requirements, detailing which languages need to be supported based on the target markets.
This information is crucial for developers and localization teams in planning resources and ensuring they meet Netflix’s standards for international reach.
The guidelines cover Netflix’s localization standards, including text translation, audio localization, and UI adaptation.
This ensures consistency across all Netflix games, aligning with the company’s standards for high-quality, culturally adapted content.
It also shares specific language and regional requirements, detailing which languages need to be supported based on the target markets.
This information is crucial for developers and localization teams in planning resources and ensuring they meet Netflix’s standards for international reach.
7. Microsoft Game Development Kit Localization Overview
This is a detailed guide to localizing games for developers working within the Microsoft ecosystem, including Xbox and Windows platforms.
The GDK resource outlines Microsoft’s localization approach, best practices, and technical requirements, making it valuable for development teams focused on creating global-ready games.
The guide details each stage of the localization process, from preparing content and resource extraction to translation and implementation.
It also covers technical specifics like localization-ready text rendering, string handling, and UI adaptation. Moreover, the GDK Localization Overview lists languages and regions that Microsoft supports, including best practices for handling language-specific elements like right-to-left text, double-byte characters, and special characters for different alphabets.
The GDK resource outlines Microsoft’s localization approach, best practices, and technical requirements, making it valuable for development teams focused on creating global-ready games.
The guide details each stage of the localization process, from preparing content and resource extraction to translation and implementation.
It also covers technical specifics like localization-ready text rendering, string handling, and UI adaptation. Moreover, the GDK Localization Overview lists languages and regions that Microsoft supports, including best practices for handling language-specific elements like right-to-left text, double-byte characters, and special characters for different alphabets.
8. Steamworks Localization Documentation
This documentation provides detailed guidelines to help developers localize their games for distribution on Steam. It emphasizes best practices for text, audio, and cultural adaptation.
Here you can also find recommendations for adapting UI, icons, and gameplay elements for different cultures.
Steamworks supports over 28 languages, with detailed instructions on how to implement and test localization within the Steam ecosystem.
Last but not least, they provide users with best practices for simultaneous worldwide releases, allowing for effective coordination of multilingual launches.
Here you can also find recommendations for adapting UI, icons, and gameplay elements for different cultures.
Steamworks supports over 28 languages, with detailed instructions on how to implement and test localization within the Steam ecosystem.
Last but not least, they provide users with best practices for simultaneous worldwide releases, allowing for effective coordination of multilingual launches.
9. Multilingual Videocast - Open World LocFact
The Open World LocFact videocast hosted by MultiLingual delves into various topics around game localization and global gaming trends. Each episode features discussions with localization gaming industry experts who bring in-depth knowledge and perspectives on the nuances of adapting games for international markets.
Videogames and techniques are analyzed in these episodes, with a both professional and funny approach, due to multiple memes shared by the hosts at the end of each episode.
Experts also share their advice and tips on how to build a career in the video game industry, how they start working in the industry, and more.
Videogames and techniques are analyzed in these episodes, with a both professional and funny approach, due to multiple memes shared by the hosts at the end of each episode.
Experts also share their advice and tips on how to build a career in the video game industry, how they start working in the industry, and more.
10. Yolocalizo
YoLocalizo is a dedicated blog written by Miguel Sepulveda for localization and globalization that offers blog posts embracing different topics related to the industry.
Here, Miguel, Globalization Director at King (yes, the company behind Candy Crush) shares his thoughts and opinions about the topic through valuable articles that are always up-to-date with new trends and technologies.
The articles enhance strategies, techniques, and new developments in the localization industry, making it an essential platform that offers a wide range of tools to support your career in game localization. It also features a monthly newsletter to receive more awesome content.
Here, Miguel, Globalization Director at King (yes, the company behind Candy Crush) shares his thoughts and opinions about the topic through valuable articles that are always up-to-date with new trends and technologies.
The articles enhance strategies, techniques, and new developments in the localization industry, making it an essential platform that offers a wide range of tools to support your career in game localization. It also features a monthly newsletter to receive more awesome content.
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