Game Translation
Console games
Translation and localization of games for home and portable consoles.
Computer games
Translation and localization of indie games made specifically for PC and console games ported to PC.
Mobile games
Translation and localization of games on iOS or Android applications for cell phones, smartphones, and touchscreen tablets.
Board games
Translation of rule books, instructions leaflets, materials, components (tiles, tokens, boards, cards, squares, sheets, etc.) and board game boxes.
Traditional and trading card games
Translation of standard card games (Happy Families, deckbuilding, draft, culture) and trading card games, that is, card games designed to be both played and collected (title, card name, text detailing a card's effects, box sets and booster packs).
Educational games
Translation and localization of Serious Games, that is educational games designed to develop specific skills while also being fun and engaging.
Questions?
Localization involves adapting audiovisual content to align with the social norms, cultural nuances, contexts, and specific needs of the target audience. This process can take two forms: partial localization, i.e. translation of all written content except text directly incorporated in animations or images without the audio (so without dubbing); and full localization, i.e. translation of all assets, both written texts and audio.
Video game localization therefore includes the translation of all game assets: space-restricted game interface text (menus, lists, system and help messages, game instructions, descriptions, controls, etc.), text graphics (text embedded in visuals, such as in-game mailboxes, maps, bills, signage and letters, in-game laptops and smartphones, etc.), audio and cinematics subtitling or dubbing (dialogues, monologues, narrative, etc.), printed materials (rules, technical notices and instructions for use, legal contracts, game boxes with marketing content, etc.), and additional digital content (or DLC, downloadable content) such as video game extensions that may include new scenarios, characters, and narratives.
Specific features in localizing video games include:
- time and space limitations similar to subtitling (where displayed text must fit interface elements without extending beyond their boundaries);
- multiple formats with components such as text, audio, sound, graphics, or cinematography that call for a number of time-consuming translation techniques;
- preserving the gaming experience and enjoyment by ensuring the translation does not mislead players in strategy, management, or choice-based games;
- translating variables and sequences—text strings made up of multiple options, such as names of characters, places, or items—that vary as the player progresses (the goal is to make sure that every variable is grammatically correct and makes sense);
- adapting language registers, technical vocabulary, cultural references, and player age to accurately reflect the game's settings and moods, including puns and pop culture references.
I am proficient in the specific terminology of various video game genres and universes, including:
- multiple-choice games;
- MOBAs (multiplayer online battle arenas games);
- simulation games;
- action games;
- adventure games;
- RPGs (role-playing games);
- MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games);
- strategy games;
- management games;
- and platform games.
Board game translation concentrate on the words of rulebooks, instructions leaflets, materials, game components (tiles, tokens, boards, cards, squares, sheets, etc.) and board game boxes. The main goal is to make the game's mechanics and universe both understandable and engaging. Consequently, game translation must be as precise and rigorous (for rules and scoring systems) as it is creative and artistic (for character names, locations, and story elements).
Key aspects of translating board and card games include:
- space restrictions (text displayed on tiles, cards or boards must fit within the dimensions of the original components);
- preserving the gaming experience by ensuring that players understand the rules and enjoy the game without losing the essence and feel of the original gameplay;
- adapting technical jargon, references, and standards specific to each type of board game (words like combo, deck, meeple, trick, action, token, tile, etc.).
Whether the game involves cooperative play, strategy, or party dynamics, I bring both authenticity and idiomatic fluency to each translation as a professional translator and avid board game player. My experience covers a wide range of board game genres, including:
- cooperative (co-op) games;
- deck building games;
- strategy games;
- tile placement games;
- dexterity game;
- role-playing games (RPG);
- miniature games;
- dice games;
- card games;
- party games;
- drafting games;
- bluffing games;
- memory games;
- trick-taking games;
- push-your-luck games;
- building games;
- word games;
- worker placement games;
- roll/flip-and-write games;
- tower defence board games;
- etc.
If you're a publisher or creator of card, board, or video games looking to bring your creations to a French-speaking audience, you’re in the right place. Translating your games into French not only broadens your reach to non-English-speaking players but also invites them to explore new creative and cultural horizons through your work.
Join Word Trotter on a tailor-made language tour.
With each word carefully guided, your message will transcend boundaries while remaining genuine and creative.