Unlocking the Potential of Game Localization: Benefits & Why It Matters For Your Game
Game localization services is becoming increasingly important in the gaming industry as game developers seek to expand their audience and reach more players around the world. Game localization can be an effective tool for game developers to unlock the potential of their game and increase its success both domestically and internationally. Localizing a game involves adapting the game to the cultural and linguistic preferences of the target audience in order to make it more accessible and appealing.
Localizing a game can also have a number of practical benefits such as improved user experience, increased revenue, and better customer support. Game localization is a complex process, but understanding the benefits and why it matters can help game developers create a successful and profitable game.
Benefits of game localization
Localizing a game can have a number of benefits for game developers. A core benefit of game localization is improving the user experience by making a game more accessible to players.
By localizing a game, game developers can make a game more accessible to a larger audience and overcome language barriers that might otherwise prevent players from accessing the game.
Another benefit of game localization is increased revenue. A localized game can attract a larger audience and increase the potential player base. If a game is not localized, the majority of players will be the language users where the game is hosted. If a game is localized, it can be accessed by a larger base of users, including those who speak a different language.
Game localization solutions also has a positive impact on customer support. By localizing a game, game developers can make it easier for players to understand game instructions and solve game-related issues. This can improve customer satisfaction and help game developers avoid negative reviews.
a. Improved user experience
When developing a new game or updating an existing game, developers should consider the potential audience. If a game is only available in one language, then it will be accessible only to those players who speak that language. By localizing a game to multiple languages, game developers can make a game more accessible to a larger audience and potentially increase its player base.
Successfully localizing a game is more than just translating the game’s text from one language to another. It’s also about adapting the game to cultural and linguistic preferences. When localizing a game, game developers must consider the needs and preferences of their target audience.
For example, some game genres and themes are more popular in certain regions than others. To successfully localize a game, game developers must also consider how the game is used.
For example, a button on the game’s interface could have a different meaning in another language, which would make the button confusing or unusable for a player.
b. Increased revenue
Game localization can lead to increased revenue, especially in B2B games where revenue is generated through in-app purchases. Localizing a game can increase revenue in a number of ways, including increasing the number of players, the amount spent per player, and the number of paying players.
By localizing a game, game developers can increase the number of players by making a game accessible to more people. Players who do not speak the language where the game is hosted, are not able to download and play the game. Increasing the amount spent per player can also lead to increased revenue.
For example, in-app purchases in a game can be made using different currencies. If a game is not localized, the game’s instructions and currency conversion might confuse a player, resulting in higher numbers of declined purchases and lower revenue.
c. Better customer support
Game localization service can also improve customer support, which can lead to more positive reviews and less negative feedback. By localizing a game, developers can make game instructions and customer support materials easier to understand, which can help players understand issues and solve problems.
If a game is localized, players can access the game’s instructions and customer support in their native language and understand the issues they face with the game. If a game is not localized, players must find a way to understand game instructions and customer support materials in another language, which can cause players to give up or leave negative reviews.
Challenges of game localization
Game localization is not easy and comes with a number of challenges. A major challenge of game localization is the cost. It can be expensive and time-consuming to translate a game into multiple languages. Another challenge of game localization is that it requires a lot of time and effort.
To successfully localize a game, developers must consider all aspects of the game, including the interface, game instructions, and user experience. In addition, developers must have a clear understanding of the target audience. To successfully localize a game, developers must plan ahead. They must start the localization process early enough and allocate enough time to complete the task. Otherwise, the game might be released with missing or incorrect translations.
Steps for successful game localization
To successfully localize a game, developers must plan ahead and consider the core aspects of the game, including structure, design, and interface. They must also understand their target audience and adapt the game to the cultural and linguistic preferences of the players. To successfully localize a game, game developers must first identify the core aspects of the game that must be translated.
These include the text, audio, and images within the game. They must also identify the sections of the game that must be modified based on the cultural and linguistic preferences of the target audience. These include the game structure, design, and interface. Developers should start by designing localization guidelines to ensure consistency and make sure the game is localized in a standardized way.
Next, they should translate the game’s text, which can be done in parallel with the game development. After translating the game’s text, developers must modify the game structure, design, and interface to match the cultural and linguistic preferences of the target audience.
Tips for successful game localization
To successfully localize a game, game developers must understand their target audience. This includes understanding their needs and preferences, as well as their environment. To understand the target audience, game developers can conduct market research and speak to the players.
Developers must also plan ahead and start the localization process early enough. While some aspects of the game can be translated in parallel with the game development, other aspects require more time.
For example, developing a new language for the game’s audio can take more time than translating the game’s text. Developers can also use game localization tools to simplify the localization process. Some of these tools can help manage the localization process and make it easier for developers to translate a game into multiple languages.
Game localization tools
There are a number of tools that game developers can use to simplify the localization process. A translation management system can help developers manage the process of translating a game into multiple languages. It can automate many of the tasks involved in game localization solutions, including the translation, review, proofreading, and approval process.
A terminology management system (TMS) can also help simplify the localization process. A TMS can help developers create and manage terminology for the game, including terms for the game’s interface, game instructions, and more. A TMS can also enable developers to create translation projects for each game language, which can simplify the localization process.
Conclusion
Game localization solution can be an effective tool for game developers to unlock the potential of their game and increase its success both domestically and internationally. Localizing a game involves adapting the game to the cultural and linguistic preferences of the target audience in order to make it more accessible and appealing.
It’s important for game developers to understand the benefits of game localization and why it matters. Localizing a game can have a number of benefits, including improved user experience, increased revenue, and better customer support. To successfully localize a game, developers must consider the core aspects of the game, plan ahead, and use tools that simplify the localization process.
Author: Muthamilselvan is a Team Lead in Digital Marketing and is passionate about Online Marketing and content syndication. He believes in action rather than words. Have 7 years of hands-on experience working with different organizations, Digital Marketing Agencies, and IT Firms. Helped increase online visibility and sales/leads over the years consistently with extensive and updated knowledge of SEO. Have worked on both Service based and product-oriented websites.
