Service
Game
Localization
What is game localization?
Game localization is the process of adapting a game to the linguistic, cultural and regional conditions of the target market. It is not just translating text from language A to language B - localization includes aspects such as changing idioms to culturally relevant, adjusting currencies and date formats. As games can feature a whole range of content, from specialized texts to songs, the translator must have a broad general knowledge and the ability to search for information efficiently.
Example of localized game content
Check out one of the translations from my portfolio.
This is a poem from Hollow Knight translated so that it conveys the sense of the original and, above all, rhymes.
This type of translation requires transcreation techniques, that means not only translating the source text into Polish, but also making sensible detours from the original so that the Polish text rhymes and sounds graceful and natural. It is a task that requires excellent translation and writing skills.
EN
Ohhh, bury my mother, pale and slight,
bury my father with his eyes shut tight!
Bury my sisters two by two,
and then when you’re done, let’s bury me tooooo!
PL
Pogrzeb mi matkę, co twarz ma jak śnieg,
pogrzeb mi ojca, co zasnął na wiek!
Pogrzeb mi siostry w grobie po dwie
a gdy już skończysz, pogrzeb i mnie!
Scope
Which games do I translate?
Here are examples of games and related content that I am translating.
Video games
Games for personal computers, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.
Mobile games
Games accessible via smartphone or web browser.
Marketing
Any marketing content related to the game, such as descriptions for Steam or website content.
Manuals
Manuals and documentation to accompany the games.
Certified quality
In 2021, I completed the Diuna Academy game localization course. It taught me the specifics of the texts for localization and how to solve various problems related to the localization process.
Frequently Asked Questions
on game localization
My favourite games are RPGs set in fantasy worlds, and these are the ones I most enjoy localizing. However, also feel very comfortable with strategy games, MMOs and action games. Nevertheless, I make the decision to localize a particular game after an initial analysis of the text.
In the game localization industry, the most common format is the Excel spreadsheet, and you should preferably provide files in this format.
Jak najwięcej! Im więcej informacji kontekstowych mi dostarczysz, tym lepsze będzie tłumaczenie. Najlepiej byłoby, gdybym mógł najpierw zagrać w grę, aby poznać jej specyfikę i mechaniki.
Since this is a creative translation, it may take a little longer to complete than in the case of ordinary, uncomplicated texts. Nevertheless, after the analysis of the documents sent for translation, I will inform you of the completion date and meet it no matter what.
Jeśli musisz zmieścić tekst w ograniczonej przestrzeni, poinformuj mnie o tym przy przesyłaniu plików. Przykładowo jeśli tekst musi mieć maksymalnie 50 znaków, wykorzystam umiejętności transkreacji, aby zmieścić tłumaczenie w tym limicie.
Transcreation (Transcreation + Creation) to proces twórczy, w czasie którego tekst źródłowy jest przenoszony do języka docelowego z zachowaniem jego intencji, stylu i emocji. To narzędzie często wykorzystywane w lokalizacji gier. Wiele rozwiązań trans kreacyjnych można znaleźć w znanym i lubianym filmie Shrek, który właśnie dzięki geniuszowi tłumacza osiągnął na naszym rynku tak duży sukces.