1.
Console games, PC, Arcade games, Facebook applications, phoneapplications, smartphones, mobile games, online games…

2.
“Selling a videogame in aninternational market can prove huge benefits for its creator” (Diana Monzón, 2006: 4) CHA-CHING!

3.
“The games industry creates more benefits than the movie industry in the UK and US markets alone, an industry that brings people out from cinemas and television and sits them with their controllers to play during hours instead.” (Chatfield, Tom. 2009)

4.
What is ‘Localisation’?“Localisation is the adaptation of a product, application or document content to meet the language, culture and other requirements of a specific target market” (Melanie D. Flanders, 2006). Message = Same effect

5.
Localisation disastersZero Wing © 1989

6.
Localisation disastersFinal Fantasy VII © 1997

7.
Localisation disastersFinal Fantasy VII © 1997

8.
Localisation disastersFinal Fantasy VII © 1997

9.
Localisation disastersFinal Fantasy VII © 1997

10.
Localisation disastersFinal Fantasy VII © 1997

11.
What should we take into account when localising a product? a) Translations that are too specific for a culture or a generation

12.
TOO FAR!

13.
Little King’s Story Little King’s Story ©XSeed Games 2009“A blackl lake // A whitel lake // In the morningl”

14.
FistraLittle King’s Story ©XSeed Games 2009

15.
Main characters• Howser -> Hauser• Liam -> Liam• Verde -> VerdiSecondary characters• Mr M. -> M.• Elaine -> Rosario• Kenzie -> Darío• Nicole -> Romilda• Jaden -> Merluzo• Mike -> Florentino• Lunasa -> Aurelia• Keine -> Belén• Deon -> Wilfredo• Sadie -> Concepción• Adolf -> Rosendo• Lily -> Pecadora Little King’s Story• Caden -> Aznarín ©XSeed Games 2009• Shea -> Fabián• Alena -> SorayaOther characters• Xavier, Josh, Merlan, Lyrica, Conner Kaleb, Aidan y Cace.• Elias, Ariadna, Hortensio, Agapito, Claudio, Aurora, Fecunda, Fistra, Araceli, Tintorro, Grace.

16.
Not all news is bad news!

17.
German versionHitman: Blood Money ©Eidos-SCi 2006

18.
What should we take into account when localising a product? a) Translations that are too specific for a culture or a generation b) Unfinished or partly localised Localisations

19.
Partly Localised productsCityVille - Hometown, ©Zynga, Inc. 2011.Source: iPhone App

20.
What should we take into account when localising a product? a) Translations that are too specific for a culture or a generation b) Unfinished or partly localised Localisations c) Lack of context or poor knowledge of the in-game

21.
Blind-folded translation - Dietz, F. (2006)Context Key BAT

22.
What should we take into account when localising a product?a) Translations that are too specific for a culture or a generationb) Unfinished or partly localised Localisationsc) Lack of context or poor knowledge of the in-gamed) Poor knowledge of the source language or culture

23.
What should we take into account when localising a product?a) Translations that are too specific for a culture or a generationb) Unfinished or partly localised Localisationsc) Lack of context or poor knowledge of the in-gamed) Poor knowledge of the source language or culturee) Specific requirements for each market or culture

24.
German version

25.
What should we take into account when localising a product?a) Translations that are too specific for a culture or a generationb) Unfinished or partly localised Localisationsc) Lack of context or poor knowledge of the in-gamed) Poor knowledge of the source language or culturee) Specific requirements for each market or culturef) Knowing what you are localising

26.
Knowing what you are localisingFamiliarising with the product Play the game/Use the software Source: http://techgyo.com/index.php/play-your-favorite-video-games-in-pc/

27.
What should we take into account when localising a product?a) Translations that are too specific for a culture or a generationb) Unfinished or partly localised Localisationsc) Lack of context or poor knowledge of the in-gamed) Poor knowledge of the source language or culturee) Specific requirements for each market or culturef) Knowing what you are localisingg) Choosing the right translator

28.
Making sure the right translator is chosenMaking sure they are the right one Assign each project the to right translator

29.
What should we take into account when localising a product?a) Translations that are too specific for a culture or a generationb) Unfinished or partly localised Localisationsc) Lack of context or poor knowledge of the in-gamed) Poor knowledge of the source language or culturee) Specific requirements for each market or culturef) Knowing what you are localisingg) Choosing the right translatorh) Proofreading

30.
ProofreadingProofreading 4 eyes see better than two

31.
Quality AssuranceQuality assurance is a planned and systematic pattern of all actions necessary to provide adequateconfidence that the product optimally fulfil customers’ expectations.

32.
1. Ability to perform repetitive tasks• Version 1 Errors• Focus on a task• Find BUGS…

33.
Coding error in a computer program thatprevents it from functioning as designed.

34.
1. Ability to perform repetitive tasks• Version 1 Errors• Focus on a task• Find bugs…• Report bugs• Continue testing• Finish game• Wait for new version• Start process again

35.
2. Attention to detail• Observation• Photographic memory• Able to see changes

36.
3. Language skills• Writing Skills• Good Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation• Make sure the text is accurate and easy to understand• Localisation Foreign Language Skill• Localisation Last link in Localisation chain• Make sure everything is in the same language

37.
4. Gaming skillsFond of videogames / Being a gamer Important but not absolutely necessary

38.
5. Communication skills• Communication Talking• Communication Making sure the right message received by the right person• Communication is KEY• Communicate problems Is it worth testing?• Communicate solutions We can fix it soon

39.
6. Knowing the target public• It is important Do NOT ignore.• Testers know what the gamer/user wants.• Knowing the game you are creating is key.• If a game is not good, don’t blame the tester!

40.
7. Good Knowledge of Platform Holders’ Standards• Console, PC, Smartphones, Online, Betting games.• Videogames Nintendo, Sony & Microsoft.• Wrong Game Standards Game NOT approved Fails submission Game is NOT distributed

41.
I want to be...... a games localiser

42.
And now, what?• Well-written CV.

43.
And now, what?• Well-written CV.• Presence on the web.

44.
Website

45.
And now, what?• Well-written CV.• Presence on the web.• Business cards.• Experience.• Doing something you love.

46.
Never giving up!Thank you!

47.
Curri Barceló Ávila• E-mail: curri@localiseme.net• Twitter: @Currixan• Facebook: Localisation and Testing With Curri• Blog: http://localiza-me.blogspot.com