Great Game Localization

Video game localization means opening up full access to local markets. For Dutch players, it's heart-warming to see a developer has taken the time and costs to create the game in Dutch. And if done right, video game localization to Dutch and other languages gives the perfect game experience in a player's own language. 

Great games deserve great game localization.

 

Let me localize your mobile or videogame, and Dutch-speaking players will credit your game with love and praise.

Examples of great video game localization

Especially in mobile games, game localization is often done notoriously badly. If Dutch localization is bad, I can tell by the choice of words, the word order, or the idiom used if the source language is English or Chinese.

Good game localization on the other end reads and sounds completely natural. It also stays within length limitations (character limits).

Great game localization is also creative without changing the meaning, and perfectly hits the right tone, throughout the whole game!

Here are a few examples of bad, good and great game localization from Chinese to English. The source text is: 

 

Bad game localization

This game localization is poor because:

  • The text is too long.
  • The text is not fluent, because it's an exact 1:1 translation of the source text without regard for fluency or colloquialism.
  • The text is not compact, which means an unnecessary strain on the reading player.

Good game localization

This game localization is acceptable, but not great:

  • The text is still quite long compared to the source text, and could be condensed further.
  • The monster's name is creatively localized and implies the existence of a game glossary of terms.
  • Readability has improved, but not perfected.
  • The third sentence is too complicated for video game text reading.

Great game localization

This game localization is great because:

  • The text is almost the same length as the source text.
  • The translation is creative. Not only the monster's name is translated well, but the term "zombie-topia" will resonate greatly with the Western player audience.
  • The source text is even improved by making it clear that the radiation is a threat to humans, the player character's species, specifically.

My goal is to write great game localization

As a multilingual, cross-cultural gamer, and a passionate game localizer, I truly understand the added value of great localization in the player's native language. Localization to Dutch gives you a chance to truly "awe" players in the Dutch-speaking market. 

If I localize your game to Dutch, you will get good reviews, and your game will receive the love it deserves.