QA, Localisation & Experience: The Perfect Combination for the Best Localisation (Fun4All2010)

Videogames, Arcade games, Facebook

applications, phone applications,

smartphones, mobile games, online

games…

→

Translation

↓↓↓↓Companies

↓↓↓↓

Good Localisation

↓↓↓↓

→ → → →

CHA-CHING!

What is a Good Localisation?

Adaptation of a product to the Language,

culture and requirements of target market.

↓↓↓↓Message = Same effect

TOO FAR!

“A blackl lake // A whitel lake // In the morningl”

Little King’s Story

Fistra

Main characters

• Howser -> Hauser

• Liam -> Liam

• Verde -> Verdi

Secondary 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

• Caden -> Aznarín

• Shea -> Fabián

• Alena -> Soraya

Other characters

• Xavier, Josh, Merlan, Lyrica, Conner Kaleb, Aidan y Cace.

• Elias, Ariadna, Hortensio, Agapito, Claudio, Aurora, Fecunda, Fistra, Araceli, Tintorro, Grace.

Incomplete translation

Unknowing source grammar

Not all news is bad news!

German version

German version

How to get a good localised product?

• Good Localisation

• Good Quality Assurance

And, of course…

Good Localisation Professionals

A) Good Localisation

1. Knowing what you are localising

Familiarising with the product →

→ Play the game/Use the software

2. Making sure the you have the

right translator

Making sure they are the right one →

→ Assign each project the to right translator

3. Making sure everything is

understood

Making sure the translator understands everything →

→ Collaboration and communication client-translator

4. Proofreading

Proofreading → 4 eyes see better than two

A) Quality Assurance

1. Ability to perform repetitive tasks

• Version 1 → Errors

• Focus on a task

• Find BUGS…

1. Ability to perform repetitive tasks

• Version 1 → Errors

• Focus on a task

• Find bugs…

• Report bugs

• Continue testing

• Game finished

• Wait for new version

• Start process again

2. Attention to detail

• Observation

• Photographic memory

• Able to see changes

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

4. Gaming skills

Fond of videogames / Being a gamer→

→ Important but not absolutely necessary

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

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!

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

Pleeeeeeeease!!!!!

LEARN THE STANDARDS

Ways of carrying out the Localisation

In-House vs Outsourced

The Translator is the Tester

In-House

Team In-House→ Expensive?

Not necessarily

Outsourcing• Independent Translators or Companies

• High volume→ Companies → Might use several

translators proofreaders → Inconsistency

• Just one proofreading→ Fix inconsistencies

• Agencies → Can do discounts but also charge

administration fees

How about having

ONE translator + ONE proofreader?

In-House• Translator/Tester→ Right next to coder

• Fix possible Localisation issues instantly

• Help designing a game according to target culture

• Available at all times

• No admin fees, no rush fees

Independent translator → In-House

Translator = Tester

• Tester knows all in-game text

• Tester can make the right language changes

• In-House (Language skilled tester)

• Outsourcer (Independent translators)

THE BESTTHE BESTTHE BESTTHE BEST

Curri Barceló ÁvilaCurri_barcelo@yahoo.es

http://localiza-me.blogspot.com (Spanish)

http://localise-me.blogspot.com (English)