1. Localizing

2. Summary Introduction What and how to localize Audios localization In-game text localization Historical facts localization 3. IntroductionQuick background information: Ive started working in video games in 2001 Ubisoft since 2007 (Far Cry 2, BIA 3) Credited on (Neverwinter Nights 1 and its expansion packs, Act of War,Hasbro license, Totally Spies) Worked as an external producer(The Witcher, Kao the kangaroo) 4. What & how 3 parts to localize audios, regular texts and thehistorical facts. Target Languages:English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian,Dutch, Polish, Brazilian and Japanese. External translation agencies and recordingstudios. 5. AudiosHow do we provide emotion with the audios:1) Best acting conditions: No lip synch, no STC, only a soft TC start to end.2) Smart casting: French version had Marc Cassot a very strong narrativevoice, but the localization casts were done based on the emotions we wanted toobtained NOT on the replica of the original recordings.3) Strong in-game choices: implementation of fake languages 6. AudiosmileFrench farmer, main actor,needs to be expressive,will do the last letter, thesignature of the game,should give goose bump tothe players.MarieEmiles daughter.Not playable, but central to thestory shes what is keepingEmile and Karl alive. Youngwoman in her early 20s butnot a love interest for theplayers.NarratorThe main role of the game.Always off-screen, no visual, soft timeconstraint. Not necessarily a video gameactor, but we need a great voice. The voiceshould be strong enough to bring theplayer in the world and make him believein the story. 7. AudiosNo in-game languagesArtistic choice + avoid breaking the immersion/emotionDe-structure the languages (focus on the intention not on the text)Recorded with natives (keep the language dynamic)Samples 8. In game text localization UI Texts and diaries followed a classic pipeline.Translations from French into Englishthen dispatched to the other languages. Historical objectsused as props to depict life in the 1910s.Translations from French into Englishthen dispatched to the other languages. 9. Historical facts Localization What are historical facts? What are their objectives in the game? How was the localization done to achieve these goals? What are the problems we faced during localization? 10. Historical facts Localization 11. Historical facts LocalizationObjectives:1) Narrative helper and a tribute to all soldiers2) Informative: parallel with real history3) Entertaining: not boring4) Educational/accurate: it did really exist! 12. Historical facts LocalizationInitial French writing Review and Validation byEnglish translationEnglish review and validationOther languages translationOther languages validation 13. Historical facts LocalizationVarious problems we faced:1) The winners write History2) History is nationalist, reality is neutral and international3) What is interesting for one country isnt interesting for everyone4) A country is not a language 14. Historical facts LocalizationWinners write history1) Narrative positioning as neutral with a respect to all soldiers2) Not another game with German bad guys3) Cooperation with the German studios4) Comical scope includes the French side 15. Historical facts LocalizationHistory is nationalist, reality is international1) Subject to scrutiny so official support2) Validation of our documentation sources.3) Use of a specialized dictionary 16. Historical facts LocalizationWhat is interesting in one country is boring to the others1) Text was to be short, entertaining and relevant to theplayer.2) Mix of adaptation and translation.3) Anticipation in the selection of the freelance translators4) Validation of adapted version based on sources and onbasic online translation tool 17. Historical facts LocalizationA country is not a language Dutch is spoken in both Belgium and Holland Poland didnt exist at the period the game unfolds United Kingdom, Australia and United States played a different rolein the war Brazilian situation vs Portugal 3 examples to illustrate 18. Historical facts Localization 19. Historical facts Localization 20. Questions?