Here are the Ethical practices for video game translation
The video game industry is a billion-dollar industry now. There was significant growth in this industry post-pandemic-19. The people during their lockdown days had to kill time with the help of good and quality games according to their interests. The gaming industry in the US only is around $106 billion. Moreover, the estimated revenue of the gaming industry in 2022 is said to be around 347 billion US. Hence, the translation of the games also has become fundamental for the companies to ensure their games are well received and understood by the potential players. The video game translation goes beyond words and subtitles. It rather is a world that comprises gamers and boosts the game's impact overall.
The video game translation services demand a lot of factors. Video games share a cordial connection with the culture. The cultural references are extremely crucial to consider in the gaming translation. Moreover, there are certain ethics in translating gaming content which can help with more accurate and culturally relevant translation.
Here are the best ethical practices for translators as well as game developers to practice for gaming translation.
The translators should always respect the source content that they receive for translation. They should not judge the games or analyze the content based on their personal thoughts. Games are everywhere about every possible topic. There are some adult games also available that might not go well with many people and their mindsets. However, when It comes to the translation you as a translator should act as a bridge and should not overlook the significance of accuracy in gaming content being biased. You should make sure you stay true to the story's characters and the overall theme and message of the game.
Cultural sensitivity is the second most important ethical factor of video gaming translation services. A good and culturally accurate translation needs to be sensitive and appropriate. The translators should be native speakers and also know the local culture and traditions that they should implement in their gaming content. As there are different games available about different sensitive topics. The topics that are discussable in one culture can face backlash in the other culture. Hence, taking care of the offensive language, adapting the jokes appropriately, and being mindful of the cultural references help produce a better and more ethical gaming translation.
Speaking about cultural sensitivity, it also addresses the ethics of the fair representation of everything in a game. The characters and storylines should have an accurate translation. Moreover, translation should reinforce the stereotypes and prejudices. Despite the diverse portrayal of the character the element of respect and relevant nuances should be there.
Every game developer’s ultimate goal is to provide their player with a positive and culturally rich gaming experience in the target language. The translation hence should be clear, ethically engaging, and should be able to maintain the flow of the gameplay. Moreover, it is also imperative to seek the services of a good gaming and software translation agency for that purpose.
While translating the gaming content the due credits and attributes should also be given to the relevant people. This is unethical to own the content and product without the consent of the original translators and writers. The translators also deserve the credit for their work. Many times the translation of the games has a great impact on its success in the foreign countries. The game developers should always ensure they mention the names of the translators and the creative artists who have contributed to making the game a success.
Many game developers sell their games. Several times they give their consent for the rights of adaptation. However, many people do not consider consent important and indulge in unethical practices. It is an important and ethical practice to always seek permission and consent before you as a game distributor opt for translation and start the process of expansion.
Translation services are an ethical process. Several ethical practices are involved. The translators should ensure that they respect the source content, ensure cultural sensitivity, and fairly represent the characters and stories. Moreover, if they are a second party who plans to distribute and sell a game overseas they should always do that after the permission of the original owner.
