How do you perceive translated video games when you play them?

Fragoba · Apr 27, 2017

Hi all,

I’m 23 years old and I’ve always been a gamer. I’m into most types of games, even though I’m especially a Pokémon player. One of my professional goals is to work as a video game translator and proofreader, so I’m writing my master’s dissertation on video game localisation and aiming to raise consciousness about how it affects the quality of video games.

I’m looking for gamers who are interested in helping me and don’t mind answering some questions about your impressions when playing translated video games. I’ve prepared a very brief, entirely OPTIONAL questionnaire that will allow me, among other things, to evaluate the adequacy of the translations of video games according to the gamers’ reception of it, and to compare the differences of reception between different cultures.

If you’re interested in taking part in my research, you’ll find the questionnaire here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lJAyekVZSws8m5sa6nIR2XxbS45VSbUJtg9EEt9Vh3w

It will only take around 5 minutes of your time and you can answer in English, Spanish or French.

Thanks a ton in advance, I’ll be forever grateful!

PS. Comments are also welcome via here!

x65943 · Apr 27, 2017

Answered your survey. So have you been lurking here for a while?

DinohScene · Apr 27, 2017

I hate localized games.
Games should be in English.
As for JRPGs etc, well I don't speak moonrunes so yeh, translation to English would be good ;p

Anyway, I grew up with English only games so I learned English from it.
Along with watching the BBC etc.

KingpinSlim · Apr 27, 2017

I stopped answering your survey. It does not apply to me.
I am german and my native language is german.
I never play any games in german.
Haven't since i was like 10 and fluent in english.
"Get as close to the source as possible", avoid translations if you can.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

DinohScene said:
I hate localized games.
Games should be in English.
As for JRPGs etc, well I don't speak moonrunes so yeh, translation to English would be good ;p

Anyway, I grew up with English only games so I learned English from it.
Along with watching the BBC etc.

I have a lot of respect for that. Especially for people like you.
The inuit-language of people living close to the antarctic circle is very different from english, so it must have been quite the learning-curve. ; )

DinohScene · Apr 27, 2017

I've filled it in just for the heck of it.
But it's incredibly biased in favor of translating videogames.
Almost nothing applied to me.

KingpinSlim said:
I have a lot of respect for that. Especially for people like you.
The inuit-language of people living close to the antarctic circle is very different from english, so it must have been quite the learning-curve. ; )

I live a lot closer to you then you think ;p

KingpinSlim · Apr 27, 2017

DinohScene said:
I've filled it in just for the heck of it.
But it's incredibly biased in favor of translating videogames.
Almost nothing applied to me.

I live a lot closer to you then you think ;p

I was only joking... do you really? You are german, too?

x65943 · Apr 27, 2017

KingpinSlim said:
I stopped answering your survey. It does not apply to me.
I am german and my native language is german.
I never play any games in german.
Haven't since i was like 10 and fluent in english.
"Get as close to the source as possible", avoid translations if you can.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

I have a lot of respect for that. Especially for people like you.
The inuit-language of people living close to the antarctic circle is very different from english, so it must have been quite the learning-curve. ; )

btw the Inuits live in the Arctic circle ;p

Penguins live in the Antarctic circle

DinohScene · Apr 27, 2017

KingpinSlim said:
I was only joking... do you really?

I know you where and yep.
I just value me privacy highly and have had a bad experience with people online who speak the same language as me.
The moment they know where I'm from, they start speaking the same bloody fucking language as me and turn into utter pricks.

So.. that's kinda the reason why I hide behind the Antarctic flag (previously the IDIOT flag)

x65943 said:
btw the Inuits live in the Arctic circle ;p

Penguins live in the Antarctic circle

I am a penguin.
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT blow me cover

migles · Apr 27, 2017

i don't understand question 10
10. When playing the translated version of a video game in your mother tongue, what level of attention do you play to listening to the spoken texts? *

what case does this apply? to a game with voices in english, but text translated.
to a game fully translated, (there is voice and dubbed text in my language..)

tell me examples

KingpinSlim · Apr 27, 2017

x65943 said:
btw the Inuits live in the Arctic circle ;p

Penguins live in the Antarctic circle

Ha ha... see? I was totally only testing you... :rolleyes:

Shady Guy Jose · Apr 27, 2017

KingpinSlim said:
I stopped answering your survey. It does not apply to me.
I am german and my native language is german.
I never play any games in german.
Haven't since i was like 10 and fluent in english.
"Get as close to the source as possible", avoid translations if you can.

I'm Portuguese and I play most of my games in English as well, so I adapted my answers to account for that.

Chary · Apr 27, 2017

This topic has always interested me, that is, if I'm interpreting it right. Localizations and translations are different things. Games such as Persona are translated, while other games, like Fire Emblem Fates are localized, with the main differing factor being cultural-related things. Persona will keep things in their native context, which is an admirable effort, in order to keep things relevant to the original Japanese contaxt, but then, if you're not Japanese yourself, or don't have a good grasp of that country's culture, some things might go over your head. Fire Emblem, on the other hand, removed content that wouldn't fit well by western standards, taking away from the final product. But then you question, is it worth keeping in there?

Personally, I prefer localizations that are done well, rather than just translations, so I can play things without having a guide next to me so I know what's being referenced.

Sonic Angel Knight · Apr 27, 2017

" is addressed to gamers who play the translated versions of video games"
So would that also mean for games made here in my own country for people like me? Like mortal kombat, or just games not made by people who use english language, cause i'm sure some games weren't made here i play but natrually is english cause maybe canada, like some indie games, or killer instinct which was by rare, a company from england i think. What kind of mentality should i have related to answering this survey?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Chary said:
This topic has always interested me, that is, if I'm interpreting it right. Localization and translations are different things. Games such as Persona are translated, while other games, like Fire Emblem Fates are localized, with the main differing factor being cultural-related things. Persona will keep things in their native context, which is an admirable effort, in order to keep things relevant to the original Japanese contaxt, but then, if you're not Japanese yourself, or don't have a good grasp of that country's culture, some things might go over your head. Fire Emblem, on the other hand, removed content that wouldn't fit well by western standards, taking away from the final product. But then you question, is it worth keeping in there?

Personally, I prefer localization that are done well, rather than just translations, so I can play things without having a guide next to me so I know what's being referenced.

Don't get me started on ace attorney, seriously is like trying to have them cover up they are still in japan but try to pretend is america, with the way they randomly visit japanese related places that are "Just stationed in america for cultural festive purposes"

Yes, i agree, there is many bad LOCALIZATIONS with games and the fact that the only problem with localization is the cultural boundary between them, is hard to get some jokes if not localized or maybe just better to change all together rather than still attempting to translate it with direct conversion.

So there is games that suffer from bad translations, ace attorney series may be a obvious one, but i guess there is a difference between localization and translation, as well, i remember youtube videos discussing censorship and localization, how localization isn't censorship in the sense of trying to hide specific content, but replacing content with more cultural related one since the difference in culture play huge part in why localization exist rather than direct text from JAP TO ENG translations like some fan translators do. Though i guess maybe is not directly related to this topic but is nice to learn.

How do you perceive translated video games when you play them?

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