{"title":"Profiles, Perceptions, and Experiences of Video Game Translators","authors":"Amir Arsalan Zoraqi, Mohsen Kafi","doi":"10.1177/15554120231223329","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"The nuances involved in game localization call for an expert workforce, well-versed in dealing with the challenges involved. Yet, the prospect of game localization is still a blue-water area of research and not much is known regarding the profiles and the current industry practices. Thus, the present study seeks to throw light on the profiles, perceptions, and experiences of game translators. A total of 125 game translators provided qualitative and quantitative data regarding the various aspects of the profession through a 25-item online questionnaire. The findings point to a relatively young, highly educated, and mostly self-employed workforce who undertake translation as their main source of income and have a strong gaming background. The strengths and the weaknesses of the current workflow practices are identified and discussed, and suggestions are made drawing on the perceptions and experiences of game translation practitioners.","PeriodicalId":12634,"journal":{"name":"Games and Culture","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Games and Culture","FirstCategoryId":"98","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15554120231223329","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"COMMUNICATION","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The nuances involved in game localization call for an expert workforce, well-versed in dealing with the challenges involved. Yet, the prospect of game localization is still a blue-water area of research and not much is known regarding the profiles and the current industry practices. Thus, the present study seeks to throw light on the profiles, perceptions, and experiences of game translators. A total of 125 game translators provided qualitative and quantitative data regarding the various aspects of the profession through a 25-item online questionnaire. The findings point to a relatively young, highly educated, and mostly self-employed workforce who undertake translation as their main source of income and have a strong gaming background. The strengths and the weaknesses of the current workflow practices are identified and discussed, and suggestions are made drawing on the perceptions and experiences of game translation practitioners.
期刊介绍:
Games and Culture publishes innovative theoretical and empirical research about games and culture within the context of interactive media. The journal serves as a premiere outlet for groundbreaking and germinal work in the field of game studies. The journal"s scope includes the sociocultural, political, and economic dimensions of gaming from a wide variety of perspectives, including textual analysis, political economy, cultural studies, ethnography, critical race studies, gender studies, media studies, public policy, international relations, and communication studies.