Translating, Adapting and Remaking in Video Games

The Role of Gameplay in Cultural Localization

Ornella LepreImperial College London

Motivation and objectives

Video Games – Increasingly Global Market

Growing importance of localization

Focus on gameplay

Culture-specific elements

(Theme Hospital, 1997)

e.g.• Cultural references (the ‘King syndrome’)

Culture-specific elements

e.g.• Cultural references (the ‘King syndrome’)• Intertextuality (“dr Jeckyll to psychiatry…”)

(Theme Hospital, 1997)

Intertextuality - II

The Witcher 2, 2011

Assassin’s Creed,2007

Intertextuality - III

Monty Pythonand the Holy Grail (1974)…

…Worms series (1997 - 2011)

…Fallout: New Vegas (2010)

Mangiron (2010): ‘Transcreation’ of humour

Substitute jokes and obscure cultural references Add new jokes and cultural references (e.g. by including dialects and accents absent in the original, or add new puns and play-on-words)

What if we don’t get the reference?

…but this is not always possible

(Day of the Tentacle, 1993)

Words and consequences…

Let’s see, I was in the Chantry before. I trained for many years to become a Templar, in fact.That’s where I learned most of my skills.

Possible replies:1. You don’t seem like the religious sort.2. So you mentioned before.3. And what skills might those be?

Dragon Age: Origins, 2010

…and their translation:1. Non mi sembrate un tipo religioso.2. Come avete già detto in precedenza.3. Di quali abilità si tratta? [What skills are they?]

Possible replies:1. You don’t seem like the religious sort.2. So you mentioned before.3. And what skills might those be?

Alistair disapproves! (Oops!)

Japanese version Game released in US and Europe

Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! Elite Beat Agents

Remake – localize everything!

Japanese game US game

Japanese game

US game

…newstories…

US version

Italian version

Fewer cultural barriers,fewer changes

Japanese game

US/UK version

Despite all the changes,similar experience

Central roleof gameplay

More freedom to the translators, heavy adaptation?

Stricter constraints,less freedom?

Conclusions

Central roleof gameplay

More freedom to the translators, heavy adaptation?

Stricter constraints,less freedom?

…Both!

Conclusions