For this third edition of Between the Lines, we’ll be looking into Spanish (EU) localization and Project Management with Carlos Gómez, Project Manager and Translator.
In this article, we will be exploring the different files and settings you must back up at all times on MemoQ and Trados, as well as general security tips.
The Localization industry is a tough nut to crack, especially for newcomers – there are so many unspoken rules that getting a foot in this business can seem like a daunting task. In this article, I’ll recap some of the most common mistakes I’ve seen (or made myself) when starting out in this field.
In a previous article, I talked about how certain pieces of hardware can drastically improve a translator’s workflow. One particular add-on I fell in love with is the Stream Deck, a multi-purpose keyboard that was originally designed for live streaming of games, but that can be used for pretty much anything you can imagine. Since I’m a total nerd, I decided to give it a spin for a couple of months, and it’s been a real help when juggling with multiple tasks.
For this second edition of Between the Lines, we’ll be diving deep into German localization with a veteran of the industry: Lisa Schuchardt!
Beyond the written words, translation is a numbers game: your word counts, your deadlines and, most importantly, your rates, define your ability to survive in this industry.
If you’re just starting out in games localization, you’re most likely going to be unable to evaluate your own worth. Be aware that the vast majority of the jobs are freelance (although in-house, fixed salary positions are not unheard of in big studios such as Blizzard or Electronic Arts) and paid per word translated/proofread/edited, not by the hour. Therefore, you need to come up with your own formula and analyze your output-to-pay ratio designed for your needs and individual situation.
Whether you are an established developer with several titles under your belt or just getting ready to publish your very first game, there are important things to know when it comes to localization. After all, since you’ve most likely spent a lot of time carefully crafting each and every aspect of it, it would be a shame to just throw your master text at the first people you know who happen to speak a foreign language and hope for the best, right?
In this article, I’ve compiled a few tips aimed at game developers based on my experience working on dozens of titles ranging from expansive AAA MMORPGs to tiny mobile games.
In this new “Between the Lines” series, I’ll be interviewing some of my colleagues who are specialized in game localization for their respective language pairs. Learning more about your peers is an integral part of the job, and they always have something new to teach!
For this very first edition, I’ll be introducing an expert in English to Russian / Russian to English localization: Natalia Nesterova.
When we think about translation tools, our first thought usually goes towards the software side of things: indeed, many translators cannot work properly without their trusty CAT (Computer-assisted translation) tool(s), but one less-talked about topic is the hardware that can simplify your job on a daily basis, especially if you’re working in games.