A game’s success often depends on how much its fans love it. Sometimes, fans care so much about the game’s story that they help creators translate the game into the local language for free. They might find mistakes in the game, suggest new things to add, or you can even get them on board to get video game translation services in several languages. This approach is helpful for small game companies that don’t have much money to spend on video game translation.
History of Fan-based Translation
The concept of fan-based translation was started in the late 1990s. At that time, people who were fond of playing video games started translating the games themselves. For this reason, they changed the game files so that the words get translated into their language.
For games played on special gaming machines, they used special software to play the changed files. Moreover, for games played on computers, they changed many files and put them together into a patch. This process made players enjoy games from all over the world, even if they weren’t originally made for their country.
Why do people opt for fan-based translation?
People who like to translate games often focus on Japanese games that aren’t available in English. They want to make these games playable for people who speak English. Sometimes, they also translate games that are new in Japan but might not be officially released in English-speaking countries.
These translations have also helped people translate games into many other languages. Sometimes, fans translate games that have already been translated officially, but they don’t like the way it was done. For example, if the game had some parts taken out or if the story or characters were changed too much.
It is expensive to make a game in every language. Even big game companies don’t always opt to go for it. They usually pick a few popular languages. Small game makers might only afford English.
If your game is already popular, fans might help translate it for free. That is what happened with a game called Bioshock Infinite. Fans loved the game so much, they helped translate it into Russian.
So, even if you don’t have a lot of money, your game can still be successful if it is good enough and people like it.
Disadvantages of Fan Translations
If you ask fans to help translate your game, remember they are not paid professionals from any Professional translation agency. They are doing it for free. The important thing to note is that they might make some mistakes.
Not on Time
Fans usually work voluntarily, so you cannot force them to complete the translation project on time. Moreover, if some of them are paid, then one thing to keep in mind is that no one is punctual. Volunteer fans usually perform their work in the daytime. As they get a stable income, they prioritize their work. So, you can expect delayed game launches and late content updates.
Poor Quality & Inconsistency
The quality of translation is affected by the mistakes that fan translators make. There is no doubt in the fact that fan translators are not professionals, so they are prone to making mistakes.
They even don’t know the terminology used in the industry, which results in inconsistency in translation results. Also, you don’t get professional translation results because the fans who are translating the content are not paid, so they may not give attention to the details of the translation projects.
Lack of Legal Protection
Fan translations are usually illegal. They often break the rules set by the people who own the copyright. This is not a big crime, but it can get the translators in trouble. If the copyright owners use the fan translation, it can be even more complicated.
Copyright is different in each country. There is no one set of rules for the whole world. Not suing every infringer can be risky. They may violate copyright laws or licensing agreements, which can result in legal action from the original publishers.
Lack of agreement
Do you know that fans view their work as a creative process? Translations required legal compliance and technical precision because translating the specialized terms requires no second opinion or preference.
One thing that you should keep in mind is that you have to make the changes right and not let the biases and opinions of translators alter your game narrative.
Advantages of Fan Translation
After discussing the disadvantages of fan translation, let’s have a look at its advantages.
Cost Effective
It is a very cost-effective option, as small game developers need not hire a professional translation agency. This makes them save a lot of money, as they do not need to pay large amounts for complete game translation.
Passion and understanding of the game
Passion and a knack for games are the top qualities of the fan translator. The love for games inculcates motivation in the player to make an effort and invest time in translation.
Their deep understanding of the game’s narrative and storyline allows them to translate the game’s content, paying attention to small nuances that may otherwise be missed out by any translators who are not into your game.
Community Connection
Passionate fans are often active in the community and can gather feedback from other players, allowing them to refine their translations and address any issues. Their love for the game and word of mouth help you strengthen your relationship with the players’ community. and shared experiences among players. These fan translators can also inform the other community members about localized versions and address their concerns.
Wrapping Up
Whether you hire a professional translation agency or go for fan-based translation, you must keep in mind that every option has pros and cons. If you want to tap into new gaming markets, then you don’t have to compromise on quality.
Small game developers can take leverage from fan translation to save money, but once their gaming business starts flourishing, they should hire a professional translation agency.
