As smartphones expand the gaming industry beyond consoles and personal computers, mobile games have become the largest segment of the industry, accounting for 60% of the total market revenue. With over 500 new mobile games launching every day, standing out in the sea of apps is a herculean task.
Implementation of new technology
Gamers are no longer satisfied with traditional single-player games in the world where new technologies emerge every day. The buss of Pokemon Go generated is a strong proof of the attractiveness of new technologies. Putting augmented reality technology into good use, it creates an innovating three-dimensional experience for gamers on just a small gadget. Its advanced feature of combining the real and computer-generated world makes the game overwhelmingly addictive.
Massively multiplayer online gaming technology builds games like Call of Duty into a AAA title. Multiplayer games have a distinct panache to it since outwitting a real person is always more euphoric than defeating an AI. Its ability of allowing players to socialise and interact with each other boosts popularity of the game.
Also Read:
Trends on Gaming and Machine Translation
Simplicity and freemium monetisation
Smartphones are meant for various tasks, not for gaming solely. The most successful mobile games are simplistic time killers such as Candy Crash and Angry Bird. Players are less likely to comprehend complicated plotlines and in-depth character arcs when they are on the go. Easy to pick up, playable with one hand, possible to stop and save progress at any moment engender greater engagement and retention.
Providing a sense of autonomy is another critical success factor. Game developers can prompt this feeling by making the game completely free to download, yet paying will make it easier to advance. Autonomy can also be implemented by adding in-app purchase options which players are allowed to make their own decisions, such as paying for uncovering bonus levels for big win chance and acquiring special characters or weapons.
Challenges of mobile game localisation
Localising a game is always time-consuming since the process has to be methodical and thorough. Constantly changing strings during development make it even more challenging for translators to deliver sound work within tight schedule. Working with a team of highly productive professional linguists, Elite Asia promises to provide swift response and professional work in expedited timelines.
Outstanding localisation skill with in-depth knowledge of the target text culture is a prerequisite for avoiding ‘all your base are belong to us’ embarrassment. Linguists have to make precise judgement in deciding how much to foreignise and domesticate when handling gaming projects that inherently contain lots of cultural elements.
User interface (UI) is one of the unique elements for gaming localisation. Text space in the UI is limited, which can be a big problem when translating into a language using different alphabet. It requires proper systems and procedures in place to ensure high quality work.
While there is seemingly endless supply of mobile games, the industry is highly competitive and only a small percentage can be successful and profitable. Keeping up with the latest technology, concocting innovative ideas and stories, and reaching new markets with well-localised version are essential ways to stand out from the crowd.
Related Post: