As video games are becoming more popular throughout the world, there is increased pressure on video game developers and publishers to localize their games. Not doing so simply doesn’t make any sense anymore from a sales perspective. Developers are turning to video game localization companies to provide professional translation services and game localization. One particularly important service that these companies provide is voice dubbing. Voice dubbing services play a pivotal role in the gaming translation process.
What Are Voice Dubbing Services?
Voice dubbing services are an integral part of the wider video game translation process. A successfully translated game should have all of its text and audio translated–that includes all the dialogue that occurs in the game. The translated content then needs to be reintegrated back into the game.
What Is The Voice Dubbing Process Like?
For text, this is a fairly straightforward process, while for audio the process is a bit more complicated. Translated dialogue and speech needs to be recorded using professional voice actors. This in itself is not such an easy task. The right voice actors for each language need to be found, and the recording process can take time. Once the translated audio files are brought to life, they need to be reintegrated back into the game. It is possible that new animation work might need to be done, so that characters’ speech doesn’t seem off when speaking in the translated language. Rigorous localization QA also needs to be performed. Players will not forgive bad video game translations or bad implementation of translations. Poor voice dubbing services cannot be hidden; players will excoriate a game and its developers for mistakes that could have otherwise been caught.
Why Are Voice Dubbing Services Important?
The goal of video game localization services is to make a game more relatable to a player who differs in background and culture from the original developers of the game. Thus, a game developed in an English speaking country needs to be localized so that players in non-English speaking countries can enjoy it. Voice dubbing services are important to this process. Players want to be able to interact and engage with characters of a game in their native language. A player who is not proficient in English will have a hard time enjoying a game that has dialogue in English, and therefore might not purchase the game. If the game’s dialogue was translated into his/her native language, then they might be more interested in the game, and potentially be more likely to purchase it.
