In March 2023, Google announced a new service: free machine translation for game developers. Obviously, the news rocked the gaming industry, as it brought a huge solution for gaming companies that want to translate or localize their games for the global market. Well, the launch was effective as it brought a package of seven languages, including Chinese, German, French, Indonesian, Japanese, Castilian Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese.
But, after a few weeks of the launch, gaming experts from different parts of the world started discussing it. Although they appreciated Google for such an initiative, they also shared their personal opinions about machine translation.
Artificial intelligence, indeed, plays a great role in making our lives easy, our hours productive, and enhancing our capabilities. However, we cannot deny the fact that it is a programmed function based on the data sets given. It’s a long debate, by the way. Let’s cut it out and discuss whether MT is a better alternative for game development or not.
Machine learning has made its way into almost every industry, and gaming is no exception. Let’s dig a little deeper into the potential and limitations of it.
In terms of saving time and money, nothing can beat MT. It offers lightning-fast processing, cutting out a fraction of the time human translators require. Gaming is a vast industry, and now the concept of gaming has changed a lot. The addition of detailed instructions and information collectively creates a pile of work that requires a more efficient method to handle it. Therefore, if you go for the manual process, it will take a lot of time and money. However, for MT, handling a massive volume of text is just a matter of a few minutes.
Nothing comes without a price. Although MT is a fast and efficient method, it still has a few limitations. Let’s discuss:
Don’t get frightened. There is a solution to every problem. All you need to do is to keep reading.
Human translators excel in areas where MT fails. Their familiarity with the linguistic and cultural nuances is unmatched. With their profound understanding of contextual intricacies, they can deliver translations that resonate with the target audience. Moreover, game translation services can faithfully capture the game's intended tone, style, and humor. This provides players with an immersive and engaging gameplay experience that feels authentic.
Games often contain specialized terminology related to gameplay mechanics, abilities, and items. Human translators possess the flexibility to understand this vocabulary and ensure accurate and consistent translations throughout the game. Effective game localization requires close collaboration between a translation agency and developers. This way, translators can actively communicate with the development team to gain a deeper insight into the game’s storyline, characters, and overall concept.
While human translation remains the gold standard, we cannot turn a blind eye to the cost-effectiveness of MT. In the gaming industry, companies need translation for a large amount of text. That costs a lot and often becomes a reason they shift to free translation tools. Instead of quitting, finding a middle way can help them localize their games without going bankrupt. Here comes the hybrid approach.
It is the collaboration of machine and human translators, where the machine works in the early stages and the final stages come under the supervision of humans. To be clear, machines translate the content and prepare a first draft. To ensure linguistic and cultural accuracy, human translators proofread the draft and edit the mistakes if there are any. Well, if you do not want to go for pure humanly translated games, working with this hybrid approach can help you survive in the global market.
The debate over machine vs. human translation is everlasting. Although machine learning technologies are rapidly evolving and making strides in every aspect of life, we cannot completely rely on them. There will always be a need for human assistance.
While MY offers a tempting solution due to its affordability and speed, it is not a perfect substitute for human translation. In the intricate world of game localization, the complexities of language, cultural nuances, and the need for precise in-game terminology necessitate the adaptability of human expertise. Ultimately, the success of your game in the global market hinges on striking a balance between efficiency and providing an exceptional experience for global audiences.