ABSTRACT
Many video games are translated into multiple languages and distributed around the globe. This poses unique challenges for game writers and narrative designers as they convey stories to broad audiences through interactive gameplay. This chapter discusses these challenges and provides advice for navigating them. Experienced game writer and narrative designer, Ross Berger explains the differences between transliteration, translation and localization and how each approach impacts a videogame. It highlights the pitfalls of bad localization and points out that the best way to avoid them is to partner very closely with the localization experts working on your game. He provides very practical techniques, including how to itemize, schedule and review work. He acknowledges localization can be overlooked in the game development process, but if the writer avoids this mistake and values localization appropriately it can mean a much wider audience enjoys the story they want to tell. Writing exercises at the end of the chapter encourage exploration of localization challenges.
