Localization SIG

International Game Developers Association

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Last Update: 10 June, 2013

Welcome to the Game Localization SIG of the IGDA!

This Special Interest Group was launched in June 2007 in order to serve the needs of the game localization and culturalization community. And who are they? Anyone whose involved in the process of proactively planning for game content distribution to international markets, performing the requisite translation, internationalization and globalization, and adapting content for the various cultural expectations of the local gamers.

Contents

Announcements

IGDA Translation Force Needs YOU!: The Loc SIG has launched the "Translation Force", a group of SIG members who are volunteering their time and skills to help the IGDA provide its content in a variety of languages - not just English anymore!. If you're a translator and interested in donating your time to help in this effort, please contact the SIG Chair, Kate Edwards [kate at englobe dot com]. Let's help emphasize the "International" aspect of the IGDA! Most recently, this effort provided translation for the Global Game Jam 2013 website!

Game Localization Best Practices is complete: Initially written by our own Richard Honeywood, this document has been updated to version 2.0 with Jon Fung's editorial guidance, based on the input of many members of the Loc SIG. You can download the finished PDF file via the Englobe website (this is a temporary download point, until IGDA technical issues are resolved).

New Localization SIG Steering Committee. The new Loc. SIG SC will serve from May 2013 to April 2015.

Communicate!

Stay up to date and get engaged with the IGDA Loc SIG through the following methods:

The Loc SIG on Twitter: The Loc SIG has an active Twitter account. Follow @igdalocsig to keep informed of SIG activities and game localization news.

Topics of the Week (TOW): We usually post a Topic of the Week on the SIG DL; please feel free to join in the discussions and offer your opinions. If you have ideas for TOW topics, please submit them to the SIG Steering Committee [locsig-sc at igda dot org].

Join the Loc SIG Email Distribution List: In case you didn't know, the Loc SIG has its own email distribution list. For those of you who wish to join the DL or aren't sure if your email was included in the initial set-up, please visit the Loc SIG DL Information Page to sign up (we currently have 300+ members on the list!). This email DL is the PRIMARY method by which the SIG sends announcements and conducts discussions. The Facebook and LinkedIn groups remain open, but only for major announcements.

Events

Loc SIG Activities @ GDC 2013: For all Loc SIG members attending GDC this year, the SIG offered the following activities:

  • The 5th Annual Localization Summit: Tuesday, 26 March, 10:00am-6:00pm (Moscone North Hall, Room 131)
  • Loc SIG Annual Meeting: Thursday, 28 March, 12:30-2:00pm (Moscone North Hall, Room 112)
  • Loc SIG Social Gathering: Thursday, 28 March, 4:00-5:00pm (IGDA Booth, Moscone South Hall lobby)

We had a great turnout at all the events, thanks to everyone who attended!

Note: all information about Past Events can be found here: Localization SIG Past Events
Do you know of an event involving or of interest to game localization? Are you speaking at such an event? Please let us know and we'll post the news here!

SIG Overview

Reason/need for a Localization SIG: The number of game industry and localization industry professionals who are engaged specifically and exclusively in games has been increasing in proportion to the industry's growth. This group of specialized professionals is currently split between either being more "game industry-oriented" or more "localization services-oriented", without an appropriate "home" in which the hybrid field of game localization can exist. The game localization practice contains its own unique challenges and solutions that would benefit from a community space in which its professionals can interact and grow in association with the games industry. At the same time, the utility software localization industry has been developing tools and workflows that the game industry could utilize to save time and money which would benefit everybody involved in the localization process, as well as the game industry and the gaming community.

SIG Objectives

Goals/Mission: To provide a focal point and nexus for the growing number of game localization professionals in order to build community, draw together best practices and processes, and emphasize the requisite international dimension of game content development towards the goal of improving global game development processes and local end user experiences.

Potential projects/Initiatives: Beyond the goal of drawing together and building community among those involved in game localization, the SIG would also seek to fulfill collaborative projects. Some possible examples include:

  • Game Localization Summit: Organize at least one annual, one-day game localization tutorial/seminar, preferably in conjunction and in association with one of the GDC events. This event was launched at GDC in 2009!
  • Activities at Industry Events: Ensure that the SIG has a clear presence at events like GDC, Localization World, E3, Gamescom, etc.
  • Game Localization Best Practices: Compile a list of core best practices for game localization and make the guidelines available via the SIG. This effort was launched in early 2011 and version 2.0 was released on 1 February, 2012!
  • Loc Standards White Paper: Generate a game localization standards white paper that contains recommendations for standards that can be applied in localization processes throughout the game industry.

SIG Leadership

The SIG Steering Committee is comprised of 5 SIG members and can be contacted at [locsig-sc at igda dot org].


Current Leadership

The following individuals were elected by the SIG membership in December 2010 and are serving as the SIG steering committee for the 2011-2012 2-year term:


Elections

The SIG is currently holding elections for the next two-year term (2013-2015):

Election timeline:

  • 1- A call for nominations and request for candidate statements. (22 April)
  • 2- Nominations closed. (6 May 11:59PM EDT)
  • 3- Nominees' statements will be posted on the website. (7 May - 13 May)
  • 4- Elections start. Nominees can make posts to mailing list/forums addressing their nomination. (14 May)
  • 5- The winner will be announced by email within one week of the close of the election period. (20 May)
  • 6- Newly elected Steering Committee Members officially take office. (25 May)
  • 7- Steering Committee Members discuss and appoint a chair and announce results to SIG. (6 June)

For more information, contact the SIG Steering Committee at the address above or IGDA Operations Manager Tristin Hightower at [tristin at igda dot org].

SIG Guidelines

The SIG guidelines document is available here: Localization SIG Guidelines

How to Join and Get Involved

First and foremost, we encourage everyone who's interested in the SIG to first join the IGDA as a paying member - more information is available here: http://www.igda.org/join/. Your paid membership and affiliation with the Localization SIG will help support the SIG's activities.

Once you have a profile on the IGDA website, you can go to My Groups and edit your affiliations, make sure you make the "Localization" SIG one of them. Next, you need to join the official Loc SIG mailing list, indicated below. You can also join the Facebook and LinkedIn groups, but the mailing list will be the primary channel for ALL SIG-related communication.

Feel free to introduce yourself on the SIG mailing list, send ideas, and/or express your thoughts on game localization!

Retrieved from "http://wiki.igda.org/Localization_SIG"
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