8-bit translations

Video game development has come a long way since early days in 1970s, from the time of classic titles like Pac-man, to the present, where studios handle budgets similar to those of big screen blockbusters (well, sometimes). 

Those old games were rather simple and allowed the player to enjoy themselves having little or no knowledge of the source language. However, video games have evolved dramatically and they barely resemble the old two-action games with a monochromatic palette. They now submerge the player in a world of their own, full of rules and possibilities, where every decision leads to a new path. As a result, an extensive development phase has arisen: it might take months to recreate the movement of the hair of the main character, endless hours trying to replicate the texture of an old rusty pipe. Numerous meetings are held to come up with puzzles which are compelling enough but, at the same time, solvable, and not only by Sherlock Holmes.  

That is why the effort you put in creating the game, whether it is invested in graphics, character creation or in the storylines of dialogues, should be reflected flawlessly in the target language. The equation is simple: if the original language quality is an essential element of your storyline and the desired atmosphere for your game, the same will apply in any language. 

Localization of video games should not be seen as an extra cost, separate from the production process, but as an integrated part of development, and seamlessly intertwined with it.