Specialisation in the video games industry Thread poster: Adam, MA Trans
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Adam, MA Trans
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:52
French to English
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Hi everybody,
Just wondering if there is any demand for translators who have some knowledge of the video games industry?Unfortunately, I have no working experience in this industry but due to growing up around video games since I was a child, a keen interest in it now (constantly reading magazines and forums etc) I do have quite extensive knowledge on all the current affairs, the new technology, and of course, on the specific terminology used (you'd be surprised how much there is). ... See more Hi everybody,
Just wondering if there is any demand for translators who have some knowledge of the video games industry?Unfortunately, I have no working experience in this industry but due to growing up around video games since I was a child, a keen interest in it now (constantly reading magazines and forums etc) I do have quite extensive knowledge on all the current affairs, the new technology, and of course, on the specific terminology used (you'd be surprised how much there is). Is this worth noting down on my profile or a red herring because of my lack of work experience in the field?
I ask because I understand that the industry is probably as big as (if not bigger) than the film and music industries now and I suspect it would be an uncrowded field, if rather unorthodox, field to specialise in. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jan Truper 
Germany
Local time: 11:52
Member (2016)
English to German
It's a huge market with a lot of translation work to be done (there are games with over a million words). Translation of games often involves a game testing step, and for this they might need a mixture of gamer and language professional. And there are several offshoot markets like e-sports which also need a lot of content translated.
As far as I can tell, from a European perspective, most games are either written in English, or they are translated from an Asian language into English... See more It's a huge market with a lot of translation work to be done (there are games with over a million words). Translation of games often involves a game testing step, and for this they might need a mixture of gamer and language professional. And there are several offshoot markets like e-sports which also need a lot of content translated.
As far as I can tell, from a European perspective, most games are either written in English, or they are translated from an Asian language into English before being translated into FIGS. Most translation work in this field is being handled by agencies.
I know there are some French game companies, so I assume there's a market for your language combination as well. Your familiarity with the field is definitely worth noting down in your profile -- a lot of end clients will insist on the translators having gaming experience.
[Edited at 2017-11-24 15:37 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | MurielG
France
Local time: 11:52
English to French
I've been hired by a localization compagny without any work experience in this field, but same as you, I spent plenty of time playing video games. If you're familiar with the gaming industry yeah, I don't see why it wouldn't be worthwhile mentioning it in your résumé!
But as Jan Truper said, most games are written in English, so I don't know if you would have many opportunities with your language pair.
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 10:52
Member (2007)
English
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| Have you searched the site? | Nov 25, 2017 |
I advise you to do a search of the directory to find out how many translators here have that specialisation, and check out how many jobs are posted publicly asking for those particular skills. I have little knowledge of the area but I believe it's a massive market covered by many translators. I'm quite sure there are jobs available for those who have the necessary terminology at hand and do an all-round good job.
My only experience of the industry is paying for my son to qualify as... See more I advise you to do a search of the directory to find out how many translators here have that specialisation, and check out how many jobs are posted publicly asking for those particular skills. I have little knowledge of the area but I believe it's a massive market covered by many translators. I'm quite sure there are jobs available for those who have the necessary terminology at hand and do an all-round good job.
My only experience of the industry is paying for my son to qualify as a game developer. He then fell into a job designing not games but industrial modelling software - which uses remarkably similar techniques. So he's now into virtual reality games Just as an offshoot. But that's programming rather than translation (although he's in France so bilingual). I imagine the terminology is far from similar  . ▲ Collapse
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