A Manual for enhancing localization capabilities in the game industry derived from the tacit knowledge of Chinese experts

Abstract

As the global gaming market expands, the localization of games is essential. There is a need for personnel with technical knowledge. The ability to translate into target languages and cultures has increased. More personnel are needed in this profession. Building and upgrading the skills of personnel working in this area is necessary. This study, therefore, aims to develop a game localization manual to accelerate the development of language translation abilities for those who want to enter a career in game translation in the Chinese game industry. The objectives of this study are 1) to identify and extract necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes from professional game localization experts, 2) to develop and apply an essential knowledge manual to increase the capacity of individuals required for the industry, and 3) to assess the effectiveness of the manual in increasing the capacity and time required for individuals to develop translation abilities. This study used structured interviews with experienced game localization experts. It continued to extract deep knowledge to create training manuals that provide the necessary skills and reduce the time it takes to build individual game translation expertise. The development process includes knowledge management tools, namely the knowledge engineering process. They are used to collect deep knowledge information. The process ensures that the manual created is based on the deep knowledge of translation experts. Communities of practice facilitate collaborative learning, and after-action reviews provide insights for continuous improvement. The trial study lasted two months and was conducted in control and experimental groups. The study results showed that the experimental group’s (learned from the manual) test scores and performance increased, and the experimental groups could reduce the time it took to develop abilities significantly (Compared to the control group who studied on their own). This study has developed a training manual covering essential game localization knowledge. It is a tool for increasing game translation capabilities and can reduce personnel development time, help in creating personnel, increase game language translation potential, and reduce the time for personnel development.