If you need more than having your game translated from English to German, or German to English, then you probably want to take advantage of my localization service. It doesn’t matter if it’s rulebooks, card descriptions, player mats, player aids, general in-game text, marketing material, video closed captions and subtitles, audio transcripts and pretty much anything else. Localization means all your game materials are appropriate for your German-speaking target audience and all text reads as if it was written in German in the first place, rather than translated from English – or, of course, vice versa.
I was born in Germany, so German is my native language, and have lived in the United Kingdom for over 20 years, making English the language I use most these days.
Like with my translation services, I guarantee that I will localize all documents myself, not using an automated system. That assures a high-quality result that sounds like they were written by a native speaker in the target language.
I can translate game terminology, as well as puns, metaphors, turns of phrase, dialect and other language-dependent expressions in a way that is sympathetic to the target audience, which automated systems still very much struggle with.
That’s the difference between translating a document and localizing it. Localization services mean that the target audience feels catered for and looked after, rather than being an afterthought to your game. The text in your game’s rulebook, for example, will read completely naturally for native speakers in your target audience.
Please contact me for a quote, as costs will depend on the volume and the type of material.
You can see examples of my work at the bottom of this page.
Rulebook Localization
I have read many rulebooks, both in English and German, for many different tabletop games, so I can translate your game rulebooks with ease and be able to find the right terminology that players will understand, while also writing them in a way that feels natural to native speakers.
In-Game Text
I can localize all in-game text, whether this is descriptions on cards, on the game board, player mats, player aids or anything else that will be read by players during gameplay. I am used to ensuring text fits within the limited space available during gameplay and can edit translations down to ensure they are still clear, while at the same time succinct and short.
Marketing Material
I can ensure that all your marketing material is translated in such a way that it appeals and feels natural to the target audience. It is important to understand the relevant cultural references and the target language’s idiosyncrasies so that the marketing message remains intact and creates the best response from the local market.
Video Closed Captions and Subtitles
I can easily translate your existing video subtitles or captions, or I can help add subtitles or captions to your videos with my Video Closed Captions and Subtitles service, and then translate those.
Audio Transcripts
I offer an Audio Transcription service and of course, I can translate the resulting transcript as well.
Work Samples
Here are examples of the work I have done so far:
- EPOS: A Gentes Game from Spielworxx: translation of base game rulebook, 8 scenario rulebooks and the campaign rulebook
- Battle Dentale, Ponzi Scheme, SUMO and Tokkuri Taking from Bright Eye Games: rulebook-only translation of all four games
- Earth Rising from SDR Games Studio: full game translation (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RQ1r7ndMsAUoThIds7iikBApgEhdmzfO/view)
- We Can Play from Julibert Games: full game translation
- Tri To Win from Atikin Games: rulebook-only translation (https://atikingames.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/instructions.pdf)