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Article published In: The Journal of Internationalization and Localization
Vol. 4:1 (2017) ► pp.22–39

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Achievements

Unique texts, unique localisation

 | University College London
Published online: 19 January 2018
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/jial.4.1.02str
Abstract
Achievements perform an essential entertainment function in video games. They instruct and reward gamers, and they serve as status symbols or bragging rights within gaming communities. These texts can be challenging for localisers, since they have multiple functions, align with or subvert game mechanics and narrative, and can contain a range of intertextual references, understood as references to other texts, genres, or popular culture (Mangiron, Carme, and Minako O’Hagan. 2006. “Game Localisation: unleashing imagination with ‘restricted’ translation.” The Journal of Specialised Translation, 61: 10–21.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar). Their localisation, therefore, warrants special handling. In this article, I make the case for achievement texts being a unique text type based on Bernal-Merino, Miguel Ángel. 2014. Translation and Localisation in Video Games: Making Entertainment Software Global. New York & London: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar classification. Further, I propose a macro-level analysis approach that enables localisers to re-render these texts’ essential component parts.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The role of achievements
  • 3.The function of achievements
  • 4.Localising achievement texts – challenges
  • 5.Examples of achievement texts
  • 6.Suggestions for localising achievement texts
  • 7.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
  • Ludography
References (30)
References
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Ludography
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Cited by (3)

Cited by three other publications

O’Hagan, Minako, Julie McDonough Dolmaya & Hendrik J. Kockaert
2019. Pandemic, localization and change of guard. The Journal of Internationalization and Localization 6:2 ► pp. 69 ff. DOI logo
Strong, Samuel
2019. French gamer-speak: new conceptualizations of text production, virtual spaces, and social stratification. Contemporary French Civilization 44:1 ► pp. 39 ff. DOI logo
Fernández-Costales, Alberto
2017. On the sociolinguistics of video games localisation. The Journal of Internationalization and Localization 4:2 ► pp. 120 ff. DOI logo

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