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Article published In: Translation Spaces
Vol. 14:1 (2025) ► pp.1–24

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International players’ perceptions of localization in their gameplay experiences

An explorative study with Steam user game reviews

ORCiD logo with link | The University of Auckland
ORCiD logo with link | The University of Auckland
Published online: 19 September 2024
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ts.23042.hsu
Abstract
Game localization is the complex industrial process of adapting digital games linguistically, culturally and technically, seeking to deliver a gameplay experience as close as possible to that of the original. Guided by Livingston, Ian. 2018. “Post-launch in games user research.” In Games User Research, edited by Anders Drachen, Pejman Mirza-Babaei and Lennart E. Nacke, 45–60. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar Review Analysis methodology combined with thematic analysis, we tap into user reviews of the Taiwanese game Detention (Red Candle Games. 2017. Detention. Red Candle Games, AGM PLAYISM. Microsoft Windows, MacOS, Linux.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) in Simplified Chinese, English and Japanese, to gauge and compare player experiences in relation to localization, and explore the scope of review data for player-focused game localization research. Our qualitative analysis implicates culturalization as an impactful underlying factor in shaping the gameplay experience, for which translation issues remain opaque. As long as certain limitations are acknowledged, real-world data such as Steam user reviews provide an alternative source that is high in ecological validity, offering promising scope for future player-focused game localization research towards enriching the international dimension of Games User Research.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Literature review
  • 3.Methodological considerations
    • 3.1The rationale for the game and locale selections
    • 3.2User-generated game reviews on Steam
    • 3.3Dataset and analysis procedures
      • Step 1.Planning
      • Step 2.Data collection
      • Step 3.Data analysis
  • 4.Results and discussion
    • 4.1Linguistic translations
    • 4.2Cultural contexts
    • 4.3Technical issues
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (39)
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