How to get into game localization for your dream career

How to get into game localization and start on your dream career

Wondering how to get into game localization? Check out these tips to help you break into this competitive market and embark on your dream career.

Vova Zakharov is a developer, AI experimenter, writer, and former Smartcat editor-in-chief with 22 years of background as a translator, editor, and copywriter. He writes about language technology, AI tooling, localization, and content workflows.

Published January 30, 2017·8 min read

1. Choose your destiny: in-house employee or freelancer?

First of all, you will need to determine what kind of employment you are looking for. The two basic options are working in-house for a developer/translation agency, or as a freelancer. Both have their advantages and shortcomings, and may be more or less easy to achieve depending on factors such as your location (or ability/willingness to relocate) for in-house positions or self-disciple/motivation for freelancing. Balance pluses and minuses carefully, and choose your way.

2. Be prepared

All the information you need to know about translation as a profession, the tools of the trade, rates, pitfalls, etc. is freely available online. Articles, courses, forums... a quick search can do wonders. Learn the basics, try your hand at a few projects to gain experience (more on that later) and leave beginner mistakes behind you.

Many of your potential employers/clients will ask you to perform some sort of test before hiring you or using your services. Make sure you've done your homework and are 100% ready to perform at your best. Follow instructions carefully, double-check/proofread everything before delivering and hope for the best. You need to be as professional as possible from Day 1.

3. Start directly as an in-house translator

Typically, offers for in-house positions will require you to have an educational background or experience in translation/languages, plus a certain amount of experience. On the educational side, more and more universities now offer audiovisual localization courses. More general linguistic and/or cultural studies will also be seen as good alternatives. It is probably the most natural path to become a language professional, but you may still find the job hunting difficult, as most companies will expect you to already have experience and the competition is big.

4. Get in the industry and work your way through

The idea is that, rather than directly landing a position as a translator, you could try to first get that decisive one foot in the industry and move your way up from there. I will share a bit of personal experience here. I started out as a web developer for a game localization agency (nothing related to linguistic in my job description), and gained translation experience as project managers would occasionally ask me to help their team of translators in their efforts. I know a lot of people who started in a similar way, for example working in testing (debugging) or working/doing an internship in a completely different role (web developers, sales/marketing people, etc.) Admittedly, this is not the most lucrative path to full-time translation and the results may be a little random, but you’ll gain experience and you will be in a much stronger position to move to a full-time translator role.

5. Contact translation agencies

There are quite a few agencies specialized in game localization almost always on the lookout for new translators to join their teams. Contact them, make it clear that you specialize in games and have at least some experience. You will probably be asked to take a test, and from there things are in your hands. Agency rates will rarely be stellar, but they can offer a regular work flow and that's how many of us started building our businesses.

6. Contact developers

Although a lot of developers work with agencies and/or their internal localization teams, you may occasionally find openings for freelance translators online. To be informed of these opportunities as soon as they become available, it can be a good idea to follow those companies on social networks and regularly check their website for new postings.

7. Network!

Many countries have strong communities of translators, sometimes even groups specialized in game translation. Get in touch with them, go to the informal meetings, be at conferences and let people know about your services. Experienced translators get increasingly busier with time and may have jobs to share. You can also learn a lot from their success. Plus, meeting new people and building new relationships is fun!

Even if you're living in a more isolated area, you can always join online communities and make yourself known by contributing to discussions and sharing interesting content. Using social networks to help and interact with developers is another way to get yourself known as a specialist, which could also lead to assignments.

8. Most importantly... be patient

As a freelancer, you need to establish your business and grow a client base. No matter how good you are and how hard you try, things will take time. Definitely. You will need at the very least months, and most likely a couple of years until you start making as much as you would as a company employee. Patience and consistency are key to your success. Don't give up, but don't put yourself in a financially dangerous position. Many recommend keeping at least a part-time job until your freelance business generates enough income to pay the bills.

9. Help indie developers for free

Finding small translation assignments can allow you to learn the job on the field and to have something to show your clients. Avoid assignments larger than a few hundred words though. Being willing to help for experience doesn't make you a slave.

10. Rock the LocJAM

Every year, the IGDA LocSIG organizes a game translation contest called LocJAM. With two categories (Pro and Amateur), young and veteran translators all have a chance to shine. Having your translation picked up by industry professionals can be a real plus on your CV. But even if you don't win a prize, it's still a fantastic opportunity to gain experience.

Conclusion

The video game market is bigger and more diverse than it has ever been, and there's no reason a motivated translator couldn't find work in the industry. Arm yourself with patience, be curious, be determined, listen to your more experienced peers and you will ultimately get there.