While some companies do not require previous professional experience in the field they emphasize that applicants must be avid gamers, and they consider a solid knowledge of game culture to be more important than translation expertise in the area. This has clear implications for training, as it is important to include in the design of courses some degree of familiarization with the game industry and the history of games, as well as making students play different games, in order to introduce some gaming experience. Gameplay experience is particularly necessary when translating “blind-folded" without any contextual information, as a gamer is more likely to be able to guess the right context for a given string than somebody who has never played a video game.
Game localizers can get started in the field in several different ways. One involves applying for work directly through specialized game industry employment websites.74 Similarly, the vacancies sections on developers' and publishers' websites often feature localization jobs. Candidates are likely to have to do some kind of test to demonstrate their aptitude and skills for the position. Usually tests include the translation of different text types related to games, together with some proof-reading and a review of a translated text. In our experience, if a test contains two or three mistakes, such as an extra blank space between two words, a punctuation error, an orthographic or a typographic mistake, the candidate is likely to fail the process, even if the translation is good. In addition, good writing ability in one's mother tongue is considered of paramount importance in this industry. Another way of getting started in game localization is to begin as a linguistic tester. This allows future game translators to become familiar with the game industry, different game genres, and the terminology used in different platforms, and provides a solid foundation to start working as a localizer in this sector. Vacancy advertisements for linguistic testers can usually be found on developers' and publishers' websites, as well as on the game industry websites mentioned above.
Finally, university-industry partnerships in the form of internships can be very beneficial for both future translators and game localization companies and should be fostered when possible. For example, the M.A. in Audiovisual Translation at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona provides students with the possibility of internships with game localization vendors. This is a relatively easy way for students to gain a foothold in the game localization industry, hone their translation skills, and specialize in this field. Localization vendors can also benefit from the work of trainees who have specialized knowledge on translation and interest in the game industry and who usually become accustomed to the company's work practices quickly and efficiently. Once the internship finishes the students often continue working for the company, either at in-house or outsourcing level.
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