Importance of Cultural Elements in Video Games & Role of Translation

Video games aren’t just for entertainment; they also reflect and shape culture. Along with music and movies, games also play an important role in showcasing the true cultural elements of a certain society. The role of game translation services are very useful in this scenario as they are the ones that allow global gaming audiences to understand these cultural elements as intended by the game developers. Games are created based on proper storylines and narratives, which lay their foundation. Later, these narratives capture the attention of the players. And the inculcation of cultural elements, which add to the story of the games, makes them more immersive for the audiences.

In the following read below, we are going to discuss how cultural elements of games make them complete as well as attractive for gamers.

Cultural Elements in Video Games

We all know how games are based on stories and certain themes. For instance, in a first-person shooting video game, the story revolves around how the main character has to save people or help the military complete a mission. Other than the story, there are certain cultural themes present in the game that depict where the game was created. If it’s a Chinese game, it will consist of Chinese philosophies such as Taoism and Confucianism. In the game “Final Fantasy,” there is a conflict between nature and advanced technology and the Gaia hypothesis, which explains Japan’s tug-of-war with modernization and the preservation of traditional values.

The incorporation of cultural elements in video games from diverse societies allows people to build an understanding of each other’s cultures. These cultural components range from ancient folklore and mythology to modern art and music. They enhance the game experience and provide players with a unique opportunity to study diverse cultures and viewpoints. For example, games set in Japanese culture represent anime, manga, and Shinto beliefs. This makes a gamer learn about Japanese culture. Hence, cultural elements play an important role in the gaming world.

Creating Meaningful Stories

Because of these cultural themes, games have such meaningful stories that capture the attention of the audiences. Final Fantasy is a Japanese game that is almost 37 years old. Many parts and versions of this game are being played right as we speak. “Aerith Gainsborough” is a character in the game known for her spell-casting skills. In the game, she is working as a flower girl. In Japan, ladies are seen holding baskets full of flowers for sale on bamboo poles. This shows the Japanese’s fondness for flowers as well as how, in their culture, women are the ones who do this delicate work. Flowers also hold special importance in their artwork. Hence, a cultural reference creates a good and meaningful story of the game.

People Get to Know About Foreign Cultures

In addition to creating a significant story, game developers aim to spread their culture around the world. Recently, a Chinese AAA video game, “Black Myth: Wukong,” has taken the global gaming audiences by surprise. The game showcases a perfect blend of Chinese culture with Western aesthetics and viewpoints. Before Black Myth: Wukong, there wasn’t an extensive game based on Chinese mythology, but all thanks to Game Science for bringing this game forward and letting the world audience know about the hidden Chinese culture.

Importance of Video Game Translation

The use of translation in the gaming industry results in a better understanding of the language and cultural context of the game. It also helps gamers to engage with the gameplay. The major reason why games with cultural stories are famous today is because they are comprehensible to the audiences. It brings video games to several markets and enhances their global reach.

Preserves the Cultural Themes, Their Meanings & References

Translation presents the cultural themes of a game and makes sure that they are understood the way it was intended by the game developers. Game translation saves the essence of the game and its references. Basically, the job of a translator is to convey the original meaning of the video game while preserving its cultural nuances. Symbols and imagery are often propagated in their original form so that the audience can learn about a new culture. So by hiring translators from a professional game and software translation agency, the gaming software, as well as different components of the game, are translated the right way.

Final Words!

Game translation is truly a perfect solution that allows global players to understand not only the context of the game but also their cultural settings. Without cultural themes, games would lack depth and richness. With the presence of cultural references, gamers get to know about the diverse cultures present in the world. This adds to their knowledge because gone are the days when games were played just for fun. Now, games offer an established career and knowledge of the real world.