A Deep Dive into Sengoku Ixa's Indonesian Game Localization

Indonesia is in the grip of gaming fever. With its ever-growing population and better accessibility to the Internet, it is a great opportunity for international gaming companies who want to tap into the market of Southeast Asia's largest economy. However, winning this audience successfully requires much more than just a translation of the title. Cultural hues, historical references, and even game mechanics—all require meticulous adaptation for a truly engaging user experience. This is where Indonesian game localization comes in. In this article, we'll take you through the exciting case study of Sengoku Ixa, a Japanese web-based war simulation game, and how it has been localized to gain success within Indonesian markets. We would abridge the collaborative effort of global giant Square Enix and prominent Indonesian developer Agate Studio, an imperative area of focus that has given out outstanding results.

What is Sengoku Ixa?

Sengoku Ixa is an online war simulation game developed by Square Enix. Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. is a Japanese corporation specializing as a holding company, multinational video game publisher, and entertainment conglomerate. It is an extremely famous company for developing and publishing entertainment software of all kinds and beyond: from the RPG lines of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest to Kingdom Hearts, not to forget even Space Invaders. The subsidiaries and branches were located all over the world in North America, Europe, and China, among others.

The action of Sengoku Ixa takes place within the Sengoku period of Japanese history: 1467-1603, really quite a bloody period of time and politically unstable. Every player is to become one of the daimyos—the feudal lords—who try to unify Japan by building up armies, conquering territories, and creating alliances with other players. Many famous playable figures are from Japan's Warring States period in Sengoku Ixa, such as Tokugawa Ieyasu, Oda Nobunaga, Date Masamune, Mori, Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin, and Ashikaga Yoshiaki. It's a deep and complex game that requires caring localization process for players from all around the world to dive deep and enjoy.

Read also: Localization Leader in Indonesia: Meet PUBG Mobile

Steps into the Indonesian Gaming Localization

Steeped in rich history, Sengoku Ixa originally hailed from Japan's Sengoku era and still retains a dedicated player base there. However, Square Enix aimed to replicate this worldwide phenomenon in Indonesia, which means bridging the cultural gap. Here's what they faced: translation of in-game text, menus, and character descriptions while protecting the finesse of accurate historical context.

• Cultural Relevance: This involved making references and humor relevant for Indonesian gamers, who might not be familiar with certain aspects of Japanese history otherwise.
• Gameplay Mechanics: A delicate balance was needed between the game's core loop and local tastes, including appropriate monetization strategies that align with the social features in the game.

How Agate Does Indonesian Game Localization

Agate, an Indonesian game development company, is one of the most important elements when it comes to the localization of Sengoku Ixa. Established in 2009, Agate has a long history within the Indonesian gaming scene. Their understanding of local gamers' likes and dislikes, cultural nuances, and language variability proved invaluable to foreign developers aiming to tailor their games specifically for Indonesian players. Known for its exceptional knowledge of Southeast Asian markets, Agate partnered with Square Enix to ensure that the game was not only translated correctly but also relevant and engaging for Indonesian players.

Read also: The Rise of the Indonesian Video Game Industry

The Collaboration in Indonesian Game Localization

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To tackle these challenges, Square Enix sought help from Agate Studio, an Indonesian developer with years of experience in the local market. This cooperation proved to be a winning approach. Here's how they tackled Indonesian game localization:

• Linguistic Finesse: Agate handpicked the best Japanese and Indonesian translators to work together seamlessly. They maintained accuracy while ensuring that the translated text flowed fluidly and had the right tone. Historical references were adapted for Indonesian audiences.
• Culturally Aware Adaptations: Jokes and references were adapted to resonate with Indonesian sensibilities. For example, wordplay specific to Japanese was replaced by Indonesian idioms or local pop culture references.
• Game Optimization: Agate conducted usability testing with Indonesian players in order to find out counterparts and the most favored monetization paths. This feedback loop allowed them to tweak the gameplay experience to suit local preferences.

Read also: A Series of Mobile Games with Indonesian Language Localization

The Results of Collaboration

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The outcome of this careful Indonesian game localization process for Sengoku Ixa delivered very exciting results. Here's how it turned out in the Indonesian market:

1. Increased Revenue

Sengoku Ixa's revenue jumped following Indonesian game localization, proving the value of catering to local gamers. According to the company's report, the impact of localization costs, combined with heavy investments, led to an earlier-than-expected launch. While in Japan the game was already known by more than 1.1 million players, in Indonesia it became a huge success. All metrics of player engagement, such as daily logins and time spent in-game, skyrocketed, ensuring a high level of interest from Indonesian players.

2. Positive Reviews

The Indonesian game localization effect was brilliantly executed, resulting in the game becoming extremely popular in Indonesia. Indonesian gamers praised two key aspects: 'The game is finally translated.' and 'Such cool gameplay.', proving that everything about the localization was done right.

Key Takeaways for Aspiring Developers

The case of Sengoku Ixa is an excellent example of the strength of effective Indonesian game localization, demonstrating that cooperation with a local development partner can unlock the potential of the global gaming audience. This is meaningful for international gaming companies eyeing the Indonesian market. Here are some key takeaways from Sengoku Ixa's success:

• Prioritize Localization: High-quality game localization is not optional but extremely critical for reaching a broader audience and maximizing revenue potential.
• Local Expertise: Team up with a reputable Indonesian developer like Agate Studio to get valuable insight into the cultural nuances and player preferences.
• User Testing: Engage Indonesian players in user testing from time to time during the development and localization process to stay attuned to the local market.

The collaboration of Square Enix and Agate shows that proper localization can expand a game's reach and maximize player satisfaction.

Bring into Play the Power of Localization with Digital Trans Asia

Digital Trans Asia provides extraordinary Indonesian game localization solutions. Our team of passionate linguists and gaming enthusiasts works with developers to create culturally aware translations, engaging narratives, and gameplay experiences suited for target markets. Ready to unlock the Indonesian gaming market? Then reach out to us at Digital-Trans Asia today and learn more about how our game localization services can help propel your game to success! Now is the right time to ensure your games are not lost in translation. Let us help bridge that gap to conquer new audiences.