How to Find the Best Indonesian Game Localization Partner for Peak Efficiency

With around 136 million gamers (according to DataReportal and Newzoo), Indonesia offers huge market potential. It is not surprising that Indonesia is often the target of expansion for international companies or game developers looking to expand their reach in Asia.

If you are among them, your choice is absolutely right! Meanwhile, for a game to be accepted and deliver satisfaction to the local playing population, a proper localization process is needed.

However, that is not what localization is all about; it is far from being just a translation issue. It deals with adapting content to the local culture and norms of social behavior in light of community preferences. The choice of the right partner in game localization will, therefore, make a great deal of difference.

The question is, how do you find the ideal Indonesian game localization company to collaborate with? We will summarize the tips for you in this post!

Key Consideration When Choosing an Indonesian Game Localization Partner

Game localization does not simply mean translating into the spoken language locally. Games also have an important cultural aspect, especially if you want to enter the culturally rich Indonesian market. Therefore, choosing an Indonesian game localization company as a partner cannot be arbitrary. There are several important factors that must be considered, including:

1. Deep Understanding of the Indonesian Market

One of the major criteria for the selection of an Indonesian game localization company to work with would be a deep understanding of the Indonesian market. There are specific characteristics of the Indonesian market that greatly differ from other markets; hence, understanding the language, culture, traditions, gamer taste, behavior, and sensitive points in Indonesia is very vital.

Language

First of all, one has to admit the truism that there are over 700 languages in Indonesia—10% of the world's total. Recently, Bahasa Indonesia was recognized by UNESCO with a total of 278 million speakers worldwide.

Preferences dan Behaviors

Likewise, understanding preferences and behaviors in the case of Indonesian gamers is significantly important. Understanding these trends will allow content modification in the game, making it more attractive to the local market.

A recent study from Omnicom Media Group Asia Pacific showed that Indonesian gamers prefer mobile devices as a platform for gaming, even more so when compared to Japan, Malaysia, China, and Thailand. The "Unlocking Gamers in Asia Pacific" report revealed 96% of the 1,021 Indonesian respondents favored mobile gaming, while 61% of the Indonesians played games daily.

In terms of genre, research conducted by Coda Indonesia revealed that battle royale and MOBA remain the most popular genres in the country. Some of the top games that are ruling the space include Mobile Legends: Bang Bang at 12.4%, PUBG Mobile at 10.1%, and Free Fire at 8.1%.

Sensitive or Controversial Topics

Finally, knowledge of sensitive points in Indonesia is also very important. There are several topics that may be considered sensitive or taboo in Indonesia, such as religious, political, and cultural issues. Experienced Indonesian game localization companies must be sensitive to these issues to avoid content that could offend or cause controversy among players.

2. Has a Good Track Record from Previous Projects

Another consideration that is no less important in choosing an Indonesian game localization partner is having a good track record from previous game localization projects. The good record shows the experience of the company in being able to handle whatever kind of problem occurs during the localization process.

That proves the company has experience and is competent in ensuring the game goes well in the intricate and complex Indonesian market. To assess the work portfolio of the localization company, ask the following things:

• Can you provide examples of games that you have localized for the Indonesian market?
• What game genres have you worked on (for example, RPG, MOBA, FPS, etc.)?
• Does your team consist of native translators who are also gamers?
• Do you provide local dubbing support, in-game translation, and other comprehensive assistance to optimize the localization process?
• How does your team handle localization testing needs?
• Can you provide testimonials from previous clients?

3. Utilization of Translation and Localization Tools

One of the most important aspects of choosing an Indonesian game localization company to work with is their ability to use professional translation and localization tools. These tools not only automate the translation process but also enhance work efficiency and ensure consistency of the final result. For example, Phrase, Xbench, and Memsource are often used in the game localization industry.

4. Find Out About the QA Process

Professional and experienced Indonesian game localization companies would ideally follow a well-defined QA process, including linguistic, visual, and functional testing.

It is beyond that—this is the QA phase, an integral part of the localization process, which ensures a game that has been translated and culturally adapted will get onto the shelves in the best possible quality.

5. Have Strong Localization Technical Experience

Choosing an Indonesian game localization company to work with requires careful consideration, especially in terms of technical experience. Strong technical experience includes proficiency in the use of translation and localization tools, understanding of software file formats, etc.

Additionally, since game localization is a complex process, it is also important to choose a localization partner that has efficient project management. Companies with a structured project management process will be able to coordinate various aspects of localization, from translation to final testing.

They will have teams organized and divided into projects, allowing them to handle multiple projects simultaneously without compromising on the quality of work.

6. The Translation Team Are Native Speakers

When selecting an Indonesian game localization partner, it is essential to verify that their team includes native speakers. Native speakers offer superior language skills compared to non-natives and have an intrinsic understanding of local culture, social norms, political conditions, use of slang, sense of humor, etc. This expertise is vital for translating game dialogues and texts, ensuring they resonate naturally and authentically with local players.

Conclusion

Taking your time to consider some of the factors above when looking for an Indonesian game localization partner is a must if you want to launch your game successfully and generate results in this potential country. The good news is that you can rely on Digital-Trans Asia, a company with more than 5 years of professional experience in the game localization industry. With this experience, Digital-Trans Asia has successfully collaborated with various well-known game companies, including MiHoYo, VNGGames, Hoolai Games, Noctua Games, and many more.

Other advantages of Digital-Trans Asia are:

• LQA and proofreading are integral parts of each project performed—a guarantee that every translated document will be not only linguistically correct and mistake-free but also in compliance with the standard norms.
• Daily capacity: translating up to 15,000 words.
• The wide usage of professional translation tools by our organization, such as Phrase, Xbench, and Memsource, will be useful for everyone in increasing the speed of translation and consistency.

With the expertise and advantages above, Digital-Trans Asia is the right choice to make your game more local and preferred by Indonesian players. Don't hesitate to take these steps and see how we can help bring your game to success in the Indonesian and even Asian markets.