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[LFP] [Localization] [EN→IT] Free Italian Localization for Indie Games

A topic by Gabrielotto0103 created 54 days ago Views: 431 Replies: 12
Viewing posts 1 to 5
(1 edit)

Hi everyone!

I'm a native Italian speaker and I'd like to offer free English-to-Italian localization for small indie games.

I'm mainly looking for small or solo-developed projects where an Italian localization could be useful. I'm doing this completely for free because I'd like to gain experience in game localization, work on real projects, and help indie developers make their games accessible to Italian players.

I can help with things such as:

  • Dialogues and story text
  • Menus and UI
  • Item, ability and character descriptions
  • Tutorials and gameplay instructions
  • Achievements and other in-game text
  • Adapting expressions, jokes and wording so they sound natural in Italian
  • Checking terminology and consistency throughout the game

I'm especially interested in smaller games, so don't worry if your project isn't huge or particularly well known.

If possible, I'd also be happy to test the Italian version in-game and point out any localization issues I notice, such as text that doesn't fit the UI or lines that sound different when seen in context.

I don't expect any payment. I would only appreciate being credited for the Italian localization and, if possible, being allowed to mention the project as part of my localization experience/portfolio.

If you're developing a game and would like to add Italian, feel free to reply here.

I'd be happy to take a look at your project!

boosting

Mi dispiace Gabriele, non so quanti indie/solo developer possano essere interessati ad avere il loro gioco in italiano :(

Eh lo so, però molti oggi si lamentano che la lingua italiana viene dimenticata nei videogiochi (oppure il gioco è mal tradotto automaticamente)...

Vero, il problema è che sono italiani :/ a nessun altro interessa di noi >:(

(+1)

Hi Gabriele. My game is stable and I’d be happy to add Italian: https://programersi.itch.io/time-tamer. There 155 strings to be translated, mostly short ones. Localization can be done through a tool at https://time-tamer.programersi.edu.pl/?xlate=it.

Hi! Thanks for reaching out. I’d be happy to help with the Italian localization of Time Tamer. I’ll first try the game and take a look at the localization tool, then I’ll start working on the strings.

(9 edits)

Great! There are a few sensitive keys.

Rephrase, don’t translate

  • Key - Why
  • noTts - Names the language the player picked, so write yours. Not “English”.
  • formatHint, teacherGuideFormat - 12h/24h help. Leave both out unless your language writes AM/PM (only en, la, ar do).
  • teacherGuideDifficultyText - Drop the AM/PM sentence if your language is 24-hour; say Medium shows the whole day in 24-hour time.
  • masteryCell{Hours,Halves,Quarters,Fives,Minutes} - Captions under 56px boxes. Keep them symbols (½h, ¼h, 5m), never spelled out.
  • matchThis - Sits above the target; English is 16 characters. Over ~30 and it wraps on a phone. |
  • experiment / challenge - Adjacent buttons. Pick two words a pre-reader can tell apart at a glance.
  • themeClassic - A theme name, not “Default” (Wonderland is the default).

One name, everywhere

Pick once, then reuse the exact wording in every key listed:

  • Clock Check-Up — checkupBtnLabel, and inside teacherGuideModesText, teacherGuideStatsText, teacherGuideParentTipText, verdictNone, tipTryCheckup, tipRecheck, checkupNotYet. It cannot be failed, so avoid your language’s word for a school test or exam.
  • Everyday Clock Master — tier_everyday, certHeading, teacherGuideParentTipText. “Everyday” means ordinary day-to-day clocks.
  • Stickers — stickers, showParentStats, teacherGuideMultiplayersText.

Tone

  • Keys - Voice
  • failMsgs, run*, greatJob, hint*, mastery*, levelUp, mode + difficulty buttons - To the child. Warm, plain, never scolding.
  • verdict*, tip*, showParent*, checkupResult, learnResult, teacherGuide* - About the child, to an adult.
  • certHeading*, certBody* - Formal, and claim no more than the English does.

verdict* states what the child can already do; tip* says what to do next.

Hi! I've finished the Italian localization and exported the JSON file. I followed your localization notes, including keeping the recurring terminology consistent and leaving formatHint and teacherGuideFormat empty, as requested for Italian. All placeholders and formatting have been preserved. Where would you prefer me to send the file?

Preferably through Discord https://discord.gg/9rBFKmcyVt, #translations channel.

The file is perfect, all the rules observed. Please have a look at the text-to-speech in Italian. I have followed basic rules, but it can be oversimplified. I’ve added you to the contributors list at the game page.

Hi Gabrielotto0103, thank you for the localization. You were mentioned at the game page and in devlog https://programersi.itch.io/time-tamer/devlog/1637008/time-taming-growth-thanks-to-contributors

Thanks a lot! I really appreciate the mention and I’m glad I could contribute to the project.