The Effect of Video Game Localisation on Gaming Experience

Abstract

As the global video game market continues to rise, localisation has become a crucial process providing players around the world with authentic gaming experience. While recognising this, the study builds upon the theoretical framework developed by Brown and Cairns (2004) to investigate immersion as a concept that is central to the gaming experience. Although the academic literature considers immersion and video game localisation separately, this study attempts to address the research gap in understanding how localisation may influence immersion. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with ten participants, this study investigates gamers’ perceptions of localisation errors and their influence on their state of immersion. The findings of this study showed that localisation errors may influence the state of immersion to a various extent depending on their type and implications on the game progress. These findings could be beneficial both from theoretical and practical perspectives, as they contribute to an under-researched face of translation studies. From a theoretical standpoint, these findings may enrich the understanding of the influence that localisation may have towards immersion, providing a foundation for future research. Practically, they may be of use for game developers and localisation teams in their practice to enhance the immersive gaming experience