3.1  Translation of Titles 5

3.2  Translation of Tips 6

3.3  Translation of Dialogues 6

3.4  Translation of Background Information 7

4  Suggestions to Game Translation 8

Conclusion 10

Acknowledgements 11

Bibliography 12

1 Introduction

1.1 The Situation of Computer Game Translation

Since the increasing popularity of computer games, computer game translation has become more and more important. But until now, there is no main ideology to guide the process of translation. On the one hand, translation of computer games has not yet got people’s attention. On the other hand, study of computer game translation is some kind of complex, and it would be a tough mission to get a clear ideology for it.

Computer game translation in China has neither got the attention of the linguists. But this paper would make attempt to analysis this kind of translation.

The problems it meets in China are mainly due to two types, say totally six problems as follows:

In the first type, the technical problems include three specific branches. The first one is limited time. While much too information to translate, translators have limited time to finish the mission, usually it means 1month or even less. The second one is shortage of skillful translators. Translators who have both software knowledge and translation skills are very rare. In many situations, translators are computer game players who have passion for games and volunteer to translate it. On the other hand, translators have low salary, which results in bit attraction for job seekers. The third one is undesirable translation quality. Because of limited time and shortage of skillful translators, localized game usually have many mistakes, not to mention for comparing with other lecture translations.

In the second type, the social problems include three specific branches. The first one is infringement of copyright. Many translation teams do not have the copyright. Changing as well as translating would be sued by the game corporation. The second one is the negative feedback of the players to the translation. The more popular the game is, the more players it has, and the more negative comments. They would definitely reduce the enthusiasm of translators. The third one is malicious competition. Some translation teams would plagiarize other team’s achievements, while oral combat in the Internet is never rare.文献综述

1.2 Research Design

Research of this paper would depend on lots of specific translations and comments of computer game players. Different translations of some sentences would be supplied to game players and they would be asked to give their own opinions. And this paper would compare the best version with the others, and try to find the best way for translators.

2 Review of Related Theories

2.1 Translation as Adaptation and Selection

2.1.1 Development of Translation as Adaptation and Selection

In his work An Approach to Translation as Adaptation and Selection, Professor Hu (Hu Gengshen, 2004) attempts to build a new translation theory within the influence of global ecological academic trend. Professor Hu borrowed different theories to get this system, “bravely choose the theory of ‘adaptation/selection’ from Theory of Evolution, borrowed the basic principle of ‘natural selection’ and ‘survival of the fittest’”, and build up a translation ideology, which both has widely adaptation and accords with basic translation principle.