Datenerhebung im Lokalisierungsprozess von Computerspielen – zur Vorbereitung einer Studie

The paper aims to describe the current methods in process-oriented research of translation and to show the distinctive nature of computer game localization. A localization assignment confronts the translator with multi-modal material. On the one hand, it means concentration on the verbal content, but on the other hand this verbal layer and other semiotic channels interpenetrate one another and need to be taken into account together as equally important parts of the communicational goal. The paper evaluates the technical instruments and methods of translation process analysis. The study of such instruments and methods should be conducted in an environment that is as neutral and as close to the reality of the translation process as possible, with access to common tools used by translators, including digital sources and computer-bound translation aids. The translation process research data available today give an overview of the methods used for observing the steps in the process, the decisions made by the translators and the usability of their tools. The research focus here is on the decision making and perception in the transfer of verbal content to the multisemiotic and transmedia context. The examples provided in the paper refer to the specific problems encountered in the author’s pilot study simulating a translation task aimed at localizing narration and dialogues for a popular computer game that has been very successful worldwide.