Open World: Your Game Localization Podcast

This week, our awesome guest, Theo Cuny, shares his favorite video games and sheds light on the soft skills needed to succeed in the AAA landscape. Don’t miss the best practices he acquired during his career!

In today’s episode, we’ll embark on a journey through the history of video game localization from the very beginning. Fasten your seatbelts, this is Localization Back to the Future! 🎮

Let’s delve into video game accessibility with María Eugenia Larreina! 👉 In today’s episode, we’ll discuss the present and future of video game accessibility as well as some best practices for addressing challenges and making digital content accessible to users with disabilities. Do you pay attention to accessibility features when you play? Let us know in the comments!

From Simlish to Al Bhed, fictional languages in video games are indeed curious and creative! In this week’s episode, our hosts explore the most famous fantasy languages and how they can become an actual work of art that gets players deeply immersed into the game.

This week, Santiago de MIguel, Gaming Solution Engineer at memoQ visits us to discuss all about Translation Management Systems in video game localization. Our guests also discuss the most important skills localizers should have, the future of localization and more!

In today’s episode, our hosts discuss the most recent initiatives to foster inclusion in video games. But what does inclusion actually mean in this environment? Is it just about adding non-binary characters, or do companies need to take a stance? Discover this and more in this week’s episode!

This week, Tamara Tirják visited us from Cambridge. She is Head of Localization from Frontier Developments and will be present at Game Quality Forum at the end of June! Our hosts explore strategies for a healthy work environment while geeking out over Planet Zoo! Guest: Tamara is the Head of Localization at Frontier Developments, a self-publishing video game developer based in Cambridge, UK. She is responsible for defining the localization strategy, approach and execution across all games, marketing, publishing and Studio activity to deliver and support all products globally. Hosts: 🎮 Alexis Biro is an Argentinian English teacher and freelance translator with a background in Business Development. He started his video game-oriented career as PR Manager and Localization Advisor at Astral Clocktower Studios in late 2018 and for the past 3 years, has been working for Terra Localizations in the Marketing department and later as Biz Dev Manager. 🎮 Lara Lapier is an English translator with a diploma in audiovisual translation. She is not only an avid gamer but also a Women In Games ambassador, supporting diversity and inclusivity within the industry. Beyond her love for gaming, Lara is a Biz Dev at Terra Localizations. When she's not busy diving into the latest gaming adventures, you can find her embracing new challenges, expanding her knowledge, and seeking opportunities to empower others. 🎮 Melisa Ilari has a master's degree in policy and management from the University of Glasgow and worked as an Account Manager at Terra for five years before joining the commercial team last year as Biz Dev. In this role, she combines her passions for languages, video games and social activities. Some of her other hobbies include traveling, photography and baking! Visit https://multilingual.com to catch up with the latest news of the language industry.

Get ready to meet the hosts for the second season of Open World. 🎮 Alexis Biro is an Argentinian English teacher, freelance translator, and father, with a background in Business Development since his very first job at a video game store in his hometown in Buenos Aires. He started his video game-oriented career as PR Manager and Localization Advisor at Astral Clocktower Studios in late 2018 and for the past 3 years, has been working for Terra Localizations in the Marketing department and later as Biz Dev Manager. 🎮 Lara Lapier is an English translator with a diploma in audiovisual translation. She is not only an avid gamer but also a Women In Games ambassador, supporting diversity and inclusivity within the industry. Beyond her love for gaming, Lara is a Biz Dev at Terra Localizations. When she's not busy diving into the latest gaming adventures, you can find her embracing new challenges, expanding her knowledge, and seeking opportunities to empower others. 🎮 Melisa Ilari has a master's degree in policy and management from the University of Glasgow and worked as an Account Manager at Terra for five years before joining the commercial team last year as Biz Dev. In this role, she combines her passions for languages, video games and social activities. Some of her other hobbies include traveling, photography and baking! Visit https://multilingual.com to catch up with the latest news of the language industry.

Miki Gao intentionally stumbled into the gaming industry, with a diverse background in English, theology, and business management. Get her unique perspective on storytelling, Cantonese localization, equity, and finding a career in the video game industry in this episode of Open World. Miki Gao takes frequent jaunts across Eos, Teyvat, and everywhere in between, fighting daemons and making monsters think twice before they cause too much mischief. Her adventures have taken her on paths through real estate, hospitality, higher education, and even a few stints at the "Happiest Place on Earth." Miki holds a master’s degree in management, a graduate certificate in marketing strategy, and bachelor’s degrees in English and theology. After graduating highest honors from her master’s program, Miki made her arrival to the gaming industry at the beginning of 2021 and has been having the time of her life ever since. In her free time, Miki can be found devouring an entire pot of dumplings, accidentally abandoning her tea, and delving the depths of her imagination to wrest that ever-elusive book manuscript from the clutches of her muse. She is presently writing a Chinese high fantasy series, built on the foundation of legends that have inspired her since childhood.

Alex and Flor chat with Renee Gittins in this episode, the Executive Director of the International Game Developers Association. She shares insights on the design and process of creating her new game, Potions: A Curious Tale. Learn about video game design, where game development meets localization and inclusivity in the video game industry. For more information on how to get involved with the International Game Developers Association, head to https://igda.org/. Renee Gittins is the Executive Director of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and a multi-disciplinary leader with expertise in software engineering and creative direction. In addition to her role as Executive Director, she maintains her work as the CEO of Stumbling Cat, creator of Potions: A Curious Tale. Renee is a passionate advocate and connector for developers and diversity in the game industry. She is outspoken about initiatives to increase diversity both within the game industry and gaming overall to help the game industry grow and improve for everyone.