The German Market for Video Games
The number of German speaking people may appear tiny in comparison to the English or Chinese markets. But despite the overwhelming numbers, Germans are a very active and engaged playerbase. And don´t forget Austria or Switzerland, too.
This was a surprise even for me, being raised in a time where it was generally avoided to admit your passion for video games in public. But here we are, with one of the biggest markets for potential upcoming games. An opportunity that nobody wants to miss. And you have to remember, due to the history of Germany, there are many people who didn´t learn English in school and won´t ever play your game if German language is not supported!
The Troubles of nailing the German Translation
There are few things that ruin the atmosphere more profoundly than a sloppy translation. There were times when it was acceptable when players would burst out in laughter at the dramatic climax of your game because of some mistranslated dialogue. But these dark times are long gone. Getting the translation right absolutely requires translators who are active gamers so they know how the moving parts have to fit together. After all, German is a language with very precise wording and exact meaning of words. Since English words have multiple meanings sometimes, picking the wrong here can have devastating effects.
