Are You Local(ised?)
SOE set to expand lines of communication internationally for best-selling massively multiplayer online games.
Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) announced today that they have begun localisation for several games at The Station, (www.station.com) allowing them to support a global community. The initial phase of localisation involves both human and automated translating agents, beginning with French, German, Japanese and Korean. The localisation will allow players to fully interact textually within the game in their own language. SOE is committed to making its incredible array of online games just as accessible to gamers around the world as they currently are to English speaking players.
“The vision of a global gaming community has always been the core of our business model,” said Kelly Flock, President, Sony Online Entertainment. “The localisation allows us to surpass language barriers and give gamers worldwide the best online gaming experience.”
Leading off the localised products is EverQuest: The Shadows of Luclin, the third expansion pack to EverQuest, the most successful online role-playing game of all time boasting more than 375,000 active subscribers comprise of players from all over the world. Other games planned for localisation include: PlanetSide, the world’s first massively multiplayer first-person action game set in a persistent world and Star Wars Galaxies, an online game set within the Star Wars universe.
SOE has already begun the multi-language duplication process for several games. The identical version preserves the look and feel of the game while making it accessible to a foreign language audience. SOE’s plans include the use of real-time machine translation of in-game player chat. This will allow players to chat even if they do not share a common language. The combination of localisation and advanced translation software will facilitate SOE’s position as a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games.
Sony’s localisation coincides with current increases in global interest in the Internet. According to the International Development Conference, more than 50% of current web users reside outside of the United States; this percentage is expected to increase to 60% by 2003. By 2003, nearly half of worldwide e-commerce will take place outside the United States.
“The vision of a global gaming community has always been the core of our business model,” said Kelly Flock, President, Sony Online Entertainment. “The localisation allows us to surpass language barriers and give gamers worldwide the best online gaming experience.”
Leading off the localised products is EverQuest: The Shadows of Luclin, the third expansion pack to EverQuest, the most successful online role-playing game of all time boasting more than 375,000 active subscribers comprise of players from all over the world. Other games planned for localisation include: PlanetSide, the world’s first massively multiplayer first-person action game set in a persistent world and Star Wars Galaxies, an online game set within the Star Wars universe.
SOE has already begun the multi-language duplication process for several games. The identical version preserves the look and feel of the game while making it accessible to a foreign language audience. SOE’s plans include the use of real-time machine translation of in-game player chat. This will allow players to chat even if they do not share a common language. The combination of localisation and advanced translation software will facilitate SOE’s position as a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games.
Sony’s localisation coincides with current increases in global interest in the Internet. According to the International Development Conference, more than 50% of current web users reside outside of the United States; this percentage is expected to increase to 60% by 2003. By 2003, nearly half of worldwide e-commerce will take place outside the United States.
Companies:
Sony Ubisoft
People: Kelly Flock
Games: Everquest: Shadows Of Luclin PlanetSide Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
People: Kelly Flock
Games: Everquest: Shadows Of Luclin PlanetSide Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided