In Star Control you command the U.E.S. Vindicator, a starship on a mission to explore the vast universe. In this unusual space RPG, you encounter several alien species, travel the hyperspace, land on unexplored planets in an attempt to save humanity.

This game is really fun! Alien species are extremely detailed and characteristic, dialogues are varied and engaging, and the writing is witty and humorous. The translator’s dream…

Toughest challenge: the accurate research for precise (pseudo-) scientific terms.

We had most fun: rendering the spectacular characterisation of the alien races.

This massive-scale RTS features huge battles that remind of the old classics such as Total Annihilation or the first Supreme Commander. You can gather thousands of units and defend against the (foregone) alien threat to humanity.

This was our first job for Stardock Entertainment, a first-class developer and publisher. This created some apprehension, but we definitely passed the test, since they went on entrusting us with their next games.

Toughest challenge: living up to a major publisher’s expectations.

We had most fun: living up to a major publisher’s expectations.

It is a steampunk survival RTS with zombies. You must build and defend a colony of survivors from huge, ever increasing hordes of ravenous infected. The game has beautiful hand-drawn graphics and a classic gameplay which seem to come straight from the golden age of the genre.

They Are Billions is the new game from the developers that created Lords of Xulima. We are glad they trusted us again with the localisation project. It’s also a proof that, in the Italian market, it pays to translate even small/medium-budget games. The game is still in the “early access” phase, and we can’t wait to see (and translate) the forthcoming campaign!

Toughest challenge: avoid jumpscares at every noise when translating in the dark.

We had most fun: witnessing the ongoing development of the game.

It is an adventure game with tactical battles, RPG and strategy elements set in the mysterious lands of old Germany. The realistic setting focuses on people, their passions, sins and fears making the player confront with a non-linear story and the importance of choices.

Thanks to this translation we were introduced to Aterdux, a friendly and supportive Belarusian team. The translation made us appreciate the quality and originality of their game.

Toughest challenge: the in-depth research carried out in order to develop a coherent medieval terminology.

We had most fun: discovering the excellent story of an excellent product

It is a metroidvania adventure game by the creator of the best-selling indie UnEpic, featuring two super hackers who hire a mysterious agent in order to infiltrate a Space Station. In the best tradition of this sub-genre, the game offers hundreds of items, character upgrades, rooms to explore and secrets to be discovered.

This game is a little gem, created by a talented and funny independent developer, Francisco. Our chats on Skype were the icing on the cake of a fun and engaging translation, packed with quotes and references to movies and other games. We were given the chance to work on the localization during the beta-test of the game, in close contact with its creator: the ideal way to do our job.

Toughest challenge: resisting the temptation to stop translating and start playing the game

We had most fun: Participating in the beta test. And Francisco.

This turn-based rpg was released in 2014. It features more than a hundred hours of gameplay and an epic story set in an original fantasy world. The game allows the player to create and customize five characters to accompany the hero on his journey, and help him fight more than 100 unique types of enemies across the continent of Xulima.

It was the first translation we have been paid for, and that’s a milestone event. Even more important, though, while translating we needed the programmers to make some adjustments and they proved to be really helpful and so we understood the importance of communication between developers and translators in order to enhance the quality of the final product.

 

Toughest challenge: Pronouncing the game title correctly!

We had most fun: dealing with several rhymes and puns. That should be the tough part, but this sort of things are Andrea’s forte.

Two expansions of the adventure game with tactical turn-based battles and role-playing elements, set in a classic fantasy world. These two chapters of the long saga add new units, items and skills, alongside with more than a hundred new quests.

We waited and waited for Warrior of the North being translated into Italian and in the end we decided to do it ourselves. By translating a game you can appreciate on a much deeper level the lore and, in this specific case, a refined sense of humor and quotes of all sorts. After that, translating Dark Side was just a natural consequence.

 

Toughest challenge: the sheer amount of text could have been overwhelming hadn’t we dealt with other large projects before.

We had most fun: rendering the strange dialect of the orcs; plunging into a multi-colored fantasy world.

1Released in January 2012, it is the sequel to the Fantasy/Roleplaying RTS telling the story of the legendary king of Camelot and his Knights of the Round Table. In the main campaign, the player takes over the role of William Pendragon, son of the Once and Future King Arthur. The gameplay blends elements of the real-time tactics, role-playing, and grand strategy genres into one.

This game was a hobbyhorse of ours. The first chapter had been translated by FX while this one was undeservingly neglected. Fundamentally, we translated it for personal pleasure.

 

Toughest challenge: The long and patient research on the Arthurian Cycle

We had most fun with: The long and patient research on the Arthurian Cycle