In this second instalment on video game localization, we delve into the mysterious world of Tunic and its unique constructed runic language.
Tunic is an action-adventure game developed by Canadian indie developer Andrew Shouldice and published by Finji. The game was released in March 2022 on Microsoft Windows and macOS, and on the Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One as a timed exclusive for consoles. It is scheduled to launch in September 2022 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. It's received excellent reviews and outstanding praise for its dynamics, lore, and even been compared to titles such as The Legend of Zelda and the Dark Souls series.
The game's purpose and method of playing are somewhat oblique; what dialog is presented to the player is generally of a strange language, though selected characters or words will be legible in the player's language that may hint towards puzzle solutions, and some of the items that the player will find are pages that make up the game's manual.
Tunic has been developed by one person, Andrew Shouldice, and collaborated with his own team of friends and relatives to finalize all the aspects of the game. It was originally named Secret Legend.
Although it was initially deemed untranslatable, players have already translated the runic language of Tunic. The language, however, wasn't intended to be translated by players. It was designed to add a sense of adventure and mystery to the game, forcing players to analyze the in-game visual cues instead of merely reading through an on-screen script.
With constructed languages like Tunic's runic language, there's minimal need for translation. Still, it's a Catch-22 scenario, since the developers and translation team must ensure that every rune is globally acceptable, relatable, and appropriate.
Similar to the Simlish language of the Sims, Tunic's language wasn't developed overnight, and it was designed to be another way of keeping players engaged in the more mysterious aspects of the game.
Mystifying and intriguing, the world of game creation is intrinsically linked to video game localization. Without top-notch translation for your game language, you risk damaging its reputation and subsequent sales too. The pressure might be immense, but internationalization and culturalization inspire translation pros to deliver a creator's ideal vision to audiences all across the world!
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