Localization
The term localization was introduced back in Chapter 11, User Interface and User Experience, when we spoke about putting text labels under your UI elements and ensuring they do not break when translated into different languages.
In the western markets, the long-dominant practice, and often a requirement posed by the publisher, was to support the EFIGS language group (English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish). Recently, in the more globalized era of digital distribution, the western publishers often find themselves expanding the default group, with Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese being the most common additions. The inclusion of new alphabets and directions of text flow is something that can pose big UI challenges for those who are unprepared.
Language aside, localization goes above and beyond swapping texts and voiceovers. New markets unlock access to new audiences with different expectations, spending behaviors, pop-culture references, traditions...
