Maria Isabel Rivas Ginel, Sarah Theroine

Getting Gender Right in Video Games, Simplifying for Inclusivity

Introduction

Getting gender right in video games, simplifying for inclusivity. Explore how video game localization tackles gender for inclusivity. Analyze English to French translation techniques like simplification & neutralization to prevent MT bias.

Abstract

The video game industry’s meteoric rise since its birth in the 1970s has steadily increased the demand for professional localisers capable of dealing with “game crunch” (Brogan 2022) in what can only be described as “a double-blind process (no audiovisual context, no text linearity)” (Bernal-Merino 2013). Due to these working conditions, previous research in the field (Rivas Ginel 2021) has shown that the second most common error found by linguistic testers is mistranslations, a phenomenon that results from the above-mentioned constraints as well as the presence of variables. Variables, in the context of video games, are used to create the illusion of immersion by, for example, allowing the player to change the name (or gender) of the character. Therefore, translators are forced to find creative yet natural solutions to accommodate potential changes in the resulting sentence through simplification, neutralisation, and the use of controlled language⁠. This article, the last of a series of papers analysing gender bias caused by machine translation in video games, aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the above-mentioned techniques used by translators to deal with gender when translating from English into French. We begin by providing a brief overview of the characteristics of video game localisation and their impact on the translators’ work. Afterwards, we discuss some examples of mistranslations found in other games and the output generated by state-of-the-art baseline machine translation systems (Rivas Ginel and Theroine 2022). Subsequently, we will analyse neutralisation and simplification techniques extracted from a parallel corpus compiled from already translated video games that include non-binary characters. Finally, we present some of the results of an ongoing project that aims at conceiving a neural machine translation (NMT) tool for English into French video game localisation specialised in neutralisation techniques.

Review

This article promises a timely and highly relevant contribution to the fields of localization studies and computational linguistics, addressing the intricate challenges of rendering gender accurately and inclusively within video game translation. The abstract effectively highlights the demanding conditions faced by localizers, such as "game crunch" and "double-blind processes," which contribute to common mistranslations. By focusing on the critical issue of gender representation, particularly in scenarios involving player-defined variables, the paper positions itself to offer valuable insights into established human translation strategies like simplification and neutralisation, which are crucial for fostering a more inclusive gaming experience. The proposed methodology is well-structured and appears robust. The paper begins by contextualizing the problem within the broader landscape of video game localization, before delving into specific examples of mistranslations and outputs from state-of-the-art machine translation systems. A key strength lies in its empirical approach: the analysis of neutralisation and simplification techniques derived from a dedicated parallel corpus, specifically incorporating games with non-binary characters. This focus on practical, data-driven solutions for English-to-French translation demonstrates a clear understanding of the linguistic nuances and cultural sensitivities required for effective and inclusive localization. Concluding as the last in a series, this article not only synthesizes previous findings but also looks forward by presenting results from an ongoing project to develop a neural machine translation tool specialized in gender neutralisation. This ambitious goal underscores the paper's commitment to tangible, technological solutions for a pervasive industry challenge. The interdisciplinary nature of integrating human translation expertise with advanced NMT development is particularly commendable, suggesting the work will offer significant practical implications for translators, developers, and researchers striving to ensure gender accuracy and inclusivity in the rapidly evolving video game landscape.

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