Ever wondered why localization of a game takes as much as six months? Am sure you have, along with countless other curious souls. And finally, somebody takes the time to explain, step by step. Atlus lists the detailed procedure of localization, in hopes of appeasing the impatient gamers out there.
There are six steps in all, but you can bet each one spends a great deal of tedious work, hence the long weeks, long hours, long months before the final product.
- Step 1: Familiarization (1-3 weeks) -- Play the game and understand context of written material.
- Step 2: Localization (1-8 weeks) -- Depends on amount of text and if voice acting is required.
- Step 3: Programming (4-6 weeks) -- All implemented by original developers.
- Step 4: Quality Assurance (5-8 weeks) -- Bugs are natural side effect of localization, along with "test issues."
- Step 5: Manufacturer Approval (3-8 weeks) -- "Internal testers go over the submitted master candidate."
- Step 6: Manufacturing (3-5 weeks) -- Print, box and ship.
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