SandVox

Category: Articles

  • Top 5 Benefits of Localization

    class=”entry-content” id=”pix-entry-content”> Regardless of their genres, all games are based on specific linguistic, cultural, emotional, economic, and historical backgrounds. However, they can be adapted to the customs and backgrounds of different regions using localization in that regional language.  Therefore, if you are able to understand the cultures and customs specific to a target market and communicate with your potential customers in their native language allows you to make the most of your projects in new markets. This is true for all areas, but especially in the gaming industry, and localization is undoubtedly the most effective way to reach more players and enter the global market. Even if localizing your game is not an easy process and implies more aspects, the effort will be worth it.  So, which are the top benefits of gaming localization? Let’s find out!

    1. Reaching New Markets

    Expanding on new markets and connecting with your customers are the key activities for growing your business and revenue. As the world is becoming more globalized than ever, if you want to find new customers, then localizing your app or game is extremely important.  Consider these stats:
    • 7 of the 10 top markets by iOS downloads are non-native English markets
    • 9 of the 10 top markets by Google Play downloads are non-native English markets
    • More than 50% of all queries on Google are in languages other than English
    •  75% of consumers are more likely to buy the same brand again if the after-sales care is in their native language
    Customers are demanding content that is helpful, relevant, and engaging for them. If you want to connect with your customers in other markets, having a localization strategy should be part of your business plan.

    2. Increasing Profit

    A study of Fortune 500 companies discovered that localized content doubled their chances of increasing the profit. Additionally, it’s 125% more likely companies would grow their earnings per share year-over-year thanks to localization. These findings indicate that adapted content to your target market sells. Customers are looking for products that help them to some specific pain points and they resonate with. When this thing happens, you’ll likely see higher conversions.

    3. Localization Helps You To Stand Out From Your Competitors

    Due to globalization, more and more companies are facing fierce local competition and are looking to expand on the global market. Even so, expanding on a new market – especially on a foreign one –  is not so easy. Except for adapting your products and services to the specifics of the new market, you also need to consider establishing an online presence and paying more attention to the audience’s needs.  Localized content will help you stand out in a crowded marketplace. Whether it’s your app, product, or marketing materials, the more tailored it is to your customers, the more of a competitive advantage you’ll have over your competitors.

    4. Building Brand Loyalty

    Today’s customers – and especially game players – are extremely demanding and from the first moment they interact with your brand, they expect to have a useful, captivating, and delightful experience adapted to their needs and desires. A bad experience or a wrong step of the company can make them quickly move away from your brand, products, and services. On the other hand, if you offer them personalized experiences, in a language that is easy to access and understand, you will draw their attention to your brand and you will gain their trust. Therefore, they will want to interact more and more with the products and services you offer, but also with your company.

    5. Cultural Sensitivity

    The social, political, and cultural environment in today’s society can be difficult paths to navigate on. Given the issues of climate change, racial justice, and other sensitive subjects at the forefront, customers are urging companies to be more socially aware, now more than ever. Introducing products, services, and communication campaigns without considering the context of your customers can be a sure recipe for disaster. By working with an agency that offers you high-quality localization services, you benefit from customized content according to your customers’ specific characteristics and ensure they engage with your message.

    How Can SandVox Help With your Game Localization?

    SandVox is a translation and localization agency that helps gaming companies get their games out to their intended market. We have a team of professional translators and marketers who have proven results for some of the top gaming companies in the world. Contact us today to find out more about the benefits you can get from your video game localization!

  • Top Game Genres in the US for 2020

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    Considered to be the birthplace of the gamins we know today, the US is also the leading gaming market worldwide. In 2020, the US market size for video games is estimated to be worth 60.4 billion USD. With no signs of demand slowing down, what are some of the top game genres in this rapidly growing US market? As you look to develop games for this key market, it’s important to know what your users want. This way, you position your game specifically in your customers’ minds and set it apart from the competition. 

    So, which are the most popular game categories in the US for 2020? Let’s find out!

    Statistic top game genres US 2020

    1. Action game genres

    According to Statista, the most popular game genre in the US is action (i.e. platform games, fighting games). This gaming genre challenges the player’s skills, coordination, and reflexes, unlike any other genre type. Games like Outriders, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Quarantine, Soulcalibur, and Mortal Kombat, are examples of popular games that Americans seem to love.

    2. Action-adventure

    As the name implies, action-adventure video game genres combine action along with more complex story elements. It takes advantage of the skill and dexterity required from action games and mixes it within a plot. The result is an all-immersive experience for players. Popular action-adventure games include The Legend of Zelda, Assassin’s Creed, and Resident Evil.

    3. Strategy game genres

    Instead of relying on speed and reflex, strategy games rely more on strategic thinking and action to achieve the desired outcome. This game category can either be turn-based or real-time. Examples of strategy games are diverse, ranging from games like StarCraft, Civilization, and Bloons TD.

    4. Casual games

    Casual games have become an important gaming genre as they appeal to a wide audience. Now, it’s not just the typical player who will get into gaming, but it’s everyone from your brother to your aunt to maybe even your grandma. There are many subgenres of this type of games, including puzzle games, hidden object games, word & trivia games, and more.

    5. Shooter Games

    Shooter games are a type of action games that involve testing the player’s spatial awareness, reflexes, and speed. They have a wide appeal since they are exciting and relatively easy to pick up. Especially popular in the US are first-person shooters. Games like Unreal Tournament, Doom, Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, etc., have been gamers’ favourites for some time.

    6. Adventure Games

    Narrative-based adventure games have also been increasingly popular in the US market. Players assume the role of the protagonist navigating through an interactive storyline to solve puzzles and achieve missions. Some of the more popular games in this category include Minecraft, The Walking Dead, and Life is Strange.

    Runner ups

    Other popular types of video games in the US include:

    • Role-playing
    • Sports
    • Simulation
    • MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online)
    • MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing)
    • MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas)

    SandVox: Game Localization & Marketing Agency

    The US gaming market is constantly evolving. Understanding the demands and expectations of gamers is not an easy task. That’s why it’s important to be keeping up-to-date with the latest game localization and gaming trends.

    SandVox is a leading localization and marketing agency for companies that develop different game genres for the international market. We offer quality services to help you share your game with your target audience. 

    Contact us now to find more information!

  • Top Reasons To Localize For The Dutch Market

    When talking about translation and localization, you might think these services are important only for the large markets, such as the US, China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, or France. But due to globalization, businesses are expanding all over the world. Therefore, localization for smaller audiences, such as the Dutch market, has its own benefits as well.

    In this article, we’ll explain why it’s important to localize for the Dutch audience and help you to understand why you should consider this market when developing your localization strategy.

    Reach a Large Number of Dutch Speakers

    Dutch is the official language in six countries: Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname, Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten. With 23 million native Dutch speakers around the globe, it is one of the top 40 languages spoken worldwide. Moreover, outside of Dutch-speaking nations, you can find 220 universities spread in 40 countries where people learn this language. By localizing your product, game, or app and creating a consistent content localization strategy, you are potentially reaching a sizable number of Dutch-speaking customers.

    People Acting On The Dutch Market Are Willing To Pay For Quality

    Dutch customers are highly sophisticated and have great purchasing power. In fact, the Netherlands is in the top 15 for GDP per capita at $54,422 in 2017 and US News ranks the Netherlands in 7th place in the top countries with the highest living standards

    As the quality of life and sustainability are important to the Dutch market, this audience generally does their research before deciding to buy. As a result, they are willing to pay higher prices for quality and products that matter to them. At the same time, you should understand the competition is fierce, not just with other foreign companies that try also to get the attention of their potential customers, but also with the local businesses. And this is because local businesses know their market very well and know how to communicate with their potential customers. To reach this highly sophisticated market, you should first answer the questions “What is localization?” and “What part of my business should be localized?”. Then, depending on the specificity of the market and the answers you get, you may consider both products/ service localization and content localization, as the main components of your business strategy.

    Growing Economy

    The agriculture and food, energy, logistics & transportation, and manufacturing sectors are some of the largest industries in the Netherlands. However, the Dutch economy is also seeing growth in other areas, such as e-commerce, high-tech systems, and even the gaming industry. In the Netherlands gaming industry alone, app-based gaming generated $422 million in 2020 and it’s expected to grow by $460 million in 2023.

    As you can see, the demand for these kinds of products will not go away soon. And even if you’ll choose internationalization for some of the production processes, by localizing for the Dutch audience, you’ll glean the benefits of entering into a growing economy.

    High English Proficiency

    The cultural and linguistic difference between English and Dutch may not be as big as it seems. Strong English proficiency is a hallmark of Dutch speakers, especially in the Netherlands. Studies estimate that 90 to 93% of the Dutch population speaks English. Dependence on international trade, the collaboration between television and the media in English-speaking and Dutch-speaking countries are factors that contribute to advanced knowledge of the English language.

    This high proficiency can make it easier to localize content for the Dutch-speaking audience compared to other target markets, especially when you want to implement web content localization.

    SandVox: Your Translation and Localization Agency

    We aim to be the one-stop-shop agency for both writers and gaming developers, by offering you translation and localization services in all major languages. Made up of native translators from around the world, our team of professional linguists and localization experts will help you to expand your business on the desired target market, even if it’s about the USA, Mexico, Germany, Japan or the Dutch market.

    Contact us today for more information. We’ll be happy to help you!

     

  • Danish Localization: What You Should Know

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    The Danes are some of the most demanding customers in Europe. With high purchasing power, the Danish consumer is not afraid of opening up their wallets to quality products. In 2018, Denmark ranked 7th in purchasing power among all European countries. Consumers are increasingly spending money online, purchasing products like fashion, electronics, media, and games.

    The potential to break into the Danish market and increase revenues is great. However, you need to be strategic and understand the Danish consumer before attempting to do so. Simply translating your product into the Danish language is not enough. You also need to consider other factors like their culture, consumer profile, context, and more.

     

    Sophisticated Consumers

    Consumers in Denmark are incredibly sophisticated when it comes to making purchasing decisions. Approximately 81 percent of the population aged 25 to 64 have secondary education. Nearly 37 percent have tertiary education. 

    As highly educated consumers, Danes love to research extensively before making a purchase. They will often do their research before stepping foot in a store. This is why quality localization is vital when marketing to the Danish market.

     

    Healthy Economy

    Denmark has a robust modern mixed-economy centered around the agricultural, services, trade, and manufacturing industries. It has a high standard of living and is the 60th largest economy in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). With its economic influence, Denmark acts as a gateway to many of the Scandinavian and Baltic nations. Therefore, tapping into the Danish market could help businesses look to expand to neighboring countries further.  

     

    A Digitized Nation

    Denmark is ranked 4th as the most digital country in the world. They have the highest number of Internet users in the European Union, with the most popular online activities is listening to music, gaming, and watching videos.

    Marketing via social networks plays a crucial role in reaching Danish consumers. Consumers typically look to online reviews and social media influencers for product recommendations. While Danes are open to foreign products, they often prefer local products with a long-established brand reputation.

     

    Doing Business in Denmark

    The World Bank ranks Denmark as 4th highest globally and 1st in the EU in ease of doing business. Factors like ease of starting a business, trading across borders, paying taxes, and obtaining credit all contribute to making Denmark an attractive country to conduct business in. 

     

    Passionate Gamers

    The Danes love their online games. But, there is one particular gaming industry Denmark is known for: eSports. Denmark has one of the largest eSports followings in the world. Some of the top eSports players originate from Denmark, including Dane Johan Sundstein (i.e., “N0tail”), who leads all eSport players worldwide in total earnings. Moreover, in 2019, there were 410 active eSports competition players in Denmark. The gaming market is steadily growing, especially since the COVID-19 outbreak, with more players purchasing video game content online.

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  • Top Reasons To Consider Dutch Localization

    When talking about translation and localization, you might think these services are essential only for large markets, such as the US, China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, or France. But due to globalization, businesses are expanding all over the world. Therefore, localization for smaller audiences, such as the Dutch market, also has its own benefits.

    In this article, we’ll explain why it’s essential to consider Dutch localization for your game and include this market in your localization strategy.

    Reach a Large Number of Dutch Speakers

    Dutch is the official language in six countries: Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname, Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten. With 23 million native Dutch speakers around the globe, it is one of the top 40 languages spoken worldwide. Moreover, outside of Dutch-speaking nations, you can find 220 universities in 40 countries where people learn this language. Considering game localization in Dutch and creating a consistent localization strategy, you are potentially reaching a sizable number of Dutch-speaking customers.

    People Acting On The Dutch Market Are Willing To Pay For Quality

    Dutch customers are highly sophisticated and have excellent purchasing power. In fact, the Netherlands is in the top 15 for GDP per capita at $54,422 in 2017, and US News ranks the Netherlands in 7th place with the highest living standards.

    As the quality of life and sustainability are essential to the Dutch market and fundamental to Dutch culture, this audience does their research before deciding to buy. As a result, they are willing to pay higher prices for quality and products that matter to them. Providing your potential customers with software localization and website translation into their native language will show them that you also care for them.

    Local Competitors Have A Decisive Advantage

    Keep in mind that there is fierce competition, not just with other foreign companies trying to get their potential customers’ attention, but also with the local businesses. And this is because local businesses know their market very well and know how to communicate with their potential customers. Take for granted that your local competitors also use SEO localization. giving them a competitive edge. To reach this highly sophisticated market, you should first answer the question “What is localization?” and “What part of my business should be localized?”. You may also consider both product localization and content localization as the main components of your business strategy, depending on the market specificities.

    Growing Economy

    The agriculture and food, energy, logistics & transportation, and manufacturing sectors are some of the largest industries in the Netherlands. However, the Dutch economy is also seeing growth in other areas, such as e-commerce, high-tech systems, and even the gaming industry. In the Netherlands gaming industry alone, app-based gaming generated $422 million in 2020 and it’s expected to grow by $460 million in 2023.

    As you can see, the demand for these products will not go away soon. And even if you choose internationalization for some production processes, by offering Dutch translation for your target market, you’ll glean the benefits of entering into a growing economy.

    High English Proficiency

    The cultural and linguistic differences between the English and Dutch language may not be as significant as it seems. Strong English proficiency is a hallmark of Dutch speakers, especially in the Netherlands. Studies estimate that 90 to 93% of the Dutch population speaks English. Dependence on international trade and the collaboration between television and the media in English-speaking and Dutch-speaking countries contribute to advanced English language knowledge.

    This high proficiency can make content translation for the Dutch-speaking audience easier than for other target markets, especially when you want to implement web content localization.

    SandVox: Your Translation and Localization Agency

    We aim to be the one-stop-shop professional translation service agency for game developers, by offering you the best translation services in all major languages. Made up of native translators from around the world, our team of professional linguists and localization experts will help you with quality translation services and language support. We help you expand your business to the desired target market, whether it’s into America, Germany, Japan, or the Dutch market.

    Contact us today for more information. We’ll be happy to assist you!

  • Why Dutch Translation is Important

    When it comes to video games, Dutch translation is really important. Lots of people are happy to play games in their native language. But there are a lot of gamers who want the option to play in other languages too.

    Developers who provide Dutch localization for their games can open up a whole new world of opportunities for their players. Players will be able to enjoy the full game without worrying about language barriers. In this blog post, we’ll talk about why it’s so important and how it benefits both gamers and developers!

    Table of contents

    Dutch Gaming Market Overview

    The Dutch gaming market is a significant and growing market in Europe, with a strong focus on online gaming. Consider Dutch translation of your games to reach your players in their target language.

    • Mobile gaming is growing: The mobile gaming market in the Netherlands is growing rapidly.
    • Competitive video gaming, also known as esports, is getting more popular in the Netherlands. The country has several professional esports leagues and tournaments. Dutch gamers also play many different types of esports.
    • Online gambling: The Dutch government passed a law in February 2021 to legalize online gambling, creating an opportunity to create a safe betting environment. The Netherlands has had strict advertising regulations since the opening of its gambling market in 2021. These regulations have caused a substantial decrease in advertisement expenditure from €890,000 in November 2021 to €319,000 in August 2022. It is expected that in 2023 non-targeted advertisements for online betting will also be prohibited.
    • The Dutch Gaming Authority (DGA) regulates the Dutch gaming market. This agency is in charge of enforcing laws and regulations about gambling and gaming. They want to protect consumers and prevent gambling problems. They have taken action to make sure the gaming industry in the Netherlands operates responsibly.

    High English Proficiency

    The Netherlands is renowned for its people, who speak English mostly fluently. According to the English Proficiency Index, the Netherlands is ranked number 1 worldwide. While Dutch is the official language in the Netherlands, almost everyone understands English. You will notice loads of ads and texts with English words across the Netherlands. In Belgium, it depends on the region. In the region of Flanders, most people speak Flemish and Dutch, while in Wallonia, it’s French. Inhabitants of the former region, the vast majority understand English.

    This high proficiency can make content translation for the Dutch-speaking audience easier than for other target markets. This is especially the case when you want to implement web content localization. However, there are still compelling reasons to translate video games into Dutch.

    Dutch Consumers Are Willing To Pay For Quality

    For starters, the Dutch consumer market is highly valuable. They have high purchasing power and place a strong emphasis on quality, authenticity, and products tailored to their local context. Many Dutch consumers favor products and services created in their own language. Dutch translation of video games could be a great way to attract more customers.

    Access to a broader audience through Dutch Localization

    Dutch is spoken by around 23 million people worldwide, primarily in the Netherlands and Belgium. By translating into Dutch, you can reach a larger audience and make your content more accessible to Dutch speakers.

    Dutch translation is a decisive advantage in entering the market.

    Local Competitors Have A Decisive Advantage

    Not only can Dutch localization of video games help you reach more customers, but it can also help build brand loyalty. Customers may feel more comfortable playing a game they can identify with, increasing their enjoyment and appreciation of the game. This could ultimately lead to higher customer engagement and an overall better gaming experience.

    Translation is not just about converting words from one language to another. It is also about understanding and respecting the culture of the target language. By translating into Dutch, you can show that you value and respect the culture of Dutch speakers.

    Improved Visibility

    Translating into Dutch can help your App Store Optimization (ASO) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Google and other search engines prioritize websites available in more than one language. That’s the case, especially for people who are searching in languages other than English.

    Tips for Successful Dutch Translation and Localization

    Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your Dutch translation and localization efforts:

    • Work with a professional translation and localization company: Dutch is a tricky language with lots of little details. It’s really important to work with someone who is a native Dutch speaker. Additionally, they need to understand the culture to make sure your translations are high quality and according to your target market.
    • Use appropriate terminology: Different game genres use different words, and it’s really important to know the right terms for your work. A translation company should have experts who know all about the industry, so they can make sure your translations are perfect.
    • Consider the target audience: When you translate text and localize your content, it’s really important to think about your customer. A professional Dutch to English translation company can help you with that.
    • Test and review: Before launching your Dutch-language content, you have to test and review it. This means having native Dutch speakers look at it to make sure there are no errors or weird phrases.

    SandVox: Dutch Translation and Localization Agency

    We’re the one-stop shop for game translation. We offer you high quality translations in all major languages, like translating Dutch to English. Whether you want to expand your business into America, Germany, Japan, or the Dutch market, we’re here to help. Contact us today to see what we can do for you.

  • Finnish Localization – What You Need to Know

    There are many advantages to doing business in Finland. Therefore, including Finnish localization in your overall business strategy brings multiple benefits. With a population of 5.5 million people, Finland has seen growth in its information and communications infrastructure, along with the gaming, cleantech, and biotechnology sectors. Besides, the Finnish government is proactive in attracting foreign investment into this Nordic country.

    However, breaking into the Finnish market is not easy. Like most of their Nordic neighbors, Finnish consumers have high expectations when choosing brands and products. Moreover, the Finnish language is relatively complex. To successfully expand your business into Finland, you must specifically target the local audience and provide a very high-quality Finnish localization. 

    The Demand for Quality

    For Finns, quality is one of the critical factors when making a purchasing decision and it applies to both the products and the services. In fact, quality and specialized services are more efficient or more cost-competitive than in other countries. Finns are conscious of factors such as where the product came from and how it was made. That’s why even if you use internationalization as part of your production stage, in terms of communication make sure you have excellent content localization.

    To attract a Finnish audience, you must focus on providing a quality product and ensuring a positive customer experience – from start to finish. The Finnish government recognizes the importance of customer experience and invests in various companies and research institutions to improve it.

    A Growing Tech Sector

    Although Finland is traditionally known for its strong manufacturing industry, the tech industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years. Nowadays, this Nordic country is known for its export of technology and promotion of startups in the information and communications technology, gaming industry, biotechnology, and cleantech sectors. Over 300,000 Finns are working in technology companies and about 660,000 people work either directly or indirectly in the technology sector.

    This emphasis on tech offers an excellent incentive for companies looking to expand into the Finnish market and localize their products to the Finnish market. The culture of innovation and growth fosters running a business that will connect with tech-savvy consumers. Localization in Finnish will give you that competitive advantage you need.

    Internet Usage – One of The Main Reasons To Consider Finnish Localization For Your Online Content

    With 92.5% of Finns using the internet, the country has one of the highest Internet user penetration rates in the world. Additionally, there are over 3.32 million e-commerce users in Finland. Mobile device purchases are steadily increasing, especially among millennials.

    Therefore, you need to pay a lot of attention to digital marketing when reaching local audiences. Most Finns are on popular social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube. Younger audiences tend to use platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram. Targeting this audience requires meeting your consumers where they are by offering quality localized products and services. That’s why Finnish localization for your online content is a must-have.

    Linguistic Challenges When Tackling Finnish Localization

    Translating into the Finnish language is not an easy task. While considered part of the Scandinavian languages, linguistically, it is quite different. Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian belong to what is known as the Indo-European family of languages. Finnish is part of the Uralic languages.

    These differences can make Finnish a difficult language to translate. Varying grammar rules, length of words and characters, and the language’s evolving nature are some factors that make it so challenging. Therefore, you must have a solid content localization strategy even before effectively starting to enter this market. As mentioned, the Finns are some of the most demanding consumers. And you need high-quality localization done by professional translators to provide a positive experience to this audience.

    SandVox: Your Localization Agency

    SandVox is a professional agency providing localization services to game developers and vendors from all around the world.

    Whether you want to implement Finnish localization or want to conquer another country in the EU, Asia, or the USA, let us partner with you and help you to expand on the intended market. We’d love to be part of your next project. Contact us today for more information!

  • Formatting Date and Time For Different Audiences

    class=”entry-content” id=”pix-entry-content”> Formatting the date and time can be a tricky task. Different countries use different formatting, making it confusing to localize dates and times. To make things more complex, certain countries, like Canada, combine more conventions for different date formats. Here are some considerations to take when formatting the dates and times for different audiences.

    The Problem With Localizing Dates

    Different locales have different preferences for how to display dates and times. While they could look similar, the differences can be significant. For example, the US American date format looks like: 12/29/2021 (MM/DD/YYYY). On the other hand, the British-English format switches the month and the days: 29/12/2021 (DD/MM/YYYY). While the example above makes it clear which number refers to the day and which refers to the month (since 29 cannot possibly refer to a month), the following examples are not so clear:
    • US American: 10/08/2021
    • British-English: 08/10/2021
    As you can see, the dates above can cause confusion. Is the date October 8th, 2021 or is it August 10th, 2021? Well, that depends if you’re following the US American or British-English formatting. 

    Date Formatting in Different Countries

    The US American and British-English formats are just the tips of the iceberg. There are even more formatting conventions in different countries. Here are some other common date formats in various parts of the world:
    • Canada: YYYY-MM-DD (i.e. 2021-10-12)
    • Italian: DD.MM.YY (i.e. 12.10.21)
    • Thai: DD/MM/YYYY (i.e. 12/10/2021)
    • Spanish: DD-MM-YYYY (i.e. 12-10-2021)
    Even among these nations, there are variations and exceptions to these formatting conventions. This is why localizing dates. is often confusing. 

    Formatting Time

    There are not as many variations on the convention for time, making it less confusing. There are generally two accepted time formats:
    • 24-hour format: This format starts out with the hour and then the minutes. When it starts with a ‘0,’ it means it’s morning. For example, 02:23 would mean 2:23 in the morning. Most non-English speaking countries use this convention. 
    • 12-hour format: The 12-hour format only goes up to digit 12. It distinguishes morning and night with the Latin abbreviations AM and PM. For example, 2:23 AM. Most English-speaking nations (i.e. USA, Canada, and Australia) use this convention.

    Using the ISO 8601 Date and Time Formatting

    ISO 8601 is an international standard developed to help maintain consistency in date and time format. This standard is becoming more popular, with many countries adopting it as their primary convention. For dates, ISO 8601 formatting is: YYYY-MM-DD (i.e. 2021-11-20). For times, ISO 8601 formatting is: hh:mm:ss  This notation makes it easier for translation and localization purposes. There is no need for translating text strings (i.e. ‘DEC’ or ‘FEB’, etc.). It is easy to read and understand. And, finally, this notation is widely used by other nations already (i.e. Korea, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, etc.).

    Final Words

    Proper translation and localization require you to know how to use an international date format and to adapt it to the local standards. Clearly, thorough localization of any game involves making sure the main elements and the additional ones are easily understood by your target audience. As part of our full suite of professional translation and localization services, SandVox can assist with this process, including advising you about the date and time formatting. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you reach a global audience!