I translated a video game app

For a few days now, I have started contributing to the translation of Cocoon, a front end for video games, and I must say it has been a much more interesting experience than I initially thought.

For those who don’t know it, Cocoon is an interface designed for those who want to manage their library and launch games conveniently, without too many frills. It’s the kind of software you use every day without thinking about it, which makes it even more important to have a translation that sounds good in Italian, because an awkward or out-of-context string stands out every time.

I handled about 60% of the overall translation, plus the review of the entire file. It’s a job that seems simple but is not at all: there are technical terms to be treated with care, context to be reconstructed because the strings often arrive without it, and decisions to be made on how to Italianize certain concepts that are immediate in English but risk becoming heavy or, worse, incomprehensible in Italian.

Some little numbers

What surprised me most is just how important consistency in terminology is. An interface isn’t a novel: the words must be consistent and always recognizable. If I translate a technical term into Italian, I have to use the same translation throughout the entire interface. It’s essential to create a glossary and stick to it.

The release with Italian support is expected in a few weeks, and honestly, I can’t wait. Not because I want to claim anything, but because I am curious to know if the work is felt, if someone will open the app and think “this translation is well written” without even knowing that there was a person behind it.

I am very proud of what I have done. It is not the most visible project in the world, but it is mine, and that is enough :) (づ ◕‿◕ )づ