BTN News: Nintendo is a world-famous brand. It aims to reach as many players as possible by translating its video games into many languages. This lets everyone enjoy games in their own language. Translators make this happen. Some work for Nintendo full-time, and others are freelancers. Recently, there have been issues with how these freelancers are treated.
Freelance translators have spoken out about their working conditions with Nintendo. Their main issue is that they do not get credit for their work. Even though they help with big games like “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” and “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom,” their names do not appear in the game credits. Contracts prevent them from saying they worked on these games, even for translations of scripts and menus.
Nintendo’s rules say that translators cannot list their work on certain games in their resumes. This rule applies to both public resumes and private ones sent to other companies. This makes it hard for freelancers, especially those working with companies like Localsoft, to prove they worked with Nintendo. These rules keep their work secret for up to 10 years, leaving many translators without recognition for their work.
The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) recently updated its guide called “Game Credit Policies.” This guide aims to make industry practices fairer and to ensure that all major companies treat their workers well. This change is good news for future translators. It will give them better rights and working conditions. The IGDA wants these new rules to be mandatory, which will help make sure all workers get credit for their contributions.
Nintendo’s effort to translate their games is important to make them available worldwide. But not giving credit to freelancers shows a big problem in the industry. By following the new IGDA guidelines, Nintendo and other companies can make sure all workers get the recognition they deserve. This includes both full-time employees and freelancers, for their hard work and dedication.
