A2K: A management model for localization volunteer projects of large-scale narrative games
Resumo
Introduction: Despite the growing relevance of game localization, there is a lack of structured and empirically grounded management models for volunteer localization projects of large-scale narrative games. Objective: This paper introduces “A2K”, a management model that formalizes organizational mechanisms for volunteer localization projects. Methodology: A2K is defined based on observed practices and is evaluated through its application in a case study, combining process documentation with questionnaires applied to both end users and translators. Results: The evaluation indicates optimal textual quality and consistency (>4.5), organizational structure and tool support. These findings suggest that structured management models can enhance the scalability and consistency of volunteer localization projects. However, further validation across multiple projects is required to generalize the model’s effectiveness.
Palavras-chave:
Organization model, game translation, game localization workflow, volunteer projects
Referências
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de Camargo, B. O. F. and Cantarotti, A. (2024). O processo de tradução e dublagem no jogo digital "the king of street fighters". Entretextos, 24(1).
de Sales Viana, G., de Castro Salgado, L. C., and Trevisan, D. G. (2017). Usabilidade em jogos em diferentes plataformas e gêneros. In Anais do XVI Simpósio Brasileiro de Jogos e Entretenimento Digital (SBGames), Curitiba, PR, Brasil. SBC.
Dunne, K. J. and Dunne, E. S. (2006). Translation and Localization Project Management. John Benjamins Publishing Company, Amsterdam.
Esselink, B. (2000). A Practical Guide to Localization, volume 4 of Language International World Directory. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Fortim, I., Monteiro, L. D. F., and Bengel, M. J. (2016). A tipologia das jogadoras: Um estudo do público feminino gamer brasileiro. In Anais do XV Simpósio Brasileiro de Jogos e Entretenimento Digital (SBGames), São Paulo, SP, Brasil. SBC.
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Kent, S. L. (2001). The Ultimate History of Video Games: The Story Behind the Craze that Touched Our Lives and Changed the World. Three Rivers Press, New York.
Maier, R. and Amato, L. (2018). A tradução como mediação cultural em rise of the tomb raider. In Anais do XVII Simpósio Brasileiro de Games e Entretenimento Digital (SBGames), Foz do Iguaçu, PR, Brasil.
Mangiron, C. (2021). Found in translation: Evolving approaches for the localization of japanese video games. Arts, 10(1):9.
O’Hagan, M. (2009). Evolution of user-generated translation: Fansubs, translation hacking and crowdsourcing. The Journal of Internationalisation and Localisation, 1:94–121.
O’Hagan, M. (2011). Community translation: Translation as a social activity and its possible consequences in the advent of web 2.0 and beyond. Linguistica Antverpiensia, New Series – Themes in Translation Studies, 10.
O’Hagan, M. and Mangiron, C. (2013). Game Localization: Translating for the Global Digital Entertainment Industry, volume 106 of Benjamins Translation Library. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Project Management Institute (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide). Project Management Institute, 6 edition.
Steiner, G. (1975). After Babel: Aspects of Language and Translation. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Tourinho, A., Bonfim, C., and Alves, L. (2016). Games, tdah e funções executivas: Uma revisão da literatura. In Anais do XV Simpósio Brasileiro de Jogos e Entretenimento Digital (SBGames), São Paulo, SP, Brasil. SBC.
da Silva Salvagioni, D. J., Reis, F. S., Ribeiro, M. F., et al. (2017). Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout: A systematic review of prospective studies. PLOS ONE, 12(10):e0185781.
de Camargo, B. O. F. and Cantarotti, A. (2024). O processo de tradução e dublagem no jogo digital "the king of street fighters". Entretextos, 24(1).
de Sales Viana, G., de Castro Salgado, L. C., and Trevisan, D. G. (2017). Usabilidade em jogos em diferentes plataformas e gêneros. In Anais do XVI Simpósio Brasileiro de Jogos e Entretenimento Digital (SBGames), Curitiba, PR, Brasil. SBC.
Dunne, K. J. and Dunne, E. S. (2006). Translation and Localization Project Management. John Benjamins Publishing Company, Amsterdam.
Esselink, B. (2000). A Practical Guide to Localization, volume 4 of Language International World Directory. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Fortim, I., Monteiro, L. D. F., and Bengel, M. J. (2016). A tipologia das jogadoras: Um estudo do público feminino gamer brasileiro. In Anais do XV Simpósio Brasileiro de Jogos e Entretenimento Digital (SBGames), São Paulo, SP, Brasil. SBC.
HowLongToBeat (2026). Steins;gate. [link]. Accessed: March 21, 2026.
Icon Era (2025). Gaming industry revenue statistics 2026. [link]. Accessed: March 21, 2026.
Kent, S. L. (2001). The Ultimate History of Video Games: The Story Behind the Craze that Touched Our Lives and Changed the World. Three Rivers Press, New York.
Maier, R. and Amato, L. (2018). A tradução como mediação cultural em rise of the tomb raider. In Anais do XVII Simpósio Brasileiro de Games e Entretenimento Digital (SBGames), Foz do Iguaçu, PR, Brasil.
Mangiron, C. (2021). Found in translation: Evolving approaches for the localization of japanese video games. Arts, 10(1):9.
O’Hagan, M. (2009). Evolution of user-generated translation: Fansubs, translation hacking and crowdsourcing. The Journal of Internationalisation and Localisation, 1:94–121.
O’Hagan, M. (2011). Community translation: Translation as a social activity and its possible consequences in the advent of web 2.0 and beyond. Linguistica Antverpiensia, New Series – Themes in Translation Studies, 10.
O’Hagan, M. and Mangiron, C. (2013). Game Localization: Translating for the Global Digital Entertainment Industry, volume 106 of Benjamins Translation Library. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Project Management Institute (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide). Project Management Institute, 6 edition.
Steiner, G. (1975). After Babel: Aspects of Language and Translation. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Tourinho, A., Bonfim, C., and Alves, L. (2016). Games, tdah e funções executivas: Uma revisão da literatura. In Anais do XV Simpósio Brasileiro de Jogos e Entretenimento Digital (SBGames), São Paulo, SP, Brasil. SBC.
Publicado
29/09/2026
Como Citar
BARBOSA, Felipe Cassiano; RETT, Heitor Massambani; SILVA, Lucas Pochini da; ARAGÃO JÚNIOR, Belmondo Rodrigues.
A2K: A management model for localization volunteer projects of large-scale narrative games. In: SIMPÓSIO BRASILEIRO DE JOGOS E ENTRETENIMENTO DIGITAL (SBGAMES), 25. , 2026, Goiânia/GO.
Anais [...].
Porto Alegre: Sociedade Brasileira de Computação,
2026
.
p. 2605-2616.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/sbgames.2026.25586.
