G11N, I18N, T9N and L10N For Video Games
Wait, what? You didn’t think video game localization would be about numbers?
Well, aside from budgeting, (which is actually one of the most fun aspects of the video game localization process for me), you might have come across a few confusing acronyms such as T9N, L10N, I18N, C13N, and G11N. In this article, we will explain each one of them.
T9N = Translation
The process of converting text from a source language into a target language.
L10N = Localization
The process of adapting a game or software to a specific locale’s language, culture, and legal requirements. It involves modifications to the user-visible components of software such as the user interface, images, documentation, etc.
I18N = Internationalization
The process of designing a software application so that it can be adapted to various languages and regions without engineering changes.
C13N = Culturalization
Content adaptation for different markets to be carried out according to culture-specific elements, such as history, religion, ethnicity, and geopolitics.
G11N = Globalization
The broader process to adapt and sell a software product to an international audience. It encompasses the rest of the disciplines, including marketing.
Did you get the pattern? The numbers between the two letters represent the number of letters between the first and last letter of each word.
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