Hi, I’m curious if anyone has done some localization/translations to their apps and, if so, if they think it was worth the time/money/effort. I’m sure some languages are obviously better than others. I read you get a lot of downloads if you translate to Chinese but very few are paying customers so it may not be worth your time.
In any case, kind of meant this to post to be more of an open dialogue on the results people have seen! [import]uid: 147305 topic_id: 28576 reply_id: 328576[/import]
We released our iOS SolarPVCalc app (yeah, it’s not a game :-)) about a week ago, and we localized it in Dutch, German, French, Italian, Spanish (and English of course). We only released it in a submarket of the AppStore: NL, BE, CH, AT, AUS, UK, FR, DE, ES, IT.
Mind you, we also self-localized the iTunes blabla for the store, iTunes offers an automatic translation, but that sucks.
We have no comparison data, not even a lot of data at all, since it’s just in the store for a few days and it’s a niche that we’re targetting, but it looks like the german and french crowd likes the localized apps. I have seen the same with other applications in these markets, properly localized apps will sell more than single english apps. But it really depends on the country. Germany and France, localization certainly helps.
Can’t comment on Chinese, but since there’s a huge potential there and if you see what Apple has added to OSX 10.8 for the Chinese market, I think localizing your app in Chinese isn’t a bad idea at all, if you want to market it there.
One tip: have it done by a native speaker. And even then, doublecheck *everything* in your app. Best have it tested by another native speaker after localization. Sometimes there are certain language specific idiocrasies that are difficult to translate properly. [import]uid: 106658 topic_id: 28576 reply_id: 115293[/import]
Hi Marco
This is interesting, thanks
Could you explain how localization works in Corona?
Is there a file by language to produce? If yes, what kind of
File? Thanks for any help!
Olivier [import]uid: 160159 topic_id: 28576 reply_id: 123122[/import]
“I think localizing your app in Chinese isn’t a bad idea at all, if you want to market it there.”
Isnt this the essence of the question?
Who the game is marketed to is going to be absolutely crucial to answering the question.
Marco, it seems that your approach is to intentionally market to the different populations and languages (brilliant by the way).
However, this is largely different than making a game and then translating it based on the chances of a non-english speaker being influenced into purchasing/buying the game based on wether or not it was translated… there should be a study done on this somewhere 
I think its a matter of intentionally marketing to the correct demographics.
In my opinion, if you want to break out of the local market you are in (wherever it is), you need to translate/localize to at least the other dominant languages around the world.
The internet is a global economy and I think the products/goods of that economy ought to be marketed as such.
I’d really like to hear how your app does, Marco, as you acquire more and more data [import]uid: 174977 topic_id: 28576 reply_id: 123275[/import]
Hi Marco
This is interesting, thanks
Could you explain how localization works in Corona?
Is there a file by language to produce? If yes, what kind of
File? Thanks for any help!
Olivier [import]uid: 160159 topic_id: 28576 reply_id: 123122[/import]
“I think localizing your app in Chinese isn’t a bad idea at all, if you want to market it there.”
Isnt this the essence of the question?
Who the game is marketed to is going to be absolutely crucial to answering the question.
Marco, it seems that your approach is to intentionally market to the different populations and languages (brilliant by the way).
However, this is largely different than making a game and then translating it based on the chances of a non-english speaker being influenced into purchasing/buying the game based on wether or not it was translated… there should be a study done on this somewhere
I think its a matter of intentionally marketing to the correct demographics.
In my opinion, if you want to break out of the local market you are in (wherever it is), you need to translate/localize to at least the other dominant languages around the world.
The internet is a global economy and I think the products/goods of that economy ought to be marketed as such.
I’d really like to hear how your app does, Marco, as you acquire more and more data [import]uid: 174977 topic_id: 28576 reply_id: 123275[/import]