[VIDEO] Guide to Localization Files

A VIDEO guide explaining what the 'localization files' are and why they seems to need to be updated every patch.

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Hey everybody Dom here. Today I’d like to talk about Team Fortress 2’s Localization Files.

Often when Team Fortress 2 is updated there’s a recurring patch note that reads “updated the localization files.” What does this mean? Why do these files always need updating? What function do they have? Here’s a quick explanation:

The localization files contain most of the text information in the game. Exceptions are things like in-game textures that have things writing on them. When something new is added to the game, like for example a new cosmetic, the new item has some text associated with it. This example-item has a unique name and a description attached. In order for the game to display these lines-of-text it has to load them from the localization files.

The user’s language settings are taken into consideration. If for example the game’s language is switched, most of the various instances of text will be altered. Going back to the example item, it now displays a new name and description. For Team Fortress 2, the language settings can be changed from within the game or from within Steam.

Localization files also can refer to voice-overs. Common class and announcer voice lines change to equivalent voice lines in other languages. The translations are incomplete and rarely updated so often an English voice line will play in place of a missing line.

Updating the localization files is equivalent to adding all the visible text-components of an update in every language to the game. This is a necessary step for most major updates and thus is the reason why the line “updated the localization files” is found so often in patch notes.

In order to translate all the text components of the game into all the available languages Valve utilizes the Steam Translation Server. The Steam Translation Server is a community project where people world-wide help in the production of transitions. Its official website is translation.steampowered.com. Very rarely small amounts of information from future update-content is leaked via the translation server.

And that just about sums up everything noteworthy about localization files. They are literally used to localization the game for different languages. Thanks for watching. Like if you enjoyed or learned something new and subscribe for more videos like this one. Au revoir.


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Useful Links

Official Team Fortress 2 wiki on Localization files
https://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Localization_files

Steam Translation Serve’s website
http://translation.steampowered.com/

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[3 Cats in a Trench Coat]

Hey, thanks for the written portion! Really thoughtful to include one on a video post!

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