Towards a cross-cultural game design: an explorative study in understanding the player experience of a localised Japanese video game

Video games have grown into a global industry today with games routinely localised into an increasing range of languages. Despite the quality control processes in game localisation, target players often find localised games to be lackluster, as if they were an afterthought. Given the generally accepted view of games as a cultural product, the cause for lackluster player perceptions may be linked to cultural assumptions embedded in the original game design itself. Using a pilot empirical study to gain access to the player experience of a localised Japanese video game Ico, this paper seeks to examine such cultural influences in game design affecting the overall game play experience of localised games. A play trajectory, a game log and a player interview provide rich data for a qualitative analysis, pointing to potential areas of cultural impact in game design, affecting the player experience of the localised game. The study suggests that a similar empirical method focusing on the player can be developed into a potentially productive approach informing a cross-cultural game design.