SBT Localization: 2024 in Review

The year 2024 became somewhat of a transitional period for SBT Localization. Our previous achievements taught us that there are no small deeds, and that you shouldn’t put anything off, because the best time is here and now. And so, forward and away, to a new level, where every opportunity is used to the fullest.

The previous year, when we translated Game of the Year and Expansion of the Year, was going to be tough to beat. But it’s all ahead of us. For now, let’s look at what happened in 2024.

SOME NUMBERS

Not counting December, throughout 11 months we’ve done about 800,000 words on volunteer projects. Let’s add projects that have already been released (not counting the announcements)—that’s another 1,500,000 words. So, added together, that’s 2,300,000 words! Not bad for a team of 26 people, right? And that’s us not even at full strength because eight of us are currently in the military protecting Ukraine from the russian invaders.

We had several crowdfunding projects for the Ukrainian military this year. In particular, for “Come Back Alive”, the military FPV drone piloting school “Krylata Varta”, the “POMSTA” brigade; we joined “Knyholiut” and “Knyholiut 2.0”, and the crowdfunding to provide a prosthetic for a soldier, as well as a truck for the Drone Corps. Altogether, we managed to collect and transfer 533,652,64 UAH.

This year, we gave away:

• 158 game keys
• 17 books
• 1 Cyberpunk 2077 gift box
• 1 Xbox Series S 1TB console
• 1 collector’s edition of Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition (PS4/PS5) + Baldur’s Gate 2: Enhanced Edition (PS4/PS5) + Baldur’s Gate 3 Deluxe Edition (PS5)
• 1 PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition 1 TB console
• 17 SBT mugs
• 11 SBT bandanas

VIDEOGAMES

Stronghold: Definitive Edition

Because the Ukrainian text was ready on release for Stronghold: Definitive Edition, we only proofread it. Have a pleasant city-building experience, Your Highnesses!

Windjammers 2

Windjammers 2 is a small retro-style sports game for one or two players. Who’s the best at disc throwing? You? Prove it!

Atom RPG: Trudograd

Trudograd is a standalone expansion for Atom RPG, which will bring you into adventures in the alternate reality USSR post-apocalypse.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

A famous sequel to a cult classic. A real Ukrainian Fallout. However, when you think about it, Fallout has nothing on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, where even bugs are just “lore” anomalies.

BOOKS

Minecraft. Official Cookbook

You’ll find all your favorite Minecraft dish recipes here, as well as advice for survival in the kitchen. Taste THAT cake in reality, the suspicious stew, the creeper potion and many more tasty curiosities.

Read also: Minecraft Recipes: Hoglins, Husks, and TNTea

World of Warcraft. Official Cookbook

Enjoy extremely tasty dishes that will remind you of the World of Warcraft atmosphere. It’s a collection of the best delicacies from both Alliance and Horde. There are interesting comments for each recipe, which will be of note to any fan, seeing as they mention lots of classic characters and locations.

REISSUES / UPDATES / MODS

The Sinking City

The unforgettable Lovecraftian RPG that was released back in 2019 has been through a lot, including a court case. But now the rights belong to its creators entirely—the Ukrainian studio, Frogwares.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

When you can’t wait for an official patch from the developers, it’s alright to use a temporary one. We updated the patch that fixes some errors in the translation. So this is a good time to familiarize yourself with Henry’s adventures, seeing as the sequel is around the corner, and it will have the Ukrainian localization on release.

The Art of Death Stranding

A new batch of “The World of Death Stranding” art book was published by Mal’opus. This is the first art book with our translation, so we are extremely proud of it.

Liftoff: FPV Drone Racing

A localization update was released with some fixes. This is a full-blown simulator that has realistic drone flight physics, you can even learn to fly them using this game. After all, better you crash a virtual drone than a real one. That’s why the Ukrainian military uses Liftoff: FPV Drone Racing for practice. Besides, the game has esports tournaments, and you can win real prizes in those.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. : Shadow of Chernobyl

We’ve updated the Ukrainian patch to support the latest version of OGSR. The update fixes some text errors and improves graphics.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

Stalker: Call of Pripyat also received some attention. We’ve created a mod that improves graphics and fixes some localization errors.

You can find all our Stalker mods here.

IS THAT ALL?

Yes, doesn’t look like much, but these are not all the things SBT worked on this year and continues to work on. So next, some announcements. We’re sure the next year will be full of pleasant surprises.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Cyberpunk RED. Jumpstart Kit

The publisher Geekach already announced that the Cyberpunk RED. Jumpstart Kit will soon be published. Exciting adventures with the Cyberpunk RED role-playing system, a short rule book, and a world guide will keep you entertained for a while.

Meanwhile, you can peruse the quick start booklet, Cyberpunk RED. Easy mode.

Savage Worlds Core Rules

Another role-playing system is about to be released as well, Savage Worlds Core Rules. The digital version is already available for everyone who pre-purchased!

Remember about the power cards too, as they will be extremely useful during play sessions, containing detailed information on each power described in the rulebook.

If you’re still unsure, try Savage Worlds Test Drive. This kit of short rules, power cards and an adventure will help you get acquainted with the system and maybe even be fascinated with its endless worlds.

Medici

If you don’t like reading pages and pages of rules, then this is for you—the Medici board game from publisher AllGames. Try your luck as merchants and become the wealthiest and most influential person of the European Renaissance.

The game rules can already be downloaded on the publisher’s website.

Gears of War. The Card Game

Be on the lookout for the strategy board game Gears of War. The Card Game, based on the Gears of War videogame. Even though this is only a two-player game, it is guaranteed to bring the heat!

The game rules can already be downloaded on the publisher’s website.

NO TIME TO BE BORED

Last year, members of SBT managed to work on other things than churning text files.

In January, we talked about the translation of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty together with Manifest’s other guests.

In February, SBT hosted practical studies for the Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University students.

“Of particular note was the swear word translation in Planescape. I had to keep a “level” during translation for how some characters swear in the game. So I discovered a fair bit of authentic Ukrainian swear words this way.”

From the practical studies diary

In March, we were interviewed by the website Rubryka and shared some of our thoughts: Ukrainian localization in computer games: market developing, and how to increase the number of translations.

Also, we had our people at Games Gathering Lviv 2024.

And we helped Eileen bring her Ukrainian cover of Down By The River from Baldur’s Gate 3 to life.

In April, our translator Dmytro Holovchenko visited Radio Kultura and spoke about the videogame market development, as well as some challenges present in the industry.

Valentyna Puryha wrote an article based on her PhD about software localization, consistency, and variance of the user interface term units, as well as translation mediums: Problems of user interface localization. A table is added in the extension User interface glossary (EN – UA – FR).

In August, the representatives of SBT went to Dice Con 2024 in Lviv, and Yura Dragon also conducted a lecture on our translation of the Cyberpunk RED board game.

The same month saw the release of the videogame terminology 2.0 document, which we were a part of. Please send all your suggestions through the linked form.

In September, our editors took the new translator test for Ukrainian translators on our website. More than 200 people already tried their hand at it. So if you want to join us or are just interested in testing yourself on what videogame translators have to deal with, we invite you to the test. If you get 25 points or more, contact us, and we’ll send you a test task.

In October, we had more students on their practical studies. This time, from the Ternopil National Pedagogical University as part of the “Localization Basics” course. Sophia Shul conducted two lectures for future translators, in which she shared some practical advice and some professional curiosities.

In November, we were invited to the 15th Ukrainian Internet Management Forum. Andrii Yatsechko spoke on behalf of SBT Localization. He talked about the most prevalent problems in the field of Ukrainian video game localization and offered some solutions.

In December, despite the holidays, students from Bila Tserkva National University dutifully showed up for an online lecture from SBT Localization. And they didn’t regret it! Even promised to return for practical studies in the summer. We can’t wait.

Also, our own Bohdana Vozniuk visited Games Gathering 2024 Kyiv. She had lots to say, so read all about it in her article.

And, finally, Andrii Yatsechko was invited by the Verkhovna Rada’s Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy to speak on behalf of SBT Localization in the “Language is relevant. Challenges and Tasks of State Language Policy” roundtable.

As you can see, plenty is happening: we’re translating, educating, and informing.

Big thanks to all our benefactors, whose support helped and continues to help us bring the Ukrainian language into more universes.

WE WISH YOU GOOD HEALTH, PEACE, LOVE, AND PROSPERITY!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Dec 28, 2024