XLOC, Inc. is a company that offers localization services and
proprietary software tools to game developers and publishers.

2012-03-04

Over 3,000 Video Game Title Ships with XLOC Localization Technology

Popular development tool used globally by video game developers and publishers contains enhanced API functionality

SAN FRANCISCO and RALEIGH, N.C. – February 22, 2012 - XLOC, the leading provider of web-based localization management solutions for video game developers and publishers, announced today that more than 3,000 titles around the world have shipped that leverage its localization technology solution.

“We launched XLOC to help game developers create custom, high-quality localizations in less time and with lower cost than traditional methods.   Through customer feedback and by closely following industry trends, we continually update our solution to create a valuable, streamlined and efficient localization process,” said Stephanie Deming, co-founder and president of XLOC.  “We are very excited to have surpassed the 3,000 title benchmark and look forward to partnering with companies to make great games for many years to come.”

XLOC 4.0 was developed to satisfy the rigorous demands of game localization. XLOC is a customizable localization management solution with key features including:

• Extended API functionality for enhanced automated game file updates and customization rebuild/download process.
• XLOC API for seamless integration of developers' tools and processes.
• Robust translation memory features and support.
• More than 250 file formats supported.
• Extended and adaptable asset build features.
• Increased historical data for translations.
• Expanded prototype build capabilities.

“Using XLOC’s solution for worldwide, multi-SKU title releases dramatically reduces our development time and creates a much smoother and more standardized localization process,” said Fiona Ebbs, Senior Localization Manager at Activision.  “XLOC allows my team to receive detailed insight into and control over all facets of our localizations - allowing me to focus on the high-level production details, instead of the day-to-day issues.”

The XLOC system was created based on industry experience with the goal of continually enhancing its features to meet constantly evolving market needs and delivering the utmost flexibility.  XLOC offers completely customizable management solutions for integrating localization into game development to enable simultaneous global shipment.  As developers provide their latest assets, XLOC dynamically synchronizes with these localized game resources, proactively generating current, changing asset lists and separating the translation effort from game asset format specifics.  This process allows for asset updates to be seen in real-time by developers, translators and publishers, and expedites time to market.

About XLOC

XLOC is the leading provider of web-based global localization management solutions for the international computer and video game industry, with more than 45 years of production, programming and development experience.  XLOC offers organizational management systems that streamline localization processes and simplify the integration of localization into the development cycle. This process saves game developers and publishers significant time and money, and allows them to ship their international SKUs simultaneously across multiple game platforms and languages to realize the full potential of the global marketplace.  XLOC products are compatible with all major 3D engine technologies, social networking games and vast MMO environments, and can be leveraged as stand-alone products or be combined with XLOC’s consulting and support services. Titles built using XLOC include the Call of Duty® series, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning™, NBA 2K11 and League of Legends and many more.  To learn more, please visit www.xloc.com.

Contact
Allison Flentje
GamesBizWire (for XLOC)
aflentje@gamesbizwire.com
(919) 863-2393 ext. 216

2011-07-19

XLOC Enhances International Game Localizations with Multibyte Source Integration

Localization solution now supporting multibyte languages as source text

RALEIGH, N.C. - July 18, 2011 - XLOC, the leading provider of web-based localization management solutions for video game developers and publishers, announced today that its products now support multibyte languages as source text for localizations.

XLOC has always supported multibyte target languages, and has successfully produced hundreds of games in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Polish and Thai.   Instead of relying on Western language source data and having to compare, analyze and track source data in English or European languages, developers creating games in Eastern languages, including Cyrillic, Japanese, Chinese, etc., can now use XLOC to manage their international localizations.

“This new update opens XLOC up to an even broader international market and adheres to XLOC’s philosophy of bridging the development – translation gap in the video game production world,” said Stephanie Deming, president and co-founder of XLOC.    “Now developers using multibyte languages as source will be able to track their source data and content changes, and make their games available in Western markets faster and more efficiently than ever before.”

The XLOC system was created based on industry experience with the goal of continually enhancing its features to meet constantly evolving market needs and delivering the utmost flexibility.  XLOC offers completely customizable management solutions for integrating localization into game development to enable simultaneous global shipment.  As developers provide their latest assets, XLOC dynamically synchronizes with these localized game resources, proactively generating current, changing asset lists and separating the translation effort from game asset format specifics.  This process allows for asset updates to be seen in real-time by developers, translators and publishers, and expedites time to market.

2011-05-10

Game Industry Veterans Announce Release of The Game Localization Handbook, Second Edition

Localization experts offer guidance for successful, cost effective video game localizations

Raleigh, NC – May 15, 2011 – Video game industry veterans Heather Chandler, founder and executive producer of Media Sunshine, Inc., and Stephanie O’Malley Deming, president and co-founder of XLOC, today announced the release of The Game Localization Handbook, Second Edition.  The book is now available for purchase via Jones & Bartlett Learning.

As games become increasingly popular in international markets, developers and publishers are looking for ways to effectively and efficiently localize their games in order to capitalize on these markets. Authored by two internationally known experts in game localization, The Game Localization Handbook, Second Edition provides best practices and direction on how to localize software for games, whether they are developed for the PC, console or other platforms. It includes advice, interviews and case studies from top industry professionals, as well as practical, actionable information on pre-production, production, translation and testing of localized SKUs.

“With the increase in demand for faster game production and ever-shrinking budgets, localizations are becoming a more integral part of the video game development process,” said Chandler.  “We are thrilled to be able to offer best practices and guidance to help all developers and publishers make the process more cost effective and efficient, and capture revenues from a worldwide simultaneous launch – extending coveted marketing and publicity dollars.” 

Written for producers, translators, development personnel, studio management, publishers, students and anyone involved directly or indirectly with the production of localized games, this single-reference handbook provides insightful guidelines for all the tasks involved in the planning and execution of successful localizations.

“Game localizations have traditionally been a final consideration in game production, but with the expansion of global markets, developers and publishers are realizing the importance of integrating localizations in the beginning stages of game development,” said Deming.  “With localization management tools such as XLOC, the process is no longer an afterthought but becomes a central step in a successful game launch.”

Heather Maxwell Chandler is a veteran game producer with experience at Activision, EA and Ubisoft. She's also the founder of Media Sunshine, Inc., (www.mediasunshine.com) a company that provides game production contract services to developers, publishers and vendors.  She has contributed to the production of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, Two Worlds, Ghost Recon 2, Civilization: Call to Power, Heavy Gear 2, and Apocalypse. Chandler is the author of The Game Production Handbook, Second Edition and Fundamentals of Game Development, also part of the Foundations of Game Development series.

2011-01-11

XLOC Enhances Localization Management with Audio and Asset Merger

RALEIGH, N.C. – January 11, 2011 - XLOC,the leading provider of web-based global localization management solutions for video games,has expanded its XLOC 4.0 offering with the addition of an enhanced Audio and Asset Merger process.

The improved functionality and new features now enable users to add audio files and/or images directly to individual strings within XLOC.  These images can be viewed or played directly from the XLOC interface, and translators can upload translated versions of the source assets for each individual language. 

“We are very excited to provide our customers with the ability to seamlessly integrate all of their audio files, images and text files within XLOC, and keep our clients’ feedback top of mind as we continually update and build upon the technology,” said Stephanie Deming, president and co-founder of XLOC.  “This addition allows XLOC users to incorporate all of their game files in one central location and realize the benefit of having full visibility into the current state of their localizations, streamlining the process and resulting in a faster time to market.”

2010-11-30

Gamesauce Inteview - Stephanie O’Malley Deming on Localization at Activision, XLOC, and Worldwide

XLOC's president and co-founder Stephanie O'Malley Deming just wrapped working with Activision on a very high profile game coming out this holiday.  "That end-of-the-project push is so exciting and exhilarating.  For a game of that size, there are so many loose ends to wrap up.  From a production perspective, you need to be quick, focused and on-point.  It's truly a worldwide team effort" says Deming.  She sat down with Gamesauce to discuss the importance of localization and her process in her work at XLOC, Activision's latest title, and the games industry overall.



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2010-11-11

Call of Duty®: Black Ops Reaches Fans Across the Globe with XLOC

RALEIGH, N.C. – November 11, 2010 - XLOC, the leading provider of web-based global localization solutions for video games, announced today that its technology was used to manage the localization process of the highly-anticipated title Call of Duty®: Black Ops. XLOC worked with Activision Publishing, Inc. to localize the blockbuster title into French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Spanish on Xbox 360®, PlayStation® 3, Nintendo Wii™, Windows PC and Nintendo DS.

2010-11-02

XLOC President and Co-Founder to Speak at IGDA Leadership Forum

RALEIGH, N.C. – November 2, 2010 - XLOC,the leading provider of web-based global localization solutions for video games, announced today that President and Co-founder, Stephanie O’Malley Deming, will be speaking at the fourth annual IGDA Leadership Forum. Deming will give a presentation entitled “The Right Tool Makes Any Loc Job Easier,” and will speak of the critical importance of localization tools in the industry.. The speech will highlight how game companies are now using standardized localization tools and processes to ship global products more quickly, as well as the challenges developers and publishers have encountered and solutions on how to overcome these challenges.

2010-06-29

Riot Games Chooses XLOC for League of Legends Localization

RALEIGH, N.C. – June 29, 2010 - XLOC, the leading provider of web-based global localization solutions for video games, announced today that its technology has been chosen by Riot Games, a leading independent developer and publisher of premium online video games, for the localization management of its hit title League of Legends^TM. XLOC will partner with Riot Games to localize the title into French, Spanish, German and many other languages on the PC and Mac.

“With online games, it is essential that new content be available to international players in tandem with the main SKU, and XLOC allows developers and publishers to deliver that to their dedicated players,” said Stephanie Deming, co-founder and president of XLOC. “We are very excited to continue our relationship with Riot Games as the company transitions to self-publish its hit title League of Legends.”

2010-05-20

Blur™ Races to the Finish Line with XLOC’s Localization Solution

RALEIGH, N.C. - May 20, 2010 - XLOC, the leading provider of global localization solutions for video games, announced today that its technology was used in the upcoming global release of the long-awaited title Blur^TM. XLOC worked with Activision to localize the title into English, French, Italian, German and Spanish on the Xbox 360®, Xbox Live®, PLAYSTATION®3 and Windows PC. 

“Using XLOC’s solution for world-wide, multi-SKU title releases dramatically reduces our development time and creates a much smoother and more standardized localization process,” said Annette Lee, localization QA manager at Activision.  “XLOC allows my team to receive detailed insight into and control over all facets of our localizations - allowing me to focus on the high-level production details, instead of the day-to-day issues.”

2010-04-28

XLOC Adds Custom API to Enhance Localization Management

RALEIGH, N.C. – April 28, 2010 - XLOC, the leading provider of Web-based localization management solutions for video games, has enhanced its 4.0 version with the addition of the XLOC API. XLOC users now have the ability to directly integrate their own proprietary programs with XLOC during development.

The XLOC API will provide a mechanism for other tools and programs to take advantage of the XLOC management process.  Tasks can be automated so that a developer’s API is an integrated part of the system, rather than requiring users to interact with both programs independently.

2010-03-03

XLOC 4.0 to be Unveiled at GDC 2010

RALEIGH, N.C. – March 3, 2010 - XLOC, a leading provider of global localization solutions for video games, will be launching XLOC 4.0, the newest version of the company’s Web-based localization management product, at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco.  The latest version of the localization system incorporates multiple enhancements...

2010-02-18

XLOC Shares Expertise at GDC 2010 through Game Localization Summit

RALEIGH, N.C. – Feb. 18, 2010 - XLOC, a leading provider of global localization solutions for video games, is excited to announce its sponsorship of the Game Localization Summit at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco on March 9, 2010. Experts from XLOC will be attending the summit to discuss how localization solutions provide cost savings, mitigate risk and increase time to market, and how XLOC has worked with companies globally to implement successful localization programs.  The company will also be unveiling some exciting enhancements to their localization management system.

2010-01-19

Dark Void™ Blasts Off Worldwide with XLOC’s Localization Solution

RALEIGH, N.C. - January 19, 2010 - XLOC, the leading provider of global localization solutions for video games, is proud to announce that its technology was used in the global release of the long-awaited Dark Void^TM. Developed by Capcom®, Dark Void was localized into French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Spanish, Czech and Russian on the Xbox 360®, PLAYSTATION®3, and Windows PC. 

“XLOC’s solution was an essential part of releasing Dark Void  action lovers around the globe. An international, multi-SKU title release in seven languages and six platforms is an overwhelming task,” said Capcom Senior Producer Morgan Gray. “With XLOC’s localization expertise, our time to market was significantly reduced and we were able to create a much smoother and standardized development process.”

2009-10-13

XLOC Helps Brütal Legend™ Rock Out World Wide

RALEIGH, N.C. - October 13, 2009
XLOC, the leading provider of global localization solutions for video games, announced that its technology facilitated the worldwide release of the highly-anticipated rock adventure Brütal Legend™. Developed by Double Fine Productions and published by Electronic Arts (EA), Brütal Legend utilizes XLOC’s tool suite to localize the title into English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese for the Xbox 360® video game system and PLAYSTATION®3.

“XLOC’s contribution on Brütal Legend, as on past projects with EA Partners, was a crucial component in the success of an ‘on time’ completion for our localization process,” said Craig Krstolic, associate producer and localization manager at Electronic Arts. “The XLOC tool provides excellent asset management that greatly reduces the chance for human error, as well as the ability to quickly recover from changes or internal errors.  Its staff offers some of the best customer support and professionalism I’ve seen by being friendly, knowledgeable and readily available.”