Identifying Features of Political Localization in Video Games – BSc thesis
Title: Identifying Features of Political Localization in Video Games
Author: Olle Frid, Henrik Hökby
Institution: Stocholm University (SU), Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV), Sweden
Date and language: Spring term 2021, English
Type: Thesis at BSc level degree project 15 HP (sv: Självständigt arbete på grundnivå [kandidatexamen])
Key words: Video Games, Localization, Censorship, Politics in games
Advisor: Mirjam Palosaari Eladhari
Abstract
This paper contains a study that was performed to identify the defining characteristics of what political localization is, concerning video games. Games and other forms of media are often changed when localized for different regions, sometimes to another audience than the original one, but sometimes there is a clear political motivation as well. This paper will analyse what characterises political localizations and provide examples of games that have been changed in this way.
To identify the differences between political- and cultural localizations, previous academic sources were reviewed, but the amount of information available was scarce. Therefore, almost all data was gathered through a document survey; searching through articles, forums, and other databases to find games with differing regional versions. In total, 69 video games were found using this method. The analysed data was then divided into 14 categories through the use of a thematic analysis.
Experts within the research domain were contacted for supplemental information. An interview was performed with one of them, Marcus Toftedahl, which yielded useful information.
The result was found to be that political localizations are distinguished by being performed mostly by nations with lower democracy scores, and generally regard political issues relevant to today’s society. In the corpus of this paper, they never concern bans/changes based on sexual content, cultural context, blood and gore, drug use, gambling, making something suitable for minors, and violence. Simultaneously, they always concern bans/changes based around state boycotts, the depiction of non-traditional relationships, and undesired depictions of regions.