LOCALI: A RARE ARTEFACT THAT BREAKS CULTURAL BARRIERS OF CHORNOBYL EXCLUSION ZONE
Found in the PDA of a 23 STUDIOS Project Manager
June 24th, 2022
[14:33] We have contracted the job from our client. The mission is straightforward yet challenging… A small team of localization specialists, led by [REDACTED], shall venture into the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone (“Zone”), and activate the fabled item that has been in the possession of our organization for quite some time: Locali, an artefact that can only take form in Anomalies fueled with years of experience, creativity and observation. Needless to say, one would require more than bolts to secure this one.
June 30th, 2022
[16:29] The client’s influence amongst the IPSF ranks is impressive. Our passage across the Perimeter went as smoothly as it could be. We’ve also been provided with all the necessary paperwork, equipment and high clearance badges for the various fractions of the Zone. I feared that the artefact would be detected and confiscated in the checkpoint; but the custom, lead coated backpack, which is the courtesy of our friend [REDACTED], has blocked the artefact’s radiation. Such a neat trick! I hope they’ll let me keep it after the job’s done. If I ask nicely… Who knows?
[17:03] We are all loaded up in the truck, and on our way to a place called the Rookie Village. Apparently, this is where you start your journey in the Zone. The client has arranged a meeting with someone named [REDACTED], he’ll be showing us the ropes. Since this is our first time here, a quick beginner course would be welcome. Feels like we’ve got a long road ahead of us. I’ll update when we get there...
[17:10] …or I’ll scribble some more to pass the time. I already treat this thing as a semi-diary, so how about I talk about this artefact of ours? I’m sure it would provide insight to the future translators…
[17:57] So as I’ve said, this artifact has been in the possession of our organization for quite a long time, but the team members must familiarize themselves with its nature to be able to tap into it. After years of extended periods of exposure to its very special form of radiation, users of Locali have been documented performing the following feats:
· Ability to adapt and blend in foreign environments/communities at an exceptional speed.
· Ability to grasp and internalize certain aspects of a different culture, also finding equivalents for these from their own with precision.
· Ability to perf… [Auto Saved]
[18:09] Just arrived in the Lesser Zone, and had to cut the previous entry short. To be continued…
July 7th, 2022
[10:03] We’ve been at the Rookie Village for a week now, and we are pretty much settled in. There’s this old guy, [REDACTED], who takes rookie Stalkers under his wings. Teaching them the ways of the Zone. I had the chance to share some drinks with him. Once I told him about the job, he was exhilarated. He quickly whipped out a list of common terms and important locations found in the Zone and wanted us to start with that. We’ve been itching for a good localization anyway… So, let’s give it a shot!
July 10th, 2022
[19:58] You see, however experienced you might be, one should never underestimate Glossary localizations. As these terms also set the standards of your project, they must be treated with utmost care. It took three days, but we’ve managed to get a solid base for our Turkish Localization. We’ve left most of the proper nouns untouched, but some of the Ukrainian names were better off transliterated (e.g. “Semykhody” became “Semıhodski”; “Chystohalivka” was transliterated as “Çıstohalivka”, making them easier to pronounce for Turkish audience).
[20:25] We’ve had to ask around a little bit to see the Zone’s artefacts in person, as Stalkers named most of them metaphorically. Translating them literally would leave them with little to no meaning, so we learned about them and came up with unique Turkish names (“Kolobok” -> “Lokma”, “Mica” -> “Amibik”, you get the idea).
July 12th, 2022
[22:37] Had a delicious late-night snack by the fire. Barkeep was hesitant to give the recipe away at first, but our team’s got some next level persuasion skills:
No Bake Anti-Rad Pie (serves 1)
Ingredients:
· 1 link of Sausage
· 1 Bread (stale is better)
· 1 can of Condensed Milk
· Cossacks Vodka to taste
Prep:
Crumble and mix the bread in an empty can you find with half of the condensed milk and a dash of vodka. Smash and flatten the mix with the grip of your gun until it resembles a pie crust. Slice sausage, put slices in over the crust. Add more condensed milk and top off with vodka. Let it sit overnight, or consume straight away…
July 16th, 2022
[09:17] We’ve met an erratic ex-guide who seems to know his way around the Zone. Goes by the name [REDACTED]. He agreed to act as a middleman and introduce us to the factions of the Zone. Starting tomorrow, we’ll be visiting their bases and studying their daily lives. This expedition will allow us to gain the required insight and ultimately activate our artifact Locali, breaking the language barrier of the Zone and rendering it a localized, familiar experience for the Turkish players.
August 28th, 2023
[00:09] We’ve been busy… It has been more than a year since I’ve had the chance to log something on to this PDA. “But what have you been busy with?” one might ask… And I’d say we’ve been busy exploring the Zone. Meeting all manner of folks: Bandits, Loners, Soldiers, Scientists… You name it! Getting acquainted with people from different walks of the Zone has really broadened our horizons. We were able to achieve a localization that would genuinely feel… Local. Well, I’m off to grab something to eat. Will talk about the factions when I’m back.
August 29th, 2023
[10:23] I felt groggy after the meal, must’ve been the condensed milk. So, I went to sleep right away… Anyways, the factions! Bandits and the loners were some of the most miserable, treacherous, and foul-mouthed people I’ve ever met. Luckily, (or unfortunately) the area I was brought up in had its fair share of these sorts of individuals. So, I was able to assist my team by providing them with all manners of slang, phrases, and profanities. Now, some might find the amount of unpleasantries used in our localization quite unpleasant. Even these, however, could be considered a watered-down version of what’s actually going on in the streets. While I’m content with the final product, we haven’t used enough if I may say so myself.
[11:09] The second stereotype we encountered in the Zone... I believe they could be classified as army people (or military personnel). They come in many different banners and badges, yet they all believe in a somewhat similar sense of duty and order; so, the way they operate is pretty much the same. While not as much as the bandits, these people too, were quite harsh and it was difficult to be around them. Still, they carried themselves in a much more respectable manner and adapting their tone for the Turkish audience was not that challenging. Any Turkish person familiar with the army setting would find the localization relatable, I'd say.
[12:01] And then there were the scientists, who seemed to have the best living conditions, even in a place like the Zone. For the most part, they run their operations in safe environments of isolated facilities and live among their peers, who are also educated, science-oriented people. Localization of these mild-mannered, well-spoken folk's speech proved to be the easiest as we opted to go for the standard Istanbulite dialect. Another aspect that I'd like to hig… [Auto Saved]
[12:34] 111111g3,,,,,,,,,,,,agssssssssssssssss11rwrwwwrwww..----------////+
November 19th, 2024
[16:06] It has been a long journey. Many places were visited, many friends and enemies were made, many stories were heard, and many stories were localized. Finally, we have reached the Center. Donned with all the knowledge and insight Zone has had to offer, we are ready to activate our artifact. In a few hours, the Zone will open her arms to the new Stalkers once again. Many will thrive, many will die. You, who may have found this PDA; should you ever decide to take the path we once walked, know that this artifact favors those who dare to stray from the path (ironic)… If you manage to free yourselves from the shackles of textbook translation, only then will you achieve true localization. If I manage to get back to the Mainland, I’ll be on the lookout. Eager to hear the news of new teams, set out to introduce our language to new worlds. But that will be your story… A different story. Different, yet the same.
