Abstract:

Given that video games tend to attract a large foreign audience, it is crucial to properly represent the audiovisual text in the game and reproduce its original flavor through subtitling. The related study is of significance in the localization of video games and the study of audiovisual translation. This emerging audiovisual translation (AVT) study, however, is still largely under-researched in China with the existing studies often conducted with rather traditional methods. This case study of the trailer of the video game Black Myth: Wukong discusses the principles and strategies of gaming AVT based on foreign audiences' responses and the subtitler's reflections. It is argued that gaming AVT should not be confined to language transfer. Greater importance should be attached to achieving the overall multimodal effects and meeting the tempo-spatial specifications of subtitling to enhance the audience's immersive experience. Meanwhile, vulgar language in the game should be treated properly to represent the personality traits of game characters and foreignization be favored in treating culture-specific items so as to promote Chinese culture abroad.

Key words: gaming audiovisual translation, Black Myth:Wukong, audience response, multimodality