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JURY MEMBERS
Francesca Noto
Director of GameLoc Academy, with over 25 years of experience as a translator and localization specialist in the video game industry.
Gianpaolo Iglio
Game designer (SpinVector, Idra Interactive Studios), games journalist (Game Republic, Game Pro, Vgmag), and experienced translator and interpreter.
Raffaella Ruzza
Teaching assistant at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, communication and social media strategies expert.
PolyPine
PolyPine is an independent project that stands out for its clear and confident authorial vision. Rather than following established trends, it builds a distinctive experience with a strong and recognizable identity, combining an evocative visual style with gameplay capable of generating both emotional engagement and genuine curiosity in the player. Its environmental theme further enhances its relevance in today’s landscape.
From a localization perspective, the project is particularly compelling. Its content and underlying themes present meaningful and stimulating challenges, making it an excellent case study and learning opportunity for students working within a professional localization framework. We are pleased to recognize PolyPine as the winner of this edition, acknowledging its creative value and investing in its potential to grow in the international market by making it accessible to a wider audience.”
The idea is simple. We pick one indie game. We localize it into Italian. For real. For free. With care. No publishers.
No hidden fees. No “exposure” nonsense. Just games, words, and people who actually give a damn.
Adopt an Indie is a localization contest with a twist. Indie studios from anywhere in the world can submit their game by filling out a short form. Our jury will review all submissions and select one winning project. The prize? A full Italian localization, completely free of charge.The localization will be carried out from English into Italian only by GLAC students, professionally supervised by a dedicated team coordinated by the Director of GLAC, with over 25 years of experience on the field. This is not a mock exercise. This is not a demo. This is a real localization pipeline. Your game gets localized. Our students get real-world experience. Everybody wins.
You should apply if: 1. You are an indie studio or solo developer 2. You are working on a narrative, gameplay-driven, or experimental game 3. Your game is originally written in English 4. Your game is not yet localized into Italian (or only partially) 5. Your total word count does not exceed 10,000 words 6. You believe localization is part of game design, not an afterthought Genre does not matter. Platform does not matter. Budget definitely does not matter. Attitude does.
You submit your game by filling out a simple online form. That’s it.
We will ask you for:
1. Total word count to be localized into Italian, maximum: 10,000 words.
2. Short synopsis of the game, describing story and/or gameplay.
3. Localization notes. Anything special we should know: tone, constraints, cultural elements, weird stuff, hard stuff, beautiful stuff.
4. URL of the game’s website or social media page. This can be a website, Steam page, itch.io page, or an official social profile.
Our jury will evaluate all submissions and assign scores according to the following criteria:
• Project description (1–5 points)
Based on the synopsis and overall concept: how interesting, stimulating, and meaningful the game is from a narrative or gameplay perspective.
• Localization challenges (1–5 points)
Based on the notes provided: presence of linguistic, stylistic, cultural, or technical challenges that make the localization process engaging and valuable.
• Game presentation (1–5 points)
Based on the quality of the website or social page: clarity, care, and communication. The better the presentation, the more visibility it gives to the GLAC students whose names will appear in the localized game.
Results will be published by the end of June.
The winning project will receive:
• Full localization into Italian (from English)
• Done by GLAC students
• Professionally supervised and revised
• Coordinated by the Director of GLAC
• Delivered as a ready-to-use localization package
No costs. No contract traps. No rights stolen
Just one thing. And it’s non-negotiable. The winning developer commits to:
• Including in the game credits the names of all GLAC students and collaborators who worked on the Italian localization
• Displaying the GLAC logo in the credits section related to localization
That’s it. No revenue share. No exclusivity. No marketing obligations. Just proper credit for real work
Because indie games deserve proper localization. Because localization is not just translation. Because students deserve real projects, not fake exercises. Because the industry needs fewer buzzwords and more craft.
Adopt an Indie is about:
• Respect for indie development
• Respect for language
• Respect for learning by doing
And yes, also about having fun while doing serious things
Submissions open: 2 March • Submissions close: 30 April • Results announced: by 8 May • All updates will be published on this page.
Clear rules. No bullshit.
We score games the way we play them: by caring, not by pretending to be objective. Each project can receive up to 15 points total, divided into three areas.
1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION (1–5 points)
How interesting is your game, really?
We look at: the core idea; the narrative or gameplay hook; originality, tone, ambition. A short description can still be powerful. A long one can still be boring.
We’re not looking for perfection. We’re looking for something worth localizing.
2. LOCALIZATION CHALLENGES (1–5 points)
Does your game need smart localization? We look for: strong narrative voice; humour, slang, dialects, wordplay; cultural references; stylistic constraints; anything that makes localization a creative challenge.
Easy text is fine. Interesting text is better. The more your game pushes language, the more points it gets.
3. GAME PRESENTATION (1–5 points)
How well do you present your game to the world?
We evaluate: clarity and care of your website or social page; how easy it is to understand what the game is; visual identity and communication.
This matters because: the better your game looks online, the more visibility it gives to the GLAC students whose names will appear in the credits. It's that easy. Respect the work. Present it well.
No paperwork hell. Just the essentials. Submit your game to Adopt an Indie. Please fill in the form below. It won’t take long. We promise.
Yes. Completely. No hidden costs.
There is no catch. Only credits.
No. You keep everything. Always.
GLAC students, supervised by professional localizers and coordinated by the Director of GLAC, Francesca.
No. This is a real localization project with professional supervision.
No. Hard limit.
No. Localization is from English into Italian only.
Any. PC, console, mobile, weird stuff.
Not necessarily. But the text to be localized must be final or close to final.
One thing only: credits to all GLAC students and collaborators involved, and GLAC logo in the localization credits (oh well, two things, actually).
Yes. But each submission needs its own form.
May 8th 2026
Terms & Conditions (Minimal, Clear, Fair)
1. ORGANISERS
Adopt an Indie is an online contest owned by Idra Editing Srl.
The project has been conceived, developed, and is managed by Structura on behalf of Idra Editing.
GameLoc Academy (GLAC) is a professional training programme fully owned by Idra Editing.
2. PURPOSE OF THE CONTEST
The purpose of Adopt an Indie is to select one independent video game project to receive a free localization from English into Italian, carried out by GLAC students under professional supervision.
The contest has educational, cultural, and professional aims and does not constitute a commercial promotion.
3. ELIGIBILITY
Participation is open to independent developers and studios worldwide, provided that:
• the game is originally written in English
• the game is not fully localized into Italian at the time of submission
• the total word count to be localized does not exceed 10,000 words
• the information submitted through the form is accurate and truthful
Games exceeding the word limit or written in languages other than English are not eligible.
4. SUBMISSION
Participation is free of charge.
Each project must be submitted via the official online form within the indicated deadline.
Incomplete or inaccurate submissions may be excluded at the sole discretion of the organisers.
Each game requires a separate submission.
5. SELECTION AND JURY
All eligible submissions will be evaluated by a jury appointed by Idra Editing and Structura.
Projects will be scored according to criteria published on the event website.
The jury’s evaluation is final and not subject to appeal.
The organisers reserve the right not to assign the prize if no project is deemed suitable.
6. PRIZE
The selected project will receive:
• a full Italian localization from English
• performed by GLAC students
• professionally supervised and revised
• delivered as a ready-to-use localization package
No monetary prize is awarded.
7. DEVELOPER OBLIGATIONS
By accepting the prize, the winning developer agrees to:
• include in the game credits the names of all GLAC students and collaborators involved in the Italian localization
• display the GLAC logo within the localization credits section
No additional obligations are required.
8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
All intellectual property rights related to the game and its content remain the sole property of the developer.
The localization produced within Adopt an Indie is licensed to the developer for use within the game without exclusivity.
Idra Editing, Structura, and GLAC do not acquire ownership rights over the game or its IP.
9. LIABILITY
The organisers are not responsible for:
• incomplete or inaccurate information provided by participants
• technical issues affecting submission
• delays or changes beyond reasonable control
The organisers reserve the right to modify dates or procedures if necessary, without altering the nature of the contest.
10. PRIVACY
Personal data collected through the submission form will be used exclusively for purposes related to the management of the contest and will not be shared with third parties, in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.
11. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS
By submitting a project, participants confirm that they have read, understood, and accepted these Terms & Conditions in full.
Adopt an Indie
This Privacy Notice explains how personal data is collected and processed in relation to the Adopt an Indie contest.
Data Controller
The Data Controller is Idra Editing Srl, owner of GameLoc Academy (GLAC).
The contest is conceived and operationally managed by Structura on behalf of Idra Editing.
Personal Data Collected
By submitting a project, we may collect the following data:
• name of the developer or studio
• contact email address
• game title and description
• word count and localization notes
• website or social media URL related to the game
No sensitive personal data is requested or processed.
Purpose of Processing
Personal data is collected and processed exclusively for the following purposes:
• managing participation in the Adopt an Indie contest
• evaluating submitted projects
• communicating with participants regarding the contest
• publishing the name of the winning project and credited contributors
Data will not be used for marketing purposes unless explicitly agreed by the participant.
Legal Basis
Processing is based on the participant’s explicit consent, given at the time of submission.
Data Retention
Personal data will be retained only for the duration necessary to manage the contest and its outcomes, and in any case no longer than required by applicable law.
Data Sharing
Personal data will not be sold or transferred to third parties.
Access to submitted data is limited to:
• Idra Editing
• Structura
• members of the jury involved in the evaluation process
Rights of the Data Subject
Participants have the right to:
• access their personal data
• request correction or deletion
• withdraw consent at any time
Requests can be sent to the contact address indicated on the website.
Changes
This Privacy Notice may be updated if required by law or organisational needs.
The latest version will always be published on this page.