Characterization, Purpose, and Action: Creating Strong Characters in Video Games

Jeremy Bernstein @fajitas Freelance Writer/Designer Hi. I am a silent protagonist. I have no voice of my own. This helps you empathize with me. As I have no characteristics of my own… …you can imbue me… …with any characteristic you want. I’m just like you. Isn’t it great? We’re like BFFs!

? Silent Cinematic Open Half-Life Uncharted Walking Dead Portal/Portal 2 Gears of War The Room God of War Bioshock Bioshock Infinite Dead Space Dead Space 2 Linear Zelda GTA Fallout Myst Batman: Arkham Fable Elder Scrolls Dragon Age

Sandbox ? Silent Cinematic Open Half-Life Uncharted Walking Dead Portal/Portal 2 Gears of War The Room God of War Bioshock Bioshock Infinite Dead Space Dead Space 2 Linear Zelda GTA Fallout Myst Batman: Arkham Fable Elder Scrolls Dragon Age

Sandbox Yes*

* WARNING: Theory may be neither grand nor unifying

I THESE GAMES Why character?

Deborah Hendersen, User Researcher Why character? Story:Character: A Definition A Definition The People In the Story

Story in games? Must we?

Story: A Definition

Someone who wants something badly and is havingOBJECTIVE a hard time getting it.

GAMEPLAYOBSTACLE SOMEONEPROTAGONIST

OBSTACLE OBSTACLE OBSTACLE

OBJECTIVEWANT Story:Character: A Definition A Definition

PROTAGONIST

Someone who wants something badly and is having a hard time getting it. Character: A Definition

PROTAGONIST

Someone who wants something badly Character: A Definition

PROTAGONIST

Someone who WANTS wants something badly Character: A Definition

PROTAGONIST

Someone who WANTS wants something badly Character: A Definition

OBSTACLE

OBSTACLE PROTAGONIST ANTAGONIST

OBSTACLE

Someone who WANTS wants something badly Character: A Definition

OBSTACLE

OBSTACLE LOVE INTEREST PROTAGONIST ANTAGONIST

OBSTACLE

Someone who WANTS wants something badly Character: A Definition

OBSTACLE

OBSTACLE SIDEKICK LOVE INTEREST PROTAGONIST ANTAGONIST LEVEL BOSSES

OBSTACLE

MENTOR QUEST GIVERS CANNON HENCHPEOPLE Someone who WANTS wants somethingFODDER badly

OBSTACLE OBSTACLE REVENGEOBSTACLE

OBSTACLE OBSTACLE

ELENAOBSTACLE CHLOEOBSTACLE OBSTACLE OBSTACLE

OBSTACLE OBSTACLE TREASUREOBSTACLE Character:Elements of A Character Definition

SomeoneWhat who do WANTSwants they WANT?something badly

What do they DO to get what they want? PROTAGONIST

ACTION OBSTACLE ACTION OBSTACLE ACTION OBSTACLE

WANT Elements of Character

ACTION Elements of Character Character = ACTION ACTION = Gameplay then…

CHARACTER= GAMEPLAY

What does he DO to get what he wants? What other people TELL him to do.

What does he DO to get what he wants? What other people TELL him to do.

Silent PCs

Elements of Character

What do they WANT?

What do they DO to get what they want? Elements of Character

APPEARANCE EDUCATION CHARACTERIZATIONBACKSTORY FAMILY JOB ATTRIBUTES Elements of Character

CHARACTERIZATION

CHARACTERIZATION CHARACTERIZATION

PROTAGONIST CHARACTERIZATION

CHARACTERIZATION

CHARACTERIZATION CHARACTERIZATION CHARACTERIZATION Elements of Character

CHARACTERIZATION

CHARACTERIZATION CHARACTERIZATION

PROTAGONIST CHARACTERIZATION

CHARACTERIZATION

CHARACTERIZATION CHARACTERIZATION CHARACTERIZATION Elements of Character ACTION

PROTAGONISTWANT

ACTION Elements of Character

What do they WANT?

What do they DO to get what they want?

How do they SEEM? ? Silent Cinematic Open Half-Life Uncharted Walking Dead Portal/Portal 2 Gears of War The Room God of War What they DO Bioshock Bioshock Infinite Dead Space Dead Space 2 (DesignerLinear Choice) Zelda GTA Fallout Myst Batman: Arkham Fable Elder Scrolls Dragon Age What they DO (PlayerSandbox Choice) ? How theySilent SEEM HowCinematic they SEEM How theyOpen SEEM (NoHalf One’s-Life Choice) Uncharted(Designer Choice) Walking(Player Choice)Dead Portal/Portal 2 Gears of War The Room God of War What they DO Bioshock Bioshock Infinite Dead Space Dead Space 2 (DesignerLinear Choice) Zelda GTA Fallout Myst Batman: Arkham Fable Elder Scrolls Dragon Age What they DO (PlayerSandbox Choice) Gone Home ? How theySilent SEEM HowCinematic they SEEM HowPlayer they Choice SEEM (NoHalf One’s-Life Choice) Uncharted(Designer Choice) Walking(Player Choice)Dead Portal/Portal 2 Gears of War TheWhat Room they WANT GodWhat of they War WANT What they WANT Bioshock Infinite What they DO Bioshock(Designer Choice) (Designer Choice) (Designer Choice) Dead Space Dead Space 2 (DesignerLinear Choice) (Mostly) Zelda GTA Fallout Myst Batman: Arkham Fable What they WANT What they WANT ElderWhat theyScrolls WANT (Designer Choice) (Designer Choice) Dragon(Designer Age Choice) What they DO (Mostly) (Mostly) (Mostly) (PlayerSandbox Choice) WANT

• High Level Want • Stop Lord Lucien

• Low Level Want • Get Married? • Get Job? • Etc.

What they WANT (Player Choice) ? How theySilent SEEM HowCinematic they SEEM HowPlayer they Choice SEEM (NoHalf One’s-Life Choice) Uncharted(Designer Choice) Walking(Player Choice)Dead Portal/Portal 2 Gears of War TheWhat Room they WANT GodWhat of they War WANT What they WANT Bioshock Infinite What they DO Bioshock(Designer Choice) (Designer Choice) (Designer Choice) Dead Space Dead Space 2 (DesignerLinear Choice) Zelda GTA Fallout Myst Batman: Arkham Fable What they WANT What they WANT ElderWhat theyScrolls WANT (Designer Choice) (Designer Choice) Dragon(Designer Age Choice) What they DO (PlayerSandbox Choice)

What do they WANT?

What do they DO to get what they want?

How do they SEEM? WhatUnity do of they Unity WANT? of TRAIT ACTION What do they DO to get what they want?

Unity of How doPURPOSE they SEEM ? Unity of Unity of TRAIT ACTION

Unity of PURPOSE = “I Don’t Care” Dragon Age

Unity of PURPOSE = “I Wouldn’t Unity of Unity of TRAIT ACTION Do That…”

Unity of PURPOSE = “I Don’t Care” Unity of ACTION

Unity of PURPOSE Portal vs. Portal 2

Unity of Unity of ACTION ACTION = “I Wouldn’t Unity of Unity of TRAIT ACTION Do That… …But My Character Would” Unity of PURPOSE = “I Don’t Care” Unity of ACTION

Punch Dudes in Face Jump off Buildings Dress Unity of Like Bat PURPOSE Stay Up Past 10 Unity of Kill ACTION People

Punch Dudes in Face Jump off Buildings Dress Unity of Like Bat PURPOSE Stay Up Past 10 Unity of Murder ACTION Spree ?

Jump Climb

Sneak

Solve Fight Puzzles Unity of Murder ACTION Spree

Murder SpreeJump Murder Climb Spree Murder Sneak Spree MurderSolve Murder Fight PuzzlesSpree Spree = “I Wouldn’t “No Big Deal” = Unity of Unity of TRAIT ACTION Do That…

Unity of PURPOSE = “I Don’t Care”

Unity of Unity of TRAIT ACTION

Unity of PURPOSE

Unity of Unity of TRAIT ACTION

Unity of PURPOSE “We’re not so different, you and I…” Unity of Unity of TRAIT ACTION

Unity of PURPOSE

Unity of Unity of Trait Action

Unity of Purpose Establishing Unity of Trait ? Silent Cinematic Open

Establishing Unity of Trait ? Silent Cinematic Open Establishing Unity of Trait ? Open Establishing Unity of Action

Linear Sandbox What Would I Do? Establishing Unity of Action

Sandbox Establishing Unity of Action

Unity of Purpose Unity of ACTION

Unity of PURPOSE

Establishing Unity of Purpose

Someone who WANTS wants something badly

Uncharted 2: Unity of Purpose

• “What’s going on?” Uncharted 2: Unity of Purpose

• Sharing is Caring • Shared Thought • Shared Mystery/Secret • Shared Emotion • Shared Choices • Shared Experiences

Heavy Rain

Uncharted 2: Unity of Purpose

• “What’s going on?” • “That’s my blood…”

Uncharted 2: Unity of Purpose

• Likeable • Underdog • Funny • Noble • Sympathetic

Uncharted 2: Unity of Purpose

• “What’s going on?” • “That’s my blood…” • Surprise! Uh-oh! • Thud! Ow! • “Ha, ha…. Ah, crap” • Elemental Want

Establishing Unity of Purpose Establishing Unity of Purpose

Someone who WANTS wants something badly

Unity of PURPOSE

Questions? [email protected] @fajitas on Twitter www.jnbernstein.com