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