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 .