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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 characteristicsof my own…
…you can imbue me…
…with any characteristic
you want.
I’m just like you.
Isn’t it great?
We’re like BFFs!
?
Linear
Sandbox
Silent Cinematic Open
Half-Life Portal/Portal 2 The Room Bioshock Dead Space
Uncharted Gears of War God of War Bioshock Infinite
Dead Space 2
Walking Dead
Zelda Myst
GTA Batman: Arkham
Fallout Fable Elder Scrolls Dragon Age
? Half-Life Portal/Portal 2 The Room Bioshock Dead Space
Uncharted Gears of War God of War Bioshock Infinite
Dead Space 2
Walking Dead
Zelda Myst
GTA Batman: Arkham
Fallout Fable Elder Scrolls Dragon Age
Linear
Sandbox
Silent Cinematic Open
Yes*
* WARNING: Theory may be neither grand nor unifying
I THESE
GAMES
Why character?
Deborah Hendersen, User Researcher
Why character?
Character: A Definition
The People In the Story
Story: A Definition
Story in games?
Must we?
OBSTACLE
Story: A Definition
Someone who wants something badly
and is having a hard time getting it. OBJECTIVE
GAMEPLAY
OBJECTIVE
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE
SOMEONE PROTAGONIST
WANT
Character: A Definition
Someone who wants something badly
PROTAGONIST
Story: A Definition
and is having a hard time getting it.
Character: A Definition
Someone who wants something badly
PROTAGONIST
Someone who wants something badly
Character: A Definition
WANTS
PROTAGONIST
Character: A Definition
Someone who wants something badly
PROTAGONIST
WANTS
PROTAGONIST
Character: A Definition
ANTAGONIST
OBSTACLE
Someone who wants something badly
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE
WANTS
Character: A Definition
ANTAGONIST LOVE INTEREST
Someone who wants something badly
PROTAGONIST
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE
WANTS
Someone who wants something badly
Character: A Definition
ANTAGONIST SIDEKICK
HENCHPEOPLE
LEVEL BOSSES LOVE INTEREST
MENTOR
PROTAGONIST
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE
WANTS CANNON FODDER
QUEST GIVERS
TREASURE
REVENGE
ELENA CHLOE
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE OBSTACLE
Character: A Definition Elements of Character
What do they DO to get what they want?
Someone who wants something badly WANTS What do they WANT?
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE
OBSTACLE
PROTAGONIST
WANT
ACTION
ACTION
ACTION
Elements of Character
ACTION
Elements of Character
Character = ACTION
ACTION = Gameplay
CHARACTER= GAMEPLAY
then…
What other people him to do. TELL
What does he DO to get what he wants?
What other people him to do. TELL
What does he DO to get what he wants?
Silent PCs
Elements of Character
What do they WANT?
What do they DO to get what they want?
Elements of Character
ATTRIBUTES
APPEARANCE
BACKSTORY
JOB FAMILY
EDUCATION CHARACTERIZATION
Elements of Character
PROTAGONIST
CHARACTERIZATION
CHARACTERIZATION
CHARACTERIZATION
CHARACTERIZATION
CHARACTERIZATION
CHARACTERIZATION
CHARACTERIZATION
CHARACTERIZATION
Elements of Character
PROTAGONIST PROTAGONIST
CHARACTERIZATION
CHARACTERIZATION
CHARACTERIZATION
CHARACTERIZATION
CHARACTERIZATION
CHARACTERIZATION
CHARACTERIZATION
CHARACTERIZATION
Elements of Character
PROTAGONIST PROTAGONIST WANT
ACTION
ACTION
Elements of Character
What do they WANT?
What do they DO to get what they want?
How do they SEEM?
Half-Life Portal/Portal 2 The Room Bioshock Dead Space
Uncharted Gears of War God of War Bioshock Infinite
Dead Space 2
Walking Dead
Zelda Myst
GTA Batman: Arkham
Fallout Fable Elder Scrolls Dragon Age
?
Linear
Sandbox
Silent Cinematic
What they DO
(Designer Choice)
What they DO
(Player Choice)
Open
Open
Half-Life Portal/Portal 2 The Room Bioshock Dead Space
Uncharted Gears of War God of War Bioshock Infinite
Dead Space 2
Walking Dead
Zelda Myst
GTA Batman: Arkham
Fallout Fable Elder Scrolls Dragon Age
?
Linear
Sandbox
Silent Cinematic
What they DO
(Designer Choice)
What they DO
(Player Choice)
How they SEEM
(Designer Choice)
How they SEEM
(Player Choice)
How they SEEM
(No One’s Choice)
Gone Home
Half-Life Portal/Portal 2 The Room Bioshock Dead Space
Uncharted Gears of War God of War Bioshock Infinite
Dead Space 2
Walking Dead
Zelda Myst
GTA Batman: Arkham
Fallout Fable Elder Scrolls Dragon Age
?
Linear
Sandbox
Silent Cinematic Player Choice
What they DO
(Designer Choice)
What they DO
(Player Choice)
How they SEEM
(Designer Choice)
How they SEEM
(Player Choice)
How they SEEM
(No One’s Choice)
What they WANT
(Designer Choice)
What they WANT
(Designer Choice)
What they WANT
(Designer Choice)
What they WANT
(Designer Choice)
What they WANT
(Designer Choice)
What they WANT
(Designer Choice)
(Mostly)
(Mostly) (Mostly) (Mostly)
WANT • High Level Want
• Stop Lord Lucien
• Low Level Want
• Get Married?
• Get Job?
• Etc.
What they WANT
(Player Choice)
Half-Life Portal/Portal 2 The Room Bioshock Dead Space
Uncharted Gears of War God of War Bioshock Infinite
Dead Space 2
Walking Dead
Zelda Myst
GTA Batman: Arkham
Fallout Fable Elder Scrolls Dragon Age
?
Linear
Sandbox
Silent Cinematic Player Choice
What they DO
(Designer Choice)
What they DO
(Player Choice)
How they SEEM
(Designer Choice)
How they SEEM
(Player Choice)
How they SEEM
(No One’s Choice)
What they WANT
(Designer Choice)
What they WANT
(Designer Choice)
What they WANT
(Designer Choice)
What they WANT
(Designer Choice)
What they WANT
(Designer Choice)
What they WANT
(Designer Choice)
What do they WANT?
What do they DO to get what they want?
How do they SEEM?
What do they WANT?
What do they DO to get what they want?
How do they SEEM?
Unity of ACTION
Unity of PURPOSE
Unity of TRAIT
Unity of ACTION
Unity of PURPOSE
Unity of TRAIT
= “I Don’t Care”
Dragon Age
Unity of PURPOSE
Unity of ACTION
Unity of PURPOSE
Unity of TRAIT
= “I Don’t Care”
= “I Wouldn’t Do That…”
Unity of ACTION
Unity of PURPOSE
Portal
Unity of ACTION
Unity of ACTION
vs. Portal 2
Unity of ACTION
Unity of PURPOSE
Unity of TRAIT
= “I Don’t Care”
= “I Wouldn’t Do That…
…But My Character
Would”
Jump off Buildings
Dress Like Bat
Stay Up Past 10
Punch Dudes in
Face
Unity of PURPOSE
Unity of ACTION
Jump off Buildings
Dress Like Bat
Stay Up Past 10
Punch Dudes in
Face
Unity of PURPOSE
Unity of ACTION Kill
People
Solve Puzzles
Climb
Murder Spree
Jump
Unity of ACTION
Fight
? Sneak
Murder Spree
Unity of ACTION
Solve Puzzles
Climb
Jump
Fight
Sneak
Murder Spree
Murder Spree
Murder Spree
Murder Spree
Murder Spree
Unity of ACTION
Unity of PURPOSE
Unity of TRAIT
= “I Don’t Care”
= “I Wouldn’t Do That…
“No Big Deal” =
Unity of ACTION
Unity of PURPOSE
Unity of TRAIT
Unity of ACTION
Unity of PURPOSE
Unity of TRAIT
“We’re not so different, you and I…”
Unity of ACTION
Unity of PURPOSE
Unity of TRAIT
Unity of Action
Unity of
Purpose
Unity of Trait
? Silent Cinematic Open
Establishing Unity of Trait
? Silent Cinematic Open
Establishing Unity of Trait
Establishing Unity of Trait
? Open
Establishing Unity of Action
What Would I Do?
Linear Sandbox
Establishing Unity of Action
Sandbox
Establishing Unity of Action
Unity of
Purpose
Unity of ACTION
Unity of PURPOSE
Someone who wants something badly WANTS
Establishing Unity of Purpose
Uncharted 2: Unity of Purpose
• “What’s going on?”
• Sharing is Caring
• Shared Thought
• Shared Mystery/Secret
• Shared Emotion
• Shared Choices
• Shared Experiences
Uncharted 2: Unity of Purpose
Heavy Rain
Uncharted 2: Unity of Purpose
• “What’s going on?”
• “That’s my blood…”
• Likeable
• Underdog
• Funny
• Noble
• Sympathetic
Uncharted 2: Unity of Purpose
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
Someone who wants something badly WANTS
Establishing Unity of Purpose
Unity of PURPOSE
Questions?
jnbernstein@gmail.com
@fajitas on Twitter
www.jnbernstein.com
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