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