Graeme Browning
Sean Wikant

Memorable characters that the player can care
about
◦ Can be complex (not hero or villain)

Not a simple challenge. Many factors effect good
character design
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦

Well drawn (suitable art style)
Well constructed (harmonious voice, body clothing etc.
Distinctive
Behave believably
Relatable
Good characters are one of the main reasons you
remember a game
◦ Driving force behind sequels, or paraphernalia



The avatar is the protagonist in the game
Players relate to character in varying degrees
Freedom to control character creation
◦ Seen in Neverwinter Nights 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_hZEKmdcj0
◦ Avatar is a mask the player wears

Specific Characters have a history
◦ Spy Fox (talks to you)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Uhh2QMzXt4
(29:50)

Non-Specific characters don’t have a back story.
The designers don’t know anything about them
either! Playing yourself
◦ X3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUZyNPwP_Rg
◦ Papers Please

Middle Ground
◦ The Witcher: Play as a character based on a series of
books. (middle ground because he has amnesia)

Indirect:
◦ Point and Click
 Spy Fox
◦ Player is a guide

Direct:
◦ Steer Body
 Skyrim
◦ Player becomes character, inherits their abilities
◦ Can feel like a puppet which stops the player from
worrying about the character’s emotions

Historically game protagonists are more
relatable to guys.
◦ Also seen in other forms of media

More recent games have featured female
protagonists.
◦ But can be very masculine still, which still doesn’t
appeal to women. They prefer more believable
female characters

Women tend to prefer more avatar
customization, where as men are fine with
premade characters.


Use the previous option to cater to your
intended audience
Don’t make an unjustifiably unpleasant
character

Art Driven Character Design
◦ Come up with an appearance first and then build
the character around it
◦ Good for games where the personality is stagnant
or not important to the story
◦ Good for making merchandise
◦ Good for designing series mascots
 Link, Mario

Character Physical Types
◦ Humanoids
 Arms, Legs, Head, decent proportions
 Animal faces are modified (ex: eyes at the front)
◦ Non Humanoids
 Monsters, Cars, etc.
 Can still have personalities (see any pixar movie)
 Goo Balls?
◦ Hybrids
 Mix of the above

Cartoon Qualities
◦ The physical qualities of the character describes
their personality
 Cool, Tough, Cute, Goofy are common stereotypes
 Watch out!! Often the visual cues we associate with the
above stereotypes vary between cultures.
 This also depends on the target audience.

Hyper Sexualized Characters
◦ Exaggerate sexual attributes




Lara Croft
Samus
Kratos
Ivy
◦ Appeals to teenagers (and some adults)
◦ Limits your audience because some people hate this
◦ Doesn’t distinguish your game characters

Clothing, Weapons, Symbolic Objects, Names
◦ Can flesh out the characters
 Back story
 Personality
◦ It’s good to make use of historical or cultural
meaning
 Jewellery often relates to magic ability
 Most game genres have associated symbolism
◦ Can be used to identify the main character easily
 Keyblade
 Triforce

Colour Palette
◦ Makes the character
distinctive, and easily
recognizable

Colour Palette
◦ Hints at personality

Sidekicks
◦ Allows contrast
 Personality
 Additional abilities
◦ Can be there to provide
information

Story Driven Character Design
◦ Start with a character’s personality, role, and
behaviour

Role, Attitude, and Values
◦ Good to have these well
defined for a character
◦ Determines how the character
reacts in the game world
◦ When it’s better show rather
than tell
 Appearance, Language,
Behaviour
 Exposition is boring!
 Can use the character’s
reaction to events

Attributes
◦ Data describing the character with symbolic or
numeric values
 Property
 State of relationships

Attributes
◦ Status attributes
 Change frequently
 health, location
◦ Characterization attributes
 Core details of the personality
 skill points

Character Dimensionality
◦ Zero Dimensional
 Discrete emotional states
 Enemies
◦ One Dimensional
 Spectrum for one feeling
 Moral decisions are somewhat harder
◦ Two Dimensional
 Multiple variables that don’t conflict
◦ Three Dimensional
 Multiple conflicting variables
 Any player created avatar

Character Growth
◦ Compare
 Saints Row (Action)
 Mass Effect 2 (Adventure)
◦ In games where you make an avatar, the onus for
character growth is on the player
◦ Again SHOW DON’T TELL, use plot, and reaction to
events

Character Archetypes
◦ Pre-set moulds for character’s to fit into
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPALnjfUZ8U
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMIMkoB7Wyo
◦ Can give the player an understanding of the
character’s personality quickly
◦ Use as guidelines, not rules

Sound Effects and Music
◦ Auditory feedback for character events
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvODpHnV9o4
◦ Psychological expectations
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha1PSF5MstI
◦ Character themes
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq_jS6o3OoY
◦ Give the player control over sounds
 Music can distract from important sound effects
 Cell phones are used in public
 Annoying music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RPV9FqugOc

Voice and Language
◦ A character’s speech
conveys a lot about them
◦ Consider:





Vocabulary
Grammar
Accent
Delivery
Vocal Quirks
◦ https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=FptizCE0wPI
◦ Voice audio files should
be separate from sound
effects and music

Whether characters are avatars created by the
player or premade characters, they should fit
in the world they are created for