Game Characters

Characters within games play and integral part and can truly make or break a game depending how well they are portrayed. Characters can range from the protagonist/antagonist, supporting characters and narrator. There can also be none at all with games such as Tetris that do not require any sort of interaction with a 'person.' So why are characters in games so important?

When playing games, we tend to want to escape reality and all the external day to day events. Sometimes having an 'alternate persona' can be the answer for some people. I often think about my favourite games, and look at what makes them so good. Yes the gameplay, visuals and aural components are greatly important, however without strong supporting characters and dialogue they would not be the same. Take a franchise such as Uncharted. The protagonist Nathan Drake (Image Left: Justintime57, 2014), truly makes the series with his quick wit and humor, as well as general 'bad ass' style of character who seems to be capable of doing anything, yet still has relatable traits that everyone can recognise. Amy Hennig's expert writing of the character makes the audience gravitate towards the cast and develop almost a bond or emotional connection with them, which in turn can effect how we feel about the game and how we react during certain events and sequences.

A game character can also be the silent protagonist. Several games, most notably RPGs employ the voiceless main character in an attempt to allow the player to 'be the character.' This can allow players to become more involved in a game and take ownership of what they do, and make player choices more meaningful.

It is not so much the character's visuals that make them appealing, (Though it certainly helps), but more so the writing and voice acting. I have played many games where the characters voice was enough to make me want to throw my console. Yes I am looking at you Lymle from Star Ocean The Last Hope (Image on Right: Fayt258 2009). The one saving grace on this instance was the ability to turn off selected character voices.

When designing characters, it is important to carefully consider each aspect of their design. Do they need a voice? Will their colour scheme break their vibe/personality? Do they reflect their persona from the writing? Do they sound like they look?

References:

Fayt258 (2009). Cerberus.jpg. [Online Image] (Available) Retrieved on 16/10/2016 from http://starocean.wikia.com/wiki/File:Cerberus.jpg

Justintime57, (2014). DrakeU4RenderAvatar.png . [Online Image] (Available). Retrieved on 16/10/2016 from http://uncharted.wikia.com/wiki/File:DrakeU4RenderAvatar.png

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