“You know what's really exciting about video games is you don't just interact with the game physically -- you're not just moving your hand on a joystick, but you're asked to interact with the game psychologically and emotionally as well. You're not just watching the characters on screen; you're becoming those characters”. - NINA HUNTEMANN, Game Over

GAMES STORY DEVELOPMENTLesson 7

Character development

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Describe the elements used in character development

Identify key elements of characters in game story

RECAP

EVIDENCE

By the deadline you will need to;

Game story Development notes Research notes A bibliography

Deadline: 17/01/13 – start of lesson

THE PROCESS Purpose

Target Audience

Components

PLOT DEVICES

Types (deliverance, revenge, pursuit, disaster, revolt, enigma, exposition, foreshadowing, conflict or problem, complication (rising action after inciting incident)

Goal (MacGuffin) Ticking clock Plot twists Suspense Resolution and conclusion

CHARACTER TYPES

CHARACTER TYPES

Antagonist Protagonist Guardian Sidekick Player character Non-player character

CHARACTER BACKSTORY

Physiological Sociological Psychological Issues of representation Character capabilities Inventory Character growth

CHARACTERISTICS Physiological characteristics: Appearance,

gender, age, weight, actions, speech (language, accent, words, tone)

Sociological characteristics: Friends, family, economic power, occupation, education, race, political views

Psychological characteristics: beliefs, optimism, pessimism, extrovert, introvert, intelligence, how they deal with representation,

OTHER CHARCTERISTICS

Character capabilities: climb, skilled in weaponry, jump

Goals

Character growth

Other: wardrobe, inventory

THE MASTER CHIEF

PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Green amour with a gold visor Faceless character but you know who he is. Male. 80 years old but a body of 25-40 years old

due to extended timing in cryo-stasis. Bulky - the weight of a truck with amour

(referenced in Halo 3) Talks very little in earlier games, more

developed in Halo 3, mature old man voice, similar to Solid Snake. High level of vocab.

SOCIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Stolen from his parents by the military – prime target for the Spartan II project.

• Two best friends in the military.• Highest rank: leader of the Spartans• Education by military.

PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Highly intelligent “No man gets left behind” - his backstory of

when he was 15 on his first military program (not shown in the game).

Optimistic Introvert – personally Extrovert – missions

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

Character capabilities Skilled in all forms of combat: Gameplay elements Jumps high, moves faster. Vehicles

Goals “finish the fight” Protect humans and the galaxy

Other Amour upgraded but minor change in appearance Vast range of guns.