Game Development Essentials:
An Introduction
Third Edition
Chapter 5
Character Development
supporting the story
Key Chapter Questions
■ What are some of the different roles played by
character in games?
■ What are some traditional character archetypes?
■ What are the different forms of character
development, and how do they specifically apply to
game characters?
Game Characters
Player Characters & Avatars
Electronic Arts
Brütal Legend
Game Characters
Non-Player Characters
Nintendo
Wii Sports Resort
Game Characters
Character Types
■ Animal
■ Fantasy
■ Historical
■ Licensed
■ Mythic
Classic Character Archetypes
Hero
Nintendo
Link (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword)
Classic Character Archetypes
Shadow
Sephiroth (Final Fantasy 7)
Classic Character Archetypes
Mentor
Electronic Arts
Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)
Classic Character Archetypes
Ally
Capcom
Sheva Alomar (Resident Evil 5)
Classic Character Archetypes
Guardian
Cerberus
(Dragon Nest)
The Black Knight
(Monty Python’s – The Holy Grail)
Classic Character Archetypes
Trickster
Electronic Arts
Joker
(Batman: Arkham City)
Glados (Portal 2)
Classic Character Archetypes
Herald
Bonnie Macfarlane
(Red Dead Redemption)
Princess Leia
(Star Wars)
Classic Character Archetypes
Supporting Characters
Activision
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Key Character Archetypes
Protagonist
Square Enix
Lara Croft
(Tomb Raider)
Ubisoft
Ezio Auditore da Firenze
(Assassin’s Creed II)
Key Character Archetypes
Antagonist
BioWare
Warner Bros.
The Archdemon
\(Dragon Age: Origins)
Alma
(F.E.A.R.)
Key Character Archetypes
Co-Protagonists
Ratchet & Clank
Sony Computer Entertainment America
Jak & Daxter
Sony Computer Entertainment America
Key Character Archetypes
Antagonist
■ Transformational
■ Mistaken
■ Exaggerated
■ Realistic
Mario & Wario
Nintendo
Character Development Elements
Character Relationships
JN
Character Development Elements
Character Relationships
JN
Character Development Elements
Character Relationships
JN
Character Development Elements
Character Arc
Diagram by Per Olin
Visual Character Development
Blizzard Entertainment
World of Warcraft
NCsoft
City of Heroes
Visual Character Development
Point-of-View
Electronic Arts
Take- Two Interactive
Borderlands
Dante’s Inferno
First-Person POV
Third-Person POV
Visual Character Development
Techniques
Mark Soderwall
■ Concept Art
■ Modeling
■ Texturing
■ Animation
Character concept drawings
Visual Character Development
Style
Amanita Design
Machinarium
Verbal Character Development
Narration & Monologue
Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation
Portal: Still Alive
Verbal Character Development
Dialogue
Ubisoft
■ Reveal Character
■ Reveal Emotion
■ Advance the Plot
■ Reveal Conflict
■ Establish Relationships
Batman: Vengeance storyboard
■ Comment on Action
Movement
Signature
Konami
Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots)
Movement
Idle
Sega
Sonic The Hedgehog
Movement
Walking Cycle
Nintendo
Link (The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures)
Background, History & Advancement
Class & Race
NetDragon Websoft Inc.
Conquer Online
Background, History & Advancement
Skill
Frogster Interactive Pictures AG
Runes of Magic
Character Description
■ Name
■ Type
■ Gender / Age
■ Physical Appearance
■ Background and History
■ Personality Characteristics
■ Vocal Characteristics
■ Relevancy to Story Synopsis
Summary
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
Game Characters
Classic Character Archetypes
Character Development Elements
Visual Character Development
Verbal Character Development
Movement
Background, History & Advancement
Character Description