Meeting Ellie: How an NPC Became the Face of the Game

[MikeWehner]

Meeting Ellie: How an NPC Became the Face of the Game

The Last of Us isn't even on store shelves, but fans are already in love with Ellie.

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[viranimus]

I can see this. It reminds me of the incorrect and irrational adoration for Clem from "The Walking Dead" game.

Dont get me wrong, I like Clem and all, but the adoration is entirely too much and it isnt actually merited.

 

[BrotherRool]

Joel looks too much like Nathan Drake. I can't unsee it.


The relationship in the Last of Us looks really good though. I hate any horror elements at all, but darn everything about this game seems impressive. So gorgeous too

 

[Sartan0]

Crazy idea: If the game does well make Ellie the main character in the sequel!

 

[G3]

Just the idea of having AI help that's not a complete joke and flaw of the game, or so unstoppable that he/they take all the fun out of a fight, is a beautiful thing. Theoretically beautiful at this point. But still, isn't it about time?

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

Did I mention how much I want this game? Like, so freakin' bad?

Every time I hear more about this game, I just want it even more. Just 14th just can't come quickly enough.

...Dammit, I am THIS close to preordering it from EB games for mail delivery, and I typically don't like doing that.

 

[redisforever]

Did I mention how much I want this game? Like, so freakin' bad?

Every time I hear more about this game, I just want it even more. Just 14th just can't come quickly enough.

...Dammit, I am THIS close to preordering it from EB games for mail delivery, and I typically don't like doing that.

I'd be at EB Games, now, preordering it, but I'm a bit broke at the moment. Soon...

I'll probably get it off PSN though, if they release it day one there.

 

[Schadrach]

Crazy idea: If the game does well make Ellie the main character in the sequel!

I could totally see that if they pull a Walking Dead, or it being selectable if not.

Just the idea of having AI help that's not a complete joke and flaw of the game, or so unstoppable that he/they take all the fun out of a fight, is a beautiful thing. Theoretically beautiful at this point. But still, isn't it about time?

This is what will make or break the game -- how well Ellie functions as an AI character, but it looked pretty impressive at PAX East. Already preordered it from my local GameStop, can't wait for it to come out. I'd have already preordered Remember Me too, but it allegedly will have a PC release and I want to see if it ends up on Steam.

 

[Codeknight]

Every single thing I hear about this game makes me sad. It looks so good and I don't think I'll ever be able to play it, not for quite a long time at least. I don't think I've ever wanted a game to be multi-platform more.

 

[G3]

This is what will make or break the game -- how well Ellie functions as an AI character, but it looked pretty impressive at PAX East. Already preordered it from my local GameStop, can't wait for it to come out. I'd have already preordered Remember Me too, but it allegedly will have a PC release and I want to see if it ends up on Steam.

I'm with you on this, and it's not just this game. I find myself playing fewer games now as the variability of the environments or characters is so limited. Most of the development budgets just go to overdone graphics. Played one modern tactical shooter, played one space-station FPS, played one magic and sorcery epic, played them all to a point.

I rarely pay full price unless I'm sure I'll get something new.

 

[Elf Defiler Korgan]

Ellie strikes me as a young L4Dead Zoey, or Zoey's daughter. The look, some of the dialogue.

I am looking forward to this game.

 

[StriderShinryu]

I can't help but feel that I would rather play as Ellie. She seems like a much more interesting character than Joel to the point where I'd rather he be the tag along. It could be a more interesting dynamic especially given that Eliie is painted as the knowledgable and brave character.

 

[Mikejames]

I can see this. It reminds me of the incorrect and irrational adoration for Clem from "The Walking Dead" game.

Dont get me wrong, I like Clem and all, but the adoration is entirely too much and it isnt actually merited.

Can you point out a few better developed child characters? Just curious, as it's rare enough that I like a kid that's driving the plot, but I can scarce think of a paternal relationship that worked as well in a game as Telltale's did.

 

[MHR]

Did anyone else come in here thinking fat Ellie from borderlands 2 wondering how the hell that happened?

 

[putowtin]

Yes not making them family gives it a twist, and a post apocalyptic that isn't grey is lovely but to me boils down to:

Horror survival with possible zombie elements.

Sorry, it may look pretty but I'm out!

 

[Casual Shinji]

While I think the game looks great and I can't wait to play it, I can't help but wonder at the reaction if Ellie was a boy. Most if not all games that feature the protagonist protecting or guiding someone as a prominent feature always has the "protectee" be a girl.

Resident Evil 4
Ico
The Walking Dead
Amy
Bioshock Infinite

And this is most likely because guys - the target demographic for games - would rather protect a girl than a dude. Not trying to rain on the Ellie parade or open a can of worms, just something I think we should keep in the back of our heads.

 

[StriderShinryu]

While I think the game looks great and I can't wait to play it, I can't help but wonder at the reaction if Ellie was a boy. Most if not all games that feature the protagonist protecting or guiding someone as a prominent feature always has the "protectee" be a girl.

Resident Evil 4
Ico
The Walking Dead
Amy
Bioshock Infinite

And this is most likely because guys - the target demographic for games - would rather protect a girl than a dude. Not trying to rain on the Ellie parade or open a can of worms, just something I think we should keep in the back of our heads.

Yep, my thought as well. I can certainly appreciate that these side characters (that may, in a sense, be main characters) are well written and well developed. I can also appreciate that, in more frequent cases, the games may not even exist without them.. but it does seem to stand out a little that they're still all fairly ineffectual female sidekicks/tag alongs. As I posted above, I think the Last of Us could be more interesting if Ellie was the played character and she had to escort a middle aged generally ineffectual male character.

 

[Casual Shinji]

While I think the game looks great and I can't wait to play it, I can't help but wonder at the reaction if Ellie was a boy. Most if not all games that feature the protagonist protecting or guiding someone as a prominent feature always has the "protectee" be a girl.

Resident Evil 4
Ico
The Walking Dead
Amy
Bioshock Infinite

And this is most likely because guys - the target demographic for games - would rather protect a girl than a dude. Not trying to rain on the Ellie parade or open a can of worms, just something I think we should keep in the back of our heads.

Yep, my thought as well. I can certainly appreciate that these side characters (that may, in a sense, be main characters) are well written and well developed. I can also appreciate that, in more frequent cases, the games may not even exist without them.. but it does seem to stand out a little that they're still all fairly ineffectual female sidekicks/tag alongs. As I posted above, I think the Last of Us could be more interesting if Ellie was the played character and she had to escort a middle aged generally ineffectual male character.

Well, sometimes having the player character be less interesting than the tag-along, can serve as observing the more interesting character instead of playing her. Cause let's face it, it's always a her.

I was actually really looking forward to The Last Guardian, because it shifted the roles. Where the player character is a puny little kid and the tag-along is a giant monster. Too bad that game is rotting away somewhere in its unfinished state.

 

[Proverbial Jon]

I still don't understand the outdated idea that someone would chose not to play a game because it features a female protagonist, prominent female character or because there isn't at least twelve explosions on the box art.

I mean look at this:

We've got a devastated, flooded and overgrown city for a background setting. We've got a dishevelled guy with a revolver and a gas mask, indicating that this world is far from safe. We've got a young girl with a god damn sniper rifle on her back... how could that not inspire even the smallest glimmer of interest in just about anyone?

 

[Kahani]

And this is most likely because guys - the target demographic for games - would rather protect a girl than a dude. Not trying to rain on the Ellie parade or open a can of worms, just something I think we should keep in the back of our heads.

The trouble is it's pretty much a no-win situation. Man protecting girl opens up all the accusations about how sexist it is to always have a man protecting a girl. Switch the genders and people will complain about the sexism inherent in showing a woman in a mothering role. Make it all men and people will complain about the lack of girls. Make it all girls and people will complain that you're obviously focussing too much on gender and therefore must be sexist. No matter what you do someone will complain that you're sexist, so it's best to ignore the complaints entirely and just focus on making a good game with good characters regardless of gender.

how could that not inspire even the smallest glimmer of interest in just about anyone?

Mainly because of the large "only on Playstation" label. It doesn't matter how interesting a game might look if the developers make it absolutely clear they don't want most people to play it. Note that that's not a dig at the PS3, it's just a simple fact that most people don't own every gaming system, or even more than one. While a few fanboys love exclusives because it gives them an excuse to boast about how much better a thing someone else made is, they suck for the majority of gamers because all it means is you're arbitrarily banned from playing many games because you happened to buy a different console. Think how insane it would seem if buying a TV from Panasonic meant you couldn't watch a bunch of shows, but buying one from Samsung wouldn't help because then you'd just miss out on a different bunch.