your ideas for game protagonists
- Thread starter Vault101
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That's an interesting concept, but it doesn't sound like it'd be very fun to play. Feeling like a dick does not make for a good time.BRTurtle said:
I really think a game where the protagonist is a fundamentalist Muslim trying to get by in the USA would be quite interesting, particularly people's reactions to it. Obviously there would have to be some kind of actual gameplay, but yeah.
That, or a game where the protagonist just has absolutely no reason behind their actions, or acts in such a way that the player doesn't quite know what they're up to. It would be awesome to explore the idea of an unreliable protagonist in a video game, or just someone who does what they do for the hell of it.
That, or a game where the protagonist just has absolutely no reason behind their actions, or acts in such a way that the player doesn't quite know what they're up to. It would be awesome to explore the idea of an unreliable protagonist in a video game, or just someone who does what they do for the hell of it.
It would be about as fun as a visual novel(which essentially is what it is), which I tend to enjoy... and whats this about being a dick I didn't understand what you mean? partially because your character is a dick in almost every game you steal from the people your saving, and you kill whoever that looks like a bad guy or gives you gruff without trying to work something out first.ultrachicken said:
Who the protagonist is would be based off of the game I was trying to make, but I understand why it's sometimes easier to make the character first, to come up with the game play concept. Still it is a very open question, if I list all of the main characters I came up with for game ideas, I'd probably be in the hundreds or thousands (depending on how 'main' of a character I focused on). And we'd be hear all night if I had to give you enough details behind each to explain who they all are.
So the basics... every character I've made is a reflection of something inside of me. Maybe it?s a part of my own character, maybe it?s a memory of someone I've know, or a mix of fictional works, or a figure in a dream. Villains are often based on the parts of me I don't like, the rationalities I can come up with I'd hate to follow, the weaknesses I have. Heroes are often a villains opposite, against in form and mind against what that villain stands for and believes, so the story will inevitably have some sort of theme or arch to it.
Immersion is more than just character, you need to have a feeling in mind you want to make the player feel. And not just happy, mad, or afraid, but deep unique feelings. Think of the unique stories you experience or seen others experienced, that could be summaries to feelings we do not have names for. Then try to think of how you would explain to someone how it is to feel that want, construct your elaborate scheme and you'll find you have a back story and plot to your character's role in the story.
Ask questions you have no answer for, and make a character that is an example to a possible answer for that question. Then think of why that answer is wrong, and flaw that character based on the holes for such logic.
Map out a chart of characters based on relationships, as how their related will often define who they are and where the plot could go. Make sure every character is link some how to the web, and search for interesting connection where you can add them. Then figure out how the characters differ from one another so there is no repetition. How do they look different? How do they talk different? How are their beliefs different?
Then just think about situations that sound interesting and make the characters do what is natural for them, and the story writes itself.
So the basics... every character I've made is a reflection of something inside of me. Maybe it?s a part of my own character, maybe it?s a memory of someone I've know, or a mix of fictional works, or a figure in a dream. Villains are often based on the parts of me I don't like, the rationalities I can come up with I'd hate to follow, the weaknesses I have. Heroes are often a villains opposite, against in form and mind against what that villain stands for and believes, so the story will inevitably have some sort of theme or arch to it.
Immersion is more than just character, you need to have a feeling in mind you want to make the player feel. And not just happy, mad, or afraid, but deep unique feelings. Think of the unique stories you experience or seen others experienced, that could be summaries to feelings we do not have names for. Then try to think of how you would explain to someone how it is to feel that want, construct your elaborate scheme and you'll find you have a back story and plot to your character's role in the story.
Ask questions you have no answer for, and make a character that is an example to a possible answer for that question. Then think of why that answer is wrong, and flaw that character based on the holes for such logic.
Map out a chart of characters based on relationships, as how their related will often define who they are and where the plot could go. Make sure every character is link some how to the web, and search for interesting connection where you can add them. Then figure out how the characters differ from one another so there is no repetition. How do they look different? How do they talk different? How are their beliefs different?
Then just think about situations that sound interesting and make the characters do what is natural for them, and the story writes itself.
Making a game to be like a visual novel is missing the point. The thing that makes games great is interactivity. By shoehorning the character into a single path you take a lot of the interactivity away. Yes, I'm aware that a lot of games do this, but the good games that do this make up for the linearity with good gameplay. This game doesn't sound like it would have very good gameplay because it would consist of a gigantic fraud (the player) watching everyone else do the work.BRTurtle said:
This would be a better concept for a movie, or a novel.
Killer 7.Mr.K. said:
Your team of assassins are: A nearly catatonic old man in a wheelchair, a blind guy, a masked wrestler, a dead girl, a janitor, an albino desk clerk, some random dude, and a petty thief who holds his handgun upside down.
OT: My game protagonist is...basically a young rogue who carries out assassinations, espionage and such. Then as he ages, he takes on an apprentice and you have to show/teach the apprentice the ropes. Then the protagonist dies, and you control the apprentice for one last mission, and he can only use the skills/items that you taught him/had him make.
[/quote]Making a game to be like a visual novel is missing the point. The thing that makes games great is interactivity. By shoehorning the character into a single path you take a lot of the interactivity away. Yes, I'm aware that a lot of games do this, but the good games that do this make up for the linearity with good gameplay. This game doesn't sound like it would have very good gameplay because it would consist of a gigantic fraud (the player) watching everyone else do the work.
This would be a better concept for a movie, or a novel.[/quote]
you could add interactivity with the chat system (since you wouldn't have to worry about a battle system) you could have all the conversations play out more like a battle then a regular chat system in games. When I originally wrote that starting post I was watching the extra credit on non-combat gaming. With my ME2 comment I ment it in the way of the choice you get on where you go and who you talk to eliminating the linearity. With the visual novel statement I mean on the way of memorable characters, choosing the way the game ends with more then 3 endings, and no real correct ending.
This would be a better concept for a movie, or a novel.[/quote]
you could add interactivity with the chat system (since you wouldn't have to worry about a battle system) you could have all the conversations play out more like a battle then a regular chat system in games. When I originally wrote that starting post I was watching the extra credit on non-combat gaming. With my ME2 comment I ment it in the way of the choice you get on where you go and who you talk to eliminating the linearity. With the visual novel statement I mean on the way of memorable characters, choosing the way the game ends with more then 3 endings, and no real correct ending.
The problem that usually happens with main character to God of War style games is that it is hard to make them flawed. One moment they are lamenting the death of their family, the next they are ripping the eye out of a cyclops. I think Bayonetta and Kratos are both pretty successful, but they are rarities and could certainly be better.Vault101 said:
I would use the D&D character I'm playing right now. He's a half-orc, half-dwarf (Dworg) barbarian who is hunting the orc who raped his mother. He's not that smart, though, so he pretty much just kills every orc and hopes that one of them is the right one. He dual-wields hatchets and speaks in one-liners in the voice of Randy Savage.
Someone capable without being overpowered, with an interesting backstory, and a strong motivation. They must be strong but realistically flawed in some way, they must be personable and charasmatic and not a prick.
Well, I have been tossing a few ideas for characters for an RPG around in my head for a while. The setting would be like a western-style/steampunk Phantasy Star minus the additional planets. Only certain people are allowed to have guns, so the few that do are criminals, and those supposed to have them. Everyone else fights with Swords, Knives, Magic, and whatnot.
I know it carries a LOT of cliches, which I am trying to phase out, and the characters are A LOT more detailed than what it might seem. I literally have notebooks filled with information about this story. Though the writing tends to show that I was writing it out of boredom while I was in high school
Main Character: A young man(21-30) who was framed for the murder of his parents, decides that all he wants is revenge. Not matter the price, or method. He has a demon bound inside him, who tries to convince him to kill himself (which will free the demon)
Support Character: An older woman(30-40 in appearance), who is sent by this world's "Heaven" in order to manipulate the main character into doing their work. She convinces him that to get his revenge, he must get stronger (which is true), and to do so he must defeat the main villain's cronies.
Support Character 2: A young woman(20-25), who when she first join is just along for the ride, because of her crush on the protagonist (he "saves her life", right place, right time sort of deal), and when she finds out about his "mission". she joins because she believes someone that evil deserves to be brought to justice
Villain: An older man (50-60 in appearance, hair still has color), who is causing a lot of trouble to bring the world's "Heaven" to an end. His father, who was a notorious criminal was killed by them. He didn't know of this, and refuses to believe it. He kills the protagonists parents to start the events of the game. He wants to unite the demon inside him, with the one inside the protagonist. The demon inside him wants this too, but only because he is old and will be too weak to contain it's full form.
The demon inside both the hero and villain. It simply wants to unite itself and destroy EVERYTHING, and create a world where demons rule. The half in the hero tries to convince him to kill himself, or do extremely risky/violent things. The half inside the villain wants to grow stronger and use his body as a host
I know it carries a LOT of cliches, which I am trying to phase out, and the characters are A LOT more detailed than what it might seem. I literally have notebooks filled with information about this story. Though the writing tends to show that I was writing it out of boredom while I was in high school
YOUR MUSTACHE IS CROOKED! ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL_1xkPIEaQ )MajWound said: