There are four major components to strive for when developing a character for interactive media such as video games and interactive software games.
The main components to develop characters are:
- The look of the character
- The name of the character
- The potential energy of the character, and
- The personality of the character
Developing the Character’s Look: An Interactive Model
One thing that makes a character effective in its environment would be its look. Each character has to have a look that is not only complementary to the game that the character is in, but also one that is quite unique on its own.
Take, for example, Guitar Hero II. In this interactive game, both Judy Nails and Axel Steel have very distinct looks. While they are both rockers, Judy Nails has more of a punk rock image, with short, spiky, pink-tipped hair, and wears leather clothes. She looks like she deserves to be respected!
Axel Steel has a rock look as well, but not what would be considered modern. He is a broader character who has longer, layered hair, and wears a rock Metal Monster T-shirt covered by a jean jacket. Although both characters are essentially playing the same role, they both pull of very individualistic styles.
Giving the Interactive Character a Cool Name
Another thing that makes a character effective in its environment is the name that the character has. An effective character will be talked about amongst gamers by their given name, so it is important to make sure that it is distinct, interesting, and fun. Not only are the names Judy Nails and Axel Steel great, but the other characters in the game have unusual and memorable names as well, for example, Eddie Knox and Grim Ripper.
Potential Energy: Intoxicating, or Just Plain Lazy
A characters level of enthusiasm is essential. Guitar Hero II is about being a rock-star!! Most players that pick up the guitar control have at least once in their life turned on a jamming 80’s rock tune and danced around the room with an air guitar. The characters need to do this as well. While playing, it is difficult to actually watch the characters; otherwise the player won’t hit the notes.
During the play itself, the characters don’t have quite as much energy. They do move, bounce around, spin, nod their heads and sway a little. If the player activates “star power”, then the character livens up and may spin the guitar or throw it over its shoulder. It is when the song is completed that the character livens up the most, jumping and slamming its guitar to the crowd’s screams.
Personality Assessment of the Interactive Character
A downfall of the characters in Guitar Hero II is their limited personality. The player can read up on a bio of each character, but there is no way to actually get to know the characters. In Guitar Hero II, the characters are essentially a stand-in that rocks on a guitar. Even though they are vivid and energetic and fun, they have no distinct characteristics on a personal level. This greatly limits the amount of interaction that the characters are capable of.
In most games, especially those designed to tell a story, this trait would be disastrous. In the game Guitar Hero II, which is interactive without a true story line, the characters still manage to be effective in their environment, although they would desperately fail if they were put into another one.
Creating the Perfect Interactive Game Character
While all four components are necessary for a successful interactive game character, the developer must be aware of what type of interactive game they are developing the character for. Certain games, such as Guitar Hero II can lax a bit on personality, since the player can substitute their own personality in the character’s place. Other games may require more development of personality, but may be able to lax on another quality. The important thing is to have the most well-rounded and highly developed character possible in order to stand out in a highly competitive market.
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