This document provides guidance for developing the story and characters for a game (AO4). It outlines topics to address for both the story and characters, including appearance, backstory, role, abilities, weaknesses, and behaviors. For each topic, it describes what to include in a summary table and additional details. The goal is to create imaginative, structured stories and characters that fit together cohesively and drive the gameplay. Completing all aspects to a high standard would merit a distinction grade for the assignment.

1. Unit 30 – Design for Games
AO4
Develop the Game's
Characters and Story

2. AO4 asks you to develop the story and
characters for your game.
You will do this a little like AO2, by
completing a summary table and
providing additional information.

3. Story
●How stories work in other media
●Mythic structure in stories and games
●Interactivity
●Theme, genre and tone
●Structure and pace

4. Characters
●Appearance
●Backstory
●Role in the game
●Movement
●Abilities and strengths
●Weaknesses and vulnerabilities
●Built in behaviours

5. Story – Stories in Other Media
We are used to stories from books,
plays, films and other sources as
having a beginning, a middle and an
end
We are also used to soap operas which
seem to have no start or end but lots of
narratives with their own structures
On the form – Where we get our
stories from
In additional information – different
types and structures of story in other
media and how they might apply to
your game ideas

6. Mythic Structure and Games
On the form, show a basic
understanding of how games
use mythical structures in
their storytelling
In additional information –
an understanding of Propp's
and/or Todorov's theories of
narrative and how they might
apply to your game ideas.

7. Interactivity
Outline some simple ways
that your game story will be
interactive
In the additional information
– consider how you can
control the narrative (as
designer) whilst creating the
impression of interactivity
(look back at the AO1 reading
list).

8. Theme, Genre and Tone
Briefly explain what you game is about
(in 'real world' terms – leadership?
The right and wrong of using violence?
Gender?) - what the genre/subgenre is
and what tone your game will have –
Sombre? Cheerful? Scary?
In the additional information:-
How will you develop your generic
conventions?How will your theme
develop within the game? How will
you anchor particular connotations to
show preferred readings of
representations? How will you develop
the tone of your game?

9. Structure and Pace
How do you progress through your
game? How do you move from
stage to stage? How do you win?
How does the game maintain pace?
In the additional information –
draw an 'intensity graph' for your
game narrative – Set out the main
narrative beats in each level – how
does the rising tension keep you
involved and interested- how do the
challenges increase in difficulty as
the game goes on.

10. Characters - Appearance
Who are your main characters
and what do they look like?
In the additional
information:- sketches and
designs of characters in
motion and at rest, with
different costume ideas, how
they will look when strong /
when weak

11. Characters - Backstory
Summarise the history of your
main characters
In the additional information:-
● Complete character sheets
for main characters
● List information to back up
the information in your
character sheets
● Pull together backstories in a
paragraph for each main
character

12. Characters – Role in the Game
Identify the archetypal roles
your main characters fulfil in
your game design.
In the additional information:-
Go through a list of archetypal
roles (The Villain, The Donor,
The Helper, The Princess, The
Dispatcher, The Hero (or
victim), The False Hero) and
show how they fit into your
narrative plans.

13. Characters - Movement
What normal and special
movement modes do your
playable characters have?
In the additional information:-
● What can boost characters'
movement skills? Energy /
vehicles / magic?
● How do characters (and
players) learn new
movements? (New fighting
moves, for example)

14. Characters - Abilities
What particular abilities do your
main playable characters have?
In the additional information:-
● How are abilities determined
at the start of the game?
● How do they develop?
● How can they be enhanced –
in the short or long term?

15. Characters – Weaknesses and Vulnerabilities
What are the main characters
weaknesses and vulnerabilities?
In the additional information:-
● Are these weaknesses
generated initially, as the
price of other strengths?
● How might weaknesses
develop?
● What can the player do to
protect against their
characters' weaknesses?

16. Characters – Built In Behaviours
Are there behaviours which your
characters, or the NPCs, will
always exhibit?
In the additional information:-
● How can you use built in
behaviours (particularly of
NPCs) to your benefit?
● How can you overcome built
in behaviours in playable
characters?

17. Presentation
All of your work needs to be posted on your blog.
Some work may need to be scanned, with the .jpg files
uploaded as images.
You can link to other images, audio and video content
which is already online as well as uploading your own
content.

18. Assessment
All of the above work is required to complete AO4
Pass – You create basic story outline and basic characters, with
depth, detail, structure and efficacy all to a minimum standard.
Merit – You outline a sound story and have imaginative characters,
with depth, detail, structure and efficacy all to a good standard.
Distinction – Game stories and characters to an extremely high
standard, with depth, detail, structure and efficacy all highly
creative.
These tasks are designed so that if you complete them in
full you should be working to Distinction.