In this Chapter of Computer Games Development, we will try to find out the answers to these questions ■ How do story elements in games differ from those in films and other entertainment media? ■ What are some traditional story structures and character archetypes? ■ What is interactivity and how can it be applied to storytelling? ■ What are some dramatic storytelling devices used in games, and how do they affect immersion? ■ What are the different forms of character development, and how do they specifically apply to game characters? For more and, complete lectures do visit: http://umairshafique.com

1. COMPUTER GAMES DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER # 5
Umair Shafique (Gold Medalist)
Lecturer @UoSLyallpur
MS (Project Management) Scholar from CIIT
M.Sc. (Information Technology) from University
of Gujrat
B.Ed. from Virtual University of Pakistan
Contact Details:
Email: umairg92@gmail.com
Web: http://umairshafique.com
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2. GAME DEVELOPMENT ESSENTIALS:
AN INTRODUCTION
THIRD EDITION

3. CHAPTER 5
STORY & CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
CREATING THE NARRATIVE

4. KEY CHAPTER QUESTIONS
■ How do story elements in games differ from those in films and
other entertainment media?
■ What are some traditional story structures and
character archetypes?
■ What is interactivity and how can it be applied to storytelling?
■ What are some dramatic storytelling devices used in games,
and how do they affect immersion?
■ What are the different forms of character development,
and how do they specifically apply to game characters?

5. STORYTELLING TRADITIONS
Cave Paintings
Valroe (Wikipedia Commons)

6. GENERATING IDEAS
Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor
Tiger Style

7. CLASSIC CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
HERO
Link (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword)
Nintendo

8. CLASSIC CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
SHADOW
The Joker (Batman: Arkham Asylum)
Eidos

9. CLASSIC CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
MENTOR
Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)
Electronic Arts

10. CLASSIC CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
ALLY
Sheva Alomar (Resident Evil 5)
Capcom

11. CLASSIC CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
GUARDIAN
The Inquisitor (Sacred 2: Fallen Angel)
Deep Silver

12. CLASSIC CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
TRICKSTER
Glados (Portal 2)
Electronic Arts

13. CLASSIC CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
HERALD
Princess Zelda (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)
Nintendo

14. CLASSIC CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
PROTAGONIST
Lara Croft
(Tomb Raider)
Ezio Auditore da Firenze
(Assassin’s Creed II)
Square Enix Ubisoft

15. CLASSIC CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
ANTAGONIST
The Archdemon
(Dragon Age: Origins)
Alma
(F.E.A.R.)
BioWare Warner Bros.

16. CLASSIC CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
ANTAGONIST
■ Transformational
■ Mistaken
■ Exaggerated
■ Realistic
Mario & Wario
Nintendo

17. CLASSIC CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
CO-PROTAGONISTS
Ratchet & Clank Jak & Daxter
Sony Computer Entertainment America Sony Computer Entertainment America

18. CLASSIC CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Activision

19. TRADITIONAL STORY STRUCTURE
HOLLYWOOD THREE-ACT
Diagram by Per Olin

20. TRADITIONAL STORY STRUCTURE
MONOMYTH & HERO’S JOURNEY
Illustration by Ben Bourbon

21. STORY ELEMENTS
PREMISE
Devastation
NovaLogic, Inc.

22. STORY ELEMENTS
BACKSTORY
Myst
Cyan Worlds

23. STORY ELEMENTS
SYNOPSIS
Rift
Trion Worlds

24. STORY ELEMENTS
THEME
Bioshock 2
Take- Two Interactive

25. STORY ELEMENTS
SETTING
Shadow Complex Assassin’s Creed II
Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation Ubisoft

26. PLOT
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
■ Balancing Conflict
■ Shifting Focus
■ Foreshadowing Events
■ Suspension of Disbelief
■ Realism
Naughty Dog

27. PLOT
SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF
Flower
Sony Computer Entertainment America

28. PLOT
REALISM
Skate 3
Electronic Arts

29. GAME STORY DEVICES
INTERACTIVITY
The Sims 3
Electronic Arts

30. GAME STORY DEVICES
NON-LINEARITY
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Square Enix

31. GAME STORY DEVICES
PLAYER CONTROL
Dungeon Fighter Online
Nexon

32. GAME STORY DEVICES
COLLABORATION
Diagram by Per Olin

33. GAME STORY DEVICES
IMMERSION
Batman: Arkham Asylum Puzzle Pirates
Eidos Three Rings

34. GAME STORY DEVICES
IMMERSION
Final Fantasy XIII Red Dead Redemption
■ Cinematics
■ Scripted Event
Square Enix Take- Two Interactive

35. Player character
◦ A player character (also known as PC and playable
character) is a fictional character in a role-playing or
video game whose actions are directly controlled by a
player of the game rather than the rules of the game.
◦ The characters that are not controlled by a player are
called non-player characters (NPCs). The actions of
non-player characters are typically handled by the
game itself in video games, or according to rules

36. Avatars
◦ A player character may sometimes be based on a real person,
especially in sports games that use the names and likenesses of real
sports people. Historical people and leaders may sometimes appear as
characters too, particularly in strategy or empire building games.

37. GAME CHARACTERS
PLAYER CHARACTERS & AVATARS
Brütal Legend
Electronic Arts

38. GAME CHARACTERS
NON-PLAYER CHARACTERS
Wii Sports Resort
Nintendo

39. GAME CHARACTERS
CHARACTER TYPES
■ Animal
■ Fantasy
■ Historical
■ Licensed
■ Mythic
■ Fighter
■ Mage (Wizard)
■ Rogue (Thief)
■ Priest / Healer
■ and many more

40. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ELEMENTS
CHARACTER TRIANGLE
JN

41. Character Arc
◦ A character arc is the transformation or inner journey of a character over
the course of a story. If a story has a character arc, the character begins
as one sort of person and gradually transforms into a different sort of
person in response to changing developments in the story.
◦ The geometric term arc is often used to describe the sweeping change.

42. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ELEMENTS
CHARACTER ARC
Diagram by Per Olin

43. POINT-OF-VIEW
FIRST-PERSON
Borderlands
Take- Two Interactive

44. POINT-OF-VIEW
THIRD-PERSON
Dante’s Inferno
Electronic Arts

45. VISUAL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
World of Warcraft City of Heroes
Blizzard Entertainment NCsoft

46. VISUAL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
TECHNIQUES
Character concept drawings
■ Concept Art
■ Modeling
■ Texturing
■ Animation
Etc.
Mark Soderwall

47. VISUAL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
STYLE
Machinarium
Amanita Design

48. VERBAL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
NARRATION & MONOLOGUE
Portal: Still Alive
Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation

49. VERBAL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
DIALOGUE
Batman: Vengeance storyboard
■ Reveal Character
■ Reveal Emotion
■ Advance the Plot
■ Reveal Conflict
■ Establish Relationships
■ Comment on Action
Ubisoft

50. MOVEMENT
SIGNATURE
Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots)
Konami

51. MOVEMENT
IDLE
Sonic The Hedgehog
Sega

52. MOVEMENT
WALKING CYCLE
Link (The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures)
Nintendo

53. BACKGROUND, HISTORY & ADVANCEMENT
CLASS & RACE
Conquer Online
NetDragon Websoft Inc.

54. BACKGROUND, HISTORY & ADVANCEMENT
SKILL
Runes of Magic
Frogster Interactive Pictures AG

55. CHARACTER DESCRIPTION
■ Name
■ Type
■ Gender / Age
■ Physical Appearance
■ Background and History
■ Personality Characteristics
■ Vocal Characteristics
■ Relevancy to Story Synopsis

56. SUMMARY
■ Storytelling Traditions
■ Generating Ideas
■ Classic Character Archetypes
■ Traditional Story Structure
■ Story Elements
■ Plot
■ Game Story Devices
■ Game Characters
■ Character Development
Elements
■ Point-of-View
■ Visual Character Development
■ Verbal Character Development
■ Movement
■ Background, History &
Advancement
■ Character Description
■ Game Storytelling &
Documentation

57. Thank You
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