Designing Characters for Computer Games

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Designing Characters for Computer Games

• Animation and Character

April 16, 2002
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Traditional animation goals

• Appeal
• Memorability
• Humor
• Empathy

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Example How to Fish
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Example How to Fish

• Was it - appealing?- memorable?- funny?- did
  it evoke your empathy?
• Why? How?

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Example The Jungle Book
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Example The Jungle Book

• Was it - appealing?- memorable?- funny?- did
  it evoke your empathy?
• Why? How?

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Example Luxo, jr.
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Example Luxo, jr.

• Was it - appealing?- memorable?- funny?- did
  it evoke your empathy?
• Why? How?

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Traditional guidelines

• Be consistent in designing the persona and
  interactions.
• Show quirky individuality.
• Strive for the illusion of life.
• Do what works well in animation.
• Build dynamic casts and show their relationships.

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Game Character Animation

• How is this medium different?
• How well do techniques transfer?

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Example Monkey Island
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Example Monkey Island

• Was it - appealing?- memorable?- funny?- did
  it evoke your empathy?
• Why? How?
• How was the experience different than the films?

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Example Jak and Daxter

• Game Developers Choice Award Original Character
  of the YearDaxter

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Example Jak and Daxter

• Was it - appealing?- memorable?- funny?- did
  it evoke your empathy?
• Why? How?
• How was the experience different than the films?