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The Number One Educational Resource for the Game Industry

Session Name: Characterization, Purpose and Action: Creating Strong Video Game Characters
Speaker(s): Jeremy Bernstein
Company Name(s): Freelance
Track / Format: Design

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Overview: The recent success of games with a strong narrative focus, such as BioShock Infinite, The Last of Us and Telltale's The Walking Dead, point to a future where narrative is increasingly viewed as an asset in games, rather than an add-on. And great narratives are often defined by great characters. This talk will dissect memorable characters in existing video games, address the unique challenges in establishing characters in games, and provide a framework for creating strong game characters that covers styles ranging from Portal to Dragon Age. The session will discuss both linear and sandbox style characters, as well as taking a look at the oft' troublesome "blank slate" characters, who are (ostensibly, at least) defined by being undefined.

GDC 2014

Jeremy Bernstein

Freelance

free content

Design

Design