Can You Make Them Cry Without Tearing Your Hair Out? Emotional Characters

Speakers: Katherine Isbister

Track: Game Design

Format: Lecture

Experience Level: Intermediate

Description: Hearing more about how important emotion is for reaching a bigger audience and taking full advantage of new platforms? This lecture (followed by an optional roundtable) focuses on one key area of games that can up emotional impact: characters. The talk covers essential challenges and opportunities in character design that come along with the rise of procedural animation, better processors that can handle more complex AI, and new input devices (such as Nintendo’s DS touch pad and Wii controller) that provide richer opportunity for player expression. We’ll look at examples of emerging best practice out in the market today, and talk about some non-obvious tactics/pitfalls to avoid. At the follow-up roundtable, the group will compare notes about their own ongoing emotional character design efforts as well as current titles, and will work toward a shared list of best practices (and pitfalls) to navigate new tech and maximize character impact on players. We’ll also generate a list of sources for helpful information on character design. Depending upon the group, we can focus on strengths and challenges of particular platforms for character development (e.g. handhelds, Wii, etc.) (Lecture followed by Roundtable)

Idea Takeaway: Lecture attendees leave with examples, best practices and pitfalls in creating emotional impact with characters on new platforms, as well as a framework for innovation. Roundtable attendees gain a richer understanding of what’s been tried, and a list of resources. Those working with specific issues (e.g. small screens, accelerometers) can trade ideas for where to put efforts for maximum gain.

Intended Audience: The lecture is suitable for a wide range of experience levels. Roundtable participants should ideally have personal experience with some aspect of character design/production, and should be prepared to discuss their own practice as well as to constructively critique what’s out there on the market. Developers working on all genres and platforms are welcome.