Chapter 6. Character Development

It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

J. K. ROWLING, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS

Character design is an important aspect of telling stories and evoking an emotional response in both stories and games. Whether it’s based on the visual look of the character or the emotional depth of the back story, the character we play and those we interact with help make the game world believable to us. Heroes, villains, innocents in distress, and bystanders: Without these characters to carry us forward, the game would be an empty shell.

This chapter looks at how to design compelling and believable characters. We’ll start by examining the characteristics of the avatar ...

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