The competitor is quite different from an enemy, a boss, or an antagonist. The competitor's motivations can be far from wanting the player dead or stopped. The competitor, usually, has the same goals of the player, and the challenge he poses is to defeat him in the race to this goal.
Examples might be other pilots in a racing game, an opponent team in a sport game, but also an NPC in RPG or action games. Competitors spark the thrill of competition, the frustration of losing, and the Fiero and excitement of succeeding.
ExercisePlay some of the games we have mentioned and focus on the characteristics of each playable character, NPC, and enemy. Can you identify their functions? Do they belong to any of the categories we have mentioned? ...
