Tim Schafer, Double Fine Productions, San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
Katherine Isbister, Associate Professor, Department of Language, Literature and Communication, RPI; Director of the Games Research Lab, RPI; Chair of the MS in HCI Program, RPI
Description
Games are poised for a major evolution, driven by growth in technical sophistication and audience reach. Characters that create powerful
social and emotional connections with players throughout the game-play itself (not just in cut scenes) will be essential to next-generation
games.
However, the principles of sophisticated character design and interaction are not widely understood within the game development
community. Further complicating the situation are powerful gender and cultural issues that can influence perception of characters. Katherine
Isbister has spent the last 10 years examining what makes interactions with computer characters useful and engaging to different audiences.
This work has revealed that the key to good design is leveraging player psychology: understanding what's memorable, exciting,
and useful to a person about real-life social interactions, and applying those insights to character design. Game designers who create
great characters often make use of these psychological principles without realizing it.
Better Game Characters by Design
gives game design professionals and other interactive media designers a framework for understanding how social roles and perceptions
affect players' reactions to characters, helping produce stronger designs and better results.
Included in series
The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Interactive 3D Technology
Audience:
Game designers, programmers, art directors, and sound designers, and HCI professionals. Students will learn how to design effective interactive
characters and gain an understanding of social roles and perceptions that can apply.
