You’re a gaming industry professional. How can you create characters that truly stand out?

1.Make it personal for you Craft characters that deeply resonate with you, igniting your passion for their creation and development. Your enthusiasm for crafting intriguing characters will shine through, enhancing the experience for both you and your players. 2.Make it personal for players By enabling players to customize their characters, you provide them with a deeper sense of personalization, allowing them to incorporate elements of themselves into the game world. Giving players the opportunity to express themselves through their characters' actions adds a new dimension of immersion to the game. This enriches the gaming experience and fosters unforgettable memories, while also encouraging the sharing of unique experiences with friends.

1. What role will they play? Are they the stoic protagonist driving the narrative forward, the sarcastic sidekick providing comic relief, or the enigmatic antagonist shrouded in mystery? 2. What message do they embody? Will they represent courage, resilience, redemption, or something else entirely? Knowing their purpose guides their development. 3. How will they impact players? Do you want them to be relatable, inspirational, or even controversial? Understanding their emotional resonance is crucial.

Set the game's genre, the theme, and what kind of characters will be considered, depending on the story, protagonist, and antagonist. And putting a good accent to the interaction between the two characters and everything that comes along, as the game progresses from the start to the finish. If the game is action/adventure (Example), that requires a good background story, and characters well developed. In which period the game will be set: History, present, or future? The game's engine can play a crucial role, the graphics itself, the realism, gameplay mechanics, and which audience can play that game. All of that can be considered for the development, for the final product to be a unique experience.

One thing I find helpful in character design is to immerse myself fully in the character’s mindset. While it's crucial to define the genre, theme, tone, and target audience, it's equally important to step into the character's shoes. Understand their beliefs, perspectives, and motivations. This deeper connection allows you to create more authentic and relatable characters that resonate with players. By viewing the world through the character’s eyes, you can develop richer, more nuanced personalities that enhance the game's narrative and emotional impact. As writer Stephen King said, "Fiction is the truth inside the lie." Embracing the truth of your characters will make your game world more compelling and believable.

1. Flesh out their past: Explore their origins, childhood experiences, and formative events. What shaped their personality, motivations, and fears? 2. Create relationships: Weave a web of connections – family, friends, mentors, rivals. These relationships shape their perspectives and drive their actions. 3. Unveil their flaws and scars: No one is perfect. Give your character vulnerabilities, internal conflicts, and past mistakes that make them human and relatable.

1. Start with a catchy introduction: Introduce your character with a brief, attention-grabbing statement to draw players into their world. 2. Reveal the backstory gradually: Showcase different facets of the character's personality, motivations, and experiences over time, deepening players' understanding. Whether it's a fun or dark narrative, ensure it engages players and invites them to immerse themselves in the character's journey.

For instance, in "Omari - the Genesis," the character of the Omari is not just defined by their role in managing the Black Hole but also by their rich backstory. Their life is marked by immense sacrifice, a deep connection to the universe, and a unique blend of mystic arts. This comprehensive backstory shapes their motivations, strengths, and vulnerabilities, making them more relatable and engaging. It also opens up avenues for rich dialogue and interaction within the game, enriching the player's experience. As novelist Neil Gaiman puts it, "A character is not the same thing as a person. A person is a collection of things that happened to them."

1. Embrace distinct features: Think beyond generic archetypes. Give them unique physical attributes, clothing styles, or even signature quirks that visually set them apart. 2. Express their essence through design: Utilize their attire, hairstyle, and overall aesthetic to reflect their personality, background, and place in the game world. 3. Animation and voice acting: Bring your character to life with expressive movements and a memorable voice that embodies their personality and quirks.

Balancing originality with familiarity, your characters stands out through unique visual details that echo their backstory and abilities while remaining accessible to players. As designer Don Norman once said, "Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." The visual choices in character design are crucial in making characters memorable and impactful within the game world.

1. Playtest and gather feedback: Let players interact with your characters, witness their dialogue and actions, and provide their honest opinions. Refine based on their reactions and ensure they resonate. 2. Don't be afraid to iterate: Character development is an iterative process. Be open to feedback, refine their personality traits, and adjust their backstories based on player responses. 3. Play other games and learn: Analyze what makes memorable characters in other games. Understand how their design, story arcs, and interactions contribute to their impact on players.

1. Immerse yourself in great character writing: Read novels, watch movies, and play games with iconic characters. Analyze their motivations, flaws, and how they grow throughout the story. 2. Seek inspiration from real life: Observe people around you, their quirks, personalities, and interactions. Real-life experiences can add authenticity and depth to your fictional characters. 3. Connect with fellow game developers: Collaborate with other writers, designers, and game developers. Share ideas, get feedback on your characters, and learn from their experiences.

There are so many examples from the older and the newer games, that can inspire a great story like for example, The Last of Us Part I, The Last of Us Part II, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Batman Arkham Trilogy, Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War games, Metal Gear Solid games, and many many many more.... So many examples to get inspiration for the developers and product owners to create Awesome GAMES. So MANY opportunities. :)

Try to get inspiration from what has already been successful and focus on the story and background of the character. Also make focus on the people around the main character they must have some depth to them.

1. Diversity matters: Represent diverse ethnicities, genders, and backgrounds to create a richer and more inclusive world for players. 2. Don't be afraid to take risks: Push boundaries, introduce unconventional traits, and embrace the unexpected. Memorable characters often break the mold. 3. Have fun! Character creation should be an enjoyable process. Let your creativity flow, embrace the possibilities, and watch your characters evolve into captivating companions for players to experience.

Try to get inspiration from what has already been successful and focus on the story and background of the character. Also make focus on the people around the main character they must have some depth to them.

Don't think of diversity in the most obvious sense. Diversity - believe it or not - is diverse! Having an open mind to how characters can be represented, showing nuances in their personality - not simply a 'bad guy' or 'good guy' - as well as avoid pandering will build a genuine connection with players

Which environment will be set, game engine, game mechanics, first-person game, or third-person, or maybe both combined. Clear picture for the product. Example: Splinter Cell Blacklist - As I mentioned previously, this a third-person game with a lot of combat moves, depending on the angle from where the main character is positioned, there can be different takedown moves. All of them are performed by a real expert. Negative: One level is in first person, which is opposite from the example above, and the game takes a step back from the original idea. That happens also in the previous Splinter Cell game: Conviction. One level in the game is different from the other levels, and that is a step back from the main concept.