Making Memorable Characters

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Making Memorable Characters

• Week 6
• LCC 2700 Intro to Computational Media
• Spring 2005
• Janet H. Murray
• this lecture was presented by David Jimison

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What does Character Maker Do? Why use it?
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Multilinear Narrative through Interaction

• Story where many endings are possible
• User learns about character through interacting
  (conversing) with them
• Story unfolds through process interacting
• The story is replayable

4
The Rules of Character Maker

• An experience that lasts for a single sitting.
• Based around conversation with short answers,
  not long drawn out responses.
• Utilizes Character
• Worth the users time (entertaining or
  informative)
• Dont break the rules until you can successfully
  implement them

5
Scripting the Interactor

• What information are you giving about your
  character?
• How long does it take to get from one topic to
  another?
• Is the experience too obtuse or frustrating?
• Are the keywords/interactions obvious?
• How long is the experience?
• Is the interactors character obvious? Fun?
• Play test.
• Think aloud.

6
Creating your character

• What type of character are they?
• Are they interesting?
• How do they talk?
• Are they archetypal is it someone that is
  easily accessible or understandable?
• Do they have a story or are they just being
  difficult?
• Whos the main character?
• Eliza the user is the main character
• Sarah Sophomore is the main character