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Babygirls, Daddies, and Himbos: Updating Archetypes for Compelling Characters

Alexa Ray Corriea  (Senior Writer, Cliffhanger Games)

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Track: Design

Format: Lecture

Vault Recording: TBD

Audience Level: All

We have a tendency to think more academically – perhaps too clinically – about the craft of character creation when there are other extremely compelling places to look. What players want and how they connect to them has changed drastically in the last few years, and the stories we tell must keep up. This talk will turn the developer's gaze to the audience, and how they are speaking among themselves. Observing how fandoms consume stories can provide a pathway to new ways of thinking about centering players with character creation. This session will encourage writers and designers to consider fresh takes on traditional character development techniques that take into account modern audience sensibilities. The content draws from personal experience in interactive storytelling, analysis of popular games from the last few years and observational research of fandoms. Attendees will obtain a new understanding of fresh ways to approach developing characters.

Takeaway

This session encourages designers to consider fresh takes on traditional character development techniques that take into account modern audience sensibilities. Veterans will get a brief education on fandom culture tropes and why they are appealing, and all developers will learn how they can harness fandom to create compelling, diverse rosters.

Intended Audience

Game writers and narrative designers across all levels of experience, as well as developers in other disciplines that directly work on aspects of character creation such as designers, artists, audio and VO specialists, etc.



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