Writing 101 says that in character-driven stories, the protagonist should have flaws in order to be sympathetic to the reader. But in most (all?) video games, the protagonist doesn''t have any character flaws. At least, not that I can tell. Does this mean that video games are unable to tell character-driven stories? That''s not to say they don''t try to tell character driven stories. Some games include a storyline as an addon (through cutscenes, for example). The player has no control or impact on the story, and the story is just an interlude between sections of gameplay. I want to exclude those games from the discussion and focus on games where the player moves through the storyline by playing the game. Adventure games, RPGs would generally count, StarCraft wouldn''t. So if I look at Adventures, Action-adventures, RPGs, I see plenty of examples where the protagonist has limits (physical limits for example), but few where the protagonist has character flaws. Planescape Torment comes close, but the player is given a convenient clean slate from which to act. The character''s history is full of flaws, but the character, while under the direction of the player, doesn''t really have any. This seems to be a conflict rooted in the control over the protagonist. If a player controls the character, then they are not required to behave consistently. Nor are they required to choose a dramatic decision instead of an expedient one. Since the writer cannot control the player, stories cannot be written that depend on the character behaving in a certain way. Thus no internal character development. Maybe we don''t need a flawed or sympathetic character in video games. Since the player directly controls the protagonist, that might be a sufficient hook in and of itself. No additional involvement required. But this also removes the possibility of the drama that occurs in other media (books, plays). I''m not ready to give up on that yet. Maybe someone can come up with a good counter example, and I''m way off base. I''d also like to point out an example of a (paper) RPG where the rules reinforce a particular character driven behavior. Nicotine Girls. There doesn''t seem to be any replay value, but it''s an interesting idea. It sidesteps the writer directed narrative by creating a (game) system that reinforces the character behavior. Would something like this work better than linear narrative? JSwing

Mabye we need to create a way for the player''s flaws to be shown through her control of the protagonist.

Same with character development. In my opinion, the solution is not to create some complex algorithim and data structure that simulates change in personality. I think it is to put the player in a situation where she is encouraged to lust for revenge, or care about another character. Or stop trusting anyone in the game world. Players will change the way they play the game in response to events, and this can come across as internal development. That all just my opinion of course. Does that make sense?

The protagonists in the final fantasy series usually have plenty of flaws.

Raymo:

You suggest acting, basically. Give the player scenes, a motive, and some other characters to interact with and let them run with it. I don''t think this works for video games.

There are minor problems with the unpredictability of game players, whose mood might change between gameplay sessions. And there''s a minor problem of making sure the player gets ''hooked'' on the opportunity you provide. But I''ll assume that this can be handled by excellent writing and presentation.

The real problem is that what you describe is only good for generating external conflict. There''s no incentive to create character flaws, or to reflect the external conflict with an internal one. A player will be willing to take revenge (an external conflict) because he only stands to gain from it. But if you give the player the choice to be so obsessed with revenge that he (nearly) destroys himself or someone he cares about? The player won''t take that choice, because they don''t suffer from the blinding rage like the character is supposed to. The protagonist remains flawless.

You might be able to make it work if the player has an audience of real people to observe and appreciate the drama. Otherwise you have to either force the player to do something, or trick him into doing something. Neither of which is satisfactory, because you want a player to actively participate.

Or maybe there''s something I''m not seeing.


TechnoGoth:
Umm, what? Your post is a bit confusing. Soap opera writing is all character-driven drama. How to convince a player to create a character that has to battle alcoholism, or to love someone who won''t love them back, or to betray close kin?

The power level of the character has nothing to do with it. You can have drama amongst the gods (like you Hercules example) or amongst a normal family.

Heavy scripting is one solution, but it tends to make the stroy an addon (I think).


JSwing

JSwing - I see what you mean. You are speaking of strictly internal flaws. Self destruction is a good example of something that might not be achieved with my suggestion. Then again, if someone was clever enough to write the right amount conflicting interests for the player. For example the player is put in a situation where he must choose between destroying his enemy, or saving his love. If it was written very very well, the player could go either way.

On the other had, could you get the player to become an alchoholic to escape the anguish of his internal conflict? Probably not. Then again, you could write the story so it begins after he had become an alchoholic and has thrown most his life away from some deep guilt he keeps from the past.