# Characters
CSSE 290 – Computer Game Design
Winter 2010–2011

The Characters document describes your characters in complete detail. It forms part of the Game Script that gives all the details about your game.

## What process should you use to design your characters?

Consider using the following process for designing your characters (but see below for the form of the Characters document).

1. Brainstorm the basic description of the most important characters as part of your initial game brainstorming.
2. Each of you should pick one important character, with the avatar as one of those characters. (Two of you can pair up on the avatar if you prefer.)
3. For the most important characters (i.e., the ones you picked), answer most of the Design Questions for your Character.
4. As you answer the questions, incorporate only the most important part of the most important characters into your High Concept document. Incorporate more of the answers into your Game Treatment.
5. Turn to lesser characters as you complete the more important ones. Your descriptions of these can be as brief as a couple of sentences (although you are welcome to say more about them, of course).
6. For each important character (i.e., the ones you picked), answer the Character “Backgrounder” Design Questions for your character.
7. Organize your thoughts from the two sets of design questions (see Section 2 of the Characters document below).
8. Iterate and refine, adding characters as needed.

## How should you organize your Characters document?

Organize your Characters document as follows, but note that you write the document per the process above (e.g. you answer design questions for each character before writing its Section 2):

For EACH character, with the most important characters appearing first:

- Section 1: Executive Summary

  A one or two-paragraph description of this character.

- Section 2: Detailed Description

  A carefully organized description of this character in complete detail, including concept artwork.

- Appendix A: Design Questions

  Answers to the Design Questions for your Character.

- Appendix B: Backgrounder Design Questions

  Answers to the Character “Backgrounder” Design Questions for your character.