TAFE Certificate IV - Games Creation

Assignment 1 - Create a game character

Brief: students are to create an original character that will feature as the main playable character in a game they wish to develop. The characterisation should include a biography, a monologue that gives the reader insight into how the character thinks, and a list of moves this character can perform in a game.

Biography

A character biography can take many forms, but they should all gives us an insight into the actual true nature of your character. Some common things found in biographies include: the characters full name, nick names, age, gender, body type, profession, temperament and distinguishing features.

Students are encouraged to use a character template to assist them in creating a well-rounded character. You can even use templates from RPG games, such as using both the attributes and alignment parameters in Dungeons and Dragons in order to help define your character.

Students are welcome to be creative here, and also include other well known narrative devices such as: wanted ads, interviews with other characters (such as school teachers, parole officers, and neighbours!).

At the heart of the biographic description, a question should be posed: what crisis of self-development is your character about to face? Remember, all heroes, whether they know it or not, are ready for the adventure they are about to have.

Students are expected to acknowledge the emotional transformative arc their character is to follow during the course of their story. Students are encouraged to revisit the 12 stages of the monomyth cycle as described by Joseph Campbell when creating their character as a means of exploring how the crisis of self-development should be resolved, however it should be stressed the emphasis of this assignment is on the character, and not the story world they inhabit. This should include a discussion of the "other world", where the logic of normal reality becomes wholly subverted to evoking the higher nature of the hero.

Monologue

Students are to create a 250+ word monologue for their character. The monologue is an age-old device employed by writers to give audiences a direct insight into how a character thinks. By making the character the narrator of their own story, we the audience gain a greater understanding of the characters personality.

Students are encouraged to be creative in what the monologue is revealing about their character. This is an opportunity to talk about how they feel about the world in which they live - be it fantasy, sci-fi, or realistic contemporary - and in the process tells us what kind of person they are.

DECKARD: Sushi. That's what my ex-wife used to call me. Cold fish. 

Movements

Students are to write a series of detailed movements for their character. The justification for these actions should be evidenced in their biography. For example, if a character has a super punch, then there should be an explanation for their martial abilities in their biography. They will also be required to create an special weapons, effects and/or powers that their character may have.

Weighting - 25%

Due Date -