Growing up as a video
game addict, I was completely enthralled with the stories that were intricately
woven within the game’s plot-line, and I’ve always dreamed about becoming a
writer to help create these awe-inspiring tales. I can’t necessarily say what
the job of a gamer writer consists of because they are consistently collaborating
with artists, designers, and programmers to create many important aspects that
help with the game’s plot line, such as the protagonist’s story, character
dialogue, where the game takes place and why, etc. But one thing that I’m
really fascinated by is the stories and personalities of the ‘side-characters’ that
travel with the protagonist to fight the evil that threatens them all. And this
brings an important aspect to the game that makes the audience interact more
with the story being told.
The
Purpose of Side-Characters
Side-characters
(also called supporting characters) in all forms of story-telling, such as novels,
TV shows, and movies, serve as great allies to the protagonist and are very
well-known for the large amount of loyalty they show for the hero or heroine both
on and off the battlefield. However, when mainly focusing on the video game aspect,
they play two vital roles when it comes to capturing the audience’s attention
in order to keep them fully interested in the story and events that the game. The
first role, which is absolutely critical in RPGs (Role-Playing Games) that
allow the player to make decisions, is to give advice or their input about a certain
event or situation. By providing important key factors (that the player may
have forgotten about or hadn’t considered), the supporting characters help gamers
to take everything into account so that their decisions are carefully made and
bring them one step closer to the ending they hope to achieve. The second role
is that they establish very interesting connections with the audience by adding
having unique personalities and captivating personal stories, which can make them
appear to be very relatable and amusing in cut-scenes.
A
good example of how these qualities intermingle with one another to create an
unforgettable playing experience would be the companions featured in Mass Effect series:
(2 things that I must add before video is played: 1)
spoilers! 2) there are a lot of companions that can travel with the
protagonist, so the video only shows the top 10 companions in the game)
Why
Is This Important?
If
there weren’t any side-characters or supporting characters, it would just be
the protagonist (and maybe the antagonist, but I’m not sure if they as
supporting or main characters), and wouldn’t you get bored if you had to listen
and look at the same character for over 90 hours of gameplay?
…………………….. Yes, you would………………………………………….
Supporting character's are important because they have the ability to complement the protagonist and the story by revealing key factors in the plot-line and giving the audience more insight on the main character's personality and way of thinking. Each one has their own story to tell, and listening
to stories that are a part of a larger story makes it so much easier to escape
from reality and dive into a world that seems more real and life-like.
