Task 10: Elements of game design, part three: character

My favourite characters have been Kylar from Beyond the shadows a book by Brent Weeks. I connected with this character because through the progression of the story you’re able to see the character grow from childhood to manhood. You build up a connection and you feel you really know him. He is quite similar to me but he also has aspects I would like to adopt. Kylar is similar to me in the way that when you first meet him he didn’t want to be afraid anymore, he wasn’t happy with where he was in that moment in his life and he wanted to become something better. To do that he had to do things he wasn’t happy with and when reading it for the first time I was put in the same situation and when I did what was forced, just like the character it worked out for the better. He wanted someone in his life that he could love and I wanted to find the same thing.

Another of my favourites is Reynik from Imperial Assassin by Mark Robson. Again now he is a similar age to me but when first reading the book the character was a lot older then I was. The character became someone to look up to and even now when I’m older than he is I still look up to him. He has very boyish looks like myself and he always tries to complete his tasks to the best of his abilities. He always strives for improvement especially when taken out of his comfort zones. He is pretending to be an assassin and is forced to become the one thing he hates and I couldn’t personally do that. We’re similar but I could never do what he is forced to.

I feel such a strong connection with these characters because the author makes you become part of the story and you feel involved in their life story. You seem to step into their shoes and you can’t help but connect with them and almost love them in a way.

I think the way the books are written has something to do with the bond that grows between reader and character but the main reason I became immersed in their life was because we had so many similarities. The language the author uses allows you to dive into the rich story that is the character’s life. I read to escape my surroundings and because there was such strong similarities between each character and myself it created a strong connection between us.  

I’m drawn to mainly fantasy novels which is kind of a surprise because it’s very contradictory to the kind of games I prefer. I prefer sci-fi in games but I like fantasy in books, sorcery, dragons, assassins with a character driven story. Involving action, adventure and a chance to connect with characters by becoming involved in their life story not just reading about their life off a piece of paper.