But We Do Care!

By Cameron Hills

Source:  Solipsism.  By Ben Taber March 3, 2013.

                There is a spectrum of characters you meet in a game.  Some you love to hate.  Others you hate to love.  If the game is well crafted and the characters well developed then you and your character are never Alone in the Dark.

                Speaking of Alone in the Dark, even that game had an adversary against whom you would eventually contest.  Many games drive their story by having an antagonist that drives your character’s purpose.  In Jedi Knight II:  Jedi Academy, you make friends with a fellow student who eventually falls to the darkside, Rosh Penin.  Others start with an evil character, such as Command and Conquer’s Kane.  Players become emotionally involved in taking these opponents down.

                Other character you like because they become your friends.  In Half Life 2, Eli Vance becomes your friend through all the help he gives.  In Digital Anvil’s Freelancer, you rely on your friend Richard Tobias for advice, help and support.  You as the player care about your friends.

                And finally, Love.  Many times you can’t help but fall in love.  Alyx Vance in Half Life 2 becomes a part of your life.  You celebrate getting her to safety and mourn when you get her killed because you didn’t do a good enough job of protecting her.  Max Payne’s entire storyline is driven by the loss he feels at the death of his wife.  As you play you come to know, anticipate and love these characters that surround you.

                Gaming is not such a lonely place.  A well written plot and deep characters bring out the same emotions you feel with your acquaintances, friends and lovers.  The emotional and social connection is what keeps you playing the game.