25 Most Iconic Video Game Characters

I chose to look at 25 of the most iconic video game characters and the games they appear in. I created a Prezi to show my research, as it is harnessing new technology, something I feel is important for my blog.

20 of the most iconographic game characters created on Prezi

As you can see from my Prezi, the large majority of these characters are what I would call 'unlikely heroes'.  Many of these are characters that you would not expect to be a protagonist in a game, either very ordinary (Like Mario being a plummer,  Gordon Freeman being a Physicist) or cartoon like and based on an animal (Such as Donkey Kong,  Sonic the Hedgehog or Crash Bandicoot). 

Sidekick characters are also very iconographic and much loved by players of the game. Mr Resetti, Yoshi and the Picmin are a good example of this. Sidekick characters are often comical, fun loving and give the game additional humor and fun. Issun from the game Okami is a very good example of how sidekick characters can be implemented into games to provide humor.  Sidekick characters often have much more developed persona's than the protagonist in the game.

When creating a protagonist and sidekick for my game, I will need to think carefully about what made these characters so popular. I think I would like to continue with the 'unlikely hero' theme, creating a character you wouldn't expect as a hero.

A personality for my sidekick would also be something I need to think about when creating my game. Next I will be focusing on a synopsis for my game including development notes, before spending time developing and designing my characters.

Video Game Genres and Associated Conventions

When creating my survey monkey I made reference to genre. Here I listed six of the most popular genres in the video game industry, Action, Adventure, First Person Shooter, Platformer, Puzzle and RPG. There are over 40 genres of video games; many of these however, are either not common or not used very often, I narrowed down the 6 most played genres for this. Below, I will list some of the conventions of these genres of game. Platformer is one I will be going into further detail on because this was the most popular in terms of votes for my survey.

Action – Action games are fast paced games, usually with little storyline, these just throw the player into the action. In these games, the player typically takes the role of a protagonist that navigates game levels, usually collecting objects, battling enemies and battling bosses.

Adventure – These games are largely about exploring a new area or land, usually with a mission in mind. Okami, one of the games I studied for my trailer analyses is a good example of an adventure game, where the protagonist takes on the mission to restore the land from evil.

First Person Shooter – These games are set in the first person, directly putting the player into the shoes of whoever they are playing as. As the name would suggest, these games primarily involve the player having a projectile weapon and a target to shoot. This may be a person, monster or an object. Usually these games will have a mission or an invasion plot that the player has to follow. These games are often very realistic, graphics wise, with no non diegetic music overlayed.

Platformer – Platformer games are commonly 2D and are characterized by having players jump from platform to platform, over and under obstacles, usually collecting something or clearing enemies. There are two types of platform game, single screen and scrolling. Single screen being games such as Donkey Kong where you can see all platforms in the level whereas scrolling includes games such as Super Mario where you only see select parts of the screen and it scrolls with the character. The characters for platformer games are often friendly looking, unlikely heroes (Mario and Donkey Kong are good examples of this as not many would expect an ape or a plumber to become a hero). An 8bit one minute or so loop of music is usually played over the top of the game this helping add to the style, character and setting and sets the mood of the game. It is common for platformer games to have light hearted and friendly music to draw players in. Settings for platformer games are varied and can range from an underwater dungeon to a forest, where the game is set is majorly up to the imagination of the creator.

Puzzle – Games that involve a large amount of strategy and problem solving are considered Puzzlers, although many action or adventure games have puzzle solving aspects within them, a game is only truly considered a puzzler when this is the main aspect of the game play. The most popular puzzle game is Tetris, which involves the player moving and piling up falling blocks. Minesweeper, another popular game is also part of the puzzler genre.

RPG – This stands for Role Playing Game, these games traditionally put the player in the place of a character within the game, placing you in the role of someone else. Role playing games typically rely on a highly developed story and vivid, imaginary environments in which you play in. Most role playing games will contain levels, allowing the character to gain experience to advance through it.

Typically, role playing games have the player working on saving the world, a person, or generally just placing the player in a hero role. Games such as Pokemon and Final Fantasy are exceptions of this. Exploration is another big part of the typical role playing game; this is linked well to the storyline, allowing the player to explore the world they have been placed in, whilst still being linked to a plot and being required to do quests.

The majority of people that took my survey chose either Adventure or Platformer, these games are often paired together and I will be sure to follow these conventions when coming up with concepts and designs for my game. Next I will be looking at some of the most popular video game characters, in preparation for creating my own protagonist.

Common Conventions of the Games Industry

After analysing trailers, posters and covers. I feel I have a much better understanding of some of the common conventions seen within the game industry. Below, I will be listing several of these for each. This should be easier for when it comes to applying these conventions in the production of my final piece. 

Gaming Poster/Magazine Adverts 

• The game’s Rating, ESRB or PEGI. This is done to inform viewers of the suitable age group for the game.
•  Gaming platform name or logo. This identifies what the game can be played on and is used to excite players with that platform at home and encourage viewers without that system, but interested in the game, to buy one. This serves as an advertisement for both the game and the platform. 
• Logo for the game, Iconography is commonly used for this. If the game is a sequel or part of a well known series, displaying the logo helps advertise the product and encourage older players back. If the game is new and has not had sequels or previous instalments, displaying the logo in this way helps introduce the game and shows viewers what to look for in shops.
•  Easy to read and eye catching font that connotates to the audience the genre of the game (eg. Gothic typography for a horror game, friendly looking text for a game aimed at all ages)
• Usually a main image of a character, or several characters recognisable or not
•  A simple background as to not draw attention away from the main focus of the poster.
• Most will have a screenshot or several screenshots of the game to gain attention and make people want to play.
• Language used is emotive to make you want to play. 

 Gaming TV Trailers - 

•  A maximum of 1 minute in length, usually around 35-40 seconds as not to be too expensive when aired on television.
• Normally will start or end with the platform/s the game can be played on, this is done to help appeal to viewers with those consoles, as well as to inform people thinking of buying the game.
• Non diegetic music  or soundtrack from within the game to set the theme (eg, a horror game would have spooky music whereas a more laid back game would have light hearted music)
• Imagery or iconography from within the game is shown, often a key mechanic, type of game play or character is introduced, this works well when drawing in the audience and making them want to play, making them part of the action before even purchasing the game.
• The logo of the game is shown at some point, this works as iconography if the game is well known and also shows viewers what to look for in shops.
• The clips used are usually the most exciting parts in the game, this is to make it seem action packed, and encouraging people to buy it, feeling it will be worth their money.
•  A voice over is often given, explaining the main aspects of the game and using exciting and emotive language to make the game sound interesting and fun.

Game Packaging -

• At least one screenshot, these serve the purpose of showing a certain part of the game play, hoping to interest the viewer
• Descriptions of the game, many interesting words are used during this, such as ‘best ever’ to make the game stand out and make people want to play it.
• The games rating, this iconography is required by law and shows viewers what age group this game is suitable and intended for.
• The platform the game is on, this can be shown anywhere on the games box and most will have an overlay, so the console is clearly defined.
• Some games will use quotes or awards as a way to draw in their audience and make them think the game is something special and worth their money.
• The logo for the game is often shown numerous times on the packaging, this form of iconography is used to make the game recognisable.
• A large image on the front cover related to the game in some way, usually a character or a graphic showing some of the game play. This is usually not a screenshot of game play itself, rather a drawn version.
• Copyright information, this is very small as it is not important to the viewer, however, all games have it.
• Other forms of iconography, such as publisher or developer logo’s, seals of quality and game engine logo’s are used, these are usually on the back cover and are used to denotate to the audience information about how the game was made and who it was made by.

Now that I have established some of the common conventions of each of these aspects of a game, I will be conducting some audience research; this should help me plan my game better, with an audience in mind. I will be referring back to this conventions research when it comes to designing my final pieces.