Virtual Character Design for Games and Interactive Media

While the earliest character representations in video games were rudimentary in terms of their presentation and performance, the virtual characters that appear in games today can be extremely complex and lifelike. These are characters that have the potential to make a powerful and emotional connection with gamers. As virtual characters become more intricate and varied, there is a growing need to examine the theory and practice of virtual character design. This book seeks to develop a series of critical frameworks to support the analysis and design of virtual characters.

Dr. Robin J.S. Sloan is a lecturer at Abertay University in Dundee, Scotland. Robin attained a first degree in computer arts and worked in the Scottish games industry before researching for a PhD in character animation. His doctoral research focused on the development of emotional animation for interactive characters, with emphasis on both the psychological principles of facial expressions and the creative principles of animated performance. Robin currently teaches Game Art and Game Design to students studying for degrees within the School of Arts, Media and Computer Games, which houses the UK's first Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education. Besides character design, his research interests include game-design processes, games nostalgia and culture, and games education.

Presentation. Anatomy and Physical Cues. Visual and Audio Design Principles. Representation, Customization, and Transformation. Performance. Personality, Emotion, and Expression. Context, Story, and Gameplay. Acting, Movement, and Animation. Practice. Control: The Aesthetics of Playable Characters. Cast: The Aesthetics of the Virtual Ensemble. Complexity: The Aesthetics of Hyperreal Characters.