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Been meaning to write about this for a long time.
I've been going through a huge stage at the moment, when nothing coming out now interests me at all... so I've been going back into the past, and doing stuff from old, and watching old tv programs.
Not because just because of nostalgia, but because I've missed so much already. Time to catch up, really.
Through watching all the old comedys, and the Raging Bulls and Platoons, I came across something that I had completely forgot about. Something I remember, almost, watching myself when I was younger.
Trap Door.
Here's a picture of Berk, holding his good friend, Bony.
http://www.wookiee.demon.co.uk/index17/td11.gif
It was a strange find really... more through luck than judgement, after a friend bought it into school for me to watch.
The basis goes something like this: In the most horrible places of the world, where nobody ever goes, there is a castle. In this castle, lives Berk. He is the servant of this thing upstairs, who you never see, but often hear. His only friends are Bony, the gay skull, and this other yellow frog type thing called Drutt that doesn't speak.
And, for no reason whatsoever, there is a trap door in the basement of the castle, where Berk lives. This trap door is the only entry, and of course exit, from this huge world of monsters.
And that's about it. If you bought that to a children's company these days, you would get thrown out, because they'll be scared what the Daily Mail would say. It sucks, because Trap Door was great.
Let me go back to Berk, however. His surroundings, and then himself, are some of the greatest uses of character I've ever seen... and I'm comparing this with all the dramas and films I've ever seen.
So why Berk? Not sure. There's just something so plainly wonderful about him... he's weird, yeah, but also obviously very kind and great. Kids wouldn't be scared of him, even though where he lives is pretty damn scary. In his surroundings too, that gives him great character, this sort of contrast between him and the castle, and the monsters down the trap door.
And he's a piece of blue plastercine. With some eyes on top.
That's not really much... until then, you hear his voice.
http://80scartoons.8k.com/trapdoor-berk.mp3
Not the greatest example, unfortunatly... but a great line, which also helps to explain the utter character and greatness of the animation. There's just something so excellent about the matching of these two things. On their own, both great, but once together, they work superbly.
The animation wasn't excellent... it flowed really well, but today we'd expect so much more, and that sucked. It was due to these little wonderful creations, where people were allowed to do whatever the hell they wanted to, that we still have hope in things we do.
Compare this now, to Butt Ugly Aliens, or something. Three aliens, who battle the forces of evil, with a human boy and girl. God that sucks. It tries too hard to connect with kids, and then ends up with no character at all.
Character is a very difficult thing to understand. I spend hours thinking about it, but I doubt I'll never full understand why some things just work better than others.
The only thing I'm really sure of, is imperfections are the key to making something feel cozy.
Let's go, once again, back to Berk. Berk, while an excellent character... hasn't been characterized in any way whatsoever.
Once again, let me explain.
Look at all the old comedies. New ones are probably worse... and say, a character called Bob. Bob is reknown for messing things up, and doing things wrong.
That's characterization. In order to keep a pattern going, for people to relate to, Bob must, under no circumstances, do anything right. Except perhaps once, and everyone will label that as "their favourite episode".
Berk doesn't have anything like that. I can't think of one particular thing that gives him that sort of charactaziation... the only real thing I can think of, is that Berk hates serving the thing upstairs, but always complies with "thank you sire's" and stuff whenever he's around.
Perhaps the difference there is, they don't base episodes around the characterizations. It's just a small turn away from what's going on otherwise. With this Bob character, I would expect almost every episode would be based around him doing something wrong.
So why the hell have I wrote this in FOG, instead of Music, Film and Books?
Me and Meka have just started work on designing a game. It's not really that secret, but the game is based heavily around characters, and it's got me thinking.
How many characters in gaming can you REALLY say are good characters? Something that isn't really characterized?
Before someone even dares to say... Solid Snake is not a good character from what I can see. Mr Perfection himself, says "Damn" a lot, smokes, kills people without hesitation, and I bet he has some sort of love interest that he's "too macho" to even go for. Yeah, brilliant.
And, yup, not one topic I do will ever go without it, Skies Of Arcadia is the only game to me that really does character well.
Vyse, the leader... doesn't always know what to say at the right time, but he wants to travel the world, and do stuff nobody else has done. That's cool, nothing wrong with that.
Aika, ginger girl, love interest of Vyse, even though you don't even realise it at first... she's scared of water, can't swim... and that's about it. She's firey, but no more than anyone else. There's no real contrast between these two characters... and that's great. Sometimes it's worked too hard to make sure all characters have some sort of role, and it's so obvious it really puts you off enjoying what's going on.
Fina, is basically a direct contrast to what I've just said. While Vyse and Aika are pirates, not afraid to steal, Fina doesn't understand all the methods of stealing, why they have to do it... but, while also obvious, this is then used to teach the player exactly who Vyse and Aika are, you learn along with Fina. And instead of it feeling like it's just been put in JUST for you, you feel you're learning ALONG with Fina, as just another person in earshot.
I could name many... all excellently defined, none too corny, but none really taking themselves that seriously...
My favourite, without a doubt, has to be Glider. Take Solid Snake, dress him up as a pirate, and then make him happy, and not take himself so seriously.
Perhaps that's it. Not to take yourself so seriously. Understand that life goes around for a bit, and then you die... and you'll have a great character.
Bingo. :0)
I've been going through a huge stage at the moment, when nothing coming out now interests me at all... so I've been going back into the past, and doing stuff from old, and watching old tv programs.
Not because just because of nostalgia, but because I've missed so much already. Time to catch up, really.
Through watching all the old comedys, and the Raging Bulls and Platoons, I came across something that I had completely forgot about. Something I remember, almost, watching myself when I was younger.
Trap Door.
Here's a picture of Berk, holding his good friend, Bony.
http://www.wookiee.demon.co.uk/index17/td11.gif
It was a strange find really... more through luck than judgement, after a friend bought it into school for me to watch.
The basis goes something like this: In the most horrible places of the world, where nobody ever goes, there is a castle. In this castle, lives Berk. He is the servant of this thing upstairs, who you never see, but often hear. His only friends are Bony, the gay skull, and this other yellow frog type thing called Drutt that doesn't speak.
And, for no reason whatsoever, there is a trap door in the basement of the castle, where Berk lives. This trap door is the only entry, and of course exit, from this huge world of monsters.
And that's about it. If you bought that to a children's company these days, you would get thrown out, because they'll be scared what the Daily Mail would say. It sucks, because Trap Door was great.
Let me go back to Berk, however. His surroundings, and then himself, are some of the greatest uses of character I've ever seen... and I'm comparing this with all the dramas and films I've ever seen.
So why Berk? Not sure. There's just something so plainly wonderful about him... he's weird, yeah, but also obviously very kind and great. Kids wouldn't be scared of him, even though where he lives is pretty damn scary. In his surroundings too, that gives him great character, this sort of contrast between him and the castle, and the monsters down the trap door.
And he's a piece of blue plastercine. With some eyes on top.
That's not really much... until then, you hear his voice.
http://80scartoons.8k.com/trapdoor-berk.mp3
Not the greatest example, unfortunatly... but a great line, which also helps to explain the utter character and greatness of the animation. There's just something so excellent about the matching of these two things. On their own, both great, but once together, they work superbly.
The animation wasn't excellent... it flowed really well, but today we'd expect so much more, and that sucked. It was due to these little wonderful creations, where people were allowed to do whatever the hell they wanted to, that we still have hope in things we do.
Compare this now, to Butt Ugly Aliens, or something. Three aliens, who battle the forces of evil, with a human boy and girl. God that sucks. It tries too hard to connect with kids, and then ends up with no character at all.
Character is a very difficult thing to understand. I spend hours thinking about it, but I doubt I'll never full understand why some things just work better than others.
The only thing I'm really sure of, is imperfections are the key to making something feel cozy.
Let's go, once again, back to Berk. Berk, while an excellent character... hasn't been characterized in any way whatsoever.
Once again, let me explain.
Look at all the old comedies. New ones are probably worse... and say, a character called Bob. Bob is reknown for messing things up, and doing things wrong.
That's characterization. In order to keep a pattern going, for people to relate to, Bob must, under no circumstances, do anything right. Except perhaps once, and everyone will label that as "their favourite episode".
Berk doesn't have anything like that. I can't think of one particular thing that gives him that sort of charactaziation... the only real thing I can think of, is that Berk hates serving the thing upstairs, but always complies with "thank you sire's" and stuff whenever he's around.
Perhaps the difference there is, they don't base episodes around the characterizations. It's just a small turn away from what's going on otherwise. With this Bob character, I would expect almost every episode would be based around him doing something wrong.
So why the hell have I wrote this in FOG, instead of Music, Film and Books?
Me and Meka have just started work on designing a game. It's not really that secret, but the game is based heavily around characters, and it's got me thinking.
How many characters in gaming can you REALLY say are good characters? Something that isn't really characterized?
Before someone even dares to say... Solid Snake is not a good character from what I can see. Mr Perfection himself, says "Damn" a lot, smokes, kills people without hesitation, and I bet he has some sort of love interest that he's "too macho" to even go for. Yeah, brilliant.
And, yup, not one topic I do will ever go without it, Skies Of Arcadia is the only game to me that really does character well.
Vyse, the leader... doesn't always know what to say at the right time, but he wants to travel the world, and do stuff nobody else has done. That's cool, nothing wrong with that.
Aika, ginger girl, love interest of Vyse, even though you don't even realise it at first... she's scared of water, can't swim... and that's about it. She's firey, but no more than anyone else. There's no real contrast between these two characters... and that's great. Sometimes it's worked too hard to make sure all characters have some sort of role, and it's so obvious it really puts you off enjoying what's going on.
Fina, is basically a direct contrast to what I've just said. While Vyse and Aika are pirates, not afraid to steal, Fina doesn't understand all the methods of stealing, why they have to do it... but, while also obvious, this is then used to teach the player exactly who Vyse and Aika are, you learn along with Fina. And instead of it feeling like it's just been put in JUST for you, you feel you're learning ALONG with Fina, as just another person in earshot.
I could name many... all excellently defined, none too corny, but none really taking themselves that seriously...
My favourite, without a doubt, has to be Glider. Take Solid Snake, dress him up as a pirate, and then make him happy, and not take himself so seriously.
Perhaps that's it. Not to take yourself so seriously. Understand that life goes around for a bit, and then you die... and you'll have a great character.
Bingo. :0)
I love the idea of not always knowing what to say, for a game character, as it's SO human.
How often have you said completely the wrong thing, or been lost for words? Surely at least once. How often do game characters just 'um' and look blank?
Maybe they'd have to wear the special 'bracelet of tact' to be better in conversations ;-)
There's a thought, Dumbo with his feather, thinks the feather makes him fly, when it's not the feather, but him all along.
Bit like a placebo. Only not.
How often have you said completely the wrong thing, or been lost for words? Surely at least once. How often do game characters just 'um' and look blank?
Maybe they'd have to wear the special 'bracelet of tact' to be better in conversations ;-)
There's a thought, Dumbo with his feather, thinks the feather makes him fly, when it's not the feather, but him all along.
Bit like a placebo. Only not.
Berk the god.... hmmmmm!
Nope. I still believe Berk to be the finest form of character design I've ever seen, not just appearance, but the way he acts too.
I also believe God looks like Berk too. At least, I hope. I've got this horrible feeling he looks more like a caveman, and then created man in his image, but having this thing in my head that Berk created everything makes the day easier to go by.
I also believe God looks like Berk too. At least, I hope. I've got this horrible feeling he looks more like a caveman, and then created man in his image, but having this thing in my head that Berk created everything makes the day easier to go by.
I used to watch Trap Door when I was little, god knows why! And I think I used to get scared when they left the trap door open, lol! I was only 4 or 5! I agree that Bony is a gay skull, just listen to his voice!
I liked Skies of Arcadia as two women were in bed together... tee hee...
Of course theres the fact that it is one of the best RPG's of our time (bar the slightly pro-longed battles)but that's hardly important...
Trap Door wasn't great due to character design it was the theme tune at the start :D
Of course theres the fact that it is one of the best RPG's of our time (bar the slightly pro-longed battles)but that's hardly important...
Trap Door wasn't great due to character design it was the theme tune at the start :D
Been meaning to write about this for a long time.
I've been going through a huge stage at the moment, when nothing coming out now interests me at all... so I've been going back into the past, and doing stuff from old, and watching old tv programs.
Not because just because of nostalgia, but because I've missed so much already. Time to catch up, really.
Through watching all the old comedys, and the Raging Bulls and Platoons, I came across something that I had completely forgot about. Something I remember, almost, watching myself when I was younger.
Trap Door.
Here's a picture of Berk, holding his good friend, Bony.
http://www.wookiee.demon.co.uk/index17/td11.gif
It was a strange find really... more through luck than judgement, after a friend bought it into school for me to watch.
The basis goes something like this: In the most horrible places of the world, where nobody ever goes, there is a castle. In this castle, lives Berk. He is the servant of this thing upstairs, who you never see, but often hear. His only friends are Bony, the gay skull, and this other yellow frog type thing called Drutt that doesn't speak.
And, for no reason whatsoever, there is a trap door in the basement of the castle, where Berk lives. This trap door is the only entry, and of course exit, from this huge world of monsters.
And that's about it. If you bought that to a children's company these days, you would get thrown out, because they'll be scared what the Daily Mail would say. It sucks, because Trap Door was great.
Let me go back to Berk, however. His surroundings, and then himself, are some of the greatest uses of character I've ever seen... and I'm comparing this with all the dramas and films I've ever seen.
So why Berk? Not sure. There's just something so plainly wonderful about him... he's weird, yeah, but also obviously very kind and great. Kids wouldn't be scared of him, even though where he lives is pretty damn scary. In his surroundings too, that gives him great character, this sort of contrast between him and the castle, and the monsters down the trap door.
And he's a piece of blue plastercine. With some eyes on top.
That's not really much... until then, you hear his voice.
http://80scartoons.8k.com/trapdoor-berk.mp3
Not the greatest example, unfortunatly... but a great line, which also helps to explain the utter character and greatness of the animation. There's just something so excellent about the matching of these two things. On their own, both great, but once together, they work superbly.
The animation wasn't excellent... it flowed really well, but today we'd expect so much more, and that sucked. It was due to these little wonderful creations, where people were allowed to do whatever the hell they wanted to, that we still have hope in things we do.
Compare this now, to Butt Ugly Aliens, or something. Three aliens, who battle the forces of evil, with a human boy and girl. God that sucks. It tries too hard to connect with kids, and then ends up with no character at all.
Character is a very difficult thing to understand. I spend hours thinking about it, but I doubt I'll never full understand why some things just work better than others.
The only thing I'm really sure of, is imperfections are the key to making something feel cozy.
Let's go, once again, back to Berk. Berk, while an excellent character... hasn't been characterized in any way whatsoever.
Once again, let me explain.
Look at all the old comedies. New ones are probably worse... and say, a character called Bob. Bob is reknown for messing things up, and doing things wrong.
That's characterization. In order to keep a pattern going, for people to relate to, Bob must, under no circumstances, do anything right. Except perhaps once, and everyone will label that as "their favourite episode".
Berk doesn't have anything like that. I can't think of one particular thing that gives him that sort of charactaziation... the only real thing I can think of, is that Berk hates serving the thing upstairs, but always complies with "thank you sire's" and stuff whenever he's around.
Perhaps the difference there is, they don't base episodes around the characterizations. It's just a small turn away from what's going on otherwise. With this Bob character, I would expect almost every episode would be based around him doing something wrong.
So why the hell have I wrote this in FOG, instead of Music, Film and Books?
Me and Meka have just started work on designing a game. It's not really that secret, but the game is based heavily around characters, and it's got me thinking.
How many characters in gaming can you REALLY say are good characters? Something that isn't really characterized?
Before someone even dares to say... Solid Snake is not a good character from what I can see. Mr Perfection himself, says "Damn" a lot, smokes, kills people without hesitation, and I bet he has some sort of love interest that he's "too macho" to even go for. Yeah, brilliant.
And, yup, not one topic I do will ever go without it, Skies Of Arcadia is the only game to me that really does character well.
Vyse, the leader... doesn't always know what to say at the right time, but he wants to travel the world, and do stuff nobody else has done. That's cool, nothing wrong with that.
Aika, ginger girl, love interest of Vyse, even though you don't even realise it at first... she's scared of water, can't swim... and that's about it. She's firey, but no more than anyone else. There's no real contrast between these two characters... and that's great. Sometimes it's worked too hard to make sure all characters have some sort of role, and it's so obvious it really puts you off enjoying what's going on.
Fina, is basically a direct contrast to what I've just said. While Vyse and Aika are pirates, not afraid to steal, Fina doesn't understand all the methods of stealing, why they have to do it... but, while also obvious, this is then used to teach the player exactly who Vyse and Aika are, you learn along with Fina. And instead of it feeling like it's just been put in JUST for you, you feel you're learning ALONG with Fina, as just another person in earshot.
I could name many... all excellently defined, none too corny, but none really taking themselves that seriously...
My favourite, without a doubt, has to be Glider. Take Solid Snake, dress him up as a pirate, and then make him happy, and not take himself so seriously.
Perhaps that's it. Not to take yourself so seriously. Understand that life goes around for a bit, and then you die... and you'll have a great character.
Bingo. :0)
I've been going through a huge stage at the moment, when nothing coming out now interests me at all... so I've been going back into the past, and doing stuff from old, and watching old tv programs.
Not because just because of nostalgia, but because I've missed so much already. Time to catch up, really.
Through watching all the old comedys, and the Raging Bulls and Platoons, I came across something that I had completely forgot about. Something I remember, almost, watching myself when I was younger.
Trap Door.
Here's a picture of Berk, holding his good friend, Bony.
http://www.wookiee.demon.co.uk/index17/td11.gif
It was a strange find really... more through luck than judgement, after a friend bought it into school for me to watch.
The basis goes something like this: In the most horrible places of the world, where nobody ever goes, there is a castle. In this castle, lives Berk. He is the servant of this thing upstairs, who you never see, but often hear. His only friends are Bony, the gay skull, and this other yellow frog type thing called Drutt that doesn't speak.
And, for no reason whatsoever, there is a trap door in the basement of the castle, where Berk lives. This trap door is the only entry, and of course exit, from this huge world of monsters.
And that's about it. If you bought that to a children's company these days, you would get thrown out, because they'll be scared what the Daily Mail would say. It sucks, because Trap Door was great.
Let me go back to Berk, however. His surroundings, and then himself, are some of the greatest uses of character I've ever seen... and I'm comparing this with all the dramas and films I've ever seen.
So why Berk? Not sure. There's just something so plainly wonderful about him... he's weird, yeah, but also obviously very kind and great. Kids wouldn't be scared of him, even though where he lives is pretty damn scary. In his surroundings too, that gives him great character, this sort of contrast between him and the castle, and the monsters down the trap door.
And he's a piece of blue plastercine. With some eyes on top.
That's not really much... until then, you hear his voice.
http://80scartoons.8k.com/trapdoor-berk.mp3
Not the greatest example, unfortunatly... but a great line, which also helps to explain the utter character and greatness of the animation. There's just something so excellent about the matching of these two things. On their own, both great, but once together, they work superbly.
The animation wasn't excellent... it flowed really well, but today we'd expect so much more, and that sucked. It was due to these little wonderful creations, where people were allowed to do whatever the hell they wanted to, that we still have hope in things we do.
Compare this now, to Butt Ugly Aliens, or something. Three aliens, who battle the forces of evil, with a human boy and girl. God that sucks. It tries too hard to connect with kids, and then ends up with no character at all.
Character is a very difficult thing to understand. I spend hours thinking about it, but I doubt I'll never full understand why some things just work better than others.
The only thing I'm really sure of, is imperfections are the key to making something feel cozy.
Let's go, once again, back to Berk. Berk, while an excellent character... hasn't been characterized in any way whatsoever.
Once again, let me explain.
Look at all the old comedies. New ones are probably worse... and say, a character called Bob. Bob is reknown for messing things up, and doing things wrong.
That's characterization. In order to keep a pattern going, for people to relate to, Bob must, under no circumstances, do anything right. Except perhaps once, and everyone will label that as "their favourite episode".
Berk doesn't have anything like that. I can't think of one particular thing that gives him that sort of charactaziation... the only real thing I can think of, is that Berk hates serving the thing upstairs, but always complies with "thank you sire's" and stuff whenever he's around.
Perhaps the difference there is, they don't base episodes around the characterizations. It's just a small turn away from what's going on otherwise. With this Bob character, I would expect almost every episode would be based around him doing something wrong.
So why the hell have I wrote this in FOG, instead of Music, Film and Books?
Me and Meka have just started work on designing a game. It's not really that secret, but the game is based heavily around characters, and it's got me thinking.
How many characters in gaming can you REALLY say are good characters? Something that isn't really characterized?
Before someone even dares to say... Solid Snake is not a good character from what I can see. Mr Perfection himself, says "Damn" a lot, smokes, kills people without hesitation, and I bet he has some sort of love interest that he's "too macho" to even go for. Yeah, brilliant.
And, yup, not one topic I do will ever go without it, Skies Of Arcadia is the only game to me that really does character well.
Vyse, the leader... doesn't always know what to say at the right time, but he wants to travel the world, and do stuff nobody else has done. That's cool, nothing wrong with that.
Aika, ginger girl, love interest of Vyse, even though you don't even realise it at first... she's scared of water, can't swim... and that's about it. She's firey, but no more than anyone else. There's no real contrast between these two characters... and that's great. Sometimes it's worked too hard to make sure all characters have some sort of role, and it's so obvious it really puts you off enjoying what's going on.
Fina, is basically a direct contrast to what I've just said. While Vyse and Aika are pirates, not afraid to steal, Fina doesn't understand all the methods of stealing, why they have to do it... but, while also obvious, this is then used to teach the player exactly who Vyse and Aika are, you learn along with Fina. And instead of it feeling like it's just been put in JUST for you, you feel you're learning ALONG with Fina, as just another person in earshot.
I could name many... all excellently defined, none too corny, but none really taking themselves that seriously...
My favourite, without a doubt, has to be Glider. Take Solid Snake, dress him up as a pirate, and then make him happy, and not take himself so seriously.
Perhaps that's it. Not to take yourself so seriously. Understand that life goes around for a bit, and then you die... and you'll have a great character.
Bingo. :0)