Proportion is a crucial aspect of character design in video games. The size and scale of a character must align with their purpose and the type of game being developed. This lesson will explore how to balance a character’s purpose with their proportions, how to differentiate characters, and the impact of these design choices on gameplay.
Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
- Understand the importance of proportion in character design.
- Determine how a character’s purpose influences their proportions.
- Apply techniques to differentiate characters through proportion and design elements.
Key Concepts
- Importance of Proportion
- Size and Scale: The physical dimensions of a character should reflect their role and significance within the game world.
- Visual Clarity: Proper proportion ensures that characters are easily recognisable and distinguishable from other elements in the game.
- Balancing Purpose and Proportions
- Character’s Role: Consider the character’s function in the game. For example, a hero might be designed with heroic proportions (e.g., larger-than-life features) while a sidekick might have more modest proportions.
- Game Type: Different game genres require different approaches to proportion. For instance, a fighting game might feature exaggerated muscular characters, while a puzzle game might have simpler, more abstract designs.
- Techniques for Differentiation
- Shape Language: Use shape language to convey different character traits. Softer, rounder shapes can indicate friendliness or innocence, while harsher, sharper shapes can suggest danger or aggression.
- Mechanical vs. Organic: Design characters with either mechanical (e.g., robots, cyborgs) or organic (e.g., humans, animals) looks to create variety.
- Rustic vs. Modern: Employ a rustic (e.g., medieval, worn) or modern (e.g., sleek, high-tech) aesthetic based on the game’s setting and theme.
Practical Applications
- Determining Proportion Based on Purpose
- Hero Characters: Design heroes with strong, bold proportions to emphasise their importance and strength.
- Villain Characters: Villains can be larger and more imposing or slender and sinister, depending on their role in the story.
- Supporting Characters: Sidekicks, mentors, or minor characters should have distinct but less dominant proportions to avoid overshadowing main characters.
- Simplifying and Detailing
- Scaling Down: Simplify characters when designing at a smaller scale to maintain clarity and recognisability.
- Scaling Up: Add more details to characters at a larger scale to enhance their complexity and visual interest.
- Establishing Design Rules
- Consistent Style: Create a set of design rules to maintain consistency across characters. This might include guidelines for proportions, shapes, and detailing.
- Defined Boundaries: Use a defined box or boundary when drawing characters to ensure proportions are consistent and purposeful.
Examples and Case Studies
- Examples
- Exaggerated Proportions: Analyse characters from games like Street Fighter or Overwatch, where exaggerated proportions highlight the characters’ abilities and personalities.
- Simplified Designs: Look at characters from games like Among Us or Monument Valley, where simplified proportions make characters easily recognisable.
- Case Studies
- Successful Designs: Review characters from successful games that effectively use proportion to convey their purpose and role. Discuss how these proportions enhance gameplay and player engagement.
- Challenges in Proportion: Examine cases where disproportionate characters detract from gameplay or narrative. Identify what could be improved.
Conclusion
Balancing a character’s purpose with their proportions is essential in creating engaging and effective character designs. By understanding the importance of size and scale, applying shape language, and establishing consistent design rules, you can create characters that enhance the overall gameplay experience. Use these principles to ensure that your characters are not only visually appealing but also serve their intended purpose within the game.