While graphics and gameplay dominate public discourse on video games’ tremendous popularity growth, important developments behind the scenes often get overlooked—like improvements in storytelling and characterization. This project potlights such advancements, examining how games develop complex, lifelike characters little understood by most gamers. It analyzes characters primarily through a psychological lens, deducing that understanding real human behavior can illuminate realistic fictional characterization. Supplementary sources on writing guidelines come from literary experts. Key findings include: one, various literary devices embedded in games; two, interconnections and mutual influences between devices; and three, consistencies in techniques across all media. This paper serves as a guide to video game character-writing for those who may attempt it themselves, while also elucidating the sophisticated narrative practices underlying beloved games.

Capstone Project: Video Series