Indie builders typically don’t have the assets for a clean slate character editor. They do typically use an outlined protagonist, although. That places considerably of a damper on the fee concept.
The narrative across the protagonist doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and can completely be adjusted to suit with different issues.
You say you favor the outlined characters, however are you positive you’d need that within the desolate worlds of Bloodborne, Darkish Souls or Elden Ring? Would a realistically fleshed out character not simply be… depressed? That doesn’t sound like it might add a lot worth to the sport. And clearly, a wisecracking Marvel character can be jarringly misplaced.
I’d flippantly recommend that your questions is not going to result in the best solutions for a sport developer. I’d say the alternative query is one thing like
Does establishing narrative info in regards to the protagonist cut back the power to role-play by making personal decisions?
And technically the reply to each is “sure, clearly”.
Nevertheless, I’d say it’s a deceptive start line to see it as one massive black-or-white choice.
First, in regards to the black-and-white half.
It makes extra sense to see it as a spectrum, the place no sport is on both finish.
The actions the protagonist takes within the sport are in the end a part of the narrative. So a sport on one finish, the place each narrative reality is nailed down, is… a film.
A sport on the opposite finish, the place the participant can resolve all the pieces… it turns into a philosophical query. Take one thing just like the Elder Scrolls video games, that are fairly far on the aspect of participant alternative aspect of the spectrum. Effectively, you continue to do not have the liberty to decide on a life as a blacksmith. No less than to not the purpose the place you get a game-finished display screen that claims “You lived life as a blacksmith” earlier than it rolls the credit. You can also not play as an alien with a laser gun.
Being part of a world already establishes some narrative info a few protagonist.
Now, in regards to the “one massive choice” half.
It makes much more sense to see it as a number of particulars that stand on their very own.
Perhaps you possibly can customise the protagonist’s face, however not their garments, e.g. as a result of they’re a part of a gaggle. Then being a part of that group is a reality in regards to the participant that may be expanded upon with the narrative.
Perhaps you possibly can customise the protagonist’s garments, however not their face, as a result of it is a character like in Sekiro, the place the narrative can go into particulars about that character.
I am saying it makes extra sense to see it that method, within the context of being a sport developer. As a result of each time such a call comes up, there are a number of different issues other than (but in addition together with) value, that go into it.
We ourselves have no idea how the info will align after we come to such selections in video games we develop. In the identical method, we cannot generalize which info performed a task for these selections in several video games.
