Designing Your Character - Game Character Development with Maya - page 16

Contrast Among Characters —When designing a series of characters, it is im-
portant to have contrast among them. Try not to make any two characters too much
alike. A good way to check the success of your concept in terms of contrast is to
line up your characters and switch off the lights so the characters are only visible
in silhouette. Can you tell who is who?
Asymmetry —To make your design more interesting, make sure the character is
not completely symmetrical. Variation is the key, just as it is in the real people all
around you. No one's features are completely symmetrical.
Appeal —Your character has to be appealing to its target audience. If the game is
aimed at young children, reflect this in your design by including bright colors and
outrageous proportions. Make the characters fun to look at as well as play with.
Color —The colors of your character can say a lot about them. Darker colors tend
to represent evil or a rebellious nature; brighter colors are usually associated with a
good, pure person.
Proportions —The size and scale of your character can add greatly to the desired
style. As a rule of thumb, a realistic humanoid character tends to be around eight
heads high. Looking at the comparison in Figure 1.2 , you can see the proportions
of a more heroic, stylized male character. He would have a slightly smaller head
but much larger shoulders than the average figure. The legs would be longer, but in
contrast his torso would be shortened and his waist smaller.