Building Character In Games With No Campaign
Solid gameplay and graphics are central to a successful video game, but they don’t do much to build an emotional connection with the player. For hundreds of video games, the solution is a campaign. Besides being fun to play, a campaign is where the story takes place and where players learn to love a game’s characters. This narrative appeal is true for games ranging from science-fiction shooters, like Halo, to fantasy role-playing games, like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. But what if a video game doesn’t have a campaign?
The last decade has witnessed immense growth in the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre. Yet unlike real-time strategy (RTS) games, MOBAs feature no campaign modes, focusing entirely on gameplay. While MOBAs can have unique characters, the absence of a campaign makes it difficult to convey character interaction and story to players. One of today’s most popular games, Overwatch, is a MOBA-FPS fusion.
With no story mode, the game’s developer, Blizzard, has gone to great lengths to ensure that its 35 million players have a personal connection with its game. It employs dozens of actors to give every character its own voice. Many character lines have a practical in-game purpose. A character will sound if they need healing or shout a particular phrase when then they are about to use a special power. However, there are plenty of lines that serve no purpose but to entertain while simultaneously shedding light on their individual personality. An older, veteran character says, “Get off my lawn.”
Blizzard has also released several animated shorts. Besides advertising the game, these shorts tell stories and give in-depth background to its characters. One short tells the story of Reinhardt, an armored German warrior, who fails his mentor but learns to never leave his men behind. Most video games incorporate stories and build connection to characters in campaign mode, yet Overwatch has no campaign mode. These animated shorts help fill that gap.
Though less prominent than its animated shorts, Blizzard has published a good number of comics on the Overwatch website. They may not have the reach of YouTube videos, but it is an inexpensive way to appeal to the fans who yearn for even more character backstory. One comic focuses on two characters, Roadhog and Junkrat, and how they come to meet in post-apocalyptic Australia. The comics take advantage of their digital platform, revealing panels slowly so as not to spoil the story.
Perhaps the most popular MOBA of all, League of Legends, has released dozens of videos highlighting the personalities, abilities, and stories behind many of their characters. These shorts feature a larger number of characters, which makes sense since the game has 140 champions compared to Overwatch’s 27 heroes. As in Overwatch, each League of Legends character is a vessel for a unique host of abilities. In a game with so many characters, Riot Games does an excellent job of using videos to give the audience a taste of character skills and powers.
It is no secret that Blizzard’s other successful MOBA, Heroes of the Storm, shares many characteristics with League of Legends. Yet unlike League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm features many pre-existing characters from other Blizzard games. From Starcraft to Diablo, Blizzard has the benefit of using heroes that already have a fan base, where players have already connected with these heroes. While the game’s YouTube videos focus mainly on character abilities, Blizzard designates the first 30 or 40 seconds to character backstory. For example, a video focusing on the hero, Deckard Cain, explains that he dedicated his life and knowledge to thwarting demonic attacks, before getting into the mechanics of his abilities.
From voice acting to animated shorts to online comics, each method serves to make the game more engaging and enjoyable. Game developers realize how fun the MOBA genre is but work deftly outside the game to create excitement and build connections with fans.
