Developers Mourn Abuse of Flexible Character Creation Systems

MMORPG developers rallied together in a rare show of complete solidarity this past weekend at the recent Game Developer’s Conference. Although many topics were discussed over the three day event, discussion over player character creation systems sparked the most outcry.

Avatars like the one above cause many
developers to question their career
choice

Traditionally character creation tools are used to add a personal element to a player’s avatar. Although some games, such as World of Warcraft, limit choices to a set list of faces, hair options, and color selections, more recent additions to the market allow increasingly complex control over physical appearance, particularly in facial structure.

One developer spoke above the rest as the panel began: “We have put years of our blood, sweat and tears into making a comprehensive, flexible system so that our customers could make their ideal hero, and this is how they repay us?” At this point a printed screen shot was presented showing what appeared to be a corpulent woman with an anus for a face.


The event proceeded with a slide show presentation depicting some of the worst encounters: Strong men with tiny, grotesque baby faces, characters that were heavily wrinkled, lightly bearded and fairly testicular looking in nature, and many, many unmasked Predator look-a-likes. Many of the developers lost their composure at this display, bemoaning how they could never face their families again or quoting J. Robert Oppenheimer, developer of the atom bomb: “I am become death, destroyer of worlds.”

Jessie Horker, an artistic design manager, stated that a more robust creation system was usually a big selling point for a game. “All we wanted was to give players as many options as possible. You want a big heroic cleft chin, you got it. You want a slim nose for that feminine look, or maybe a prominent brow that shows you’re in charge, we’re on it. You put every slider to full and make your character look like someone stuffed a zeppelin up their nasal cavity, you’re just insulting everyone involved.”
The problem was quickly pointed out to not be limited to online games. Bioware games such as the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series were quick to add their own list of woes along with Dark Souls creators and others. Even Nintendo was able to add their voice to the discussion, citing the number of phallus depictions on disturbingly, yet carefully designed Mii avatars that they had to screen to maintain their family friendly image.

Most developers admitted that it was the player’s right to use their tools as they saw fit, and there was nothing inherently wrong with making a character that looked like the unholy trifecta spawn of Mr. Bean, Steve Buscemi and a cheese grater. Horker responded to this with his fists clenched. “Sure it’s their choice if they want to collectively slap in the face every hard working soul that worked on the system. From a business standpoint, the real problem is, at least in the MMO genres, these players will find exactly where characters spawn and know just where the camera will be pointing so that their baby in a blender face will be the first thing new players see. Nobody wants that. Nobody.”