Player naming the protagonist.

[Kirri]

Hello smhaaokir here!

I'm currently working on a game called 'IMAGINE'.
So, I'm curious if people would prefer to be able to name the main protagonist for individuality or not and make the main protagonist to have his own personality?

Thank you
- smhaaokir

 

[HexMozart88]

If you want the character to be up to the player, let them name the character. If the character has a set story and dialogue, then no. I have games with either option. One has a fixed name because the player is just walking through that story, the other has a character generator in game and you make all of your own decisions, so the player can name the character.

 

[TheoAllen]

I only name a character in-game if I have customization on my characters appearance and how they will behave. If the scenario is preset, I will use any default name that comes even if the dev decides the default name is "Main Character" or "Player".

An exception can be made for some scenario of course. Like, if the scenario explained well why you couldn't use their default name because the character is in disguise and had to use another name.

 

[Kirri]

An exception can be made for some scenario of course. Like, if the scenario explained well why you couldn't use their default name because the character is in disguise and had to use another name.

Omg, you made an idea appear in my head. I think I'm going to have the main protagonist have its own name at the beginning and later something happen and you have to rename the protagonist.

Thank you
- smhaaokir

 

[Shaz]

I would prefer not to. I just want to play - I don't want to have to think up a good name.

Some people probably like that bit of extra freedom, but be prepared to see some questionable names in screenshots if you do this.

 

[Kirri]

I would prefer not to. I just want to play - I don't want to have to think up a good name.

Some people probably like that bit of extra freedom, but be prepared to see some questionable names in screenshots if you do this.

Hmmm, that definitely make me rethink things...

 

[TheoAllen]

If I make a game with a customizable name, I don't mind a questionable name in-game. If they enjoyed it, it's good. Make a funny screenshot is a part of why the game is fun.

 

[Windows i7]

I would prefer not to. I just want to play - I don't want to have to think up a good name.

Some people probably like that bit of extra freedom, but be prepared to see some questionable names in screenshots if you do this.

My friends always abused the naming mechanics in Pokemon games to make questionable phrases appear in the dialog. It was kind of funny.

 

[HexMozart88]

@Windows i7 I've watched entire YouTube videos dedicated to funny names in Zelda.

 

[The Mighty Palm]

Way I see it there's no reason not to unless the characters name holds some sort of importance.
Like you dont have to pick a name. You can leave it as default.
Breath of the Wild definitely rubbed me the wrong way by not allowing me to name Link. But after playing I was able to argue that the game had fair reasons:

1. Bolson and Sons. If you could name your character with a name that ended in "son" it would ruin the joke that only people with specific names can join.
2. Theres a character that calls you Lenny or some such. Then it is revealed they aren't getting your name wrong, it's a nickname from when you were kids. This only works cuz Lenny sounds like Link.
3. Voice acting. They say Links name constantly in the VA. As unnecessary as I think that is (skyrim, fallout, dark souls, all these games let you name your PC even though they have Voice acting. They just never address you by name.)

Basically what I'm getting at is that unless there is in-world reason not to, you really dont lose anything from letting the player have the choice but you offer the player a bit more freedom to how they play.

Especially considering that you should be using the \N[1] function regardless of whether names can be changed or not, just in case you rewrite a character so that you dont have to go back and change every line of dialogue with their name in it.

 

[rue669]

Depends what kind of game you want to make.

I think you have a character in mind that the player is supposed to play as, then you should name that character, give him a personality and backstory, since its his story we'll be playing in the game, like in Horizon Zero Dawn.

But if you're more like Skyrim...then the player puts his/her own personality in that character and it becomes less a story about the character and more about plot and the world.

Some classic SNES rpgs, like FF6 and Chrono Trigger, let you rename the characters. I'm not sure why that was the case. I remember as a kid naming myself as the main character and my friends as the supporting characters. But now, if I have the option to name and the character already comes with a default name, I just go with the default.

 

[Marquise*]

Remember if the story/game revolves around the PC and have a backstory, maybe not. If it is somekind of open world and choose your own background then it is great for me to choose my PC name as a player. XD

 

[Aesica]

I actually wish there was a "depends on the game" option. In a game where you're experiencing things as if you were the protagonist, it's nice to be able to name them. But in a many-characters game, where the PoV jumps around periodically, it's probably better to have them prenamed.

In my game, my solution is to just give everyone set names, but have an NPC that appears in every town (similar to FF4's Namingway) that lets the player change names at will if they really want to.

 

[ExtremeYandereWolfychu3]

Usually, some games just have the character pre named, and player can change it. You can add a mechanic where Npcs respond with Interesting or extreme reactions to certain specific Names. Another mechanic is for certain names to give status effects or Stat boosts. Perhaps the player can access secret areas.

 

[Aerosys]

I never understood why I could change the Protagonist's names in Final Fantasy VII. Why should I want to?

And because it wasn't mentioned yet: In the JRPG Nights of Azure the names of the characters are fixed, but the Player could chose names for summoned companions, I actually liked this feature, although it wasn't a game changer.