MC Location Preferences
Added 2019-04-12 01:40:44 +0000 UTCJust a quick poll about the MC because I'm trying to get a bit of feedback.
Where do you guys prefer to see the MC? On the main area where all the other sprites appear (so she'd appear right next to all the other characters, not in the corner.
Down in the left corner by herself and separate from the others?
Sometimes trying to code the main character down in the corner means there are special things you have to code, or limitations to what you can do. It also typically means seeing less of the sprite. But it does mean the that player character is set apart from others in a way that might it easier for players to play as if they're viewing the story from her eyes rather than watching a story they aren't a part of.
Putting her up with all the others, means two things - one, you have to be more careful with group scenes because the MC takes up a normal sprite position. She's less distinctive because she doesn't get a special spot. At the same time, you can see more of the sprite, and there aren't any special considerations or limitations. The MC sprite is treated the same as all the others. (This is especially nice in Renpy, where the "side image" is sometimes annoying to deal with).
I'm just curious how much placement of the player character even matters to people!
Comments
Yup -you hit on a ton of other reasons I think games often put the MC down in the corner. I think the fact that it strengthens the player's perspective is one of the weightiest reasons for me, personally. I didn't even think about how we'd lose the ability to zoom the sprites during hugs/other moments. Renpy's side image is such a huge pain in the butt to use that I'm wondering if we can just code a new sprite position entirely for the MC and put her on her own layer....=w=
Steamberry Studio
2019-04-12 23:47:08 +0000 UTCThis really is a difficult decision. Having the MC down in the corner strengthens the "Ego"-perspective when the story is told from the first person. You see what the MC sees, and the MC doesn't "see" themselves at the same time as they see the other characters. On the other hand, having the MC together with the other characters on the main screen would also allow to play with the distance between sprites to enhance the narrative, e.g. standing close to someone because of reason X, then jumping apart in the next moment. Or growing closer and closer in a romantic moment. I think you did something like this in Changeling by making the sprite on the main screen bigger/zoomed in? Having the "down in the corner" layout as the main layout, that would still allow to check if certain scenes could allow a blank corner and putting the MC up on the main screen because of a change in the narration.
Sylveranty
2019-04-12 16:49:32 +0000 UTCI honestly don't have a preference in the sense I would be okay with either. As long as I can see her. Though that being said, I do think that she seems more special when on the side bar. But I do sometimes miss seeing the whole sprite.
Angels-do-Exist
2019-04-12 11:50:18 +0000 UTC
