Creating a character in a video game can be a lengthy and arduous process, with some games taking up to four hours to complete. This is often due to the complexities of game engines like Bethesda's Creation Engine, which can hinder the extraction of beauty or inoffensiveness from character models. Meanwhile, other developers, such as Capcom, are capitalizing on player desire for customization by charging extra fees for editing character voices, faces, and body types. These practices raise questions about the value placed on player time and the commodification of game development processes.
Key Points
The significance of character creation in video games, particularly in relation to player investment and engagement.
The impact of game engine limitations (e.g., Bethesda's Creation Engine) on the character creation process.
The commercialization of character customization options and their potential effects on player experience.
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Original Article
How long do you tend to spend creating a character in a video game? The correct answer is three hours. Four hours if it's a Bethesda game, because creating a character in a Bethesda game is like rewinding the Raiders Of The Lost Ark face-melting scene while shooting at your TV with Homer Simpson's Make-Up Gun. It takes patience to extract beauty or even just plain inoffensiveness from the Creation Engine's sticky coils.
Hang on, why am I being mean to Bethesda? I should be directing my snide remarks at Capcom. It turns out the scalliwags want you to pay a small fee to edit your Monster Hunter Wilds character's voice, face and body structure more than once - so if you're buying today, you might want to spend a few more hours perfecting that Hunter physique at start-up.
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