Designing your character or dev defined what do you prefer.

[reizerozero]

I'm a big fan of games that let me design my own character, from looks, build, and choice of voice if available, it can add a lot of value in a purchase for me.

Games like Saints Row 3, Dragon Age Origins, Kingdoms of Alamour, Mass effect 1-3 and the Fallout series, all have character creators and the more options they give to tweak my character/avatar the better.

 

Now the meat of this topic, what do you prefer the stock character, that can sometimes be as likable as Nathan drake, or as bland as a space marine archetype that's there to get you from a to b.

 

Or do you like being able to create a likeness of yourself for the game world, for better emersion or do you make a unique fantasy wish fulfilment version of how you think you would be, if you were there. Then of course it could just be a badass avatar you've made, that's there to look good and nothing more.

 

Some finer points about gamer free will vs the games over all plot/design can play a part in how attached you feel to your creation and are good points of debate, so feel free to use them as long as its related to the character you made vs the stock option question I asked. Regards Rei. 

Edited February 25, 2014 by reizerozero

[lemmingllama]

I would say that the stock characters are better. Although in general it doesn't really matter too much, typically the best characters that everyone remembers are the stock characters that have great models, voices, and fit well into the plot. If you create a character, then you get to decide how they look. However, they also become a ghost to the storyline that rarely talks or is even referred to by name. If they do get referred to, it is by what class you are or where you are in a particular storyline. However, a stock character can have an in depth storyline and is someone that you can become emotionally attached to.

[† poetictragedy]

Ugh, I like both.

 

It's great to be able to customize my own character, it feels like a more immersive experience sometimes. Not to mention, I love female lead options. But on the other hand, it's fun finding out all the intricacies of the stock characters: their back story, motivations, morals, etc.

[reizerozero]

I would say that the stock characters are better. Although in general it doesn't really matter too much, typically the best characters that everyone remembers are the stock characters that have great models, voices, and fit well into the plot. If you create a character, then you get to decide how they look. However, they also become a ghost to the storyline that rarely talks or is even referred to by name. If they do get referred to, it is by what class you are or where you are in a particular storyline. However, a stock character can have an in depth storyline and is someone that you can become emotionally attached to.

Its one of the draw backs of design you own character games, the lead often is either mute or vaguely referred to which can brake emersion. Games like mass effect or dragon age do attempt to meet half way with create your own hero vs what they want to do with the overall plot, which is nice.

Ugh, I like both.

 

It's great to be able to customize my own character, it feels like a more immersive experience sometimes. Not to mention, I love female lead options. But on the other hand, it's fun finding out all the intricacies of the stock characters: their back story, motivations, morals, etc.

I pick to create a female lead character as well, its a lot of fun. I really do prefer making my own, but I also enjoy a well plotted character and story driven game world.