Lazy Character Design In Hero Shooters

PCG debates the line between diverse and slapdash.

- 

Samuel: Hero shooters, then, Phil. Or indeed any competitive game with a wide range of wild and wacky character designs, from Dota to LoL to Overwatch to Paladins. Clearly this is one of the biggest genres on the planet, and some of these characters resonate deeply. Overwatch’s Tracer, for example, is one of the most strikingly different, original and iconic hero characters I’ve seen in the last few years. But for every hit, there are a few misses. Take Winston, for example. He’s a (presumably articulate) gorilla wearing glasses. What the hell?

Phil: Whoa there, Sam. Let’s not condemn an entire genre based on one erudite ape. I agree that the slapdash design of hero shooters can make for a disjointed aesthetic – and there are much worse offenders than Overwatch. But surely it’s also a nice departure from the bland militarism of the CoDs and the Battlefields. Remember Battlefield 1’s medic? What a memorable character he was!

Samuel: I don’t disagree with you on that front – there are many multiplayer games where the only option is to play a guy who looks exactly like me, or three others who look quite a lot like me. The intention to make a diverse cast is a positive one, and is no doubt partly responsible for