Character design is the process of visualizing the character for the players of a game. However, it’s a lot more complex than it sounds. Game character design consists of multiple stages and requires a lot of work not only from the character artist, but from the game design and development team as well.
A big part of character design is the discussion. To make a character relatable and interesting to players, the artist needs to be able to capture not just the physical traits a client asks for, but all the inner workings of the character too. The personality, the emotions, and the expressions, players need to see everything on their screens to feel closer to the character and to the game.
Designing characters also differ for 2D and 3D games. Although 3D characters aren’t essentially harder to create or more complex, the processes for their creation tend to be different from those in 2D design. For example, the movement is more dynamic in 3D than in 2D, as is the transition between facial expressions, which means animating them takes longer.
A game character designer is someone who is not just talented and creative but also disciplined, attentive to detail, and flexible. It’s their job to shape up an idea into an almost-living being that’s unique and memorable yet fits perfectly into the game world.