Task 10, Story and character

"The rain was coming down like all the angels in heaven decided to take a piss at the same time... in my situation, you can only think in metaphors."

I think i've already gone on about story and characters, but i think i have to write more even though some of it might be recycled from the last blog.
Oh well ill give it a go anyway, stories in games will get nowhere without a decent set of characters some games define the characters around the player instead of developing the guy you play as, games like half-life 2 and zelda do this and it feels more like your them, your own actions and way you play contribute to the main characters attitude. Other games develop all the characters and makes the main character speak for you, although sometimes games give a decision in what to say usually the character has its own attitude and feelings, this can kinda suck when the character lets some bastard escape instead of executing him like you want him to, but most of the time the player would rather see how the story plays out instead.
Over the holidays i had the chance to play through max payne 1 and 2, these games have a very developed story line and characters and sometimes feels like a bad ass action movie. I especially liked the way the tv stations in max payne 2 took the piss out of the original game, and also attempted to develop characters that could die as soon as you meet them (wich happened often as they usually charged ahead and got themselves killed).
My favourite characters in books and films are the type with a huge backstory that you don't know yet, while reading the book or watching the film you learn more about them and what happened before the timeline your reading. My favourite series of books is the nick stone steries from Andy Mcnab, i feel the character is very developed and you learn almost everything about him in the nine books that are written so far, i think a lot of the author is in the character and is written very realistically.
Although for games i don't mind playing as a mute character like in half life. The setting is as important as the character in games, as its a more visual experience than books and sometimes films as games give you the ability to explore and unearth things you may not of noticed on the first playthrough.