It's Hard to Play a Character Who's a Dick--but It's Worth It

Video games are nothing without their main characters. Unlike movies or TV, video games are a place where fans get to play the protagonist--help save the world, their friends, and themselves. It's not essential that players agree with every move their character makes. But it's generally key that they have some kind of emotional connection with the character. It's true that video game heroes frequently fit into a narrow set of molds, but generally their cookie-cutter personalities are at least not grating. In other words, no one wants to play the asshole.