Thesis Visual Component(2)

These are my character concept sketches illustrating how the difference in someone's character traits can dramatically change their outward appearance.








This is an early concept of J Dirty. I changed his design a lot because he wasn't thugish enough.

Name: Joshua Davis Jr. III, but he likes to go by “J Dirty”

Josh has always had the best in life. He was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Josh being an only child, his parents always gave him whatever he wanted without question. Growing up in his great big mansion, Josh has always loved hardcore gangster rap music. He loves NWA, 50 Cent, The Ying Yang Twins, Little John, and many other hip hop artists. Although he has never left his parents home he’s always wondered what it would be like growing up in the “hood” or “ghetto”. He’s always wanted to live the life of a hardcore thug. Growing up Josh was always a straight “A” student, but he also sold drugs on the side. He called it getting his street creds up. After Josh graduated from high school with very high honors, his parents wanted him to go off to college and become a doctor or lawyer, but all Josh can think about is becoming the next big hip hop artist. Josh has a crew of friends that he hangs out with and they smoke weed and play video games all day. He secretly likes baking cookies and cakes when no one is watching.

Quote 1: “Let me pimp or let me die”

Quote 2: “I was born a hustla, I’m gonna die a hustla, and whether you like it or hate it I’m the fool yo mama warned you about.”








Name: Joshua Davis

Joshua’s life is one of constant struggle. He’s the younger of two boys and his mother left them in the care of their grandmother when they were babies. Since she was addicted to cocaine she knew she wouldn’t be able to take care of them. Joshua found out that she died when he was 12 and he’s been going downhill ever since. Not knowing who his father is didn’t help at all either. He was constantly getting into fights at school because they would tease him about his mother dying and saying his father must be Saddam Hussein or something because of the way he looks. They would call him terrorist among other hurtful things, so Joshua joined a local neighborhood gang so that he could feel safe. His older brother Jason thought this was a stupid idea and that he didn’t want Joshua to throw is life away. Jason would always tell Joshua, “All we have are each other in this world Joshua, and no matter what happens I’ll always take care of you little brother.” Joshua always looked up to his big brother Jason. When Jason graduates high school he decides to join the military. He says it’s the only way he can make money and one day take care of him and Joshua. He goes over seas and leaves Joshua in the care of their grandmother. At the age of 17 Joshua and his grandmother get a letter about Jason from the military, and it says, “Soldier Jason Davis on medical discharge because of schizophrenia.” Joshua had never heard that word before. “What does it mean?” he asks. Joshua was just glad his brother was coming back home, but when Jason got back he wasn’t the same. He was talking and acting differently and most of what he said didn’t make since. After Joshua and his grandmother found out from the doctor what schizophrenia was he knew things would never be the same but he had hope. Joshua knew that he would have to find out more about it and maybe there was a cure out there somewhere. He knew that it wouldn’t be easy but he had to do better in school so that he could go to college and become a doctor. Now Joshua attends medical school where he hopes to get a great education and travel the world studying medicine.

Quote 1: “I have to be strong for my brother.”

Quote 2: “Now it’s my turn to take care of you big brother.”

Quote 3: “All we have are each other in this world Jason, and no matter what happens I’ll always take care of you big brother.”

Thesis Visual Component(1)

The visual component for my thesis will contain two video game characters. The characters will be one negative stereotypical video game character and one positive version of that video game character. Based on my research I have created a list of stereotypical character traits which will be applied to the negative stereotypical character. From that list I have created a positive list of character traits which will help me in designing the positive video game character. These characters are meant to show that anyone in this world can be of great good or great evil depending on the choices they make. Anyone can be negative stereotypical person or a positive person. It is important to give the player a choice of which personality they can best identify with. My two characters are actually just one character, but they live in two totally different worlds with two totally different personalities. They have different backgrounds, beliefs, and different views on life.

My major source of inspiration comes from the two female characters inside the game Silent Hill 2. This is a survival horror game made by Konami in 2001. The characters are Mary and Maria. The thing is that they are actually the same character, but with two different personality traits. In the game you follow the main character James, who gets a letter from his dead wife Mary, who passed away 2 years ago.



Mary is the average sweet, loving, kind, and devoted house wife. While searching for Mary in the town of Silent Hill, James meets Maria, who looks exactly like his wife Mary, but does not act anything like her.



Maria is a sex crazed woman who loves to show off her body and throw herself at men.

You see the same character with two totally different backgrounds and character traits. The character model is actually the same but when you change the clothing to match their character traits, they become two totally different characters. The character models have subtle changes based on each character’s personality traits as well.

Positive Relatable Video Game Characters(2)

I have yet to play Left 4 Dead (2008) and Left 4 Dead 2 (2009) because I don't own an XBox 360 but I already had Louis and Rochelle picked as positive relatable video game characters. Their outward appearance alone separates them from the mold of the stereotypical African American male and female. When I read up their background information and character traits I was full of joy.



Louis is a Junior Systems Analyst in the IT department for Franklin Brothers in Philadelphia before the zombie outbreak in Left 4 Dead. His attire is like the average business man. He wears a button down shirt, tie, and slacks. Also even though he is stuck in this horrible situation where zombies are trying to eat him alive, when he speaks you can tell he is a well educated man.




Rochelle is a minor associate producer for a news station with a high reputation. She was in Savannah producing a segment about the evacuation center when the area became overrun with zombies in Left 4 Dead 2. She is fully dress and doesn't have an attitude all the time. She doesn't fit the "Angry Black Woman" stereotype and is actually very caring towards her fellow survivors.