Half-Life 2 Writer On Plotting Freeman

Thanks to Planet Half-Life for their interview with Marc Laidlaw, writer on both the Half-Life games, who answers questions about Gordon Freeman's (and other less cipher-like NPCs') genesis, suggesting "...some of the character creation process is very analytical... but a large part of it remains intuitive", and goes on to point an admonitory finger at Joseph Campbell's Hero With A Thousand Faces: "I have great respect for Campbell, who never intended to create a boilerplate for insecure storytellers, but the mythological hero has been done to death." Above all, Laidlaw hopes you have a good time come Half-Life 2's September 29th appearance, saying: "I think the only sector of the audience likely to feel any disappointment are those fans who adored long-jumping between bits of floating rock on Xen."

Comments

Freeman isn't a character

[PeteyG]

Freeman isn't a character. He never says anything. He never interacts with anyone. You only see him on the game box.

All the scientists and stuff talk to YOU (yes, they call you Gordon. But that doesn't make him a character). Half-Life is about immersion, and they made Freeman a non-character to help draw you in.

It pissed me off when Gamespot or IGN or someone named Gordon Freeman the coolest game character ever or something. Because he's not an actual character!