Character Development in Games

Games are journeys. They are personal experiences that revolve around discovery, and through that discovery, we learn. Experiences change us; they have the power to move us, and sometimes, develop us.

While watching a movie or reading fiction, few things are more satisfying than seeing a character develop. Why, then, should games, another storytelling medium, lack this profundity and magic? Indeed, it would seem it should not. But the best way for a game to develop a protagonist will likely turn out to be much different than would a film or novel. It would seem that the player himself must go through a change - perhaps some representation of the change that the protagonist undergoes through the course of the story.

So, I implore you now to share and discuss your thoughts on character development in games. I will be very interested to hear your ideas on this topic.