In a recent interview, Bungie’s Joseph Staten went into some of the details of creating the iconic and laconic Master Chief character. Now some of it we already know, or can readily guess, like the rare dialog and the lack of a backstory, at least in the games.
There are, however, interesting tidbits that expose some of the finer techniques Bungie employed to get you to care about the character.
“The less players knew about the Chief, we believed, the more they would feel like the Chief,” he said. Not an unknown method that, it’s a big part of Gordon Freeman’s popularity as well. But Bungie also explores themes of loneliness and abandonment, bringing home the responsibility the Chief has as the last remaining Spartan.
People who play Halo games for the story may be the butt of a few jokes, sort of like people who think Fight Club is really deep, but there’s definitely something there for anyone willing to look below the surface.
Industry Gamers Via Joystiq