When we start a video game we are not alone, because there are other characters that we can say are secondary in the universe of each game, for example: other players in our FIFA match, other cars in the race, rivals we face in fighting games, teammates in our adventure. Those are NPCs and, although they are not indispensable, they are much needed in the development of the story. 

To get a clear concept of this, the acronym NPC stands for Non Playable Character or NPC (Non-Playable Character) emphasizing all that character within a video game that is not controlled by a person. As if we could compare them with the supporting actors of cinema or, in some cases, even with extras that do not have a direct role but are a necessary part of the setting and development. NPCs in the world of video games have functions limited to roles such as enemies, quest givers or simple companions, they are important, they are a way to develop stories or help in the game mechanics to make the gameplay more bearable.

How does a non playable character work?

Some of them have simple instructions on what to “say” and “do” within specific characteristics, there are also others that have a more complex Artificial Intelligence that allows them to perform other actions. They are then able to simulate more or less real behavior in most situations they are presented with.

Success in finishing a game or making your experience better may depend on NPCs. In some cases we have those that we need to take care of and take to certain places, others are important nor do you depend on them for your survival as a player, others allow us to fully interact with them, making them our companions or travel friends.

There are different ways in which developers tie us to NPCs, but just these links are created to ensure continuity in the video game, many times they end up being pleasant for us. Even so, some of the “important” NPCs will not always like us, there will always be the curious one who “to try” or “see what happens” will shoot or attack them. I think we've all done it at some point, I admit I did it in 'Half-Life' many times.

But now thinking, it would be good to think how far we can go with them, and see what experience we get from the point of view of programming design and history of the video game, you can take non-playable characters so that we are not so quick to use them as resources, shoot them or run them over just for the sake of trying. #Gaming

Images: https://www.nintenderos.com/ (Edited by me from Canva.com)

Information base: https://medium.com/