In some ways, curiously, this technique is the opposite of the leadership traits mentioned earlier in this chapter. In this technique, your character can enjoy taboo thrills that would normally be frowned upon. We're all indoctrinated into a cultural straightjacket. Break the rules at your own risk. If you don't believe me, wear a bright orange jumpsuit and walk along a downtown sidewalk, playing with a yo-yo. Strangers will shun you like the plague. The straightjacket begins from the moment you wake up in the morning, and many people are only freed from it when they're dreaming. Now, perhaps the word "straightjacket" might be a bit harsh. Certainly reigning in some impulses is critical for the greater good, or real life would resemble the chaos of the Internet. But a game that allows us to take on a role in which we can ignore or break many of those social conventions and strictures can be quite involving. Grand Theft Auto III and Vice City bear testimony to the power of this Role Induction Technique. |