How to Make Your Own Character & Play Games

Xbox 360

• 1

  Start the system. If the Xbox 360 console is new, there should be a message suggesting new users create a user profile. If so, follow the directions. If not, check the user's manual. If the Xbox 360 has been in use before, the message about creating a user's profile may not appear. According to Xbox 360's website, the gamer profile is converted into a "Gamertag," which is linked to the Microsoft Windows Live ID and credentials.

• 2

  Follow the steps provided by the Xbox 360 user profile setup. Steps include creating a character of personal preference.

• 3

  Choose body shape, hair color and eye color. You also have the ability to choose clothing, including skirts, national attires, including kilts and hats, and special facial attributes. As personal characteristics define a person's personality, a gamer profile displays the basic characteristics and attributes of a player's persona, according to Xbox 360's website.

• 4

  Write in the name and motto to complete the user profile. Other features include gamer picture, gamer card, scores, achievements, biography, location, reputation and online status, if applicable.

• 5

  Connect the Xbox 360 to the Internet to access Xbox LIVE. Until this is done, the user profile will remain offline and not be visible to other players connected to Xbox LIVE. When completing an online account, the user profile and the character created will automatically become an online profile, ready to interact with other players in online games. If not connected to Xbox LIVE, it is possible to use the personalized character for games that allow it.

Nintendo Wii

• 6

  Select the Mii Channel option from the main Wii Channel menu using the Wii Remote. Click "Start."

• 7

  Select the gender of the Mii.

• 8

  Change the Mii's face shape, hair color and skin tone. It is possible to adjust eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth by using the Wii Remote. Click the section that needs to be changed, hold the button down and adjust accordingly.

• 9

  Add glasses, accessories and other facial features, such as moles or beards. Age and body proportions can also be adjusted for those who want a specific Mii.

• 10

  Click "Quit," followed by "Save and Quit." Use the cursor to add a name to the Mii. Select the Mii as a character in selected games. Some games, including Mario Kart Wii, will only let the Mii become a character after unlocking several levels or tracks.

HeroMachine

• 11

  Browse the HeroMachine website and find the pose section.

• 12

  Choose a pose from the list of choices that appear in the box on the left-hand side. There is a dialog box that will appear that will ask to define what options to load. If using cable Internet or DSL, click complete. If using a slower version or dial-up, click partial. Only certain options are loaded.

• 13

  Select a skin and color it by selecting 1 for the lines and 2 to fill it in. Color palette is located on the right side.

• 14

  Name the character. This can be one's own name or something radical.

• 15

  Click the "Component and Genre" button to define character's appearance. Click the preferred choice from the palette that appears, so it appears on the character. To color that particular choice, click on a color square from the palette.

• 16

  Edit the character by clicking on the element needing edits in the left box. Options will appear on the right for other options. Select new options as needed.

• 17

  Save the character. Click the "Save" button to save it as a text file. The "Save Character" dialog box appears; make sure all of the text is selected before right-clicking on the text. Choose "copy" on the pop-up.

• 18

  Open Windows Notepad and paste the copied text into the document. Save the file as a text file with a name that is character related.

• 19

  Select all of the text and copy it.

• 20

  Click the "Load" button on the HeroMaker web page. The "Load Character" dialog box will appear. Delete the current selection and paste the text just copied from NotePad.

• 21

  Click the "Load" button and wait for character to appear on the right.

• 22

  Choose the appropriate games on HeroMaker, where personalized characters can be loaded and used.