Adding a sprinkle of humour to a game

[Toefur]

I've been thinking lately that my game really feels like it's taking itself too seriously. It's a serious game, but I also wanted it to be light and cheery. I don't want to flip it into a straight out comedy... I just feel that it needs a laugh now and then, or not even that: maybe just something to evoke a smile every so often.

It's really hard, though. How exactly does one add humour to a game? And I wanted to stay away from the cliched zany-sidekick, because I feel that it's a bit over done.

This isn't necessarily just a thread about putting humour into my own game, I wouldn't mind thoughts on how you go about making a game with regards to aspects like this, or how one comes up with funny, but not too funny, things. I just can't seem to do it.

[Babar]

I can't really remember a serious game that did humour properly. Maybe Gabriel Knights 1? I remember when I was playing it there were these little funny bits put in. I specifically remember (and this was a long time ago, so it may be wrong), there was one part in your store that you climbed up a ladder and then the secretary friend (forgive me for my ignorance, I don't remember her name) said something like "Stop trying to look down my neck". Perhaps little bits like that, not directly linked to the plot could be inserted throughout the game. Or perhaps depending on the characters mood (if he has just been made angry) there can be sarcastic descriptions?

[Ginny]

I disagree on the sidekick being overused, I mean, if you put it this way, it sounds bad, but just look at the great games that executed this so well: grim fandango, the longest journey, Syberia (Now that's one sidekick I hate). GF was relatively serious, though your game is probably more serious. But, i think adding a sidekick now just for comedy is a bad idea, so, how about some dark humor? sarcasm? or, simply everyday moments when the characters aren't so serious.

[A-Hed]

Babloyi, that was the exact same thing I was thinking of, but as I haven't played Gabriel Knight it's hard for me to judge the seriousness/jokeness (?) of that game. But the same kind of small jokes, not story/plot-related, like in Broken Sword (which I think is the best game ever  ) makes the game much more enjoyable. I don't know what kind of game youre making so it's hard for me to say, but if you think it  fits into your game, you should surely consider some not story/plot related jokes as said. For example in Broken Sword, you have the red clown nose you get in the begining that you can ask everybody about and almost every time they answer with a little joke of some sort, stuff like that. I don't know about sidekicks though, haven't had so much experience with them. I would just settle with the jokes.

[Eggie]

Don't shoehorn in a new character just for humour. Just give your descriptions and dialouge the occasional flash of wit, like in Broken Sword.

[Alynn]

Most serious games I have ever come up with naturally have humor in them, the trick is to not try to avoid humor, you will find that it will happen on its own. Just an example of a serious moment that from a 3rd person perspective is funny...

Loki is asleep around a camp fire
Pint hears something in the woods
Pint walks over to Loki and wakes him up
Pint: "Hey, I heard something in the woods, I think we should keep watch tonight."
Loki: "Fine, couple of questions though."
Pint: "Hrm?"
Loki: "I was asleep, right?"
Pint: "Yeah."
Loki: "And you are awake, right?"
Pint: "Yeah."
Loki: "Then I guess you have first watch."
Loki lays back down and goes to sleep.

While not outright funny, it was actually a very serious moment between an annoyed Loki and Pint. But it has enough humor in it that someone from a 3rd person perspective would get some amusement out of it...

[Moridin]

I find that sarcastic comments by the hero 8) can be awesomly funny. Its just a case of making sure you dont overuse it, cause once you start doing that it can be really annoying!  If your carefull occasional stuff like that will turn an serious game into a seriously fun game.

[Ali]

I laughed for an hour at "the patented Stobbart stick-towel" in BS1.

Eggie's right the ocasional sharp line in a serious game will be more memorably funny than a game stuffed with puns and sarcasm (like Simon the Sorceror).

[wry3x]

HEY!, i don`t know an adventure game wich don`t have a joke (a good or a bad one) ... `cause this point it`s important.
not only the puzzles are needed in this kind of games .... or you think it would be funny to watch a game with no jokes ... so no funny part .... so .... so .... well you understand ... no ?   :

[TerranRich]

Broken Sword IMO was the best at inserting light humor purposefully and successfully. I aspire to do that with my game(s), but it's hard to do right

[wyr3x]

I agree with you, broken sword had a preetty good light humor.
By the way, good luck with your proyect.

[mysterybowler]

Why not look at other sources for influence. Movies, TV, Comics, Books. Most serious dramas need and use humour to lighten thing up before or after extreme or intense scenes. This use of juxtaposition can really highlight the humour and break up the narrative to keep things interesting. Look at your favourite movies etc. for influence.

[Cluey]

One thing you need to have good humour, a sense of humour.
I wouldn't consider myself to be the funniest person I know.  But I can still put something into the dialogue, sarcasm and abstract humour are the best ways if you haven't got a universal sense of humour, satire if you can get frequent laughs, and full all three plus your own funny jokes if you are a real comedian.

Plus, try to read some funny books, Douglas Adams is a master of humour and his works are funny as hell.