Loading...
"He could be a bunny rabbit for all I care": Exploring identification in digital games
Citations
Altmetric:
Genre
Conference proceeding
Date
2011
Advisor
Committee member
Group
Department
Media Studies and Production
Permanent link to this record
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.34944/dspace/8983
Abstract
Little empirical research has investigated how players identify with video game characters. In this paper, I use data from interviews with video game players who are members of marginalized groups, to interrogate the links made between how players identify with video game characters and the importance of representation. I discuss how games‟ ludic, bodily and socially interactive aspects result in players‟ being self-reflexive rather than identifying with the game characters/avatars; whereas narrative aspects of games help players identify with characters. Different types of games, moreover, shape the types of relationships players have with the onscreen characters. This paper looks at the links between how players identify with different kinds of video game characters, and concludes with the implications this has for arguments about the importance of the representation of marginalized groups in video games.
Description
Citation
Shaw, A. (2011). He could be a bunny rabbit for all I care!: Identification with video game characters and arguments for diversity. In Proceedings of DiGRA 2011 International Conference: Think Design Play. Digital Games Research Association.
Available at: http://www.digra.org/digital-library/publications/he-could-be-a-bunny-rabbit-for-all-i-care-identification-with-video-game-characters-and-arguments-for-diversity-in-representation/
Available at: http://www.digra.org/digital-library/publications/he-could-be-a-bunny-rabbit-for-all-i-care-identification-with-video-game-characters-and-arguments-for-diversity-in-representation/
Citation to related work
Authors & Digital Games Research Association DiGRA
Has part
ADA compliance
For Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation, including help with reading this content, please contact scholarshare@temple.edu