The Impact of Character Creation and Customization on Self-Expression and Identity in RPGs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61173/np7wyr90Keywords:
Role-playing games, Video games, character creationAbstract
While a large of research investigates the importance of character creation and customization in role-playing games (RPGs) on players’ motivation and enjoyment to play, little is known about the impact of character creation and customization on players’ self-expression and identity exploration. Video games have been a venue for both developers and gamers to explore complex stories and ideas. Role-playing games (RPGs) are a type of video game in which players can take the role of a character in a fictional setting and interact with the game’s narrative. This paper is part of a larger research on the construction of individual identities using RPG character creation and customization. Building upon existing research on identity adaptation theory, queer theory, the proteus effect theory, and the performance of identity, this paper finds that players’ choices of character creation and customization contribute to opportunities for self-expression and individual agency. This paper also examines the character Creation and Customization preferences among different demographic groups and the association between in-game identity and real-life self-perception and social behaviors of players.
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