Marcus Carter
ABSTRACT
Avatars are ubiquitous in virtual worlds (VWs). As such, they have become central to how we understand the way they are experienced. Common conceptualisations of the user avatar relationship invoke an identity binary which has influenced discussions of presence and game enjoyment. This paper presents findings from EVE Online which suggest there are more than two identities involved in playing games in VWs. As such, we argue for a more nuanced approach to notions of identity in VWs and discuss how this approach understands the impact of VW design on the way identity is constructed by players.
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Index Terms
- Avatars, characters, players and users: multiple identities at/in play
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Reviews
John M. Artz
The conceptual structure of this study is so convoluted that it is difficult to comment on. In essence, the authors are arguing for an expanded, more nuanced understanding of avatar identity. This is where the confusion begins. By way of explanation, I would distinguish between player identity and avatar identity. Let's say a video game's top scores are reported in a public place and "Big Joe" holds the top score. "Big Joe" would be an example of a player identity, and the person behind "Big Joe" might take a great deal of personal pride in "Big Joe's" accomplishments. But "Big Joe" is just a name on the scoreboard. It is not an avatar. Even if we add a picture of "Big Joe," it is still not an avatar. This distinction is important because psychological phenomena such as presence and avatar attachment occur when playing a game through a dynamic 3D character. While one may identify with a pseudonym and even be attached to it, it is unclear if all or indeed any of the psychological phenomena occur. One might argue, at some conceptual level, that the insertion of a persona into a virtual world qualifies as an avatar even if it is not supported by a 3D dynamic character. But that argument wasn't made here. Without that argument, the study adds more confusion to the concept of avatar identity than clarity. Furthermore, the study focused on players of EVE Online and was limited to the responses of 11 male players, so it lacks generality. To strengthen the study, the authors need to make meaningful distinctions between player identities and avatar identities. They need to explain the unique experiences of EVE Online players and how they impact generality. Hence, due to faulty conceptual foundations, it is unclear what to make of the authors' claims. Online Computing Reviews Service
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