Reading 06

Customization

 Customization in games is the ability to make the avatar your own and match your experience. In games where you have this ability, it is one of the most important design features. The developers have to have a variety of options when it comes to features such as body shape, hair, facial features, accessories and clothing. The ability to mix and match what is often categorized into male and female features but the true power lies in being able to give your avatar both as recent years have claimed and is factual that what is stereotyped into one gender is actually no gender. Clothes, accessories, features etc do not have a gender and is only viewed as such because of how we are raised and how our ancestors were raised. This mostly stems for businesses trying to make a profit by having a market for both genders. Outside of physical character customization, there is the option for pronouns and identity. Most notable are Male (He/Him) and Female(Sher/Her), however that doesn't take into consideration the fluidity of gender. "Groups voiced strong support for a more diverse range of customization pronouns to better reflect their gender identity" (Morgan et al., 2020). The education in the last few years of gender identity has grown exponentially and games have stepped up to include non-binary as an option or They/Them pronouns but we are still leaving out a whole community who do not identify under the 3 pronouns mention above. Some identify as more than one, some all or neither and there needs to be the option available to be more inclusive and benefit both the game developers and players. The process of customization has a therapeutic and calming effect on players as they are able to represent themselves in such a simple yet invigorating way.

Avatar Use and Function

The use and function of avatar is created to reflect the player's gender identity. In games, you are presented with a pre-made character that is consistent through out the game and, although not everyone will relate to the character, they can still appreciate and admire the actions and story of the character if there lacks a emotional connection. Other games allow you to create your own character. By doing this for user's, it creates a safe space online and in the gaming community and allows those who are experimenting and testing the waters of their identity in a safe environment. The avatar is made to not only provide a connection and be able to reflect the user, but give them a positive emotional impact that they may or may not get in the offline world and thus the avatar gives the user acknowledgement and acceptance of the their gender identity. 

Exclusion

Video games that often come with a preset character of one gender may exclude those who not associate with that gender and it can push user's away from the game. But those games that do offer customization to the avatar can also lack in features and still be categorized into the stereotypical male and female, excluding members of the community who do not fit within those bounds. This can be difficult for those who not only identify as outside the binary, but transgender people who also wish to be represented. Often times, games never include small features that relate to trans people specifically, nor any mentions of trans conversations. If the main character of the game is not trans, the topic and conversations around it are almost never brought up. The trans characters you do see, often only play a very small role and never seen again.

Lack of connection

With the lack of more representation in games, user's can lack connection towards not only the character but the game itself. If the game features a preset avatar, the user's might have a tough time sitting down and enjoying the game because they cannot see themselves in the shoes of the character. If we take away the subject of self inserts, they game can lack the attraction of users no matter the quality of the game. If the game offer's avatar customization but still lacks a wide range of features available to the user, they might create a avatar they can resonate with but not create an emotional connection that the game tries to impose. Non gender confirming people and trans people can have a hard time with the absense of these as the environment that is set for them is doesn't allow them to feel represented and accepted, especially if gaming is there getaway and safe space to be who they are.

Representation in recent years

The representation in the last 10 years as grown significantly. Video games that have consistently made its way and upgrades in both gender and sexuality identities are Mass Effect and Dragon Age Inquisition (to be specific), both made by BioWare. Where BioWare gave gender identity in customization, they made sure that it did affect the gameplay with the different choices and locked paths. Dragon Age Inquisition has also given us a transgender side character and with research, people have had different views on it. Some enjoy the fact that it was so casually and they didn't make it stick out like it was something major and flashing, others wished it was talked more about. When and if the player choses to play out a certain scene, they can question the character about them being transgender and the questions are phrased in such a way that seems unaccepting and almost telling the character that this is wrong. However the game developers stated that these questions are to educate more than harass because the questions are those of someone who doesn't know much about transgender. Tell Me Why is a good representation for transmen specifically as it walks through the stages of rejection and acceptance as well as teaching others around them of facts and that it isn't "wrong". The game covers a lot of topics that reflect real life situations. Aside from triple A or double A video games however, a lot of indie developers have begun to include gender representation beyond male or female, and on occasion non-binary and has broadened it out for others in the LGBTQ community and into the main character. A way this is mostly done is with pronouns because in some circumstances, it can be more difficult to include labels than pronouns. The representation you see now would've never been shown on such a large scale before the 2010's and perhaps even 2000's, both due to backlash and being unaware and uneducated.

Morgan, H., O'Donovan, A., Almeida, R., Lin, A. and Perry, Y., 2020. The Role of the Avatar in Gaming for Trans and Gender Diverse Young People. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, [online] 17(22), p.8617. Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7699515/> [Accessed 9 March 2022].