Video Game Character Selection and Modification Options

Abstract

Overall males and females play video games in similar numbers (ESA, 2017). There are differences in the games and genres favored by each however (Yee, 2017a) with females being less likely to prefer shooter and sports games. The features of games that appeal to different gamers are relatively unexplored but Yee (2017b) reported that female gamers rated the availability of a female protagonist as a play option was very important in their game experience. We examined the representation of character selection and modification options in video games. The overall question was: What options are available for players in terms of gender and minority characteristics for players? Overall, character selection was less available in first person shooter games and more common among sports games. However for these games the character selection was mainly choosing from among male characters. Character modification options were more common among RPG and fantasy games.