Are socially exclusive values embedded in the avatar creation interfaces of MMORPGs?

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show how both the presentation and limitation of visual choices in massively multiplayer online role‐playing games (MMORPG) avatar creation interfaces tends to exclude or favor different real life social groups.Design/methodology/approachA novel method combining both quantitative and critical analysis of the syntagmatic‐paradigmatic structure of MMORPG avatar creation interfaces is used to inform the findings of this study.FindingsThis study concludes that as cultural interfaces, current fantasy themed MMORPGs remediate socially exclusive values both from fantasy literature and from their own game lore. The socially exclusive values deal largely with extreme and immutable racial and sexual dimorphism.Research limitations/implicationsInterfaces which present users with color palettes and/or smooth slider‐based body modifiers do not lend themselves well to this method of analysis. In addition to this, only a handful of the popular MMORPGs are analyzed within the body of this work.Practical implicationsThis paper demonstrates that MMORPG players and designers need to be more aware about how they are constructing and embedding social values in their worlds. Avatars are critical conduits for online social dynamics and embedding socially exclusive values may transfer negative ideologies from old media to new.Originality/valueThis paper offers one of the earliest critiques of embedded values in avatar creation interfaces of MMORPGs. The paper aims to begin discussion on an overlooked area of now popular media that has not received any critical attention regarding its embedded messages of social inclusiveness or exclusiveness.

E is for Everyone? Best Practices for the Socially Inclusive Design of Avatar Creation Interfaces

“…A handful of studies have provided data in terms of interface analysis. Research conducted by Consalvo [5] and Pace et al [27,28] reported on quantifiable differences between different race and sex choices within games, illustrating how socially exclusive values (marginalization of minorities by making it impossible to create representative avatars) were coded within the games [28]. Data was collected by counting all of the distinct customization options available to players.…”

“…When creating an avatar, users are presented with hundreds, if not thousands of options to customize their avatar's appearance, for instance, selecting their avatar's hairstyle or skin colour. These options are made available in what are typically called avatar creation interfaces [28]. In many cases, these interfaces are capable of producing millions of unique permutations.…”

“…Analytical methods have been proposed for the systematic study of game interfaces within the field of game studies (e.g., see [6]). While the resultant methods have contributed valuable critiques about these interfaces (e.g., see [4,5,27,28]), the methods tend to break when applied to different games. To this end, we have developed an analytical framework, the Avatar Affordances Framework, to address these limitations.…”

Sending an Avatar to Do a Human's Job: Compliance with Authority Persists Despite the Uncanny Valley

“…This presents two ethical concerns: First, manipulating presentational factors to mislead audiences may be unethical, especially should it cause them to act against their own interests (MacDorman, Coram, Ho, & Patel, 2010). Second, ignoring the effects of presentational factors may be unethical if it renews stereotypes or promotes one group's values over the values of other groups (Brey, 1999;Pace, Houssian, & McArthur, 2009). The potential for misuse increases with the ease of creating realistic animations and distributing them widely.…”

Plans and co-situated factions: An evaluation of Avatar Affordances in Rift’s character creation interface

“…Often, these affordances constrain self-representation in such a way that it is impossible for users to create representative avatars. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as social exclusion (Pace et al 2009). Our research examines the tension between interface affordances and self-representational practices in digital games and social VWs.…”