Games and Identity

If you have three different identities involved in playing a game, then you have the opportunity to learn in three different ways. Gee gives an example of how his character in Arcanum visited a brothel, something that he (Gee in real life) would never do. Games give you the opportunity to try out other identities. They allow you to make decisions that may or may not reflect the identity that you present to the real world. Does that mean that Gee (in real life) has the desire to visit brothels? Not necessarily. Most people can separate the fantasy world of a game (and all of the decisions that are made in the context of playing that game) from the reality of the world that we live in. However, some people may use the game to try out behaviors that they are questioning introducing in the real world. I believe that as long as you learn from both the positive and negative actions of your gaming character, and do not bring those negative behaviors into the real world, then identity play in not harmful.

I believe that playing different kinds of video games appeal to different people for different reasons. For example, when Gee describes choosing and creating his character, I thought about how I choose my character in Shaun White’s Snowboarding (the game that I am learning). I know that my game is an action game and his is a role-playing game, but I still have to choose a character every time I play. Each character has different abilities, and as you get further in the game you unlock more characters. When you look at the characters to decide who you want to be, their skills and abilities are listed. I just skip over them and choose whoever I feel like playing with at that time. What does that say about me as a player, as a person? Do I not care about maximizing my abilities to have an advantage in certain situations? Am I careless? Am I too lazy to take the time to think about what is in my own best interests? I believe that the answer for me, in this situation, is that I just don’t care. I’m OK with playing the game for fun, and although I am a competitive person, I am OK with not winning. I would like to post high scores, but I am not driven to always have to win. What does that say about me as a person?

I think that having the opportunity to create an identity tells a lot about a person. Every choice you make reveals a little something about yourself. For example, while I was exploring Second Life I was acquired a new outfit for my avatar. I did not like that outfit, so instead of wearing it for now, I chose to stay in the outfit that she came with. I would rather keep the basic default outfit than wear the one that I don’t like. What does that say about me?

The ability to create or choose an identity allows people to express themselves in a desired way. Some people create identities that are similar to their own; others enjoy having the ability to become someone or something totally different. I think that this capability is beneficial for self-discovery and self-perception, but I do think that it can be harmful when individuals (and especially students) get caught up in their character. There are specific roles that characters play within the game that should not carry on into the real world. If one is not able to separate the virtual character from his/her real-life identity, then I believe there is a serious problem.

The identity play that takes place in games is different than taking on character perspectives in novels. While reading a novel you can imagine that you are the character, and you can think about what you would do in his/her situation. You can fantasize about your life in a different time or place. In a game, you can actually be that person in that time and place, and you can see and experience the consequences of your choices and your actions. This is much more real than the fantasy that you have created while reading the novel. The computer or game system allows you to find out the answer to “what if”. This kind of experience is much more meaningful and the learning is more beneficial.