Gender swapping in online role-playing games

[Danya (imported)]

From Michigan State University, investiGaming is a publication of the Serious Game Design group in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media at Michigan State University, 2007

This gateway is partially supported by grant supported by grant 0631771 from the National Science Foundation.

The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent Michigan State University or the National Science Foundation.

Gender Swapping and Socializing in Cyberspace: An Exploratory Study

Author: Hussain, Zaheer and Mark Griffiths

Date: 2008

Source: CyberPsychology & Behavior. February 1, 2008, 11(1): 47-53. doi:10.1089/cpb.2007.0020.

Full Text Link:

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplu ... .2007.0020

Keywords:

avatars gender_swapping MMO MMOs playstyle social anti-social survey

Abstract:

ABSTRACT from: http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10 ... .2007.0020

Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) are one of the most interesting innovations in the area of online computer gaming. Given the relative lack of research in the area, the main aims of the study were to examine (a) the impact of online gaming (e.g., typical playing behavior) in the lives of online gamers, (b) the effect of online socializing in the lives of gamers, and (c) why people engage in gender swapping. A self-selecting sample of 119 online gamers ranging from 18 to 69 years of age (M = 28.5 years) completed a questionnaire. The results showed that just over one in five gamers (21%) said they preferred socializing online to offline. Significantly more male gamers than female gamers said that they found it easier to converse online than offline. It was also found that 57% of gamers had engaged in gender swapping, and it is suggested that the online female persona has a number of positive social attributes in a male-oriented environment.

Implications for Game Industry:

Implications by Carrie Heeter

Over half of all males (54%) and more than two-thirds of females (68%) have gender swapped their game character.

A key reason for female players to do so was “to prevent unsolicited male approaches on her female characters.”

Conversely, a male respondent reported that “playing a female character meant that male gamers treated him far better.”

The researchers suggest that gender swapping “may have an effect on the gamer’s style of play and interaction with other gamers and could even have an effect on guild membership.”

At least in this study, a majority of gamers do gender swap at least some of the time – motivated sometimes by curiosity and other times to change the play experience in desired ways.

Thus, game designers may want to plan on and play up the ability to gender swap.

Research Highlights:

-- 119 participants completed an online survey

-- 83 males (69%) and 32 females (26%) r

-- age 18 to 69.

-- 73% from the United States; 8% from the U.K. and 3% Canada

-- males played online nearly 7 times a week compared to females 5 times a week

Future research could look at whether gender swapping has an effect on the gamer’s gender identity or gender role when they are not playing online.

URL: http://www.investigaming.com/index/full ... space_an_e xploratory_study/

[twaddler (imported)]

I always liked to play female characters in video games back when I was younger. Up until a friend noticed and made fun of me for it then it would be my hidden shame. lol.. sooo silly. Yay adolescence!