"""I like the way the skin looks"": Player perspectives on aesthetic appeal and self-representation with video game ""Skins"""

Reza, Alia; Nedd, Adanna; Chu, Sabrina; Castillo, Amy; Khan, Zuaira; Gardner, Daniel L.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/106593 Copy

Description

Title

"""I like the way the skin looks"": Player perspectives on aesthetic appeal and self-representation with video game ""Skins"""

Author(s)

• Reza, Alia
• Nedd, Adanna
• Chu, Sabrina
• Castillo, Amy
• Khan, Zuaira
• Gardner, Daniel L.

Issue Date

2020-03-23

Keyword(s)

• Representation in games
• Microtransactions
• Skins

Abstract

Microtransactions are the purchasing of in-game items in video games, often using real money. Through microtransactions, game players can obtain a type of cosmetic called 'skins' that change the physical appearance of playable characters. Considering the default 'skin' in many games is that of a white male, there are various psychosocial and economic costs that may be extended to players of color when attempting to select skins for their avatars. To examine how players of different racial and ethnic backgrounds interact with 'skins,' and the additional costs associated with them, we conducted a survey asking participants about their spending patterns with 'skins' and reasons for choosing certain 'skins' over others. The most common response from participants when asked why they select their skins was 'because I like the way the skin looks.' As this statement is broad, we delve into other results from our survey and previous studies by other scholars to analyze what this response may be able to tell us about players who selected this as their answer.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2020 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/106593

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2020 Alia Reza, Adanna Nedd, Sabrina Chu, Amy Castillo, Zuaira Khan, and Daniel Gardner

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