First impressions: effects of representation on video game covers.

Gardner, Daniel L.; Corvite, Shanley

Abstract

This study presents findings about perceptions and impacts of representation on video game covers. Our analysis contributes to a growing discourse on representation in games and media, to urge designers and researchers alike to consider how perceptions and feelings related to representation begin, and influence interaction, before gameplay starts. We analyzed 298 responses to a survey that asked how participants felt about representation on samples of digital covers from Steam’s best-selling games from 2010-2015, and how those feelings affect their game consumption or purchases. Although our findings describe a consensus on a lack of adequate representation of characters of color, they identify significantly different perspectives, feelings, experiences, and practices related to games, covers, and representation between participants of color and white participants. Our analysis highlights how publishers must not only consider how they include diverse identities in games but communicate that inclusion beyond them.

Citation

GARDNER, D. and CORVITE, S. 2023. First impressions: effects of representation on video game covers. In Proceedings of the 2023 Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA 2023): limits and margins of games settings, 19-23 June 2023, Seville, Spain. Finland: DiGRA [online], article 1924. Available from: https://dl.digra.org/index.php/dl/article/view/1924

• Conference Name: 2023 Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA 2023): limits and margins of games settings
• Conference Location: Seville, Spain
• Start Date: Jun 19, 2023
• End Date: Jun 23, 2023
• Acceptance Date: Mar 28, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jun 23, 2023
• Publication Date: Jun 20, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jun 25, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 2, 2024
• Publisher: Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA)
• Series ISSN: 2342-9666
• Keywords: Representation in games; Paratext; Player experience; Player perspectives
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2382886
• Publisher URL: https://dl.digra.org/index.php/dl/article/view/1924