Female game characters of the future
Sirparanta, Niina (2018)
Sirparanta, Niina
Kaakkois-Suomen ammattikorkeakoulu
2018
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018091014994
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018091014994
Tiivistelmä
The objective of the thesis was to study the characteristics and values that relatable female game characters possess. The thesis begins with the introduction of characters in general, female characters in the past and today and continues with observations about today’s women and juvenile females. The thesis describes shortly the early days in video games and women as players and uses Overwatch-game as an example of the modern game with typical female character design. Example case demonstrated some of the problems that current style of portraying female game characters has caused when discussion boards and overall experience of Overwatch gameplay was analyzed.
Conclusions were based on survey respondents’ answers about female game characters. In the survey, the respondents answered questions according to their favorite game characters and features that were valued as well as their unfavorite characters and the values that made them inconvenient. The most favorite and unfavorite game characters are introduced briefly with respondents’ opinions why they were popular or unpopular. Respondents were asked to vote for body positivity in games and encouraged to express their wishes towards future game characters. Data from the survey is also introduced as charts.
The study showed that in the past there have been failures with the portrayal of female game characters that have made an impact on gameplay and player immersion. The unequal portrayal of females in games was proved to be a problem and the consumers of video games have expressed their expectations to see more variety and equality in female game characters in future. Those expectations towards future female characters have been explained in the conclusions. This thesis contains instructions how to create “good” female characters and what to avoid. The result of survey presents the example game character which respondents voted to be most suitable for a future game.
Conclusions were based on survey respondents’ answers about female game characters. In the survey, the respondents answered questions according to their favorite game characters and features that were valued as well as their unfavorite characters and the values that made them inconvenient. The most favorite and unfavorite game characters are introduced briefly with respondents’ opinions why they were popular or unpopular. Respondents were asked to vote for body positivity in games and encouraged to express their wishes towards future game characters. Data from the survey is also introduced as charts.
The study showed that in the past there have been failures with the portrayal of female game characters that have made an impact on gameplay and player immersion. The unequal portrayal of females in games was proved to be a problem and the consumers of video games have expressed their expectations to see more variety and equality in female game characters in future. Those expectations towards future female characters have been explained in the conclusions. This thesis contains instructions how to create “good” female characters and what to avoid. The result of survey presents the example game character which respondents voted to be most suitable for a future game.