Identification with the player character as determinant of video game enjoyment

Abstract

In this paper, identification with a game character is discussed as mechanism of computer game enjoyment. Identification is explicated in terms of players' altered self-perception during game play: When identifying with a character or role offered by the game, players change their self-concept by adopting relevant attributes of the character, for instance, they perceive themselves as more courageous, heroic, and powerful during identification with a soldier. Theoretical arguments for the enjoyable quality of such temporary changes of the self-concept are introduced. Computer game interactivity is proposed as important facilitator of strong identification. Subsequently, a pilot experiment with players of "Battlefield 2" supports the assumptions on the relationships between interactivity, identification, and game enjoyment. Implications of the identification concept for research and applications in entertainment computing are discussed. © IFIP International Federation for Information Processing 2007.