A couple notes on representation in games, as it intersects with the state of the world:
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Replying to @EmilyGorcenski
At my last job, I helped build video games for therapy. Stroke rehab, smoking cessation, etc. Compliance in rehab is a big hurdle.
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Replying to @EmilyGorcenski
So I did a lot of research in the psychology of *why* people are self-motivated to play games. I came across a behavioral psych model.
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Replying to @EmilyGorcenski
This model looked at motivation in terms of basic psychological needs. One of those needs is Relatedness. If you can relate, you play more.
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Replying to @EmilyGorcenski
Relatedness can come in many ways, but one of the ways is through identifying with characters, not necessarily as an avatar of one's self.
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Replying to @EmilyGorcenski
Think about the dog in Fallout. Or the sad cow in Farmville when it asks you to spam FB friends. This is a relatedness mechanic.
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Replying to @EmilyGorcenski
And it gets people to continue to play. So when players have characters they can relate strongly to, they play more. This is proven.
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Replying to @EmilyGorcenski
Extrapolate to now. People find motivation in online communities where they can relate to others with the same frustrations.
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Replying to @EmilyGorcenski
When they see people they can relate to, it satisfies their need, and it helps motivate their actions.
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Replying to @EmilyGorcenski
This isn't the only axis, but it's a big one. Those Trump rallies? That's as much political fervor as it is community engagement.
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Games have proven that this mechanic can be exploited. As have media outlets. This is partly why fact-cannoning doesn't work.
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Replying to @EmilyGorcenski
It's not about individuals. It's about a community that relies on itself to satisfy something fundamentally human.
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Replying to @EmilyGorcenski
Tracer is gay. Look at the reaction of queer folks and tell me this mechanic isn't real. And realize how it's being exploited broadly. Fin.
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End of conversation
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