All reading materials: Time and Change 1. TimeChange_ReadMe (Requirements of Assignment) 2. Everyone Reads 1) Dystopian Video Games and Human Nature _ Scholarly Gamers 2) Engaging Apolitical Adolescen

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The i d en tit y p ara d ox : w hy g am e c h ara cte rs a re no t u s, b u t

sh oul d b e

Keit h S tu art

R ela ta b le g am e c h ara cte rs a re i n a t in y m in orit y . S o w ho a re th ese peo p le o n t h e s c re en , a n d w hy

d on 't t h ey s a y m ore a b ou t u s?

Fri 2 5 A pr 2 0 14 10 .0 4 ED T

So m etim es I w on der, w as I e v er r e ally G ord on F re em an ? I h av e s pe nt m an y h ou rs o f m y l if e

p la y in g H alf L if e , V alv e's b rillia n t s c i- fi s h oote r s e rie s i n w hic h t h is b espe cta cle d ph ysic is t i s t h e

sile n t a n d e n ig m atic l e ad c h ara cte r. T hat i s m an y h ou rs t r a p pe d i n h is b od y, s e ein g t h e t e ch n o-

d is to p ia s o f B la ck M esa a n d C it y 1 7 t h ro u gh " h is " e y es. E xce pt , t h ey w ere n 't r e ally h is e y es, t h ey

w ere m in e, a n d t h e t h in gs I d id w ere m y a ctio n s. A t l e ast t h at's h ow t h ey f e lt .

B ut i f I w asn 't G ord on , w ell, d id I c a re a b ou t h im ? D id I r e la te t o h im ?

If I w asn 't G ord on , w ho w as I ?

E very fi ctio n al c h ara cte r e x is ts i n a c o n te ste d z o n e b etw een a u th or i n te n tio n a n d a u die n ce

in te rp re ta tio n ; b u t i n g am es, t h e p osit io n i s m uch c lo se r t o t h e l a tt e r pa rty . I n te ra ctiv it y g iv es u s 5/3/2018 The identity paradox: why game characters are not us, but should be | Games | The Guardian

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ow ners h ip o ver t h e e x p erie n ce i n a w ay t h at r e ad in g w ord s o n a pa ge o r w atc h in g a m ov ie d oes

n ot. I n n ovels a n d i n fi lm , w e h av e a l it t le w rig gle r o om i n t e rm s o f h ow w e pe rc e iv e w hat i s g o in g

on , a n d w hat w e t h in k i t m ean s; b u t i n g am es, pe rc e pt io n a n d m ean in g a re s u bord in ate t o t h e a ct

o f t a k in g t h e c o n tr o lle r a n d a ctu ally d oin g. T he g am er's s e n se o f s e lf o ver-po wers a n d o ft e n

era d ic ate s t h e fi ctio n al c h ara cte r.

W ho i s t h e fi rs tp ers o n ?

This i s e sp ecia lly t r u e i n fi rs t- p ers o n g am es, w hic h i n i d en tifi catio n t e rm s, a re m uch c lo se r t o t h e

ra re r s e co n d-p ers o n n arra tiv es i n fi ctio n ( s e e e v ery " c h oose y o u r o w n a d ven tu re " n ovel) . I n

b ooks, w hen w e s e e t h e " I", w e u nders ta n d t h at i t b elo n gs t o t h e v o ic e o n t h e pa ge – t h e n arra to r –

a n d n ot t o u s. B ut t h e " I" i n t h e g am e i s d efi nit e ly u s, b eca u se t h e fi rs t- pe rs o n c a m era i s d esig n ed

to s im ula te o u r v ie w poin t.

P orta l ( b y V alv e a g ain ) p la y s m arv elo u s t r ic k s w it h t h is c o n ce pt . O ur v ie w o f t h e s c ie n ce l a b i n

w hic h t h e g am e t a k es p la ce i s fi rs t- pe rs o n , s o i t f e els a s t h ou gh w e'r e t h ere , b u t i f y o u s e t t h e

porta ls u p i n t h e r ig h t w ay, y o u c a n c atc h t h e " re al" l e ad c h ara cte r, C hell, r u nnin g t h ro u gh . T his

g am e, s o c le v er i n i t s t a k e o n s p ace a n d s pa tia l u nders ta n din g, a ls o pr ov id es u s w it h t h ese s tr a n ge

m om en ts o f e x is te n tia l u nease . W ho a re w e c o n tr o llin g - o u rs e lv es o r C hell? A nd w hen w e c a n 't

s e e h er o n e s c re en , a re w e s till h er?

T here h as b een p le n ty o f r e se arc h i n to t h is q u estio n . F re u d, o f c o u rs e , a rg u ed t h at t h e pr oce ss o f

fo rm in g a p ers o n alit y b eg in s t h ro u gh t h e i d en tifi catio n w it h o th ers – t h at w e l e arn w ho w e a re b y

ro le -p la y in g a s t h ose n ear t o u s. L ate r r e se arc h ers , l ik e J o n ath an C oh en , h av e s tu die d h ow

te le v is io n a n d m ov ie c h ara cte rs h av e b een a d opt ed i n to t h is pr oce ss o f f o rm ativ e s e lf -

id en tifi catio n .

" C oh en ’s w ork l o oks a t v ie w er i d en tifi catio n w it h m ed ia c h ara cte rs s u ggestin g t h at c h ara cte r

id en tifi catio n i n vo lv es a n ' i n cre asin g l o ss o f s e lf - a w are n ess a n d i t s t e m po ra ry r e pl ace m en t w it h

h eig h te n ed e m otio n al a n d c o gn it iv e c o n nectio n s t o t h e c h ara cte r', " s a y s c y b erps ych olo gis t, B ern i

G ood . " If w e r e la te t h is t o g am in g i t w ou ld s u ggest t h at w e d o pu t o u rs e lv es i n t h e r o le o f t h e

ch ara cte r, s u sp en din g o u r s e n se o f s e lf i n t h ese v ir tu al w orld s."

E ls e w here , t h ere i s t h e n arra tiv e c o lle ctiv e-a ssim ila tio n h ypo th esis , w hic h s u ggests w e a lig n

o u rs e lv es w it h fi ctio n al g ro u ps t h at w e f e el a ffi nit y w it h – l ik e t h e e lv es i n a f a n ta sy g am e.

Gr ad u ally , w e i d en tif y a s e lv es o r v am pire s o r s pa ce m arin es, w e s u bsu m e t h em a n d t h eir

s tr u ggle . T here i s p le n ty o f s e n se i n t h at, e spe cia lly i f y o u s ta rt t o t h in k a b ou t h ow w e b eg in t o

fo rm v ery i n te n se p ers o n al r e la tio n sh ips i n c la n s a n d g u ild s.

T he u n ca n ny v alle y o f a ssim ila tio n

But I 'm s till n ot s u re . I 'm n ot s u re b eca u se o f t h e t y pi ca lly g ig an tic c h asm b etw een a g am e's

n arra tiv e i n te n tio n , i t s i n te ra ctiv e s y ste m s a n d m y o w n a ctio n s. F ar C ry 3 , f o r e x am ple, i s o n e o f

th e g re ate st m ain str e am a ctio n a d ven tu re g am es e v er m ad e i n t e rm s o f i t s b eau tif u lly m od elle d

sa n dbox e n vir o n m en t a n d i n te rlo ck in g A I s y ste m s. B ut t h e pl ot i s r id d le d w it h d is tu rb in g

co lo n ia lis t s u bte x ts a n d t h e l e ad c h ara cte r i s a h orre n dou s d u de-b ro . I d on 't w an t t o i d en tif y w it h

th at s h it h ead . T he t e rm l u don arra tiv e d is so n an ce i s w id ely m ock ed w it h in t h e i n du str y , b u t i t i s a

d ep re ssin gly c o m mon p h en om en on – a n d w hen pl ay ers s e e n o l in k b etw een t h e n arra tiv e

se q u en ce s a n d t h eir o w n i n -g am e r e alit y , q u estio n s o f i d en tifi catio n a n d a sso cia tio n b eco m e

m ore p ro ble m atic . 5/3/2018 The identity paradox: why game characters are not us, but should be | Games | The Guardian

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In t h ir d -p ers o n g am es, t h e r e la tio n sh ip betw een pl ay er a n d c h ara cte r i s e v en m ore c o m plex .

W e'r e n ot t h e a v ata r b eca u se t h ey a re c le arly v is ib le o n t h e s c re en , a n d w e o ft e n s e e a n d h ear

th em i n c in em atic s e ctio n s. B ut i f w e a re n ot N ath an D ra k e o r L ara C ro ft , w hat a re w e t o t h em ? A

f r ie n d? A c a re r? A nd y et, w e'r e c o n tr o llin g t h em , s o h ow c a n t h at b e?

W ell O K, p erh ap s w e s h ou ld b e h on est w it h o u rs e lv es h ere . I n l o ts o f w ay s – s o m e pe rn ic io u s,

so m e c o m passio n ate – w e d o m an ipu la te o u r f r ie n ds, o r a t l e ast w e s e ek t o . E very r e la tio n sh ip

y o u h av e e v er h ad h as b een a b ou t c o n tr o l t o s o m e d eg re e. S o m ay b e a ll t h ir d -pe rs o n g am es a re

a lle g o rie s o n f r ie n dsh ip .

L ast y ear, I m et t h e g am e d esig n er a n d a u th or J e sse S ch ell w ho h as a t h eo ry t h at t h e r e la tio n sh ip

b etw een p la y er a n d c h ara cte r i n t h ir d -pe rs o n g am es w ill g ra d u ally e v o lv e f r o m o n e o f s e m i-

r e p re se n ta tio n t o o n e o f c o -o p era tio n . I n s h ort, y o u w on 't ' b e' L ara C ro ft , y o u 'l l b e h er

co m pan io n ; h er a d vis e r. " I t h in k w hat's g o in g t o h ap pe n m ore a n d m ore i s t h at y o u 'r e g o in g t o

t a lk t o y o u r a v ata r, w hic h s e em s a l it t le w eir d a s w e t h in k o f o u r a v ata r a s s o m eo n e w ho n ev er

ta lk s," h e s a y s. " B ut i t 's n ot t r u e, r ig h t? B eca u se y o u r a v ata r t a lk s i n c u t s c e n es - a n d t h en h e's

d on e t a lk in g a n d t h en y o u 'r e p la y in g h im . B ut i t 's l ik e, w ell, w hy i s t h at o kay ? I n M ass E ff ect 3 t h e

K in ect v o ic e c o n tr o l i s k in d o f i n te re stin g b eca u se y o u h av e t h ese o n sc re en c h oic e s a n d y o u s a y

th e l in e, b u t S h ep ard d oesn 't r e p eat i t - h e j u st f o llo w s u p o n w hat y o u j u st s a id . I t 's l ik e y o u a n d

Sh ep ard a re k in d o f a t e am - y o u s a y y o u r t h in g, t h en h e f o llo w s u p o n i t . I t h in k w e'r e g o in g t o s e e

m ore r e la tio n sh ip s l ik e t h at - w here y o u 'l l b e c h att in g w it h y o u r a v ata r, a n d t h en y o u 'r e

c o n tr o llin g h im a n d g iv in g h im o rd ers … "

M ir ro re d o n t h e s c re en

B ut t h en , w hat r e ally w orrie s m e a b ou t g am es, b ey o n d t h e ps ych olo gic a l a m big u it y o f c o n tr o llin g

a v ir tu al h u m an b ein g, i s t h at t h ere a re s o f e w c h ara cte rs I i d en tif y w it h , t h at s pe ak t o m e i n a n y

m ean in gfu l w ay. M usic , l it e ra tu re a n d c in em a h av e a ll d on e t h at. A s a t e en ag er h ope le ssly i n l o ve

w it h t h e w ro n g g ir l, I c o u ld r e la te t o D av id G ed ge o f t h e W ed d in g P re se n t s in gin g, " th ere 's a

t h ou sa n d t h in gs I w is h I 'd s a id o r d on e… b u t t h e m om en t's g o n e". A s a pr ete n tio u s t w en ty -

so m eth in g I c o u ld r e la te t o t h e s tr u gglin g, s tr u ng o u t w rit e r i n J a y M cIn ern ey 's n ovel B rig h t

Lig h ts , B ig C it y . I 'm n ot s u re I 'v e e v er h ad t h at e x pe rie n ce w it h a g am e c h ara cte r.

H ow m an y p eo p le h av e? T his w eek I d id a t e st o n T w it t e r. O n T uesd ay, I t w eete d t h e q u estio n ,

"W hic h g am e c h ara cte r w ou ld y o u m ost l ik e t o h av e d in ner w it h ". I h ad d oze n s o f r e spo nse s a n d

m ost o f t h em w ere s e rio u s – p eo p le w ro te a b ou t h ow g re at i t w ou ld b e t o s it i n a b ar w it h S o lid

S n ak e o r N ath an D ra k e a n d l is te n t o t h eir s to rie s, h ow c o ol t o b e s e en w it h N ic o C olla rd f r o m t h e

B ro ken S w ord s e rie s. O n W ed n esd ay, h ow ev er, I t w eete d a n oth er q u estio n : " w it h w hic h v id eo

g am e c h ara cte r d o y o u m ost c lo se ly i d en tif y ?" T his t im e, a m ajo rit y o f t h e r e spo nse s w ere

c o m ed ic – P ac-M an c a m e u p a l o t ( m unch in g pi lls , l is te n in g t o r e pe tit iv e m usic ), P yra m id H ead

fr o m S ile n t H ill 2 , M ario , C ool S p ot... T ru e, s o m e g am ers h ad d is c o vere d c h ara cte rs t h at t h ey

co u ld r e la te t o - t h e b rillia n t g am es w rit e r J e n n F ra n k m en tio n ed L au ra B ow f r o m R oberta

W illia m s' s e rie s o f g ra p h ic a d ven tu re s ( " s h e's a w an nab e-jo u rn alis t w it h a k n ack f o r s o lv in g

m yste rie s a n d a n ose f o r n ew s, b u t s h e a ls o g o t m ugged a n h ou r a g o "). B ut f o r m ost, t h e q u estio n

w as l ig h t- h earte d . B eca u se , y o u k n ow , h ow c a n y o u r e la te t o M aste rC hie f?

P artly , o f c o u rs e , t h is i s d ow n t o t h e k in etic f o cu s o f t h e m ed iu m . M ost n arra tiv e g am es a re a b ou t

actio n , t h ey a re c o n ce rn ed w it h e v en ts r a th er t h an pe opl e - a n d s o t h eir h ero es a re o ft e n l it t le

m ore t h an a rc h ety p es p u t i n p la ce t o f a cilit a te t h e m ach in ery o f c o n fl ic t. E ven t h e m ost

e m otio n ally r e so n an t v id eo g am es u su ally o pe ra te a t t h e e x tr e m es o f e x pe rie n ce , a m id w ar, 5/3/2018 The identity paradox: why game characters are not us, but should be | Games | The Guardian

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ap oca ly p se , o r f a n ta stic a l a d ven tu re . I t i s d iffi cu lt t o t r u ly i n hab it , s a y, J o el f r o m T he L ast o f U s

beca u se h is r e alit y i s b ey o n d a n yth in g w e c a n i m ag in e – h e i s a n a g en t o f c h ao s a n d h orro r a n d

ev ery th in g h e s a y s a n d d oes e x is ts w it h in t h e pa ra m ete rs o f a rm ag ed d on . T he m om en ts o f

h u m an it y t h at E llie i n je cts i n to t h e n arra tiv e – m ostly t h ro u gh h er q u estio n s a b ou t l if e b efo re t h e

co n ta g io n – a d d d ep th t o h er, b u t t h ey d on 't n ece ssa rily m ak e h er m ore r e la ta b le ( a lt h ou gh L au ra

H udso n a t W ir e d h as w rit t e n b eau tif u lly o n how t h e D LC s to ry , L eft B eh in d, m ad e h er f e el

re p re se n te d i n a g am e f o r t h e fi rs t t im e).

T he e v id en ce f o r i d en tifi ca tio n

A nd y et, t h ere a re c le arly e x am ple s o f e m pa th etic v id eo g am e c h ara cte rs . G on e H om e, w it h i t s

g u ard ed t a le o f t e en s e x u alit y a n d e m otio n al c o n fl ic t, s po ke t o m an y g am ers a b ou t t h e pr oce ss o f

co m in g o u t t o t h eir f a m ilie s – a lt h ou gh i t s i n te re stin g t h at t h e s to ry i s t o ld t h ro u gh t h e e y es o f a n

o bse rv er. C ou ld G on e H om e h av e b een d eliv ere d t h ro u gh S am an th a's e x pe rie n ce ? C ou ld w e h av e

b een h er?

T here i s a l o t o f e v id en ce t o s u ggest w e c o u ld . " L ast y ear, a t e am o f r e se arc h ers f r o m S in gapo re

lo oked a t o rig in al c o m pon en ts o f C oh en 's w ork a n d a p pl ie d i t t o v id eo g am es," s a y s G ood . " T hey

p artic u la rly l o oked a t s h arin g t h e f e elin gs o f t h e c h ara cte rs – f o r e x am ple, f e elin g s a d i f t h in gs

d on 't g o w ell f o r t h e c h ara cte r, a n d s u ggestin g a n e m otio n al c o n nectio n i n t h at t h e pl ay er w ou ld

’ k n ow ’ e x actly w hat t h e c h ara cte r w as g o in g t h ro u gh .

"T here i s r e se arc h t o s u ggest a m erg in g o f s e lf a n d t h e c h ara cte r t o o, s o t h is i s a n oth er

p h en om en on t h at's h ap pen in g. P sy ch olo gis ts h av e u nco vere d t h at w e s u spe nd o u r s e n se o f s e lf

in v ir tu al w orld s a n d c o u plin g t h at w it h t h e d is in hib it io n e ff ect – t h e i d ea t h at a re i n hib it io n s a re

lo w ere d i n v ir tu al e n vir o n m en ts – i t 's c o m plete ly pl au sib le t h at pe opl e w ill a ctu ally f e el a s i f t h ey

are t h e c h ara cte r t h ey a re p la y in g. I n t h is s e n se t h e pl ay er c o u ld s e e c h ara cte rs a s i d en tifi ab ly

h u m an b ein gs t h at t h ey w an t t o a spi re t o b e o r t o k n ow .

"R ese arc h b y S ch oen au -F o g s u ggests t h at t h at w hen i t c o m es t o pe opl e w an tin g t o k eep pl ay in g a

g am e, e x p erie n cin g t h e c h ara cte r r a n ks h ig h er t h an d estr u ctio n o r k illin g e n em ie s i n g am e pl ay,

a n d t h is r e se arc h s u ggests t h at w e w an t t o d ev elo p an d e v o lv e w it h t h e c h ara cte r, e x pe rie n ce

w hat h ap pen s t o t h e c h ara cte r a n d i f t h ere i s n ot e n ou gh o f t h is a ctiv it y pl ay ers m ay n ot w an t t o

c o n tin ue p la y in g. T his s u ggests t h e m ore w e c a n r e la te t o t h e c h ara cte r t h e m ore w e w an t t o pl ay

a g am e."

B ein g v e sc a p in g

At t h e s a m e t im e, h ow ev er, t h ere i s t h e a rg u m en t a b ou t e sc a p is m – t h at g am es a re n 't a b ou t

id en tifi catio n , t h at t h ey a re a b ou t t h e o blit e ra tio n o f t h e s e lf i n to a n i m mers iv e f a n ta sy . W ell,

t h at's fi ne, b u t i s t h at r e ally w hat t h ey 'r e d oin g? I n t h e m ov ie T ota l R eca ll ( lo ose ly b ase d o n t h e

Ph ilip K D ic k s to ry , W e C an R em em ber I t F o r Y o u W hole sa le ) a t e ch c o m pa ny o ff ers c u sto m ers a

b re ak f r o m t h e o n e t h in g t h at d efi nes e v ery h olid ay t h ey 'v e e v er b een o n : t h em se lv es. I n

K ath erin e B ig elo w 's h u gely u nderra te d m ov ie S tr a n ge D ay s, a v ir tu al r e alt y t e ch n olo gy a llo w s

use rs t o f u lly e x p erie n ce t h e m em orie s a n d s e n sa tio n s o f a n oth er. I t i s i n cre d ib ly e ro tic a n d

in te re stin g. Ga mes s h ou ld b e d oin g t h at, r ig h t?

W e a re a ll s tu ck , t o s o m e e x te n t, i n t h e b od ie s w e h av e, i n t h e pe opl e w e a re . S o m e o f u s c h alle n ge

th at, o f c o u rs e ; s o m e s e e a v ast a n d t e rrif y in g s c h is m b etw een t h eir s e n se o f s e lf a n d t h e b od y

th at s ta n ds b efo re t h em i n t h e m ir ro r – a n d t h ey c h an ge i t . O th er pe opl e a re n ot t h at b ra v e, b u t

w is h t h ey w ere . T he t h in g i s , a n y o n e w ho i s c a p ab le o f c o m pa ss io n , i m ag in atio n o r 5/3/2018 The identity paradox: why game characters are not us, but should be | Games | The Guardian

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id en tifi catio n , w on ders w hat i t i s t o b e s o m eo n e e ls e – t o b e b ett e r l o okin g, u glie r, o r o f a d iff ere n t

ra ce o r a g e o r g en der o r s p ecie s. H ow c a n y o u n ot w on der a b ou t t h at? A nd w hy h av en 't g am es

h elp ed u s t o t h in k a b ou t i t i n a m ore i n tim ate w ay ?

W hy d on 't g am es t u rn u s i n to o th er pe opl e?

B eca u se t h ey d on 't . S erio u sly . A ll t h ey e v er pr ov id e i s a d ig it a l m asq u era d e, a g h ou lis h ,

se m it r a n sp are n t h allo w een c o stu m e – t h ere i s l it t le s e n se o f ph ysic a lit y , o f i m mers io n , o f

ow ners h ip o ver a b od y. I s t h at a sk in g t o o m uch f r o m t h e m ed iu m , o r f r o m t h e t e ch n olo gy o f t h e

m ed iu m ? I s t h e 2 D s c re en t o o a lie n atin g - t h e c o m pa ss io n ate d is ta n ce t o o l o n g f o r u s t o t r a n sm it

o u rs e lv es i n to ? I 'm n ot r e ally s u re t h at's i t . I 'm n ot s u re t e ch n olo gy e v er l e ts a rtis ts o ff t h e h ook

th at e asily . B ut p erh ap s, w hen v ir tu al r e alit y r e ally t a k es o ff , w hen w e c a n l o ok d ow n a n d s e e o u r

dig it a l b od y i n 3 D s p ace , w hen t h e f o cu s o f g am e d esig n s w it c h es f r o m a tt e n tio n t o t h e i d ea o f

"p re se n ce ", m ay b e t h en g am es w ill e x pl ore ph ysic a lit y a n d i d en tit y i n m ore d ept h.

T he g h ost i n t h e m ach in e

Bey o n d a ll t h at, t h ere a re s o m an y q u estio n s t o b e a sk ed a b ou t w heth er g am e c h ara cte rs a ctu ally

a re c h ara cte rs o r w heth er t h ey a re m ere ly r e pr ese n ta tiv es o r a m bass a d ors – c iph ers o f o u r

in te n tio n s. D av ey W re d en 's T he S ta n le y P ara b le i s a b rillia n t, o ft e n m in d-b en din g i n qu ir y i n to t h e

im mers iv e c o n ven tio n s o f v id eo g am e d esig n , b u t I t h in k m ore g am es s h ou ld t u rn t h at i n qu ir in g

ca m era o n t o t h e p la y er, o r t h ey s h ou ld s e ek t o r e ally pl ace u s i n t h e w orld , i n t h e b od y.

Is i t p ossib le t o i d en tif y w it h a v id eo g am e c h ara cte r? I s i t po ssib le t o e x pl ore w hat i t m ean s t o b e

so m eo n e e ls e , o r e v en t o s e e o u rs e lv es t h ro u gh t h e e y es o f a n oth er? I s pe nd a l o t o f m y t im e

th in kin g a b ou t w ho I a m a n d w hat t h e h ell I 'm d oin g. I w orr y a b ou t t h e w ay I 'v e t r e ate d o th ers , I

w orr y a b ou t t h e t h in gs I 'v e d on e a n d t h e t h in gs I 'm g o in g t o d o. C an g am es e v er h elp us e x pl ore

th at? O r w ill t h ey o n ly e v er c o n fi rm w hat J o se ph C on ra d t o ld u s i n H eart o f D ark n ess – t h at w e l iv e

as w e d re am … a lo n e.

• W ill w e e v er h av e l o ve a ff air s w it h v id eo g am e c h ara cte rs ?

• V id eo g am es n eed m ore w om en – a n d a sk in g f o r t h at w on 't e n d t h e w orld

• B ulle ts to rm , r e m ors e a n d t h e m ean in g o f s h ootin g g am es

S in ce y o u ’r e h ere …

… w e h av e a s m all f a v o u r t o a sk . M ore pe opl e a re r e ad in g t h e G uard ia n t h an e v er b u t a d vertis in g

re v en ues a cro ss t h e m ed ia a re f a lli n g f a st. A nd u nlik e m an y n ew s o rg an is a tio n s, w e h av en ’t pu t

up a p ay w all – w e w an t t o k eep o u r j o u rn alis m a s o pe n a s w e c a n . S o y o u c a n s e e w hy w e n eed t o

a sk f o r y o u r h elp . T he Gu ard ia n ’s i n depe nden t, i n vestig ativ e j o u rn alis m t a k es a l o t o f t im e,

m on ey a n d h ard w ork t o p ro d u ce . B ut w e d o i t b eca u se w e b elie v e o u r pe rs pe ctiv e m att e rs –

b eca u se i t m ig h t w ell b e y o u r p ers pe ctiv e, t o o.

I a ppre cia te t h ere n ot b ein g a p ayw all : i t i s m ore d em ocra tic f o r t h e m ed ia t o b e a va ila ble f o r a ll a n d

n ot a c o m mod it y t o b e p u rc h ase d b y a f e w . I ’m h appy t o m ake a c o n tr ib u tio n s o o th ers w it h l e ss

m ea n s s till h ave a cce ss t o i n fo rm atio n . T hom asin e, S w ed en

If e v ery o n e w ho r e ad s o u r r e p ortin g, w ho l ik es i t , h elps f u nd i t , o u r f u tu re w ou ld b e m uch m ore

s e cu re . F o r a s l it t le a s $ 1, y o u c a n s u pport t h e G uard ia n – a n d i t o n ly t a k es a m in ute . T han k y o u . 5/3/2018 The identity paradox: why game characters are not us, but should be | Games | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/apr/24/the-identity-paradox-why-game-characters-are-not-but-should-be 6/6

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