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International Conference on Entertainment Computing

ICEC 2012: Entertainment Computing - ICEC 2012 pp 75–84Cite as

Cognitive Processes Involved in Video Game Identification

  • Conference paper

Part of the Lecture Notes in Computer Science book series (LNISA,volume 7522)

Abstract

Identifying with video game characters is one potentially important process in game enjoyment. Based on a theoretical model of video game identification as transformed self-perception, cognitive processes in video game identification were explored. An experiment with N = 60 male players revealed that increased cognitive accessibility of character-related concepts should be considered as element of the identification process. Moreover, shifts in players’ self-perceptions were observed so that players of a shooter video game (Call of Duty 2 TM) described themselves as less gentle and more soldier-like than a control group. Overall, the study suggests that shifts in self-related cognition occur as part of the gaming experience. Implications for future research on game enjoyment and long-term game effects are discussed.

Keywords

  • Video games
  • entertainment
  • identification
  • priming
  • experiment
  • lexical decision task

This research was funded by the European Commission, project “FUGA: The fun of gaming” (NEST-PATH-IMP 28765). We thankfully acknowledge the Commission’s support.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Journalism and Communication Research, Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media, Expo-Plaza 12, 30539, Hannover, Germany

    Christopher Blake, Dorothée Hefner & Christoph Klimmt

  2. Department of Communication Science, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Christian Roth

  3. Department of Media and Communication Studies, University of Mannheim, Haus Oberrhein (602), Rheinvorlandstr. 5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany

    Peter Vorderer

Authors
  1. Christopher Blake
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  2. Dorothée Hefner
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  3. Christian Roth
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  4. Christoph Klimmt
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  5. Peter Vorderer
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Technologie-Zentrum Informatik und Informationstechik (TZI), Universität Bremen, Postfach 33 04 40, 28334, Bremen, Germany

    Marc Herrlich

  2. Digital Media, TZI, University of Bremen, Germany

    Rainer Malaka

  3. Abteilung für Informatik und angewandte Kognitionswissenschaften, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Forsthausweg 2, 47057, Duisburg, Germany

    Maic Masuch

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© 2012 IFIP International Federation for Information Processing

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Blake, C., Hefner, D., Roth, C., Klimmt, C., Vorderer, P. (2012). Cognitive Processes Involved in Video Game Identification. In: Herrlich, M., Malaka, R., Masuch, M. (eds) Entertainment Computing - ICEC 2012. ICEC 2012. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 7522. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33542-6_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33542-6_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-33541-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-33542-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)