The formation of projective identity through meaningful choices in digital games

Many digital games allow players to play different characters, using different identities from their real world. There have been many studies on players' in-game identity, but these studies do not typically define what players' identity is. On the other hand, Gee analysed his experiences playing games and coined the term projective identity, an amalgamation of both players' and their in-game character identity. Nonetheless, there has been no empirical study on whether Gee's concept of projective identity held for other players as well. Thus, this PhD research investigates whether players form a
projective identity in the games that they play.

The first study investigates how players formed their identity in their favourite game and found that players projected their identity through the meaningful choices that they made when they played. This discovery then led to the second study investigating how players enacted their meaningful choices and their rationale for making these choices in their favourite games. This study found that players' choice in the game are usually meaningful and personal to themselves as they can express their thoughts in action.

As players' game choice possibly shaped their meaningful choices in the game, the third study sought to investigate how players' choice of games can affect their projective identity. It discovered that when players could experience the motivation, context, sensibilities, expression and achievement aspects in fulfilling their game expectations, players could then declare that the chosen game was a favourite game to form their projective identity in the game.

With this empirical support for Gee's concept of projective identity, the PhD research has provided a solid foundation for future studies on in-game identity and how projective identity can be further developed in digital games.