Exploring Emotional Attachment to Game Characters
summary
An online survey with 213 players uses eight open-answer questions and inductive thematic analysis to claim there are seven distinct forms of attachment to game characters. Findings name themes like Cool and Capable (Bayonetta, gameplay power), Admired Paragon (Yuna, role-model admiration and emulation), and Concern for One’s Protege (Ellie, caregiving worry for NPCs). Identification appears relevant only for some forms, while relatedness shows varied emotional flavors rather than a single construct.
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chapters (7)
- 0:00Researching attachment
- 2:21Study methodology
- 3:24Capable character theme
- 4:22Admire paragon theme
- 5:24Concern for protege
- 6:40Key findings and impact
- 8:30Audience Q&A
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