Jamming-as-exploration: Creating and Playing Games to Explore Gender Identity

Title of the Paper

Jamming-as-exploration: Creating and Playing Games to Explore Gender Identity

Paper Information

• Research Area: Game Design, Gender Identity Exploration, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
• Keywords: Gender Identity Exploration, Game Design, Game Jam, Qualitative Research, Reflective Design, Virtual Character Design, Social Support, Diverse Representation, Virtual Communities, Mental Health

Research Background and Problem

• Problems or Challenges Identified by the Authors:

  • Gender identity exploration in mainstream games is often constrained by designers' biases and lacks adequate design support.
  • Gender representation in games remains rooted in binary norms, with limited representation of transgender and non-binary characters.
  • Mainstream games lack reflective and creative design support for gender exploration.

• Importance of the Problem:

  • Gender identity is a complex, multidimensional concept, and its exploration is crucial for mental health and self-awareness.
  • Games, as virtual laboratories, can provide users with a safe environment to reflect on and explore their identities, but this potential remains underutilized in design.

• Research Motivation and Related Work:

  • Games have been described as "identity laboratories," offering safe spaces for experimenting with and exploring gender identity.
  • Previous studies have examined how role-playing games support gender self-exploration but have not analyzed the specific mechanisms and elements within games.
  • This research aims to design and test how game jam practices can facilitate gender identity exploration and analyze which game mechanisms can extend this purpose.

Solution

• Proposed Solution or Approach:

  • Conduct virtual game jams using the "Research-through-Design" methodology to encourage participants to design and create game prototypes related to gender identity exploration.
  • Utilize exit surveys, game interviews, and game content analysis to understand game mechanisms, participant experiences, and feedback.

• Innovative Aspects of the Solution:

  • The game jam is centered on inclusivity for transgender and diverse participants, allowing individuals of all gender identity backgrounds to participate.
  • Provides a design-driven environment that encourages participants to reflect on their own or others' identities while utilizing game elements to explore and redefine gender identity.
  • Combines various game formats to explore gender identity discovery processes, including character creation, social interaction, and emotional expression.

• Implementation Steps and Key Techniques:

  • Preparation Phase: Develop a game jam design framework for sensitive topics, including design handbooks, Miro boards, and Discord server organization.
  • Game Jam Activities: Facilitate participants in creating games related to gender identity themes through teamwork or independent efforts.
  • Game Analysis: Use autoethnography and thematic analysis to deeply understand game content and mechanisms.
  • Follow-up Interviews: Conduct in-depth interviews with developers to understand motivations, creative processes, and reflections on gender identity exploration.

Research Outcomes

• Specific Results:

  • Eight thematic games were submitted, encompassing various genres (e.g., visual platformers, role-playing games, card games, and text-based adventure games), with core mechanisms supporting different forms of gender exploration and reflection.
  • These games concretized the process of reflection and exploration related to gender identity, turning games into bridges for identity discovery.

• Advantages Compared to Existing Solutions:

  • Provides a flexible and reflective game design approach.
  • Encourages participants to express personal experiences through game creativity, fostering diverse social discussions.
  • Promotes collaborative exploration and co-creation of gender identity through the game jam process.

• Experimental or Evaluation Results:

  • Game elements (e.g., character creation, social interaction, open-ended settings) were frequently mentioned as key components supporting gender identity exploration.
  • The game jam itself became a medium for exploration and reflection, with participants reassessing their gender identity perceptions through design activities.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • Limitations: While the virtual format of the game jam increased flexibility, it may lack the interactive experience of face-to-face events; participants with limited technical resources may face barriers.
  • Future Directions:
    • Expand game design to multimodal environments, such as virtual reality and sound feedback, to enhance the immersion of gender identity exploration.
    • Analyze responses from different players and designers during game interactions to support the development of more inclusive game exploration experience models.
    • Investigate how gender identity exploration functionalities can be integrated into mainstream games and other technological platforms.