Characterizing the digital protagonist : identifying differences between avatars and characters in digital games

Abstract

‘Characters’ and ‘avatars’ are interchangeable terms within the study of digital games. Both mean the visual representation of a player in the virtual space of the game, and it seems to be naturally assumed that they mean the same thing. However, while tension exists as to what those things are, characters and avatars are not the same thing at all. They are accountable for different things throughout the progression of a videogame, and interact with the player in a variety of ways. This paper examines the difference between characters and avatars, with an emphasis on their effects on narrative and agency. It also attempts to find a workable definition for ‘character’, ‘avatar’ and ‘agency’ that could be used in an interdisciplinary capacity, specifically using the many years of literature studies on the character in order to define and hone what a character in a digital perspective means, and to see if it would be possible to translate the computer-exclusive term ‘avatar’ into somehow working within a literary perspective.