Back then during the infancy of games players were usually given a preset, defined character with already established looks, personality and range of actions. For a long time this was the norm. Since his introduction into the world Mario “Jumpman” Mario would always be easily identified by his iconic red hat and outfit under a set of blue overalls. His popularity let to always sporting the same outfit from title after title. Sure in some games he got some new moves and abilities, but the outfit always reamined the same. You could never play Super Mario World in, say a nice fancy tux and a suave tophat. Such an option had to be programmed into the game, and the space was limited on early gaming hardware. Programmers had to make due with what was given to them and was tasked above all to give an amazing gaming experience, so some features had to be cut.

Fast forward to now and the gaming hardware of old has been replaced with the new computers and transistors of today. There was a lot more space to work with, and a lot more opportunity to add more. More features! More levels! Even more adventures! And with that added space we soon begin to see more choices in representation. Particularly the rise and importance of the player avatar. Webster’s dictionary defined avatar as:

“An incarnation in human form; An embodiment (as of a concept or philosophy) often in a person“

It’s interesting to note that this word “avatar” was chosen and standardized in much of gaming culture. Perhaps it was due to it’s implied divine origins, where the player is God in this digital realm and all who inhabit it are mere playthings to be used and discarded. Maybe it was just really fitting to describe this thing which we create and grow attached too. Whatever the real or underlying reason, it can be agreed that the idea of recreating ones self into an environment that we rule is appealing and entertaining. Even more entertaining than that is the idea of putting everything on random and seeing what absolute beauty of horrid monstrosity you’ll create. It all depends on how much you actually care about your avatar. As quoted from Adrienne Shaw in her work “He Could Be a Bunny Rabbit for All I Care!”:

“Even if I decide to choose a seemingly random selection of options from a
character-customization screen, I must momentarily reflect on how
much I care about how I am represented in the game space. It is
the notion of player self-representation that determines whether a
person in a game is an avatar.[2]”

The beauty of gaming avatars of today is the fact that they are your creation that you bring to life! You can customize them with the limits of the game, and connect with them in so many ways. Want yo self inset yourself in a game of Skyrim? You’re allowed to do that! Roll-play as a slicked tongue bruiser in Fallout? You can achieve that! Just want to see if you can recreate a face that looks like a hamburger in Mii? That is valid too! The power given to the players of today allows for some much more inclusion within many gaming spheres. Customization is what you make of it, and using it as you see fit is what I believe to be one of the greatest progressions in representation.

[1] “Avatar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avatar. Accessed 11 May. 2020.

[2] Shaw, Adrienne, “He Could Be a Bunny Rabbit for All I Care!” pg 102, University of Minnesota Press, 2015. ProQuest Ebook Central