Short answer
When designing characters with distinct visual characteristics, such as body type, consider how these visual choices can be meaningfully translated into unique gameplay mechanics to avoid reinforcing stereotypes and to potentially subvert them.
- Field
- Classic Design
- Source
- Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports (2023)
- Method
- Qualitative analysis of character design and mechanics
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
While visually distinct, characters coded as 'fat' in fighting games often utilize the same underlying mechanics as other character archetypes, suggesting that their visual representation is primarily aesthetic rather than functionally distinct. This classic design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports. Using Qualitative analysis of character design and mechanics, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing characters with distinct visual characteristics, such as body type, consider how these visual choices can be meaningfully translated into unique gameplay mechanics to avoid reinforcing stereotypes and to potentially subvert them.
Aesthetic fatness in fighting game characters lacks mechanical depth but offers potential for resistance.
While visually distinct, characters coded as 'fat' in fighting games often utilize the same underlying mechanics as other character archetypes, suggesting that their visual representation is primarily aesthetic rather than functionally distinct.
Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports · 2023
Key Findings
- 01Characters depicted as 'fat' in fighting games do not typically possess unique gameplay mechanics that correspond to their visual representation.
- 02The aesthetic portrayal of fatness, when not supported by distinct mechanics, can inadvertently reinforce existing fatphobic tropes.
- 03However, the combination of certain aesthetic fatness cues with existing mechanics presents a potential avenue for subverting these tropes and offering a form of resistance.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing characters with distinct visual characteristics, such as body type, consider how these visual choices can be meaningfully translated into unique gameplay mechanics to avoid reinforcing stereotypes and to potentially subvert them.
How to apply
When developing characters, especially those with non-normative body types, explore how their visual design can be supported by unique abilities, movement sets, or strategic advantages that are not simply reskins of existing mechanics.
Project actions
- 01When analyzing character design, look beyond just how they look and consider how their abilities, movement, and interactions within the game world reflect their appearance.
- 02Think about how visual design choices can be used to challenge or reinforce common stereotypes within a given genre.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Highlights an under-explored aspect of character design in video games.
- +Provides a framework for analyzing the relationship between aesthetics and mechanics in relation to social issues.
Limitations
The subjective nature of interpreting 'fatness' and 'resistance' can be a limitation. The scope of the analysis might be limited by the specific games chosen.
Reliability & validity
Reliability could be improved by having multiple researchers analyze the same characters and compare their findings. Validity is enhanced by focusing on observable mechanics and widely accepted visual cues for 'fatness' within the game's context.
Think critically
If 'fatness' in characters is primarily aesthetic and not mechanical, what are the ethical implications for game developers, and how can designers intentionally use mechanics to create positive representations?
Design Principles
"Mechanical representation should complement and inform aesthetic representation to create nuanced and impactful character designs."
This insight challenges designers to consider how visual design choices, particularly those related to body type, can be either reinforced by or subverted through gameplay mechanics. It highlights an opportunity to move beyond superficial representation and explore how game design can actively counter harmful stereotypes.
What This Means for Your Design
In fighting games, characters who look fat usually play the same as other characters. This can be bad because it might make people think fat people are just lazy or weak, but it also means designers could make these characters special in a good way through their moves and abilities.
How to use in your project
- 1.This research can be used to support an analysis of character design choices in your own design project, particularly if your project involves character creation or the representation of diverse body types.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
Analysis of character design in fighting games reveals that visual representations of 'fatness' often lack corresponding mechanical distinctions, potentially reinforcing negative stereotypes. However, this gap also presents an opportunity for designers to leverage aesthetic choices to introduce unique gameplay mechanics that actively resist such tropes, fostering more nuanced and empowering character portrayals.
Source
Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports
Fighting/Fat: Fighting Game Characters and the Emptiness of Video Game Fatness
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about aesthetic fatness in fighting game characters lacks mechanical depth but offers potential for resistance?
- When designing characters with distinct visual characteristics, such as body type, consider how these visual choices can be meaningfully translated into unique gameplay mechanics to avoid reinforcing stereotypes and to potentially subvert them. Evidence: Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports (2023).
- Why does "Aesthetic fatness in fighting game characters lacks mechanical depth but offers potential for resistance." matter for design?
- This insight challenges designers to consider how visual design choices, particularly those related to body type, can be either reinforced by or subverted through gameplay mechanics. It highlights an opportunity to move beyond superficial representation and explore how game design can actively counter harmful stereotypes.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing characters with distinct visual characteristics, such as body type, consider how these visual choices can be meaningfully translated into unique gameplay mechanics to avoid reinforcing stereotypes and to potentially subvert them.
- What were the main findings?
- Characters depicted as 'fat' in fighting games do not typically possess unique gameplay mechanics that correspond to their visual representation.. The aesthetic portrayal of fatness, when not supported by distinct mechanics, can inadvertently reinforce existing fatphobic tropes.. However, the combination of certain aesthetic fatness cues with existing mechanics presents a potential avenue for subverting these tropes and offering a form of resistance.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative analysis of character design and mechanics.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing characters, especially those with non-normative body types, explore how their visual design can be supported by unique abilities, movement sets, or strategic advantages that are not simply reskins of existing mechanics.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focused on a specific genre (fighting games) and may not be generalizable to all video game types. The interpretation of 'fatness' and 'resistance' can be subjective.