You and your online profile

[TelHybrid]

I'll try to keep this from being tl;dr. It's for educational purposes and answers may be used in an essay. Any answers and opinions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

When you create an online identity, be it a game character on an MMO, or an Xbox Live avatar, or an avatar for a virtual world like second life, or any other examples, what are the typical staples of your character's attributes? is your character like you? or completely different? do your character's attributes differ based on where you created them? (software differences aside)

Also (if applicable), do you treat character customisation differently in an online environment compared to an offline one?

If you have anything to add outside what I have asked please feel free.

 

[Aris Khandr]

It depends on what it is for. For an MMO, I'm making a character, not me. Which means that I make the character the way that they "should be". For things like SL, it is very similar. I've got skins that are normal, skins that are exotic, and things in between. I'm certainly not a frost elf or Trill, but I have skins for those. It depends on what the role I'm playing is. When not doing anything, I default to a more idealised version of myself. Longer hair, taller, bustier, et cetera.

Offline character creation, such as in RPGs, works the same way. I build a character. My Nord in Skyrim looks nothing like my Breton, and neither resembles my Commander Shepard. Even with games that have relatively little "character" to them, like FIFA or Virtua Tennis, I still have a character for my players in my head. Often ripped from one of the stories I have in my head, and then I figure out why they're in that position. Just my way, I guess. I prefer to make characters, not just replace myself.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

I try to go for escapism, making a character who isn't like me in anyway. Sometimes I put myself into games but usually after I've explored it with a character of my creation. An exception is Pokemon. Since I was a kid, that was a me in those regions catching Pokemon.

 

[Scarim Coral]

When it come to video games with character customization I tend to try to make the first character look like me (short non spiky hair and asian). I also tend to use the same fantasy names for the avatar/ profile names for the most part e.g. my username on here is the same name for my Thief in Guild Wars 2 (which original was my Assassin name in GW).
The recent example for me not using the fantasy names I've established was in the Phantasy Star game since there are robot as a race to choose from which I felt not of my current names suit them.

 

[Musette]

Usually, it depends on the game's mechanics and what I'm interested in playing. I typically have an affinity for magic-wielding long range characters, which could partially be something caused by the fact that it fits a more romanticized or exaggerated image of myself. I was generally considered more level-headed and booksmart compared to my friends growing up, so they pictured me as a mage just as much as I did in fantasy settings, though the other end of that deal - the lacking in physical prowess - applies as well since I'm also one of the lazier people among my friends in terms of exercise.

However, there are games that I really enjoy playing as stealth-ranged characters such as thieves. In games like Guild Wars 2 and the Elder Scrolls games, I just flat out enjoyed the characters who used bows/arrows/pistols more than the other character types, and I found it fun to role-play something that's rather different from my usual relatively altruistic nature.

I think game mechanics are the biggest factor, but role-playing purposes have some influence as well.

 

[Candidus]

I always make a member of the opposite sex, and customise them to make them attractive to me. I don't have a single good motive for making a male character (I won't go eliminating each one in turn, or I'll be the one going TLR, op). I also don't make characters after me.

I make characters to guide and co-operate with, rather than to inhabit.

I also usually make an aggressive character- which only makes an already attractive woman even more appealing. I prefer melee over range, sheer brutality over defense and speed over subterfuge.

edit: No difference between online and offline.

 

[JohnReaper]

Honestly I just graduated from Knock off names, ((JohnReaper21, not hard to figure out where that one comes from)) and started using More fun names.

To be honest, my first inclination is to go to a RP server for MMO games, so I use names that fit the setting.

But I do tend to gravitate towards WolfCall at all other times

But thats just names.

To be honest I get alot of flack for being the shining knight. In games I always go for something akin to paladins or along those lines. and to be honest thats from my own views in real life. I like being the guy who fixes things, I like being the guy who can stand up to ass holes that think their way of thinking is the perfect way, I like protecting those who can't.

IN Real life this mindset is nice and all, but nothing embodies it more than the Tank style characters in RPGs and games. In shooters I'm more likely to rock out with a heavy MG and so much body armor I would be considered a tank if I had treads and a cannon.

 

[PLightstar]

I used to create the iconic good guy look and feel. But as I have gotten older and more comfortable with who I am. I create online personas that match me, more or less.

 

[kailus13]

I usually create characters that characters that don't look human, even when they are. I don't kniow what that says about me.

 

[sky14kemea]

I usually aim for long, blonde hair whenever I can. (Since I don't have long or blonde hair =[)

I do usually make them short and thin, though. That part I mold after myself.

As for names, I always aim for an 'S' name first. If the S ones I want are taken, I start going through my list of different names.

Also, in games where you can actually pick their personality a bit (Like D&D) I tend to go for chaotic good/lucky characters, 'cause I hope that's what I would identify as myself. I also always choose speed over strength.

 

[blackrave]

I usually go for character as close as possible to myself
Tried few times to do opposite, but it never worked :/

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

I don't make 'me' anymore... because I used to always play as a psuedo-me, which was a lawful-good warrior who always focused on damage... as that is how I not only translated myself, but also translated the old platform heroes I used to play as ('eres looking at you Croc, Gex, Kingsley, Glover, Crash and Spyro!)

Nowadays I find it more fun to play as 'Puriel Nightslayer', my RPG alterego. Puriel is the name of an Angel in the Jewish faith who lead an army against Satan. The name means 'light of heaven', hence the surname! As an angel name it is also easy to use it with either gender, so I don't limit myself there, and still have the choice! (I am actually not religeous. But I do have my own views on the ideas of Angels... not for this thread though, all I will say is I like the idea of angels, and I like the whole person with wings thing...)

Puriel, as a quasi-angel, is always good, but not nessecarily lawful (man's laws!?) And will always pick a loyalty and stick to it viciously! (ie will kill opposition no matter what... if it is the enemy of his/her loyalty then there is no mercy.) They also favour bows/ duel weild/ light weapons! This nearly always means that he/she will end up a rogue character too. Also, being angelic as a being, Puriel will always favour light coloured armour and colourful trinkets over anything dark and evil... light of heavn and all that shit!

I have found since taking this persona that I have enjoyed RPGs more... not answering as myself adds the layer of thinking, and putting myself into a characters shoes is fun!

I even made another playthrough of Skyrim as a new made up character, Xaa'ti Beniin, the Redguard pirate from Hammerfell who duel wields Schimitars (only), conjurs a Flame Atronach called Polly, focuses on Charisma (Speech) and combat/conjuring and does everything for treasure hunting and personal gain...

Also is a handy thief, but not stealtily!

 

[Vorpal_Smilodon]

My xbox live avatar is me if I got to be a special items merchant in a hybrid of Fallout and Fable.

Game characters, especially in MMOs where I like to get the list of all races and classes and make sure I create characters that include a sample of each available, I'm just making characters that are unique as possible, also including dumb/cool names (like my charr necromancer in GW2 call Vorpal Smilodon) I also make a larger percentage of female characters, because they're more fun to play dressup with - not counting non-human races like charr and asura, which I have characters of both gender because they're cool unique races.

I don't think I've ever made a character with the intention of making him like myself, because my escapism isn't "man, i wish I could fight dragons and shoot space zombies" I escape into controlling a character that does that stupid, crazy, dangerous stuff. If I were to make a character like myself in Skyrim it would be to do a pacifist run, buying and selling my way to a wagon-ride to the College of Winterhold, where I would boring train magic, taking as many hitpoints as possible out of cowardice and not do any of the quests because they seem dangerous.

 

[PatrickXD]

I hadn't really thought of the online vs offline avatar creation until you pointed it out. I totally do treat them very differently. When I make an online avatar, I actually aim for something that reflects more of myself. Be it a hairstyle or even just a preferred colour, I always try to express myself in online avatars.
When I make an offline avatar I generally go with what looks cool, or if I'm in a particular mood I'll just make something super silly. I also often use female avatars when offline, whereas I generally never do that online. For clarification, I'm a guy.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

I don't treat customisation differently online or off. My characters look how I want them to look. If I'm making an avatar, it will generally be more muscular than I actually am, male and reflect generally my facial features and hair. In terms of characters that aren't meant to reflect me, which is every non-avatar character, I make as many as I can because I'm a customisation maniac, and they're all different, probably 2/3 male. They reflect what I design them to reflect. Often my first character will be a well built male, where applicable of a beast race and be strength-based, whether that's specialising in two-handed weapons, levelling up strength as a stat or using shotguns and melee. After that, all sorts. I never use preset faces where I can customise them, and I never make characters deformed or silly-looking, or with a vivid shade of skin unless that's part of the character. They are always serious and don't have exaggerated features for comic effect or anything.

 

[Ljs1121]

My characters are all pretty different, but there tend to be a few constants: 1) some kind of suit and/or hat, 2) a wacky, stupid hairstyle and color, and 3) glasses.

Other than that, it depends on the game, I suppose.

 

[Angie7F]

I dont really put much effort in making avatars... As you can see here too.

 

[Yopaz]

The avatar I am using here is the same one as my Xbox live one. I unlocked this when I got 100 jigsaws in Banjo Kazooie and I liked it.

As for when I am customizing a character I pretty much always go for default male and change the hair to a short version with a neutral colour that I wont notice too much while I'm playing. I will be wearing armour most of the time anyway, so why bother?

The exception from this is Saints Row 2 where I like to make the ugliest character possible. Man who looks like a poorly made meatloaf with boobs and a female voice? Yeah, that's me.

 

[Pandalisk]

The character will almost always be me, except the opposite sex and a hell of a lot better looking.