Censuswide conducted research last September 2022 that gamers take on different personality traits while gaming, at least online. In other words, gamers put on a different persona when they play. According to the research, 52% of gamers identify with their online selves more than with their everyday persona. Lenovo did research on this as well and is celebrating gaming personas with stickers created by Salva Espín.
What the research shows
From what the research shows, gamers act differently while playing because they feel more comfortable and authentic. Lenovo’s research shows that 58% of gamers feel at their most authentic when gaming at home, 52% when socializing, and 46% when engaging in other hobbies and interests.
There’s even a correlation between a gamer’s occupation and the kind of game they feel the most at home with. According to the study, people with jobs in offices, healthcare and medicine, finances, and science prefer strategy games. Similarly, those who dedicate themselves to computers prefer RPGs, along with creatives. However, Lenovo categorized these two separately. This leads me to believe that there’s an error, if not in the research, then at least in the report.
The most important factor in this research is its findings that gamers indeed feel more comfortable while assuming their gaming personas. Apparently, nearly 60% of gamers keep up their gaming personas at other times, too. Sometimes, this even includes working hours.
Celebrating gaming personas with stickers
As a result of these studies, Lenovo Legion has partnered up with comic artist and game designer Salva Espín to create laptop stickers that celebrate gamers’ personas. These “Second Skin” stickers depict, in a metaphorical way, what it would be like for gamers to embrace their gaming personalities all the time.
Lenovo also ran a contest for this wherein the final sticker can be designed by anyone and it ran until January 26. Espín selected his favorite and worked with the winner to turn the sketch into a finalized product.
Conclusion
Some gamers may have noticed these transitions in personality when gaming, so it’s great to have supporting research that explains these changes. Personally, I also believe that, if we gamers really feel more comfortable while embracing our gaming personas, then we should do so more often, within reason. We shouldn’t be afraid of being more authentic in our daily lives.
YouTube: Embrace your second skin! Your chance to design your own sticker with Marvel illustrator @SalvaEspin
Photo credits: The images used are owned by Lenovo and have been provided for press usage.
