Xia Wu
November 7, 2015
Alter Ego
Robbie Cooper
I think the most intriguing thought in the introduction is that all of the gamers are a such diverse population that is hard to construct any sort of common, gamer’s identity upon, because we will find every stereotype in a portrait of online gaming culture, such as celebrities and the shut-ins, but all of these stereotypes are turned upside down and shaken out. [1]
For example, Jason Rowe has an online character that is quite different from herself. According to the excerpt, “I have a lot of physical disabilities in real life, but in Star Wars Galaxies I can ride an Imperial speeder bike, fight monsters, or just hang out with friends at a bar.” [2] Taking a look to her photo and her online character, she sits in a wheelchair with her fists clenched since she can not move her hands freely. In contrast, her online character waves his hands to the front and wears a suit of armor.
There is another example of the diverse identity and occupation of the game players. Choi Seang Rak is a Korean professor who teaches economics and public policy at the Dongguk University in Seoul[3]. He has an online character of a girl with long hairs and wearing a top and a skirt. According to the excerpt, “People buy more from my little girl dwarf compared to the old male dwarf I used to have, even though they sell the same thing. Because I’m very polite, people think I really am a little girl.”
[1] Robbie Cooper, Alter Ego (New York: Chris Boots, 2009), 4.
[2] Ibid., 5.
[3] Ibid., 16.
