Empowering Expression: Modding Practices in Final Fantasy XIV: Online

Key insights

5 takeaways

01
Players use modding in Final Fantasy XIV as a form of 'critical infrastructuring' to bypass limitations in the base game's character creator, specifically to improve representation for marginalized identities regarding race, gender, and body type.See it on page 2
02
Modding serves as a tool for empowerment by allowing players to exert agency over their digital avatars, enabling them to correct issues like lighting inaccuracies for melanated skin tones or to create more androgynous character features.See it on page 18
03
The study, based on 15 interviewed players who utilize diverse mod sets, identifies modding as a reflexive practice that facilitates identity work, personal expression, and community connection.See it on page 20
04
Players view the modding process as a form of 'collage art' where they manipulate existing game elements to better align the virtual experience with their personal identity and life experiences.See it on page 23
05
The research concludes that game developers should adopt 'intentionally malleable design' to better support player-driven customization and reduce the need for external, community-created fixes to address representational gaps.See it on page 23

Summary

Empowering Expression: Modding Practices in Final Fantasy SID COOK, University of Colorado Boulder, USA BRYAN SEMAAN, University of Colorado Boulder, USA Media, such as film, literature, and video games, center around white, cisheterosexual logics and contribute toward the marginalization of the multiplicity of identities and identity expressions that exist. As such, people may not see themselves represented in media, disempowering those who are underrepresented.

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