Studies

In your own words, what are 'marginalised groups'? Do you have examples of identities that could be considered 'marginalised'?

In your own words, what is 'tokenism'?

In your own words, what does the term 'diversity' mean?

In your own words, what does the term 'representation' mean?

What is your opinion on increasing diversity and representation in games?

In your own words, what is 'historical accuracy' in the context of games?

Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements.

• Making games more diverse always results in tokenism.
• I would prefer to see tokenistic representations of marginalised groups than no representation in a game.
• Games only include representation to pander to diverse audiences.
• Greater diversity in games benefits everybody.
• Creators should be allowed to make games however they like.
• If a game includes representations of marginalised people, the creators were probably forced to include them.
• I am happy for games to include diverse representation provided the creators weren’t pressured to include it.
• People who play games deserve to see people like themselves in games.
• Players should be able to empathise with a character, no matter their identity.
• I can connect with a protagonist more if I can see part of myself in them.
• More diverse characters mean audiences will empathise with a wider variety of people.
• Character personality or backstory is more important to me than their skin colour, gender, and sexuality.
• The majority of people who play games are white, straight, cisgender men.
• ‘Casual’ games (e.g. mobile games, visual novels, interactive narratives) aren’t ‘real’ games.
• The majority of games being released by big development studios or publishers feature white, straight, cisgender men as protagonists.
• I don’t mind diverse characters being in some games, provided it’s not every game.
• Videogame characters shouldn’t be from marginalised groups unless there’s a good reason.
• Representation is about increasing diversity across the whole of the games industry, rather than within every individual game.
• Individual games should not need to meet a ‘quota’ of diverse characters.
• Games should be diverse because reality is diverse.
• Games don’t need to be diverse because games are fictional.
• Games should only be diverse when it does not interfere with historical accuracy.
• Inclusivity is more important than historical accuracy.
• Diversity in characters creates more interesting stories.
• Games with similar protagonists can only tell similar stories.
• Diversity is irrelevant because game mechanics are more important.
• Diversity should never be included in a game at the expense of the game’s mechanics.
• I don’t mind who the characters are in the games I play so long as they are still fun.
• Diversity in games serves no real purpose.
• Broader representation in games helps people see what is possible.
• Creators should be encouraged to increase the diverse voices represented in their games.
• The people I see in videogames should reflect the types of people I see in reality.

Considering your racial background, gender, sexuality, ablebodiedness, etc. Would you consider yourself part of any privileged groups (white, cis, male, straight, ablebodied, neurotypical, etc)? If you feel comfortable sharing, which privileged groups are you part of?

Considering your racial background, gender, sexuality, ablebodiedness, etc. Would you consider yourself part of any marginalised groups (groups other than white, cis, male, straight, ablebodied, neurodivergent, etc)? If you feel comfortable sharing, which marginalised groups are you part of?

Representation

• How often do you think about whether there are people similar to you (in terms of gender, race, sexuality, body type, etc) in the games you play? (scale of 1-5)
• How often do you think about whether there are people from a range of diversity groups (including those you don't identify with) in the games you play? (scale of 1-5)
• Do you consider it important to represent diverse identities in games?
• While considering your answer to the previous question, please explain why / why not.

Character creation

• What details would make you love a game's character creation screen / system? Why?
• What is an example of a character creation screen / system that you love? Why?
• What details would make you dislike a game's character creation screen / system? Why?
• What is an example of a character creation screen / system that you dislike? Why?

How important do you consider... (scale of 0-3)

• Diverse sexuality options
• More than one gender option
• More than two gender options (including nonbinary genders)
• Diverse pronoun options
• Diverse race / ethnicity options
• Diverse body type / size options
• Options for involuntary skin markings (blemishes, freckles, scars, etc.)
• Options for voluntary skin markings (tattoos, piercings, etc.)
• Options for visible chronic health conditions / disabilities (vision impairment, loss of limb, wheelchair use, etc.)
• Realistic graphics

Bonus question:

• Do you consider it important to be able to play as a character similar to yourself (in terms of gender, race, sexuality, body type, etc.) in games that have character creation screens / systems? Why / why not?

Sexuality

• Do you identify as having a sexuality OTHER THAN heterosexual/straight?
• How do you describe your sexuality? What term/s do you use?
• What is your favourite representation of diverse sexuality in games? Why?
• What is your least favourite representation of diverse sexuality in games? Why?
• How do you feel when / if you see your own sexuality depicted in a game?
• How do you feel when you see other sexualities depicted in a game?
• Is there a game character who feels most like you in terms of their sexuality? If so, who?

Gender

• Do you identify as being a gender OTHER THAN cisgender?
• How do you describe your gender? What term/s do you use?
• What is your favourite representation of diverse gender in games? Why?
• What is your least favourite representation of diverse gender in games? Why?
• How do you feel when / if you see your own gender / gender identity depicted in a game?
• How do you feel when you see other genders / gender identities depicted in a game?
• Is there a game character who feels most like you in terms of their gender? If so, who?

Queerness

• Which of the following diverse sexualities, genders, and relationship structures would you most like to see represented more in games? (Please select up to 5 responses)
• Are there any games released in the last twelve (12) months that you feel feature particularly positive or negative representations of diverse identities? If so, what are they? Can you share some details?