Our everyday lives are increasingly digitized, virtualized and gamified.
People increasingly live and act through a collection of various
digital personas and avatars. However, the question of how peoples’
psychological traits may predict the traits and features of their
virtual avatars is still relatively unexplored. In this study
investigates the relationship between the traits related to gaming
preferences and forms of capital (economic, cultural, social and
symbolic) their avatar commands. The data was gathered through an online
survey (n=905) amidst the players of a MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV. The
results indicate that avatar’s cultural capital is associated player’s
orientation towards achievement-mechanics, immersion and social aspects
of games. Economic capital is associated with player’s orientation
towards achievement and relationship sides of games. Social capital is
associated with players’ orientation towards immersion and social parts
of games, and in-game interests of the player. Symbolic capital is
associated with player’s orientation towards achievement and social
orientations and one’s tenure in the game.