How character gameplay identities are preserved across genres : A case study of Pokémon Trainer in Super Smash Bros.

Sammanfattning: Deeper understanding of character gameplay identity is crucial for designers in an industry where crossover content is more commonplace than ever. Despite its relevance, however, research in the field of game design has yet to be widely conducted on character gameplay identity. Consequently, this study explores how a character’s gameplay identity is preserved across genres through the use of gameplay mechanics. This was achieved by using Pokémon Trainer as a case study, examining how they were adapted from the Pokémon games into the Super Smash Bros. games. By analysing gameplay and select online sources, we conducted a close reading of the Pokémon Trainer, granting insight into the various mechanics that the game designers use to retain the character’s gameplay identity. We have broken these mechanics down into systems, which we then analysed and categorised according to systems theory, giving further insight into the nature of gameplay systems. The results from our analyses show that understanding a character’s gameplay identity can be adapted through multiple different types of gameplay mechanics, and that systems theory is a useful tool to categorise different types of gameplay mechanics.