An Analysis of the Effects of Gender and Cultural Background on Companion Character Selection Using an Experimental Game

Abstract

This study focuses on companion character selection in video games and examines how players’ gender and cultural background influence selection outcomes and the reasons underlying those choices. An experimental game in the form of a text-based adventure was developed using Unity, in which participants configured character attributes. Gameplay logs and post-play questionnaires were collected for analysis. The results revealed that companions of the same gender as the player were more likely to be selected, and no clear support was found for a simple preference for opposite-gender companions. Furthermore, differences emerged in character selection explanatory depending on cultural background: Japanese participants tended to use self-referential narratives, whereas international participants more frequently emphasized in-game roles and functional aspects. These findings suggest cultural differences in how players conceptualize companion characters.