Popular Culture Review 29.2
to directly represent the player , but even more so about embodying a character who represents traits that a player aspires to . The study focuses on the theory that “ people often wishfully identify with media characters who are more successful , more popular , or in other ways rewarding or positive ” ( Li , et al . 258 ). The research finds that “ players are motivated to escape into games because of a narrowed gap between one ’ s actual self and ideal self during play [ ... ] identification is enjoyable for game players due to the reason that altered self-perceptions during game exposure reduce self-discrepancies ” ( 261 ). An example of one of these discrepancies being altered when playing as Mario is that of a working-class individual with no perceived means of becoming anything else . This is what makes identifying with Mario so fulfilling for so many people in that situation .
The authors of “ The Ideal Self at Play : The Appeal of Video Games That Let You Be All You Can Be ” found similar results in their research , claiming that , “ Video-game players can act in ways that are congruent with idealized views of the self and can experience abilities and satisfactions that are difficult to access in everyday life ,” and they later conclude that “ results indicate that players who experienced a wide discrepancy between their ideal self and actual self in their day-to-day lives were the players most motivated by games that provided them with opportunities to embody their ideal characteristics ” ( Przybylski , et al . 70 , 73 ). If this discrepancy between ideal self and actual self is so powerful , then it makes sense for those with the least ability to socially transform in their actual lives to most idealize Mario ’ s ability to do so .
Mario ’ s appearance , ethnicity , and occupation are no coincidence in this regard . Mario is an Italian plumber from Brooklyn . Can there possibly be a group more desiring of the ability to transform , to have social and financial mobility ,
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