Supplement for "Me vs. Super(wo)man: Effects of Customization and Identification in a VR Exergame"

Data collection method:

The participants are asked to create a realistic avatar (R) and an Idealistic avatar (I) using an off-the-shelf software tool for video game character design, Autodesk Character Generator. The tool provides an interface for the design of avatars based on blend shapes, i.e. pre-defined body shapes that can be combined to adjust face and body design. Participants are given guidance on how to customise a base character to make an avatar in their own likeness by choosing the character sex (male or female), face shape (by blending two faces together), facial features including eye, mouth and nose shape, body shape (by blending two body shapes together). Customising body shape and eye colour. Skin tone, hairstyle, hair colour and eye colour. Finally, participants were are given a choice of garments for the top half and lower half, plus a choice of shoes. Once the realistic and idealistic avatars have been produced the aim of the approach is to create avatars that reflect “enhancements” of the realistic avatar along a realistic trajectory. The realistic avatar is used as a starting point, and the idealised avatar as a “goal”

Technical details and requirements:

Autodesk Character Generator was used to create the Avatars this can be found at https://charactergenerator.autodesk.com/