Football Manager as a persuasive game for social identity formation

This case illustrates the way in which the football management simulation game Football Manager (Sports Interactive) enhances the processes through which players formulate their social identities, which extend beyond the boundaries of gameplay itself. The case discusses the findings of my interviews with Football Manager players which provides an in-depth examination of experiences associated with the game, both during gameplay and the way in which it functions within the wider social contexts of their lives. I discuss these findings in relation to social identity theory (Tajfel, 1978, 1979; Tajfel & Turner, 1979), through the way in which the game promotes players’ sense of in-group affiliation, as well as promoting positive shared experiences between players. In this way, the current case presents an interesting insight into the social functions of the game, and its role within the social narratives and identities of its players. From this, I conclude the utility of Football Manager as a persuasive game for the formulating players’ social identities, which may lead in further positive social impacts